corruption

In a biblical context corruption has been endemic among humankind ever since the Fall (Gen 6:11-12; Ps 14:1-3). Our minds are prone to corrupt thoughts, ambition and greed (Titus 1:15-16); corrupt thoughts give rise to corrupt speech (Prov. 19:28; James 3:6) and corrupt actions.

Corruption is not just about specific acts such as bribery but about our very mindsets and deep-seated behaviours. Consider the teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ that we cannot serve God and Mammon (Matt 6: 19-24). How do we cope with this injunction? It is very difficult in this materialistic world, not to try to settle for some sort of compromise with which we can make ourselves feel comfortable. Given our human nature we try to re-assure ourselves that we are leading the simple life and denying ourselves unnecessary things but as soon as we compare ourselves with the way many others live, in our own country let alone in poorer parts of the world, the discomfort crowds in; we try to justify ourselves but even on the briefest self-examination, we fail. In the way we delude ourselves about such things, we are corrupting godly values. As sinful people we are inherently corrupt