During a recent conversation with my sister I had a rare glimpse into the way the average 20-something views life. To be honest it was more than a little scary. The icing on the cake was when she asked me my view on homosexuality. After giving her my opinion in as much gracious love as possible she responded with, "but you can't help who you love". To be honest I was blown away by such a ridiculous statement. In one of the most important matter's of life it seems my generation is content to abdicate all responsibility, trusting to fate or a whim or who knows what else. Her belief in "pre-destination" would make the staunchest Calvinist cringe.
Unfortunately love isn't the only place people have relinquished responsibility for their own lives. They are content to let their faith (or non-faith as the case may be) be shaped by the cultural milieu that surrounds them. Practicing it if it's convenient or to appease their parents/grandparents. For all the rhetoric of "my rights" people are willing to give up the most fundamental rights. What is the use of free speech if there is nothing worth believing in to speak for? When beliefs change more often than the flavor of the month at Baskins-Robbin.
My sister's comment shows another disturbing trend. If you can't help who you love, it's just as logically plausible that you can't help when you love them. This spells disaster for responsible, committed relationships. People marry the "one they can't help but love" and then when something changes the refrain is "I just don't love him/her any more".
This inability to take responsibility has flooded the Church as well. The Christian refrain is "I can't help but do (insert sin), it's part of my fallen nature". In many ways this is even more terrifying than the culture that surrounds the Church because it is a rejection of God on two levels. It rejects the claims of what God has already done through Christ's death on the cross, and it is a rejection of what He promises to do.
The story of Scripture is one of choice, of taking responsibility. Joshua's invitation to Israel, "Choose this day whom you will serve" is the same invitation that Jesus continues to make. It is a call for individuals to take responsibility for the most important decision in their life instead of entrusting it to some other.
I don't want the new excuse to be "I can't help what I believe". Make an active choice and commit yourself to it whole-heartedly, without any reservation.
