Since we are all living in the same society the spirit of the times is always influencing us in many different ways. Expressing this strongly, the spirit of the world confines us both in thought and action.
Structures of society, systems, and laws have influenced us from the time we were children. We know many of our actions and thoughts are not correct but are not able to overcome the structures and we become accustomed to going along. However, to be human we must continue to work against the structures that are not healthy.
A seminary professor in an article in the Catholic Times, wants us to think of the way society continues to influence us, not always correctly. We need to question societies' structures and direction. We are not dealing with something that is natural and absolute. Christians live in the world but we dream and work for the establishment of God's kind of world. We work for the world that is more in harmony to the one that Christ showed us.
We are told in Mark 14:38: "Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation.The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." One who prays in the proper fashion can't help but be concerned with those who are hurting and the problems in society.
The prophets of the Old Testament were sensitive to God's word and the wounds in society. Being sensitive to what was happening was a sign that the prophets were listening to their consciences. Conscience is what God has put into our hearts and is where God speaks to us.
Whether a person believes or not, whether a Christian or not, all have a conscience. However, if we hide the conscience deep within ourselves and follow the flow in society we will not hear God's voice.
There is always a need to form and examine our consciences: having a sensitive conscience needs effort on our part. To be alert and awake is a way of having a sensitive conscience. The teaching of the Social Gospel helps us to form our consciences correctly, making us truly free persons.
The world is this way and I can't help it, is becoming a slave and losing our freedom. Jesus came to make us free. "It was for liberty that Christ freed us. So stand firm, and do not take on yourselves the yoke of slavery a second time" (Gal. 5:1).
