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 Some
who are unaccustomed to high speed traffic are appalled at
having to enter a five lane "race." They often cause
accidents by stopping before entering the expressway, or by
entering too slowly. The approach ramps are usually built so
that a car may reach the speed of the main flow, and then merge
into that stream with a minimum of friction. It is less than
"cautious" or "careful driving" to do it
otherwise. It may be fatal! As one trucker shouted at a hesitant
driver, "Merge, man! You gotta merge! "
Our
high-speed society has developed this into a philosophy of this
age, with application in many fields. Conflict is generated, not
only by differing highway speeds, but by differences in
education, culture, race, and life goals. As the world
"shrinks" crowded people become more dependent upon
one another, and the cry "Merge, man!" becomes more
insistent. There are valid reasons for adjustment to the ways of
others — becoming a Jew, as under law, as weak, etc.,
"that we might gain" them to Christ (1 Cor. 9: 19-23).
Selfish concern is to give way to concern for others (Phil.
2:4). This kind of merging is a denial of self interest in order
that we might promote the well being of others.
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But
merging is not an end in itself. A steady flow of traffic may
assist us in reaching our destination but "everyone is
doing it" does not establish the speed laws of our land. We
may develop a "don't rock the boat" philosophy that is
equivalent to situation ethics — ignoring our obligation to
higher authority, and enthroning man as his own God. Merging may
become our way of "copping out" — of failing to meet
individual responsibilities. When this is the case, merging
becomes self-serving rather than an unselfish regard for others.
Merging
demands conformity. Individuality is sacrificed; and before we
are "brought under the power" of the world flow we
should make certain we are not placing our morals, our
conscience, our obligation to God upon the altar. To what are we
conforming? Is the true and ultimate good of others being served
by our "going along," or, have we become partaker in
their evil deeds'.
In
things pertaining unto God (and that is a wide field indeed,
Col. 3:17-25) the Christian marches to a different drum beat. He
battles against the tides of this world, for he journeys toward
a heavenly destination.
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