Just started on a book. Hope i get to finish it. Not too good with christian literature. Have only read chapter 1, but thought that was already rather insightful. The book is entitled "The Vanishing Conscience", by John MacArthur.

Chapter 1 is titled "Whatever Happened to Sin?"
Contrary to what you may first think when you hear this title, Sin has not disappeared. In fact, it never will until Christ's 2nd coming, no matter how hard we try to be good. The book likens our conscience to pain receptors in our physical body. Just as pain sounds the alarm that something is wrong with our bodies and urges us to seek help, conscience alerts us to the fact that something is wrong in our spiritual life and to the presence of sin, so that we can do something about it. Many sin, but are not willing to live with the guilt that comes with it. As a result, society has evolved to convince itself that guilt has to be done away with, because it is "not conducive to dignity and self-esteem". The book also says rightly, that "an admission of guilt today clearly is considered incompatible with the popular notion of 'wholeness' and the need to protect the fantasy of a good self." Hence, the increase in commonplace phrases in counselling like "it was not your fault", "you were a victim of your circumstances", " you couldn't help it", "you must learn to forgive yourself", and even "guilt is not helpful to your self-esteem, you must feel better about yourself". Society encourages sin, but it will not tolerate the guilt sin produces.

It's all linked. If guilt is erased from the formula, then sin is also out of the picture. No guilt, no sin. No moral standards will be upheld anymore cos people are absolved from personal responsibility. "Anyone can escape responsibility for his or her wrongdoing simply by claiming the status of a victim."

Let me quote you an example from the book. It's a true story that happened in America.
"A man who was shot and paralyzed while committing a buglary in New York recovered damages from the store owner who shot him. His attorney told a jury the man was first of all a victim of society, driven to crime by economic disadvantages. Now, the lawyer said, he is a victim of the insensitivity of the man who shot him. Because of that man's callous disregard of the thief's plight as a victim, the poor criminal will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He deserves some redress. The jury agreed. The storeowner paid a large settlement. Several months later, the same man still in his wheelchair, was arrested while committing another armed robbery."

Can you believe it?? What kind of jury are these?

And yet, this is the way society is starting to look at things. Sin is now no longer sin, it is a disease. Commonplace problems such as emotional weakness, depression, and anxiety are also becoming quasi-medical, rather than spiritual, affliction.

Well, the bottom line is (at least what i learnt is), it's time for us as christians to take the lead, especially when society is turning away from God. We need to start reflecting on our lives and our attitudes. Are we putting the blame on everything and everyone else but ourselves? Are we making ourselves out to be the victims and hence not taking responsibility for our wrongdoings? In 1 John 1:8-9 John says, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I myself am often guilty of shifting the blame to others, I need to learn to take responsibility for my actions, and to confess my sins before the Lord so that i might receive forgiveness and be made clean. Let us not join the world in making ourselves out to be victims of circumstances, but to admit to our own moral failings and strive to do better henceforth, by God's mercy and help.