It's Been Cold Outside

It has been unusually cold in Iowa lately. I can't remember the last time we've had snow on the ground for this long, or temperatures this low (-10 the other day) for this long. Last week one morning, however, I went out with a relatively light jacket, jeans, normal shoes, and no gloves and shoveled the dusting of snow we got yesterday off my walk, the sidewalk, and part of the drive way. I then got in the SUV and, after turning it on, noticed the thermometer on the rearview mirror said it was 22 degrees outside. Kind of cold, huh? (global warming)

I wasn't a bit cold. Hands weren't cold, ears weren't cold...no problem. A few months ago I would have needed gloves and a heavier coat in that temp. I also would have needed a hat or stocking cap.

But I've become desensitized to the cold. I'm used to it.

It's made me think a lot about our culture. If it is that easy to get desensitized to something as basic and downright painful as freezing temperatures; how much easier is it to get desensitized to more subjective things like our culture, the love of money, the sex and violence in our entertainment, and other social morays and degradations that we take for granted but may break the heart of God.

I have no patience for legalism...but we must guard our hearts and listen to the Spirit within us whispering to us when we pass from culturally sensitive and passionate about evangelism to culturally desensitized.