Some versions use the word “lawlessness.” The Message calls it the “overwhelming spread of evil.” But in any case, things are going to get bad. We already know what that looks like to some degree, don’t we?
We have priests sexually abusing children and then covering up the evidence. We have pastors abusing their wives, and wives killing their husbands. Parents murdering their children in cold blood. Marriages dissolving into bitter divorce all around us, families ripped apart. Corruption in our governments, genocide, torture, constant threat of nuclear war. Division and bickering in our churches.
It’s discouraging to say the least. And how do we respond?
Cynicism. Everything is bad, and people can’t be trusted. It’s not worth trying. Put up a wall and pray for the end to come. Isolation (in heart if not in lifestyle). Giving up.
Denial. It’s bad out there (world), but not in here (church). Things in the world will work themselves out eventually. Christian bubble: I go to church, so I’m okay and my churchgoing friends/family are okay. I will continue to surround myself with this idea and will not allow anything to challenge me.
Acceptance with Love. It can be bad both out there and in here, but with God all things are possible. Realistic view of human nature vs. divine goodness. Keep hoping, trying, and believing. Continue to love because God loves us. Forgive always, pray without ceasing. Tender-hearted.
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:10-12
May we continue in the love of Jesus always.
5 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 28, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Rachel
Yes . . . much agreed. Our perspective affects everything. Thanks for posting.
Rachel
May 28, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Larry Who
Don’t forget to include finger-pointing. We Christians love to point out the mistakes and errors of believers and sinners alike while we are sitting cozy-like in our favorite pew seat, singing along with the choir, “We Shall Not Be Moved!”
May 29, 2009 at 8:57 pm
annaldavis
Rachel, thanks for your comment. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could easily see things as God sees them? My own perspective is so often faulty.
Larry, how about finger-pointing and clique formation? “We” have it right, “they” don’t. We are free from wickedness and they so clearly are not.
“sitting cozy-like in our favorite pew seat”
Nice description!
May 30, 2009 at 12:36 am
Cindy Hanson
I’ve never found pews very cozy…. nor trying to lump th battle of good and evil into one gigantic category. Love is the only way to battle, and that seems to somehow take the fight out of it!! Interesting topic as always!!! Peace and care to you… Cindy
May 31, 2009 at 7:48 am
truthwalker
I think that if you look at per capital statistics, there is actually less abuse and murder now than ever before. Sweden, for instance has 1-2 homicides per 100,000 people. The US has 5 to 6 per 100,000. Looking at evidence from the middle ages, this isn’t actually that bad.
Priests have always had a problem with children. Read about the Jesuit operations feudal Japan. The Japanese have always had thing for “lady boys” young, feminine boys who played the part of both geisha and prostitutes. Understand that this was not a dirty, hidden thing, to the Japanese, but something openly accepted and privately practiced.) The Jesuits happily used the services of the lady boys, and included it’s use in their witnessing members of the Japanese upper class. Saying (basically) “Our Lord said it is good for a man not to touch a women, and forbade sex between two men, but said nothing of a man and a child.” Again, the evidence says this is happening less now than it used to.
Proverbs 21:19 and 25:24 says misery in marriage is nothing new. Divorce without stigma means people are getting divorced who should really work it out. It also means people suffering terrible have a way out of the suffering, and that’s a good.
“Corruption, torture, genocide, and nuclear war” Well, the first is at least at old as government it self, the second commanded by God (stoning is not a quick or painless death.) the third commanded by God (the clearing of the Holy Land was obviously systematic genocide.) Logically, if God commands it, it can’t be wrong all the time. And nuclear war? Well, that one sucks. But if makes you feel any better we had enough chemical weapons at the close of WWI to kill about 80% of the world. Through out history we have usually had the means to kill most people, it is the will to use it that is lacking.
What has changed, is the power of media to beam live images of atrocity right to your living room. For that reason most people think that their children are in danger of a school shooting, even though more kids die in football training accidents at school then peer shootings. Seeing is believing.
Love and prayer are a good start. They give one the peace to have a clear mind to attack the problems with. Alone they are not enough though. James 2:16 tells us that if you see someone who needs help and just saying something loving, rather than acting, what good is done? The real answer to group problems is never individual action, but group action. If you want to work on these problems organize. Do you think Europe has half the murder rate of the US because of an unattainable blessing or because of a tangible system they have put in place which the US could use if her people chose?