What Has Happened?

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!"
                                              ~Galations 5:14-15

So the discussion has come up recently about how times have changed. Yes, some of us don't like change, and sometimes it's not for the better--which was the main opinion during the discussion. Perhaps Tales of Avonlea strikes a familiar chord in our memory banks as we remember the simplicity of life, when we enjoyed the one room school houses. Perhaps we remember more fondly through Little House on the Prairie, as we watch the town work together for the betterment of their neighbors (Nellie excluded ;)). Perhaps you weren't around during the Great Depression, but I bet you watched a large family named The Waltons suffer through the economic trials with little money, but yet so much love amongst themselves and neighbors.

So what has happened to these model examples of peaceful tranquility in society? Where did the care, the love, the concern go? We now see a world filled with selfish "me firsts" and not enough "others firsts". We see a world filled with hustle and bustle like a bunch of ants hurrying to and from their homes. We see individuals filled with hate and loneliness and pride and turning their backs on people who desperately reach out for help. Where has God gone in all this craziness?
      
But maybe let's first focus not on where God is, but on what has happened to society. What has happened to this generation of people? Let's take a quick look at the problems and then, let's look at the possible solutions.

So....what's wrong with society?

People have become selfish. It's always been one of mankind's tragic faults, but in recent decades, the problem has become more noticeable. People would rather text their friends in waiting rooms than strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to them. And it's a "who can get to the check out first" at the supermarket. But this is not only a problem among the rich with the rich and middle class citizen with his equal. When many people see others with needs, they would rather wear blinders, focusing on their own needs instead of reaching out by saying a word of encouragment or providing help by some other means. They find it easier to look away and focus on their own problems, instead of reaching out a helping hand to someone less fortunate than themselves.

Solution: Unfortunately, this is also a concern in the Christian realm. Perhaps it is more of a concern as we are representing the Lord every time we get out of bed, walk out the door, walk into the office at work. So instead of texting, perhaps we could try to talk about the Lord to the person sitting next to us in the waiting room. And instead of rushing to be first in line at the check out, we can invite someone to go ahead of us (and especially if they have fewer items than we do). God gives us opportunities to help people. Will we choose to put others' needs ahead of our own as Christ did?


People have become greedy. This is of course, another downfall of man's nature, and it runs pretty close to being selfish. But greed has taken mankind to great lengths to achieve personal possessions, power, and wealth; and just like selfishness in some cases, no matter who gets hurt in the process. They say that money is the root of all evil and it certainly goes without saying that greenbacks speak very loudly to some individuals. People have been willing steal for it, and in some cases, kill for it. But perhaps, it's not just money that people are being greedy over. Perhaps, it involves slandering a colleague to get a certain job position. Being "at the top" sounds good though, doesn't it? We love to be at the center of attention, "on top of the world" as the old, familiar adage goes. But at what extent are we willing to go to get there?

Solution: God gives us everything we need, period. We do our best and if we happen to achieve success or fame, we are to give God the glory. I believe this is a concern in our communities: we want, we want, and we want. If we are generous, compassionate individuals, following in the footsteps of Christ, we will give without asking anything in return. And I honestly believe that a little kindness will breed more and more of the same. If we continue to think only of ourselves and what we can gain, we will never fulfill our mission to be giving and compassionate vessels for Christ.
      

Bigotry is alive and well. Throughout history, since the time of Babylon, people have been putting other people into classes based on race, sex, age, gender, and religion. People are still people, no matter what level of melanin they have in their genes, no matter what language they speak, and not matter what age they are. This is one reason I don't agree with putting kids in public schools, as it segregates children by their age from kindergarten through high school. I believe this is why many of today's youth only "hang out" with kids their own age. They can call it the "generation gap" or "old people aren't fun to be around", but the wisdom the generations before us have forgathered is far more valuable than any one teenager or young adult thinks he or she has obtained.

Solution: As Christians, we are called to "love the sinner and hate the sin". God loved us even though He knew how we'd hurt Him before we were even born. He loves the Christian, the homosexual, the prostitute, the beggar, the unwed mother, the thief, the murderer, the gambler, the abortion doctor. He hates the sin, but He loves the people. We should no less follow His example of displaying love for those who seem unlovable. That is one tall order, isn't it! But people, all around us, are still looking for real love, searching without even realizing it perhaps, for God. Because only He can give that kind of unconditional love and they will never find a love so satisfying as the love He gives. And when (and if) they repent of their sins, by the grace of God through the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross, He will forgive them of their sins. But are they getting the message of love from our churches? or are we sending them a message of shame and hopelessness?

But why stop there? What others ways can you think of to help society?     

But most importantly, people have forgotten God. Or has God forgotten us? Where can we find Him in society? We don't find Him in the public schools. But oh, that's right...in 1962, in the case of Engle vs. Vitale, prayer was removed from the public schools. And in fact, the Bible was taken out of schools the following year in 1963. Guess the court system removed God from being in schools...Well, what about holidays? Well, it's easy to see that some secular stores only promote Santa Claus and reindeer and being of good cheer. Guess we have some companies to thank for promoting secular images and taking Christ out of Christmas... But what about the churches? Why don't we see God working in His own house?

But my question is: Why aren't God's people working in His house? Have Christians become a metaphorical possum playing dead, afraid to answer the calling of being the salt and the light in a darkened world? Perhaps many Christians have made a contribution to the downfall of society; because after all, we are all a part of 'society', are we not? If we do not do the Lord's work, as He left us to do until the day He returns, we are doing society an injustice by keeping the light of truth hid under a bushel, away from the ears of those who need to hear it most.