THE TODAY'S GENERATION OF LEPROSY

A very interesting sermon was preached by an Adventist Minister at 17 Mile, John Pundari SDA Church, outside Port Moresby on the 8th December 2018. The sermon was titled: "Jesus is coming back sooner than we think". What was very thought provoking was a phrase the preacher quoted from someone else during his sermon. He never elaborated further on the quote but I made a good and descriptive visualization of it. And, this is the qoute: "The Generation of Leprosy" in today's context.

Centuries gone there were generations of conservatives. The Melanesians had sets of laws, rules and taboos that were passed on from time immemorial, purely oral, but strictly followed. For instance, sex topics were not openly discussed, incest was a taboo, women seeing their monthly periods weren't allowed to cook or serve food, marriage between immediate relatives weren't allowed, men used to go hunting and fishing, the women folk used to cook and nurse children, etc. Biblical Hebrews had similar practices, and Jesus and the apostles also preached similar concepts.

I remember, back in the 80's, wearing of men's clothes or inappropriate clothes worn by women folk were perceived unusual hence gossip and criticism naturally kicked in. This was a culture shock because of the high dominance of accepted norms at the time.

When inappropriate or unethical practices and behaviours get repeated many times, the shock wave, the guilt, or ethical judgement of what is right and wrong become non-existen! This is exactly what is happening these days.

The so-called globalization, TV commercials, rock & popular music, social media and internet have become main conduits for the new emerging global culture. This emerging culture is rapidly taking over the Melanesians' (and other tribal) ethical norms and the biblical culture like an invading plant!

Nowadays, we don't feel any different when we hear of same sex marriage, incest, walk in and out of marriage, cheating among marriage couples, sex outside of marriage, sex shows, calling the Lord's name in vain, inappropriate dress codes, make-up, cosmetic surgery, listening to bad music, watching bad movies, child abuse, no respect for elderly, egoism and pride, corporate/public corruption, and so many more. These are all the constituents of the emerging global culture.

If we cannot feel any different between ethical practices and the emerging global culture, this is a huge spiritual problem! We surely are a generation of leprosy who have had our nerves destroyed and lost all sensations.