The other day in a blog I discussed the seven deadly sins as essential to understanding the necessity of Christianity (http://www.wayneblogs.com/2014/05/the-christian-perspective-do-you-get-it.html). Today I would like to discuss the eighth deadly sin which in many respects is the root of all others. The seven deadly sins are wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. The eighth sin and key to understanding all others is insecurity. We are most careful to do nothing in the name of insecurity and thereby acknowledge it, yet that is surely the ultimate source of most every other sin. The close and abiding companion of insecurity is fear; in the words of FDR in his first inaugural: "nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror..." But often rather than paralyzing us, this fear is converted into compulsive, sinful actions.
The first order of business, then, is to cope and preferably outflank fear and insecurity. Key in this regard is learning to trust in God and to implant oneself within a long-term perspective. Much that afflicts us today is sourced in lack of faith and obsession with the short-term. Billy Graham is surely right when he sees this as a national crisis. We had best learn very quickly not just to say but to actually believe "in God we trust" and to rest in its assurances.
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