Many thousands of Australians will be involved today in the annual "Clean Up Australia" event. This is a very worthwhile project, encouraging people to appreciate the natural beauty of the country in which we live, and to be proactive in cleaning away the rubbish that pollutes and defiles. Previous years have seen very significant results.

The very first chapter of the Bible tells us that God created mankind to rule over the earth. However, since the Fall of man into sin, that rule has turned from care and husbandry into exploitation and pollution. Since the growth of cities, in particular, where people have been removed from close contact with (and dependence upon) the land, the tendency to pollute has become even greater. But those who appreciate that "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (Ps. 24:1) will be keen to see it cleaned up.

The efforts of the many involved in this project today are to be commended. It is just a pity that it is held at a time when Christians, who ought to be at the forefront of the movement, are involved with church.

It is somewhat ironic that this day of cleaning up the environment, which has been applauded by out political leaders, should occur the day after the moral pollution of our city which was actively supported by those same political leaders! There is a strange dichotomy of thought in our society today where people can get very emotional over one form of pollution, but be quite tolerant, or even supportive of another.

This was seen, in another area, where the majority of the community are greatly incensed (as they should be) at the apparent tolerance shown by our present Governor General towards those involved in the sexual abuse of children. However, as a caller to talk-back radio pointed out last week, there has been almost no comment on the fact that he seems to have been equally tolerant of adultery and homosexuality. Offences against children are clearly condemned in the Bible, but so too are adultery and homosexuality! All three will bring us under the wrath and judgement of God.

There is no doubt that our city and our country generally need cleaning up. But we need to recognise that it is not just in external matters that cleaning up is necessary. Jesus railed against the religious leaders of his day who were concerned only with outward aooearance. He called them 'hypocrites' because they cleaned the outside of the cup and dish, "but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." (Matt. 23:25-28)

It is important for us to realise that the God whom we worship, is more concerned about inward purity than about external appearances. When Samuel went to anoint a new king from the sons of Jesse he was very impressed with the first young man he saw, but the Lord rejected him. Samuel learned that "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)

While it is right to be concerned with the pollution of the environment, we need to recognise that the root of the problem is the same root from whence comes child abuse, adultery, homosexuality and the more socially acceptable sins of greed, deceit, envy, slander, etc. All come from the corruption of the human heart, that we all are infected with. (Mark 7:21,22).

It is a noble goal "Clean Up Australia", but we must recognise that we are only playing around on the surface unless we get to the root of the problem.

And that is where you and I come in! According to Jesus teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, the agent that God has created for the enlightening of society and the maintenance of moral purity is the Church! We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth! (Matt. 5:13,14) If the society around us is in putrefying from moral decay it is because we have lost our saltiness. We need to get our own house in order if we are to have any significant impact on the world around us.

There has been a tendency in the past for Christians to be lampooned as moral purists who stand in judgement on society. This was never the picture Jesus gave. He who was the most pure man who ever lived was a friend of the scum of society. Let us clean up Australia! But let us do it by the example of pure and godly lives that are lights in the darkness that give glory to God.

Rev. John Davies
3 March 2002