Newspaper Columns by Bishop Paul V. Marshall
We Walk Before We Run
Bishop Paul V. Marshall
February 2001When I hear anyone lie, my very ordinary background kicks in. Many may dismiss that as "middle class morality." In ancient Rome, factual honesty was considered a "virtue for tradesmen" but not something patricians need worry about.
A radio host recently explained why her own Jewish tradition's prohibition of blasphemy does not apply to her. The males of royal families in Britain and America have made it clear that for them there are no rules about marital fidelity. Even for some Christian thinkers, ordinary morality is seen as needed perhaps to keep the masses in line, but not for the sophisticated person.
The opposite excuse is often made for people at the other end of the economic scale: that they are too oppressed to be accountable. In one grand patronizing gesture, they too are relieved of moral responsibility.
I have more respect for the oppressed than that, and recognize that they have the power to sin as much as anyone else.
I believe that human experience is cumulative. Little honesties add up to honor. Little acts of faithfulness add up to integrity. We walk before we run.
Each of us has weaknesses and challenges; each of us knows moments when we lose the struggle and do things that are self-serving or hurtful to others.
It is one thing to struggle, even to lose. It is quite another to say there really are no rules for us.
The ability to deceive ourselves is the difference between sin and entrenched evil. We sin all the time, and are sorry and try to live differently. We are evil when we convince ourselves that standards do not apply to us. We then incorporate sin into the way we operate.
We have trouble dealing with great social issues because our individual hearts are unconverted.
Most of us are pretty good at recognizing this decay of morality in the culture and in our acquaintances. It doesn't take genius to detect hypocrisy or self-deceit in others. What is more difficult is to get past our own system of defenses and look for the lies we tell ourselves.
If we tell ourselves that because we work hard all day we can isolate ourselves from our children or spouse (all of whom have, indeed, had their own day!), we are living a pattern of self-deceit and are being unfaithful.
If we think a busy lifestyle excuses us from attending church and encouraging our sisters and brothers with our presence, we are deceiving ourselves. In both cases we hurt others; and our own soul shrivels and contorts.
As Lent begins at the end of this month, many Christians will take a good look inside and go to work on what they see.
That has nothing to do with self-hate or depression, both of which keep us from accomplishing anything. It is a matter of recognizing our strength and applying it to the areas of our life that are not reflective of Christ
Christian morality, New Testament morality, is considerably more than the Ten Commandments, but it is not less. We walk before we run.
The function of moral teaching and self-examination is not to make us feel better than others or give us a reason to condemn. Its purpose is to check our self-honesty, our faithfulness in response to God's love.
I suspect that none of the above is news. It is a reminder, however, that Lent offers the opportunity to fight sin and develop virtue so that the one person we never feel the need to lie to is ourself.
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