A FORUM FOR COMMUNITY ISSUES : Sermons / ADVICE FROM THE CLERGY

Why is human life so cheap? Because to a lot of people God is dead--there is no place for the sacred in their lives. When that happens, they are dehumanized and therefore feel they have little or no value. When we do not value ourselves we do not value anyone else.

When we look at life in our city and our culture today, we need to remember: Desperate people often do desperate things. Demeaned people often do demeaning things. Dehumanized people often do dehumanizing things. Angry people often do angry things. Hurting people often do hurtful things. Insecure people often do insecure things. People who do not value themselves often do things to devalue others. That does not justify all of the things they do, but it does help us to understand them.

When God is removed from a life or from a culture, then we become desperate, demeaned, dehumanized, angry, hurt, insecure. God makes us human. God gives us balance. God gives us value. God assures us that we are loved, no matter how difficult the situation. God helps us to value ourselves and see value in others.

Human life is always cheap when God is removed from it. When you can believe that you have value in yourself, then you can believe that what you do has value. Don’t lose your grip on God, and pray that he will never let go of you. For he assures you that human life is sacred and valuable. You have value.

Your life is precious. Don’t throw it away.