Thursday, May 15, 2014

DRIPS AND CHIPS

From My Perspective - - -

How does a Culture become indifferent to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? At what point was a cultural decision reached that tolerance of mendacity (deception) and matter-of-factness would be acceptable for the norm? How (or when) did the focus of the nation shift to a theme of inequality – inequality of wealth; inequality of women; inequality of races; inequality of same-gender legal rights? At what point was it decided that foundational principles of correct and acceptable behavior were to be invalidated and moral values were to be jettisoned? When did the majority decide to surrender to the inevitable? Whatever happened to the will and character of a person, nation and culture that allowed for an anything goes is alright?

Like dripping water or the chiseling away of a boulder, the basic values of a Judeo-Christian ethic and value are being suppressed and removed. An example is when the people of California voted by a significant majority to ban same-gender marriage but the Court ruled the will of the people to be deemed unconstitutional. Increasingly throughout the world, there is a denying of “Christian” rights whereas the demands of Islam are being protected and instituted. People of Syria are still being gassed – and it is ignored; “Christian” girls are taken captive in Nigeria and persuaded to be converts to Islam – and the general society is more silent than not; in States where Marijuana has been legalized and children have gained access to it, not too many seem or sound concerned. In seems as though an impervious shell is enveloping the culture. One who is impervious is one who believes he/she is “incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected” by the trends and movements of the day and time in which we are living.

In terms of a work, character and ethical commitment for one’s life, The Amplified Bible asks and declares in Proverbs 6:9-15, “How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep - So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless]. A worthless person, a wicked man, is he who goes about with a perverse (contrary, wayward) mouth. He winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs [to mislead and deceive] and teaches with his fingers. Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it. Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.”

We have successfully allowed for the Dripping and Chipping away at the basic Christian values to the point where they appear extinct within the culture of our day. Are you a person who cares or one who has become careless? Can you be a person who will take a stand and attempt, by God’s Grace and Power, to make a difference in our culture and world? If you doubt that one person can make such a difference, the testimony of Dwight L. Moody bears witness that God can and use one person to accomplish His will. Moody was touched in his soul by the words of a revivalist: “the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to him!” Those words changed his life and he was used greatly to impact a world in a positive Biblical way. Institutions that he founded continue to this day – Moody Bible Institute; Moody Press; Moody Radio Network. Can you – will you – be that man/woman who will risk anything or everything to impact this perverse and depraved generation? Consider these things with me.

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