I want to clarify that I’m talking exclusively about America here. (There have been much worse times in international history.) Personally, I think that the current obsession with the end times is simply a trend and certainly no more relevant than a trend. Frankly, we as Christians are commanded to live life like it’s our last day on earth… and if the Rapture is indeed near, then we’re going to be gone and that’s that.

To the second point: in assuming that it was worse before you have to clarify how. For example, back in the fifties, nearly everbody was considered a good person. Good families, good dad’s, good mom’s. Just good folks, all around. Well, those parents children spawned the sexual revolution, and the widespread rebellion of the sixties.

Why did the children rebel?

Because they didn’t see anything worth living for in what their parents were doing. And for the most part, there probably wasn’t besides it being ‘good’. The problem was that in everyone being good there was no line between real Christians and people who were just…nice. Everybody believed in God.

Did many truly pursue him? Not that you could tell. I would almost argue that it’s a better atmosphere now than before. Why? Because the line is clear between Christians and non-Christians. There’s less luke-warmness. Is this worse than before? You tell me.

So, Tim, I agree with you in that it’s the corrupt family system. I don’t think it’s so much the rampant immorality. Sure, that has its effects, but it was lukewarm inaction that started this all.

On the second point, I would like to point to Romans 1-2. I think that may counter that point.

Lastly, I agree, and I made that point in the article.

Well done. All the more reason to encourage people to fast and pray on the Monday before elections.

You can read my post about it here:

http://stevengivler.blogspot.com/2006/10/fasting-for-america.html

As for Salient - to assert that society does not get worse is to discard the notion that things will indeed get worse in the end times. That’s not an assertion I’m willing to accept.

That goes double for the idea that there is no direct casaul link between a lack of God-honoring behavior and levels of crime and violence. It should be obvious that failing to honor God, especially in the way we protect our families and raise our children, contributes directly to crime and violence.

Just because Europe’s crimes tend to take on other forms, many of which are not reported as widely as are ours here in America, does not disprove this fact.

Thanks,

Steven

Firstly, we need to reject the notion that society today is “getting worse”. Murder, homosexuality and other sin have been around since the Fall. Although we should never consider such sin as being acceptable, we need to remember that our age is no worse (or no better) than any other.

Secondly, we need to reject the notion that there is a direct, causal link between a community/nation’s lack of God-honouring behaviour and levels of crime and violence. Western Europe is as secular and non-believing as it ever has been in its history, and we do not see the same levels of violence and crime perpetrated in America. We need to recognise that perhaps there is something unique to America’s culture and laws that allow such things to happen, while similar things happen less often in other countries.

Lastly, we need to remember that God’s solution to the problem of sin is the Gospel of Christ, and that God’s way of changing people’s behaviour is through the Spirit’s work in the church.

Amen, brother.