Culture Watch

December 11, 2011

It is interesting to see what makes headlines in our culture year after year. Sadly, headlines have become about all I read most of the time since the daily news has gotten so depressing and so slanted and full of half truths and even lies. I usually just pick out a few key articles to keep up-to-date on the local and world news. I skip the rest of the crap in the local “fish wrap!” I know that’s admitting to ignorance on my part, but at least it has been blissful ignorance. My world is a little nicer, not worrying about all the dogs and cats being abused, and all the local and international crime in my backyard, and the boogieman behind every bush.
When I was a child, although there were plenty of negatives in the news, a child could at least still read the newspaper and watch the news on TV without being exposed to extremely shameful topics. I used to use newspapers for current events in my classroom, but some of the stories of murders, rape, heinous crimes, and global terrorism have gotten so morbid, sexual, kinky, gruesome, and graphic, that I no longer risk it. This stuff makes me ashamed for humanity.
When I was a child, I didn’t ever hear non-stop talking heads pouring out scary, and threatening news, like today’s commentators do. Some of the top stories today aren’t as much about threatening situations as they are about shocking situations. The “shocking” stories are like thermometer gauges of whether or not you should risk leaving your comfortable house to run up to the store for something you want, or think you need, or just staying home with your lock and your glock. Random acts of violence have made us insecure even in our own homes, cars, schools and public spaces.
America is committing “cultural suicide” and self-destructing. We sense it. We know it. We’re unwinding! More and more people have a sense of helplessness and powerlessness. There is an ever-increasing disregard for morality on T.V. and in the movies. We have become hardened with the countless episodes of lawlessness that are paraded before our eyes in the mass media. Our culture is saturated with permissiveness and tolerance, and people everywhere are lacking in judgment and direction. These are not just people somewhere else in the world, they are our neighbors, our co-workers, our countrymen. This problem is not isolated only to the United States. Lawlessness, hopelessness and violence are exploding around the entire world.
So what’s the bottom line? Truly the world’s cultures, as a whole, have rejected God’s Word, and have been given over by God, to a reprobate mind that seeks self-gratification. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:28
The apostle Paul wrote of the last days, just prior to the Lord’s return. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:2-5
The Bible says: Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character. 1Cor. 15:33 Choose your company wisely!
Hang in there! Here’s last bit of the tough, but necessary news. And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” Matthew 10:22
Endure, maintain, witness, get bold for Christ, love, forgive, tell everyone with ears to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, live soberly, expect rejection, keep on keep’n on, and it will be worth it all! Soon and very soon we are going to see our King!

Posted in Christian Living