There's something wrong in America when...

[Nadiine]

My input is that there are SO MANY in our day and age that
are ravaged by the "little sins" that many today don't even
consider "SIN", that there aren't enough Christians to even
help all these people.

We don't have the $$ or resources to fix the country or the
world around us.

Sin is the answer and reason for what you see, not the lack
of Christians doing their part. They do ALOT and help alot,
but they cannot do it all and reach every child, every
single mom, every father, every single person out there.

Another reason is becuz many times we just don't even KNOW
about them or their situation to help. How can help that boy
from where I live? Unless God gives me Telepathy to know
him and his situation, there's little I'd know to do.

Pray that God bring that boy someone close in his life.

We're in a world that has shunned God's teachings to embrace
their pet sins and hold apathy towards sin - YOU'RE SEEING
THE RESULT of what they claim "doesn't harm anyone".
So what if they: _____________________ (list minor little sin)
who are you to judge? etc.

This is the consequence of even 'the little sins' - every single
one does damage to the fabric of society; one sin at a time -
big or small.

Read prophecy - it's all there "the love of many will grow cold".
Read the results of sin in 1 Timothy; people become self absorbed
and apathatic and unloving...
We cannot stop the floodgates of evil, we can only plug up
some holes when God brings us along to find a hole.

Pray that God leads us to find these holes!!!

requoting earlier post points to go along w/ recent ones.

And I find it interesting how we're told "don't judge" by
everyone here all the time, yet that's what we see going
on when it comes to other Christians and what they
aren't doing right .

Sure there's fingers that can be pointed - but we need to
encourage and exort, not attack and lay guilt trips or
stereotype in judgment.

:o

(God's church has not failed, and it won't fail. God will get
His will accomplished that He sets out for us to do).
Philippians 2:13
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will
and to work for His good pleasure.

 

[jarrettcpr]

I don't have telepathy. All I did was see the situation and how Seth's response didn't fit the situation. And I didn't try to 'fix' him or his problems. All I did was listened and asked questions. That's another problem. We don't do that, we try to fix things. People don't need fixing, they need compassion. They need relationships, not some program.

I had a much more serious response on how the church could handle situations like these.

It was my third block paragraph. Someone in the church should be able to see a problem and then address it to as I said previously to either one of the head members of the church, or another Sunday school teacher, and/or etc. Then the church could bring some 'compassion' to help fix the problem or to simply see if there really is a problem in the first place.

The thing about kids, is it's best to know if something in their life is really messed up before we start getting our hands dirty. We just might be pushing kids away instead of bringing them in. I personally can't stand it when someone asks me is there something wrong with me, and I'm like nothing at all other than you asking me if something is wrong with me.

Also, truth is and I know it doesn't make it right, but some people have so much stuff going on in their life that it makes it hard for them to notice the problems in others, unless you hear it through gossip. A lot of times either you hear it by gossip, or it's simply thrown into your lap outa' nowhere.

 

[elephunky]

It shouldnt just be a question about christians, but people in general. Why is it that we dont take time to listen to kids, to find out what is troubling them and going on in their heads? Why arent we asking our friends teh same thing? Why arent we asking EVERYONE the same thing?

I remember seeing a poster saying loving your child isnt enough, they have to know you love them, and feel that you love them. Same goes with people of all ages.

 

[Nadiine]

Well unfortunately this is prophecied to happen in the bible.

The loss of natural affection and the love of many growing cold.

Additionally, the family unit is in shambles across the country,
and alot of parents are working harder to be their kids bff's
instead of their parent.

I also blame it on society which is leading kids into mass immorality
and glorification of evil.... then look at kids role models today!
Sports & political figures are caught in sexual scandals & dog fighting
rings....

Kids also aren't brought to church to learn religion...

Those are just SOME of it!
God warned that veering from His teachings would result in
trouble. He warned that we will reap what we sow.
Did we listen?

We can hardly expect a country who's gotten selfish, materialistic,
greedy, immoral & rebellious against God to prosper morally and spiritually.
It will unravel and those sins will continue to do harm over time
as more generations are raised in it and produce the affects where
disfunctions that get passed to 1 generation, warp the next.

This goes in cycles and we see it in the examples God gives us of
Israel as it strays away from God . . until God has to finally step in
and set it right.

 

[elephunky]

I might add thats its not just across your country, its world wide.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

Godschild87, all you can do is your best. I donate my time and money where I can, I'm an assistant scout leader when I'm at home, and I buy some expensive (I mean not $2 shop, but real brand name) toys every Christmas and Easter and drop it in a charity bin. I like to help kids where I can, but there are only so many of us to go around. You can't help everyone, but to the one that you DO reach, to that one, you sure make a difference. Keep it up. Don't get dishearted.

3 things...

The poor will always be with us,
Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me,
You never know when your good works might inspire someone else to do their own.

 

[Celticflower]

Like EP I help where and when I can. I crochet blankets that are distributed thru Project Linus to sick, injured or traumatized children and teens. The impact on some of them is astounding -esp the teens. Many have begun to reach out to others as we have reached out to them. And it doesn't stop with the kids. Families have also undergone changes due to the gift of a blanket. One father wrote that he had lost all respect for Christians because they didn't seem to care. When his child was gifted with a blanket and he learned about PL he realized that there are people who care, even if they don't know your name. He and his family returned to church with their faith renewed.

Sometimes we forget the ripple affect one small act can have. Maybe we should remember that more and act accordingly.

 

[Zebra1552]

Godschild87, all you can do is your best. I donate my time and money where I can, I'm an assistant scout leader when I'm at home, and I buy some expensive (I mean not $2 shop, but real brand name) toys every Christmas and Easter and drop it in a charity bin. I like to help kids where I can, but there are only so many of us to go around. You can't help everyone, but to the one that you DO reach, to that one, you sure make a difference. Keep it up. Don't get dishearted.

3 things...

The poor will always be with us,
Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me,
You never know when your good works might inspire someone else to do their own.

I'm going to be doubly honest... when I saw your first sentence, I thought, "But I'm a perfectionist, my best just isn't good enough." I realize I've been using that excuse for some time. Even with God, I'm only human and I can only do so much. I realize I have many flaws and weaknesses, and the perfectionist streak takes that realization and notices that every time I try to improve in one area, another area pops up and just doesn't want to deal with anything that might hinder me reaching out to others... especially when I try to deal with pride (because oftentimes I won't have any confidence). So I just give up on trying to deal with my own issues and hope some of mine can be solved as I help others. And that's the first time in a long time that I've admitted that. I don't know whether or not it's right to help others in the hopes that I'll learn and grow without having to focus on learning and growing. It seems to work best as I deal with those who aren't in an evangelical/conservative church.

Maybe I'm just rambling, and maybe I am wondering for myself what is right in helping others and what isn't. Regardless, I hope someone can inspire me because I could sure use some... guidance... of my own right now. That and I keep seeing people who claim to be Christians fail to live out what is taught in the Bible, and it's really discouraging: both because I wonder how much of it is me seeing it in me also and getting angry at that, and because I wonder just how much difference I do end up making even despite the numerous people who tell me I'm a good guy and that my heart's in the right place.

 

[Nadiine]

Like EP I help where and when I can. I crochet blankets that are distributed thru Project Linus to sick, injured or traumatized children and teens. The impact on some of them is astounding -esp the teens. Many have begun to reach out to others as we have reached out to them. And it doesn't stop with the kids. Families have also undergone changes due to the gift of a blanket. One father wrote that he had lost all respect for Christians because they didn't seem to care. When his child was gifted with a blanket and he learned about PL he realized that there are people who care, even if they don't know your name. He and his family returned to church with their faith renewed.

Sometimes we forget the ripple affect one small act can have. Maybe we should remember that more and act accordingly.

And this is also why it's important to find a local church that
is heavily involved in Outreach to the community.
My church is and we're THRILLED to tithe there
and receive all the good news about how the money has helped
different groups & ministries working locally.

One of our groups goes to a huge farm where they've asked if we
could just pick the produce and they'de donate what we pick
to families in need.

God had set it up this way in the OT where the church helped
the community that was in need - and Christians in need.
It's a large family network.
This is why the church is vital and why we should be going and
donating and promoting things like this.

When the church helps, God gets the credit.

 

[chingchang]

Additionally, the family unit is in shambles across the country,
and alot of parents are working harder to be their kids bff's
instead of their parent.

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Sounds like the "older" generation didn't do a good job (set a good example) parenting/modeling...otherwise the current generation of parents would "have a clue".

I also blame it on society which is leading kids into mass immorality
and glorification of evil.... then look at kids role models today!
Sports & political figures are caught in sexual scandals & dog fighting
rings....

By "society"...I'm guessing you mean all those who do not act and think as you do? BTW...I would have never pegged you as the PETA-type.

Kids also aren't brought to church to learn religion...

Good! Religion is a bad man-made mind control disaster! The fruit of religion is violence, ignorance, fear and greed.

Those are just SOME of it!
God warned that veering from His teachings would result in
trouble. He warned that we will reap what we sow.
Did we listen?

Have WE ever listened? Well...going back the OT...there were apparently several periods where we did. However...human history can be characterized by open defiance to God's commands. Nothing is new under the sun...

We can hardly expect a country who's gotten selfish, materialistic,
greedy, immoral & rebellious against God to prosper morally and spiritually.

To imply that there was a period is our country when we weren't this way is to be ignorant of our history. I'm not talking about what they teach in 4th grade...

It will unravel and those sins will continue to do harm over time
as more generations are raised in it and produce the affects where
disfunctions that get passed to 1 generation, warp the next.

As so it has gone since "the fall"....

This goes in cycles and we see it in the examples God gives us of
Israel as it strays away from God . . until God has to finally step in
and set it right.

In at least a couple cases...a leader (King) stepped in and set it right. It is my belief that God won't be stepping in and "setting it right" until the physical return of Yeshua. The "God of this Age" who offered Yeshua rulership of the Kingdoms of the world is in control until that day...

CC

 

[Nadiine]

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Sounds like the "older" generation didn't do a good job (set a good example) parenting/modeling...otherwise the current generation of parents would "have a clue".

The "older" generation are the parents & grandparents now from the hippy
rebellion & all things liberal.... this is the natural path it would take
when people rebel against Christianity/religion all things Traditional and righteous.

You reap what you sow.

By "society"...I'm guessing you mean all those who do not act and think as you do? BTW...I would have never pegged you as the PETA-type.

I was a longstanding PETA member - and I still would be if I could
stomach the work. And I used to be extremely socially liberal.

Society is everyone collectively - you know things have drastically
changed when young girls become popular & idolized for home porn
videos or being as obnoxious as they can be.

Good! Religion is a bad man-made mind control disaster! The fruit of religion is violence, ignorance, fear and greed.

I disagree but have no desire to elaborate on it.

To imply that there was a period is our country when we weren't this way is to be ignorant of our history. I'm not talking about what they teach in 4th grade...

Sorry, but I remember the 80's (along w/ my best friend who I hung
out & partied with) and my parents remember the 50's.... all of us
agree that things are alot worse today than they were.
The word "carefree" gets brought up alot which is long gone.

Nobody can say it's the same today as it always; to say that is
actually to refute God's word that says evil increases along with
deceit.

 

[chingchang]

Nobody can say it's the same today as it always; to say that is
actually to refute God's word that says evil increases along with
deceit.

Matt 24:9-12(NIV)
9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

You're referring to Matthew 24:12, but note that Yeshua is talking about a very specific period of time. When? Are we being handed over to be persecuted and put to death? Is Christianity growing...or are many people turning away from the faith? Is Christianity characterized by the hate we have for each other? I think the answer to those questions is "no". That is how I know we are NOT at the time yet at which Matthew 24:12 is applicable. We may not be far away from that...time will telll.

Your thinking is just like those of the generations before ours. EVERY generation thinks they are living in the very last days. EVERY generation thinks the current young people are much "worse" than they were. This is a common perception among aging generations. Does it mean that things actually ARE getting worse? No. To determine if things are getting worse we would need first need to define wickedness then measure it somehow (crime stats, famine stats, etc)...not just base it on our perception.

If (that is a big if) things are actually getting worse...then that speaks volumes as to the affectiveness of religious teachings.

CC