Contemporary Survival of the Fittest

What do you think of when you hear the phrase "Survival of the Fittest"?  Darwin?  Evolution?  Big strong cavemen?  Dinosaurs?  Do you think it is a concept that is still applicable today?  Still in the same way?

Well, let me tell you what I think, since this is my blog....  :)

I think that the evolutionary understanding of the concept is very much a reality in many parts of the world, including parts of our own relatively wealthy nation.  That's not what I'm here to write about though, as you likely suspected.

I think that "Survival of the Fittest" represents a mentality in our society today.  It is a way of life.  It no longer refers to a literal need to preserve one's own life, but rather, in our contemporary culture, it describes an urge we all feel to justify our own existence.  "Survival of the Fittest" in 2011 means "Hey, this is why I deserve to live!"

This need to convince others we are valuable often shows up as boasting of our own goodness and/or accomplishments, thereby offering proof that we are contributing to society.  Alternately, if I can't think of any redeeming qualities in myself, I might just try to prove that you are scum, and therefore if one of us has to go, it should be you.

Sometimes though, this idea shows up a little more subtly.  Individuality seems to be a worthwhile trait- you certainly don't want to extinguish a one-of-a-kind!  So we turn to distinction to preserve ourselves.  Distinction leads to separation, and fear of anyone that is different, because their brand of different might threaten my right to life.  Do you see where I'm going with this?  Have you ever seen the damage this causes?  Racism?  Sexism?  Sectarianism?  Homophobia?  Middle school cruelty?  The list goes on and on.

Sadly, the problem seems to intensify when you consider religion- especially in the Bible Belt.  Now we're not only justifying our existence, but also our right to live forever.  One reason there is a church on every corner is because each one of them wants the world to know that their theology is better than that of the church across the street.  It is so important to let people know how superior their faith is that they will bus kids in from every county within a 2-hour drive to make sure they hear the true gospel at their church instead of the heresy of some wolf that has breached the fold.

REALITY CHECK!!  Guess what?  None of us deserves to live!  We're all selfish scumbags at our core.  We have been since before we were born.  It is the reality of "Survival of the Fittest"- it is no theory!  It has existed since the Fall of Adam when he decided that God could not be trusted.  You may be familiar with some of it's other aliases- "Me first!", "Looking out for #1"- or it's pseudo-religious alter ego: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"

The truth is that none of us can justify our own existence, and apart from the grace of God and His desire for us, we would not be alive and prospering today.

Oh, and if you think that you "saw the light" or "got right" or any other form of self-glorifying distinction, you can go ahead and drop that now....