Grieved by the state of the world

I cannot help but look around me, and realize that I am a weak Christian living in the ‘perilous times’. I feel trapped all around.

If I mention anything of holiness, I am immediately written off as a bigot. If I speak out against homosexuality, casual dating, abortion, fornication etc., I am a hater of human rights and liberties. If I use biblical principles, I am a legalist, sadly sometimes even here on Sermon Index.

The world has degenerated to such a state that would make Sodom and Gomorrah blush. I went with a family to a college basketball game recently and was scandalized by what the cheerleaders were shamelessly wearing in front of a crowd. These girls, dancing in front of a crown of men, women, and children, were very confident in exposing their bodies.

The princes of this world are using their power to shed blood. The poor, the widows and orphans, and the strangers are oppressed. The structure of the godly family has degenerated; and younger generations are taught to disrespect their father and mother. The youth culture has created a generational cultural divide between the young and the old such that the young despise their elders, instead of honoring them. Sexual immorality is no longer an abomination, and even considered a human right. (The first Basic Right of the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, which strains today’s sex educators, states: The freedom of any sexual thought, fantasy, or desire.)The prosperity gospel, false doctrine etc. is rampant. (Reference for all these made to Ezekiel 22)

Indeed, we are the people of whom God speaks in Jer 18:12 saying:
“Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush.”

I am 21, and I cry sometimes at the thought of another several decades on this earth. Yes, it is a great privilege to see the move of God in the last days, and to even be invited to join in and live for Him. But at this point in my walk with Christ, the sorrow of living in this world seems to be much multiplied. Indeed, creation longs for the return of Christ, and for the revelation of the sons of God.

If you feel the same way, or if you have any encouragement, please do share.

Martyr, thanks for your response. Yes, I did not mention everything. I mostly used Ezekiel 22, and took what it would mean in the modern sense.

On a side note, I had abortion in mind when I mentioned shedding blood. The post about food companies using embryonic cells from abortion to do food research was actually what refreshed my mind on this issue.

Dlight.

We are quickly approaching the day when we as American believers may face similar persecution to that many of our brothers and sisters around the world suffer. But to live is Christ and to die is gain. These light afflictions are nothing when compared to the glory which shall be revealed. We need to have an eternal mindset with our hearts firmly planted in the world to come when it comes to these things. But this truth is not fatalistic. In the meantime we need to do all we can to allow God through us to influence the world around us. We are to occupy till He comes. We can work now to allow God through us to influence and change the world we live in and see many come to saving knowledge of Christ.

I have not time to elaborate, Dlight, but while reading your post, I thought surely you were reading my mind (and my heart)....we are few in number, but there are others who share your heart....

Dlight

I hear your words. I feel the same way inside as well. Thus a reason why many of my posts are geared in this arena for I am trying to make sense of the things around me as well. It causes a christian to want to run into a cave and hide because so many around me seem like wolves.

Sign of the times brother. You are far from alone I may add.

...sadly sometimes even here on Sermon Index.

Again, sign of the times...

Hi brother, thank you for sharing your heart with us. God shares His burdened heart with those who fear Him. "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him." Just like God burdened the hearts of Nehemiah, Ezra & Daniel so that they would fast and pray for their people and generation He does so now to his listening servants.

Nehemiah fasted and wept over the plight of his people, and then God moved him to action by giving him vision for the work and favor and blessing of the king. He gathered men of like-mind and went to repairing the wall, and the rest caught on.

I would encourage you to gather together with small group of like-minded believers who share in these burdens with you and begin praying and interceding as the Spirit leads. The Lord burdens us in these ways so that we will cast them back onto Him in intercessory prayer. God accomplishes His purposes by bringing His heart into the hearts of men so that they will pray and call on God to move. Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you.

If I can quote David Wilkerson, God's first move is giving anguish to his praying people.

God bless you dear brother.

I still think we can turn this ship around if we start obeying what Yahweh has commanded not man.

Not true. There is no way to stop what is already written. It will not get better until Jesus comes back and sits on His throne.

Man cannot do anything to turn this thing around. It has already been written, the battle has already been fought, Jesus IS victorious! Come Lord Jesus!

Brother, I too am 21, and probably once every two weeks or so I get to the state you are in. I think a lot about the way my old friends act now. The things they do are so far off base I do not even want to think about it. In the darkness of all this however, we must still press on. When a disaster happens thousands of miles a way and there is physically nothing Christians can do, we can resort to prayer. Pray for your leaders, pray for your enemies (good things), pray for your non believing family! Pray about the degenerate Godly families. Certainly not every church is perfect, pray for yours. I am almost certain God led me to this website tonight. As you can see this will be my 4th post since August (I was a member before that but forgot my username). Like you I am also reading in Jeremiah! (Chapter 12) I love you brother. Be safe in your travels, and do not fear the world. Romans 12:2 says do not be conformed to it brother, adhere to that principle, and you will overcome your feelings.