Many concerned people ask, “What has happened? How have we come so far”. What is wrong here? There was another report of a
shooting at a school, and according to news reports that makes over 700 such
shootings in a year. The President is quoted as saying, “it’s got to stop”.
The Christians know the basic reason
is that we are sinners. And sinners sin. That’s their nature. But it is also
our nature to lay blame. The culture we live in has its influence on behavior. Jesus said he left us “in the world”, but He also provides His Spirit to guide
us here.
Paul speaks of the influence of the culture
when he says of the people at Ephesus that they “had been dead In trespasses and
sin” and “walked according to the course of this world” Eph.2,1.2. They were
influenced by the world’s peer pressure, the culture they were living in, and
God sent His spirit to open their eyes to see the right way to walk.
Every
age has its own thoughts, values, and culture. Living in its influence
gradually leads to a sort of moral decay, lulling us to sleep, gradually causing
us to accept society’s latest values, so we shrug our shoulders and say “it is
what it is”.
Jesus
intends for us to live in this world. (John 17,15) His prayer says, “that Thou
shouldst keep them from evil”, so worldly influence is impossible to escape,
but he has also given us His Word and Spirit to guide us, and so helps us walk
in His light.
His
Word and God’s Spirit gives us the power to live according to Kingdom values and
not the spirit of the age. May we so do, God helping us.
GPD 6/10/14
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