Consequences of Irresponsibility

Edward F Lundwall, Jr.

The recession that our nation is going into has many asking why and what caused this? The politicians and campaigns make much of this and what was done to cause this type of thing. But economic recession is not the only thing that afflicts our national and individual life. As a person would back off and look at the whole picture of individual groups, and lifestyles, the conclusion that must be made that much of American culture, yes, and world culture, can be characterized as a lifestyle of irresponsibility. There is need to identify the basic source of irresponsibility and then to examine the consequences of individual practices.

All creation has causes to the effects that we can see. This is the very nature of everything that exists. All the effects that we see in our world have causes, yes, a succession of causes. Many people just simply want to enjoy the effects without examining what caused the effects. They are talking about the effects of global warming and look for various things that might have caused the warming. Many want to say that the burning of fossil fuels have caused our world to become warmer. Some think that it is sunspots from our sun that has created the warming effect.

It is not popular to think about what might be the cause of many other social and physical problems. The universe we can observe has a very intelligent design. Indeed, scientists have identified at least 200 circumstances that must be in place for life to exist upon our earth. Astronomy has not been able to identify any other planetary system that has these necessary conditions on them.

Secular scientists are trying to establish what can be done to preserve life on this planet. As with any invention or created being to be able to utilize the benefits that are inherent with its design, there is need to both establish its inherent purpose by consulting the inventor or creator of that. Far too many people do not want to stop and think long enough about who or what is the author of the intelligent design found in the material of earth and in living things. The neglect of doing this has many people looking into the immediate causes of various things without stopping long enough to discern who the intelligent designer was. Because atheistic secular and humanistic leaders and teachers do not want to admit that there is an intelligent designer powerful enough to bring to pass the design, confusion reigns in seeking to bring the consequences into an adjustment.

Indeed when each individual tries to be his own authority, confusion and conflict enhance the problems of national and international life. Because man is not his own creation, he has neither the essential knowledge or unity and to make overall solutions to these difficulties. Even in areas where the dynamics of life are known, far too many are not responsible enough to use this knowledge to prevent adverse consequences in their lives. When man wants to be his own god. he devises his own perspectives to suit his emotional desires. By ignoring absolute truths and the nature of life, he becomes irresponsible and suffers the consequences of his behavior. As the Bible says: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal 6:7).

A review of present problems and conflicts will establish that secular and non-biblical world culture is a source of the consequences of irresponsible conflict and suffering. This present recession is largely due to irresponsibility both of greedy mortgage brokers and buyers who want to live beyond their means. This is multiplied by the irresponsibility of bureaucratic overseers to enforce their regulation laws. The overwhelming number of home foreclosures come from variable mortgage interest rates. Both the lenders and the borrowers were irresponsible and not calculating that when these rates went up, whether the borrowers would be able to make the payments. Foreclosures are disasters both to the borrower and to the mortgage holder. Mass foreclosures undercut the value of properties on a broad scale which caused huge losses to the mortgage holders and others when the foreclosed properties are sold. The responsible thing for these banks would be to avoid foreclosure by simply not insisting upon raising mortgage interest rates beyond the ability of the owners to make the payments. The consequences of this irresponsible behavior has endangered not only national economic survival, but has international consequences as well. Whole institutions have gone into failure and debters have had to be bailed out by hundreds of billions of dollars from the government, all because of irresponsibility.

Irresponsibility characterizes the world culture especially when biblical orientation is ignored. When parents do not raise their children to accept responsibility as a foundational orientation because all humanity are responsible to God. The Bible teaches: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth (does), that shall he also reap (experience).” (Gal 6:7). Without trust in the existence of God and His character of being a “rewarder of those who seek Him,” is it any wonder that people don’t experience the enduring good character in their life experience?

The deeds of the natural sinful nature are the result of people trying to get benefits and experiences that are contrary to a responsible relationship with God. Whatever role people find themselves, trusting God enough to be practicing obedience to His principles of life will avoid the consequences of wrong and the blessings of a responsible lifestyle.