Breakdown of the System
Anti-Vaccine Doctor
Arrogance: having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.
Have you noticed an increase in the arrogance level in our society lately or is it just me? Am I the only one who sees evidence of exaggerated self-worth all around me?
Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. - 1 Samuel 2:3
Today's reading from the second chapter of the first book of Samuel gives us a simple command. Don't be arrogant. Whatever we do will be judged by God, for God knows everything.
If I believe I am all that important, would I care? Wouldn't I think myself justified for my actions, since I am better than all others?
The problem with this command is it will fall on deaf ears. Only those who are not arrogant will listen.
People who choose to ignore the rules will believe this one doesn't apply to them as well. So, what we have is a communication problem. The ones who need to hear the message have tuned out.
I read a news report this past week of a doctor who refused to have his children vaccinated against measles, believing it is better to have them get the disease and become immune naturally.
Amid this outbreak, Wolfson actively urges people to avoid vaccines. “We should be getting measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, these are the rights of our children to get it,” he told the Arizona Republic. “We do not need to inject chemicals into ourselves and into our children in order to boost our immune system.”- The Washington Post
If you get to see a video clip of him, he appears arrogant. He knows better than the rest of us, and he makes that claim defiantly. Some people are fans, while others find him irresponsible.
We cannot legislate against arrogance effectively. we also cannot use the legal system to protect our children against everything from viruses and diseases to kidnapping and abuse.
The parents in Maryland who let their ten-year-old and six-year-old walk to the park unsupervised may also be considered arrogant for defying the law in an effort to teach their children to be independent and responsible. Should the law govern their choices in raising their kids?
I believe there should be no surprise that the more we legislate behavior, the more arrogant we become. We lash out and fight back against the over-protective rules and laws that well-intentioned individuals and groups have fought so hard for, and I can understand why.
No matter how we feel about these incidents, we can probably agree that the decision on the part of individuals to take matters into their own hands and defy the laws can be troubling. When we stop respecting the laws we create, we lose our sense of security, and our confidence in each other's judgment diminishes.
Jesus taught us to simplify our rules down to one. Maybe it is time for us to take a close look at that and give our legislatures a much needed long vacation.
What do you think?
More to come...