Is it time to retreat?

“Why do you even watch the news?” she asked.  “It’s so negative, such a downer.”  In many ways, she is right.  The worst of humanity, the most depraved behaviors, get all the attention. Nobody reports on the country that is stable and prosperous, but the woes of Israel, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan fill our TV screens.  The gun violence of a city neighborhood obscures the serenity of the rest of the country.  

 Do you ever wonder if our world coming apart at the seams? 

Leonard Sweet writes, "It's an old man's hobby to think the world is getting worse- all is in decline and decay. It's a young man's hobby to think that the world is better than it has ever been." How true. As we age, change threatens our sense of stability. Sweet goes on to observe, "The truth is, young and old, the world is getting better, but the dangers the better brings are getting worse." (The Perfect Storm, Abingdon Press, 2008)   Individually, we live longer and better lives than people did a century ago.  Science has helped us deal with diseases that ended millions of lives before age 40 in the past. But, science has also ‘gifted’ us with weapons of mass destruction, with technology that has a major environmental impact.

Despite my optimism, I am realistic about the depravity of humanity.  Our gains in knowledge have given us, on the whole better lives, even as they have made it possible for sinful people to have a greater and greater impact. Now one hate-filled man in Yemen can spread his venom world-wide via the Internet.  Just a few young men full of rage can kill thousands as we learned on that dark day in America called, 9/11.  One teenage boy with an automatic rifle can kill a classroom full of children. Evil is real but I am not ready to retreat or to despair!

Paul wrote to Timothy about the choice he had in dealing with the reality of the time. His words need to infuse us with new courage.  "Fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News." (2 Timothy 1:5-8, NLT) Timothy, a young pastor, saw the might of Rome forming against the little Church, ready to squash these Christ-followers.  He wondered if it time to go underground, to disengage and wait for the Second Coming to rescue the little band of Believers from the big, bad, ugly Roman Empire.   Paul sent a letter that said, “Not now, not ever! Strengthen your foundation of faith. Take the gifts of God that enable you to live with power, love, and self-discipline. Get ready to endure the tough times that may come!"

It’s my opinion that these United States are becoming less hospitable to Christians of conviction with each passing year.  Apathy towards Christianity is turning into real hostility as about half of the nation sees faith as a threat to their right to express themselves in any they choose. “Right and wrong,” are replaced with “best for me at this time.”  Most Americans prefer a bland spirituality or no spirituality at all to a robust faith!  But, I see this as a time of great opportunities if we are filled with the Spirit, living lovingly, hopefully, and engaged with those who are broken and bruised.  The merely religious will fold their hands and bow their heads in despair.

In Romans we are taught that ‘where sin increases, grace increases. Sin’s rule brings death, grace brings life and peace.’   Let’s live in the Kingdom of Christ, experiencing grace, giving grace so that abundant life can grow where sin would make a desert!

Here's a word from the Word. Let it encourage you today.

"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed,

for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us,
what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:14-17, NIV)