I’m aware that in many parts of the world the time is dark. The Syrian situation is worsening: both Washington and Moscow are rattling sabres — sometimes without thinking of the consequences, as is the case in Egypt as well.

The pipe-dream has popped of Egyptian democracy led by a Muslim Brotherhood weaned from its wicked past, but official Washington has not woken up. Egypt was on the verge of starvation when military pushed out Mohammed Morsi. Most of the Egyptian poor had been living on nothing but state-subsidized bread for months, and even bread supplies were at risk. The military brought in US$12 billion of aid from the Gulf States, enough to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. That’s the reality. It’s the one thing that Russia, Saudi Arabia and Israel agree about.

I have had the same approach to troubles for about seven years. I live in a safe bubble: NZ is isolated: I live in a small university town with a very low likelihood of earthquakes (Dunedin, geologically, is a caldera with some reclaimed land around the harbour. I live on a basalt ridge. When the big earthquakes hit Christchurch three years ago, we felt them downtown, but nothing at my house). far enough up a hill that the frat boys get tired…

This allows my boys to walk around safely: the town is small and the longest walk we face is 45 minutes to the hospital. The University and the boys schools are closer. But there is a risk in this.

We can forget the cost of our salvation, and that leads to this.

I was referring to how oftentimes Christians use “I’m forgiven by God” as an excuse to be a jerk or to justify blatantly sinful behavior. I realize nobody’s perfect and I don’t expect Christians to be – but it feels like they aren’t even interested in becoming a better person. Not to mention, it downplays the consequences of sin.

For Christ was able to cope with much more than we could, and was tested beyond what we could handle. He did not want to go to his duty, but did it.

For our sin: he had none, but for my sin.

Mark 14:27-42

²⁷And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
²⁸But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ²⁹Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” ³⁰Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” ³¹But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

³²They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. ³⁴And said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” ³⁵And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” ³⁷He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? ³⁸Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

We are all weak. We are all fallen. We get distracted: by the sins that beset us. We all have a list of favourites — from the pleasures of envy to gluttony, (to say nothing of wrath or lust). And looking at this is painful. It’s like looking at the mirror at my age: the marks of aging, that ugly stick show. So most of the time we do not look carefully.

But in Christ,we have to always be reforming, always trying to get better. We are told that the burdens we get are ones we can handle, but the weight at times feels huge. Some weeks we do better than others, but… our efforts are but nothing.

So we assume what we do is trivial. This is an error. For sin corrupts. Us, but not only us, those around us. The tolerance of sin leads to glorification of sin, and this lowers standards.

And when the standards stop working, don’t expect the law to protect your bubble: your civilization, or maintain your plumbing. For Hobbes got this right: without the standards inherent in a civilization — from voltage to materials engineering to basic morality — life becomes brutish and short.