Sin For Sale?

“Cap and Trade” is a popular methodology bantered around by many politicians today on a systematic approach to curbing environmental emissions and, thus, reducing global warming. The essence of it is: reduce your carbon emissions and you can receive credits for it. If another company is struggling to reduce, they can purchase your credits and continue to produce their emissions for a price. In other words: it’s ok to pollute…as long as you pay for it. Although it may “theoretically” work, its actual achievements are full of debate.

Why do I bring up such a matter? Well…it reminded me of a similar methodology used by the Catholics. In Catholicism, when a person sins they need to confess and be absolved by a priest. Once you have been absolved, however, you still need to pay a penance which is proportional to the sin. Here comes the cap and trade analogy…“Indulgence”. This is the Catholic assertion that those who are extremely pious are considered to have built up an excess of merits or “goodness” and can, therefore, intervene on behalf of other sinners and either reduce or completely eliminate their penance. You can probably already see the practical predicaments this creates. During the Middle Ages this practice became so rife with abuse and corruption that a whole profit industry was formed and was not really contested until Martin Luther brought about the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s.

To try and barter our actions so that we can feel better…just isn’t working in my book; whether it be religious or environmental. When it comes to ‘sin’ and ‘paying a price’…the Bible is extremely clear on this point. Everyone has sin in their lives; everyone deserves to pay the price of death; Jesus Christ has paid that “sin debt” on our behalf so we don’t have to. There is no cap and trade when it comes to the economy of salvation. Christ paid it in full and all we have to do is believe and accept in faith this gift of grace.

Each time I hear about the cap and trade method in the news, I think about my salvation…and thank God that He has transcended all the politics and economic trials we face today.

Greg Morton
© December 17, 2009

Enthusiasm

If any of you know me, you’d concur with any of the colorful phrases my wife uses to describe my overall personality….”bump on a log”, “stick in the mud”, etc. etc. I may have a touch of eloquence in my writing, but when it comes to verbal interactions…well, that’s a bit wanting. But, hey…this commentary isn’t about me. I only preface this to set up a situation that recently struck a chord in me. The other morning at work, as people were arriving and saying “Good morning!” I responded with my usual “mornin…” with my typical low key, mumbling tone. My faithful assistant—who is at the desk next to mine—declared “Say it with a little more enthusiasm!”

Ok…now the real commentary (finally). I already knew the etymology of the word “enthusiasm”, however, I thought I’d share it since many of you may not realize how the word was derived. It comes from the Greek word enthousiasmos to be inspired. This was derived from en- + theos God. When we have enthusiasm we are literally saying we have inspiration from God.

Clearly this is a unique testament to how people—even through the evolution of language—view the relationship we can have with God. If you have a relationship with God, you should be filled with inspiration. He created, He suffered, He forgave, He forgives, He blesses, He inspires.

How in the world am I going to sit at my desk mumbling “mornin…” with a sourpuss face now? The reality is…I shouldn’t be able to. I am saved by an amazing grace that I don’t deserve (but I’ll gladly take it) and have the love of God in my heart. Perhaps my humanness and habits may preempt my proper response…but I plan on living up to the word “enthusiasm” with a revitalized and improved effort to communicate en+theos.

Blessings! (said, of course, with a happy, smiling face)

Greg Morton
© December 7, 2009

No God...No Problem! (or is it?)

There’s a new campaign this season being spearheaded by the American Humanist Association; their slogan “No God?... No problem!” Their contention is that you don’t have to have God to be good…you truly can be good for goodness’ sake. This slogan will be promoted on buses and other transit systems all throughout the holiday season.



Unfortunately the message is, in and of itself, correct. The problem is that “good” does not equate to “saved”…thus my difficulty with the whole premise.

I truly understand how the Christmas season can be a challenge for an unsaved person trying to relate to the religious significance that we, as Christians, hold dear. Our holiday has been pumped with so much commercialization it’s a wonder anyone, Christian or otherwise, can get past the hype and into the truth. We then add this concoction of traditions melding contrasting concepts: Santa vs. Jesus; malls vs. Messiah; parties vs. prayer; good times vs. godly times. It’s no wonder the atheists want their say.

The problem I personally have with this campaign is that it is implying “good” is good enough. While it’s true you don’t have to be religious per se in order to be good, the Bible is very clear that “good” is not good enough for salvation. This is the message I wish were being promoted throughout the holiday season.

No God?...for me, that’s a problem.

Greg Morton
© December 1, 2009