The most lost generation EVER

After witnessing again tonight and hearing AGAIN from yet another shockingly hard-hearted person how the Bible is supposedly "all fiction" and absolutely NOTHING i said could make any difference, i must conclude that this generation is thee most hopeless EVER. I think i have heard it ALL now. Every last excuse, every last accusation and diatribe. And it is crystal clear that Americans do not want Christ, no matter what. The hearts of this people have turned to STONE. It is like bashing my head against a brick wall talking to these people. Many of them even contradict their own selves. I have come to hate witnessing. It is tiresome. It is offensive to hear the awful things they say. They never run out of excuses for rejecting Christ, yet any of the pagan "gods" will do.
I have tolerated the most deplorable things and shown nothing but kindness, friendship, and love/charity to them. When the bomb or whatever hits this country, whatever finally comes, i can't feel no pity. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Hey trekker good thread. May I ask what is in your heart when you witness??

An aprouch that worked well once with a more educated man then myself, was I looked His way and I said something of the effect, I do not care How intelegent of an argument you have against there being a God, You know that there is A God. To my suprise he replied something of the effect I guess you are right I guess I trully do know there is a God.

edit: the man was claiming to me at the time that the athiest where just smarter, had better arguments than the christians so he was leaning at being an athiest

Edit: I reworded for accuracy, When I reread what I wrote I relized I did not remeber for sure the exact words but the thoughts so I changed to /something of the effect/ and eye to way

What is in my heart? I think what is in my heart is a desire for the person to become saved. Compassion. That is what i feel. But i am growing SO tired of all the arguments and excuses. Surely i have heard them all by now? I mean, when i was young, i eagerly listened to what anyone had to tell me about Jesus, and i ASKED QUESTIONS. Even when i was a college student i wanted to hear it, and even after college as a lost, searching person. But these people don't seem to be searching (for anything except sex of course) these days.
This generation doesn't ask questions, they have already made up their minds. They don't want anything to threaten their right to fornicate, their right to do as they please at all times, whatever. I mean, they say some of the most absurd and astonishing things, they spout total lies about Christ and about the Bible and about Christianity, and so forth. And often they also sound so bitter about it. I don't see any hope for this generation.

Trekker,

Can't help but say, I see what you see. You could pray and fast for a week, and go out and, perhaps, still see the same reaction.

Back in the 80's and 90's, there was more interaction with people. Even if they ended up rejecting Christ, the hostility to the gospel was nothing like it is now.

Scripture tells us in Romans, that God gives people over to a reprobate or debased mind.

Think that can't happen en masse?

I could say more, but that's it for now.

Take care.

God bless.

QUOTE: " Even if they ended up rejecting Christ, the hostility to the gospel was nothing like it is now.
Scripture tells us in Romans, that God gives people over to a reprobate or debased mind."==ENID

Yes, yes that is it exactly. It is frightening. If they have been "given over" should i even continue to try? Am i not just wasting my time and breath? Making a fool of myself?
Yes, there is so much hostility, and yes, they are all reprobate.

Let me tell you something...

One night a few years ago i was out walking after dark, cuz it used to be that i would get so lonely and restless i would just wander the streets at night. One night on my walk a man was following me and continued to follow me after calling from across the street to ask me the time. After a while and long story short he propositioned me for sex! Turns out he had been on his way to the local porn/sex shop but it was closed before he could walk there, so he propositioned me! At that point i said to myself or to God, silently in my head,'Alright, that's it, i am telling this man about Jesus' and for the next 2 hours we stood there face to face in the dark as i told him the Gospel and he brought up every stupid argument he could think of, even contradicting his own self multiple times and ways. He was younger than me, and due to go into the navy in 3 months time. He seemed to sincerely listen to what i had to say at times though. But it is just another example of how depraved this generation is. Twenty to twenty five years ago in this town no one would have propositioned me for sex and murder was almost unheard of here, contrary to today we now have at least one or more murders every year it seems, as well as home invasions, pharmacy robberies, etc. I was born and raised here and i can see the difference that the younger generation cannot. This generation is the most lost, the most depraved ever.

As it is, we should still witness and warn people. Ungodly they are, but Jesus told us to go and preach the gospel.

We need to be obedient to God, regardless of their reaction.

I remember seeing a street preacher about 3 or 4 years ago.
Basically, no one was listening, they just walked on by.

I stopped to speak to him. During the ccourse of the conversation he said, we just preach and obey God, whether people listen or not.

And so we should. We just need to be faithful to God and His word.

We can only warn, the rest is up to God, for only He can reach their hearts.

God bless.

hi, there are more lost people on the earth today and they are our responsibility to preach the good news to. millions are hearing the gospel of Jesus and are repenting and becoming saved around the world. i have been suffocating under the negativity of some folks here on s i ... this year our church baptizes over 500 in one weekend. the home groups are ministering to their areas and bring people to the Lord in record numbers and we are just one church of many great churhes in the area. thousand of churches are being started around the world every few months. this year my 77 yearold brother called me and told me how he just got saved. answers to prayer are wonerfully evident... my oldest son and his wife and 3 children and 2 grandchildren came to visit me and told me about how they wer all saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and the list goes on.Jesus is still the head of His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her. get up and go love someone enough to smile and tell them about the joy of your salvation.they will not reject a genuine, loving witness.they might argue but will return kindness with kindness.Jesus is the only one who can save them and they might reject Him now but that is not your problem.jimp

This generation doesn't ask questions, they have already made up their minds.

They don't want anything to threaten their right to fornicate, their right to do as they please at all times, whatever. I mean, they say some of the most absurd and astonishing things, they spout total lies about Christ and about the Bible and about Christianity, and so forth. And often they also sound so bitter about it.

It seems to be that a firm resolve on the matter is more on your own part. Don’t be fooled by these tough-looking exteriors!

I don't see any hope for this generation.

I’m sorry to read this. Yet, I can relate. Our challenge is to look at the world through the eyes of faith. God is faithful to his purposes and plans for humanity. And to the extent that we have hope IN GOD, it will be evident to those who are seeking. And we will fulfill our own calling – to be a light of hope.

Perhaps this little reading will nudge you beyond your surface perspectives:

“Please Hear What I am Not Saying”
http://www.quiteexcellent.com/thewayback.net/articles/pleasehearwhatiam.htm

Diane

I don't think I could call this the most lost generation ever. However society here in the U.S. is without doubt the most anti Christian minded of any time in my lifetime. I find the intensity of opposition very disturbing and alarming to say the least. Witnessing and street preaching is a dangerous venture throughout the U.S. and is becoming more so daily. The hate directed towards Christians witnessing is near unbelievable. This same group yells "tolerance" to those outside Christianity. Go to one of the current on line news articles, make a post and include a reference to Christ, bible, God, etc. and read the replies you get. The attacks bring to my mind a picture from Lot's front door or the fury with which Christ and some of the apostles were confronted. Like many others, I wonder in amazement just how bad things were prior to Noah's flood and how bad will it be in the not too distant future. Oddly, I can't get the opening lines of Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities" out of my mind. For me, those words seem to take on an eerie prophetic nature descriptive of today's modern times.

As Christians we should not be surprised as scripture tells us what is to come to pass. In this sense, these are very enlightening, interesting and exciting times. Think about it. We are witnessing and living actual events which scripture tells us must and will come. Today, we are simply the unnamed characters in many of those foretold events. Perhaps our concern should be more on the overall reaction of the "Church". What compromises will it make in an attempt to find new ways to reach people? We've seen such compromise taking place for years in music, method,
doctrinal change, political correctness, sugar coating of God's word, pluralism, etc. All of which have been slowly creeping into the "Church" just as the "wolves in sheep clothing" of the apostolic and/or early Church Age.

Today many who are more founded and knowledgeable in bible teachings rather than sharing, supporting, and teaching other Christians within the Church, have chosen to remove themselves and deny offering light, which is sadly more evidence of foretold apostasy. This only serves to weaken the very thing they claim to represent while the Church suffers from a distinct lack of qualified teachers and leaders. Yet these same people will be among the first and loudest to claim and accuse the Church of failing. They seem to prefer being a church unto themselves. IMHO, scripture has names for these people.

I also maintain an unpopular opinion that we apply more time and energy to theology than we do to simplicity of scripture itself and in so doing

often become a stumbling block for many. Don't get me wrong. I have a huge interest in theology, but I'm not willing to replace my first love with more controversial theological ideas

I'm sure some will appreciate I'm getting a little winded now so I'll jump off this band wagon. :)

Hi! 'Trekker'

I read your comments with much interest.
Ummm, in many respects, your observations are both sad and discouragingly true.

I have the suspicion that much of our supposed evangelism remains ineffectual; not so much because of the increasing darkness in the world, but because of our misrepresenting the Gospel message itself.

For instance:
Jesus did not come into the world to tell us how to live. Rather, He came into the world to give us an example of the potential of every human being.
Jesus did not come into the world to tell us about how depraved we are; nor to reveal man's sinful darkness.
Rather, He came to triumph over the darkness so that we, being "delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear".
Jesus came into the world with a wonderful secret to reveal! Not only has Jesus ransomed every ruined temple of God, He also restores the full value of the temple too. And, much more! He desires to dwell in our temple.

Do you see what I'm meaning to say?
Sometimes we can be found speaking out from under our own miscontrued thinking and ascribe things to our gospel which do not belong. At other times, our message fails to adequately speak of Jesus being crowned with honor and glory because we may have failed to possess the certainty about it for ourselves.

Clearly, our Bible prophesied about such a time as you describe.
And, what is the promise given to us for the time which is now upon us?
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come", (Matthew 24:14).

So it is, that if we wish our evangelistic efforts to bear fruit in this day and hour of increasing opposition and blindness, we need to be preaching the gospel OF Jesus and not merely the gospel ABOUT Jesus.
We need to be found preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

Trekker your reply to me was excellant, I can totally relate

Hi Blayne you wrote
//Jesus did not come into the world to tell us how to live. Rather, He came into the world to give us an example of the potential of every human being.
Jesus did not come into the world to tell us about how depraved we are; nor to reveal man's sinful darkness.
Rather, He came to triumph over the darkness so that we, being "delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear".
Jesus came into the world with a wonderful secret to reveal! Not only has Jesus ransomed every ruined temple of God, He also restores the full value of the temple too. And, much more! He desires to dwell in our temple.//

Excelant thoughts!!

Trekker wrote:
i must conclude that this generation is thee most hopeless EVER.
............{deleted the middle}
I have tolerated the most deplorable things and shown nothing but kindness, friendship, and love/charity to them. When the bomb or whatever hits this country, whatever finally comes, i can't feel no pity.

I haven’t read the responses so I’m sorry if I’ve doubled any opinions but mine is that this generation is NOT hopeless, they are just waiting for the real Jesus to please stand up in those who name the name of Christ. Matt 16.20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Where are the signs in our lives, brother? Before we condemn an entire generation, we need to make sure that we’ve done ALL WE KNOW TO DO for the Lord to ‘work with us and confirm the word with signs in our life’ as well.

I am not advocating that we should run after or “seek signs” but if He is not working with us and confirming the word with signs following then perhaps we need to check ourselves and the gospel we preach because I just copied the word that said they’ll be there if He's in it.

God bless,
Lisa

You do not live in the most lost generation ever, my dear friend. You live in a generation that is like any other before. Would it be more tolerable if we lived in an era, like the middle ages, where nearly everyone believed in God, and yet burned and tortured those who disagreed with them? Would it be more tolerable if we lived in Rome in the apostolic age, when homosexuality was more rampant than it is now, sexual immorality was the norm, and idol worship was the order of the day? And let's not forget the fact that Christians were being daily murdered in mass numbers!

Sure, we live in an era where people are jaded and bitter against the message that most Christian's peddle. However, that does NOT make this the most "lost generation ever". It makes it a generation just like any other. Even those which seem the most golden, and romantic to us had their flaws and evils.

Be at rest my friend. Christ is in you.

Trekker,

I can identify with your exhaustion...it has a name - know what it is? It is called burnout. I have been there, done that.

Know what you need to do? Quit your witnessing and stay home and work to rejuvenate your spirit and soul. You are tired. Rest. And rest some more. And some more, and more. Do not attempt to resume it until you feel totally refreshed in body, soul and spirit - when you feel the Holy Spirit saying, "GO!"

God bless.

ginnyrose

Hi! 'ProudPapa'

Your response saying, "Excellent thoughts!" was very encouraging to me. Merely because what I expressed was drawn from that of my own experience; the sickness of our world is needing something much more than a general physician now; something nearer the skills of a brain surgeon. Therefore, our gospel message must hold out a deeper hope and a more profound promise of cure to reach the lost.

Only this morning I was reading about Herod.
We all know the story, ay?
But what I found most striking was the intensity of Herod's belief in the Bible concerning the coming of Christ. Frankly, Herod's faith sometimes seems to be exceeding that of even some Christians today.

It was Herod who first believed the message that the Messiah had come. And we can read how he converted his belief into action.
Jerusalem was being stood on it's head on that day.
Wise men had come from the East saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him". Our Bible tells us that Herod was was troubled; furthermore, and ALL Jerusalem with him.

What does Herod do?
A remarkable thing! Herod "gathered all the Chief Priests and Scribes of the people together". This clearly shows that Herod had held substantial belief in the scriptures; otherwise, Herod would not have sought confirmation from the religious leaders about the coming Messiah.
It's almost breath taking! Herod commands the theologians and religious experts of his day to attend his palace to discuss the birth of Jesus. ALL of Jerusalem was a tumult of speculation and rumors.

What did the Chief Priests and Scribes do?
Well, of course, they hurried off to meet with Herod with their scripture parchments in hand. We can only imagine how their joy and excitement must have been. The long awaited day had finally arrived; these religious leaders must have been absolutely berserk with joy. What a wonderful opportunity it must have been for the Scribes to joyously testify about the multiple prophecies which were now becoming true in their land.

Oops! not so fast!

What happened next?
Well, after the religious leaders discussed the stupendous prophecies with Herod, they went quietly home. There's no scriptural evidence suggesting that any one of them felt a desire to travel to Bethlehem, although this place was very close to Jerusalem.

The stunning truth is:
These Scribes were a people full of religion. While they placed utmost importance in the doctrine of the coming of the Messiah, when He did come, they paid no attention to Him!
In this respect, the religious leaders behaved more astonishingly than Herod himself.

The religious leaders insisted to remain blind to the fact that their religious thrones were as much under threat as Herod's secular throne. Because of that, they made no effort to find the Messiah nor did they feel any compunction to rid themselves of Him.
Yet, thirty years later when Jesus began to preach His gospel, these same religious leaders would become filled with a spirit of murder and would succeed where Herod failed.

So it is that we are beginning to clearly perceive the contrast between the secular leader, Herod, and the pious religious leaders. One was entirely repulsed by the event and set out to immediately kill Jesus while the other preferred to pretend that Jesus was of no consequence.
For Herod, his throne was more important than Jesus. For the learned Scribes, their religion was more important. While Herod laid out plans to kill Him, the scribes sought to disclaim Him. One was wicked and an enemy of God while the other was very religious but equally an enemy of God.
A mirror image of our own days presently!

In every sense, both Herod and the Scribes were hypocrites. Herod hypocritically feigned a desire to worship Jesus when he directed the wise men to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also".
The Scribes hypocritically looked forward to the THEORY about the coming of the Messiah but not towards the person of Christ Himself. One could almost say that the Scribes were more interested in Christmas than in Christ.

So it is today that our Gospel is once again being preached into a world filled with both Herods and religious zealots. Some earnestly desiring to kill the Messenger while others stubbornly content to kill the message.

Regardless of their motivations, it all comes down to occupying a THRONE.

This is why our gospel message must be announced in a manner which clearly speaks about Jesus being crowned with honor and glory; about Him desiring to sit on the throne of every man's existence.

"And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."

I feel you, Trekker.

Christ does too. Remember Mark 6:6 whereby Jesus "marveled" at their unbelief as He went about tesching?

Christ must have wept many times over this lost generation.

Love-in-Christ,

KP

The story is told of the missionary Hudson Taylor interviewing some youths for Christ's work. He asked them: "Why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?" One replied: "because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Another said: "because millions are dying without ever having heard of Jesus." Others gave similar answers, but not what Taylor sought.

He replied: "All of your motives are good, but I fear they will fail you in times of severe testing and tribulation— especially if you are confronted with the possibility of having to face death for your testimony. The only motive that will enable you to remain true is stated in 2 Corinthians 5:14: "Christ's love constraining [compelling] you will keep you faithful in every situation.

In Christ,

Ron

Trekker, no offense brother but you sound like Jeremiah. "How on earth can God expect us to witness to such a debased and wicked people?" I don't know Jeremiah did it he is also refered to as the weeping prophet.

Brother Frank told me a story once that put stuff into perspective, it's about a frog and a scorpion I'll give the reader digest version.

One day a scorpion came to a river and wanted to get to the other side, the scorpion saw a frog and asked the frog to give him a ride on his back.

The frog was hesistant and said "well what if you try to kill me while I'm swimming you across?" The scorpion replied "well because if I sting you I too will die."

This made since to the frog and so the scorpion climbed on the frogs back and the frog began to cross. About half way across the scorpion stings the frog and with his dying breathe the frog asks "Why did you sting me?" the Scorpion replied "well because I'm a scorpion, that's my nature."

The point being you shouldn't be surprised when the world rejects the message of Christ, heartbroken yes, but really you should just come to expect it. Be faithful in delivering the message of the Gospel and let God handle the rest. If they mock you rejoice because then you are just like Jesus and the prophets who came before you. Remember it's their nature to reject the Gospel and its their nature to persecute you who deliver it.

The story is told of the missionary Hudson Taylor interviewing some youths for Christ's work. He asked them: "Why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?" One replied: "because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Another said: "because millions are dying without ever having heard of Jesus." Others gave similar answers, but not what Taylor sought.

He replied: "All of your motives are good, but I fear they will fail you in times of severe testing and tribulation— especially if you are confronted with the possibility of having to face death for your testimony. The only motive that will enable you to remain true is stated in 2 Corinthians 5:14: "Christ's love constraining [compelling] you will keep you faithful in every situation.

What a an appropriate word for this thread! It also applies to the “Slaying the Giant” thread right now - the idea of looking at the full half of the cup rather than the empty half. That influences our motive.

The first person in the above quote is focused on the law (commands); the second on the problem; but the motive Taylor was looking for is centered on the full-half of the “cup”: Christ’s love within, what we HAVE, and what alone will compel us to be faithful in every situation. The two motives given cannot stand the test because they are not centered in the fullness of Christ.

Our thoughts and words regarding the world's wickedness say more about ourselves than the "wicked". We might be like the first two of Hudson Taylor's examples: We see it through biblical laws,; or we see mostly the lost. But we don’t see the “full half of the cup” - what God has given us OURSELVES.

Our failure to focus in the right place surely gives the wicked no reason to turn to our God. We have no proof in our own lives. Our biggest concern then is not the worldly wickedness, but the prevalence of unbelief in our own midst - even in ourselves. And isn’t that the most grievous sin of all – the inability to trust God. That in turn eschews our motives and incapacitates us from fulfilling our calling - to be a faithful Light to the world - no matter how dire the situation.

Thoughts?

Diane