Deathly Worry

A familiar verse took on a frightening meaning to me yesterday. The common became uncommon and bore a sickening light into our cultural soul.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? (Matthew 6:25)

I have read this verse hundreds of time and always thought: "We should not worry". But yesterday, a cultural significance jumped out at me. What if the nation, including the church, lived in worry? It would lead to decisions based on what we want now instead of what God wants.

During this past presidential election, groups stated that they voted against their conscience due to their fears of economy. People who are pro-life voted for a pro-choice candidate because of their financial fears. Cultural worry caused people to be more concerned with their personal welfare than the lives of millions of unborn children. Death will reign because personal worries trumped moral conscience.

Sin is serious. Sin always leads to more sin. The sin of worry is now leading to more murders in our nation. What is the sin of worry doing in your own life? We can no longer minimize worry. For we now know what collective worry can do to a nation. We can only stop it in one life: our own.