DECADE OF DECLINE

From My Perspective - - -

Are we living in a decade of decline or decadence – or both decline and decadence? On Friday, March 07, 2014, The Talking Points Memo on The O’Reilly Factor stated the following: “Russia's violation of international law raises a very unpleasant question, is the USA now incapable of confronting dangerous behavior? The short answer is no. We can still right wrongs if we have the will. But the stark truth is America is getting weaker on almost every front. Let's Start With Economics…median income for Americans has dropped about seven percent… On The Military Front, the nation is exhausted and therefore, weaker. Iraq and Afghanistan have sapped money and manpower and left the American public with no appetite to right international wrongs. The …administration is even seeking to downsize the army -- a major mistake in a very dangerous world. On The Social Front, we are heading for disaster. The collapse of the traditional American family speaks for itself with almost 41 percent of American babies now born out of wedlock, many to poor, ill-educated women who cannot support them. The educational system is corrupt with powerful teachers unions refusing to impose responsible discipline in the public schools. Children at risk are beset with corruptive influences as the cynical entertainment industry peddles garbage to young people with little opposition from an apathetic media which tilts secular left. Intoxicating Agents Like Marijuana Are Now Celebrated as freedom-giving substances that should be available everywhere. Drug pushers are defined as nonviolent criminals who just need a little rehab not punishment. Crude behavior at sports arenas is tolerated as is lying under oath in the nation's courtrooms which are under siege by nuisance lawsuits designed by legal shakedown artists who have absolutely nothing to lose in a system which refuses to hold them accountable…”

A large part of the reason for decline and decadence is the departure from basic values and standards. The Standard for a nation is given in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” What prevails within the culture of the United States at this time – righteousness or unrighteousness? What are the guiding standards for the society – Biblical verities or political correctness advocacies? What is the moral and spiritual tilt of the nation – toward God or away from anything religious and/or spiritual? Jeremiah 14:10-11, 14 shares these words of what a culture in decline and decadence can expect: “This is what the Lord says about this people: They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the Lord does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins. Then the Lord said to me: Do not pray for the well-being of this people…Then the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.” In Jeremiah 5:31, the words are clear: “The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way.”

Have we as a nation arrived in Gomorrah and is God’s judgment imminent? In Matthew 24:3-14, the disciples asked Jesus: “What will be the sign of the end of the age?” Jesus responds: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places…Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 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. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” The remainder of the Chapter amplifies the preferred and prevailing unrighteousness that will occur. How then are the people of God to live amid the cultural chaos? A brief summary is given in Romans 13:11-14, “And do this, understanding the present time…let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently - not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy…Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Consider these things with me.