The Pulpit Speaks: February 1, 1958

An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.

One of the most tragic and appalling scenes of history is brought out in the dramatic scenes in the book of Genesis. In the third chapter, God goes out into the Garden of Eden and looks at the development of all of His creatures.

The tiny brooks were still winding their way to the rivers, the rivers were still moving toward the seas, and the seas were still flowing toward the ocean. The sun was still making its daily journey across the skies and the moon and stars were making their nightly appearances.

The many animals were grazing upon the thousand hills and apparently everything was just as planned but man — where was he? God goes back into the Garden and looks everywhere it was possible and probable that man would be, but no man did He find. Finally He cries out, “Adam, Adam, where art thou?” Somewhere hidden in the wilderness of guilt and disobedience Adam comes out and reminds God that he was naked and had gone to get some clothes.

This is the beginning of modern world conditions. It was at this point that human life began to degenerate. It was at this point that man failed to live up to the expectations of God. And it was at this point that God had to inaugurate a program for the restoration of man. The hundreds and hundreds of years that have passed give definite evidence that God has been faithful in His plan but man has been hiding somewhere in the wilderness, trying to manufacture excuses for his shortcomings.

In the light of current world conditions, each one of us should be asking ourselves, “Where am I?” The conditions of our day demand that each of us dedicate and rededicate ourselves to positive living. One of the dismal, tragic aspects of today’s living is wrapped up in the mass conformity that is so evident in all that we undertake.

The complacency of the youngster who goes to school satisfied with just making passing grades because “everyone else is doing it.” The indifference on the part of many to their moral and spiritual obligations because “everyone else is doing it.”

The moral, spiritual, and intellectual daredevils of yesterday have just about deserted the horizon. People are satisfied to be a part of the passing parade — the “crowd,” if you please. If the world is going to be better, it will be better only when the ideas and standards of people become higher and nobler. We cannot or, rather, we must not, lull ourselves to sleep under the impression that “everyone else is doing it.” Somewhere in the world conditions today we must stop and ask ourselves just where we are.

In the light of growing immorality, unprecedented crime, and unheard of human activities, what contributions are we making towards making this world what God would have it be? This is no time for any of us to be standing out in the bushes, trying to evade the real issues of the day. The world cannot go on with people of little or no decision. The world is in the hands of people who today are running away from the real issues of the day. Somewhere above the world conditions of today, God is asking each of us, “Where are you?”

We are the modern Adams. We hold direct responsibility for all that takes place. We can try to be indifferent, or take whatever other paths that many of us would like to, but all of those will but make world conditions worse. Each one must hear the voice of God speaking to us, reminding us of our personal responsibilities to world conditions.