Vol.XVIII No.II Pg.1
April 1981

"So What?

Robert F. Turner

The television flickered, the regular program was interrupted, and a News Flash informed us that an attempt had been made to assassinate the President of the United States. We watched the replay, heard the conflicting reports, and were stunned by events taking place before our eyes.

At a public gathering it was difficult to concentrate upon business. Various ones asked repeatedly, "What is the explanation; how can these things be?" And then, someone told of hearing the news, and of rushing over to a group of men working nearby to tell them what had happened. His excited announcement had been cooled by a laconic, "So what!!"

And that, dear citizen, is one very good answer to your questions of "How?" and "Why?"

There will always be malcontents, "sick" people, glory seekers, etc., and they will get guns no matter how many "control" (?) laws are put on the books. But they will thrive in a climate of atheism and selfish rights movements. As the level of citizen morals drops, and our sense of "ought" is directed by a power no higher than our selfish interests, we become very shortsighted. We forget, if we ever knew, how dependent we are upon God and our fellowmen for our blessings. Selfish interests overshadow social and civil loyalties, there is little "patriotism" for God or country, and our President can be shot without disturbing our cool.

False, perverted, hypocritic Christianity has produced many cruel and ungodly results in the world; but despite this abuse and misuse, the leavening influence of our Lord's ideals has made a better world. Where Divine principles have been accepted as even a partial pattern for society the benefits are unmistakable. Experience demonstrates, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34).

The principle is no different in the church. Let selfish interests, worldly goals, and fleshly appetites prevail, and the number of "So What!" members will grow until Christ can be crucified again, and we see it not.