|
|
Post by bereanman on Nov 13, 2005 14:53:30 GMT -5
What can I say? There has been so much commentary both from the religious and secular sides over the years about the degradation of the youth in America. What can I say that would be anything new?
As I sit in my office, I hear the "boom-boom-boom" of cars' stereo systems as they go by. This simple act of rebellion and disregard for not only the local ordinances, but of common courtesy and decency, reminds me of just how bad it has gotten and is yet to get in this once great nation. The noise of rebellion I hear is much more than just the arrogant and ignorant attitude of the youth but is a desperate death cry from the moral
character of America. The moral character of America is gulping and gasping for its last breath. There is but a faint shadow left of what was once the legendary moral character of a great nation. That America is in a moral decline is the redundant cliche of an understatement; America's moral character is most likely unreachably deep in the mirey pit of satanic influence and chaos.
I ask, as I hear the constant rattle of my picture frames against the walls, shaken by the bass of a neighbor's house- five houses down the block:
Where are the parents???
I have, with heart-breaking repetition, learned that the parents of most of these criminal (and that's what they are) youths are themselves criminals, of one sort or the other. When walking over to one house to plead that the bass be turned down so that I may read my book with a clear mind, I found parents sitting on the front porch leisurely smoking dope. At another residence, there were youths gleefully smoking their cigarettes while sitting on the hood of one of their cars while the radio blasted decibels upon decibels of profanity and demonic tones. The single parent making out with (one of) her boyfriends in a drunken stupor in the driveway.
These may sound like extreme cases, but they are no more extreme or severe than the parents of a minor child who do not know who their child's friends REALLY are. They are no more shocking than parents in nice neighborhoods with decent cars who let their unmarried teenage daughter go off alone with her teenage boyfriend. These parents are under the unfortunate delusion that they know where their "good" kid is, who
he/she is with and, most laughable of all, where they are and what they are doing. This is a most sobering issue that has had a most devastating impact on American culture. How long can we blame rock-n-roll groups, movies, pop culture or anything else when it is we, the adults who are responsible for these children, that are solely commissioned by God to protect them and train them up in the way they should go?
The Word of God is very clear:
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
This is a warning and commandment of God to take TOTAL AND ABSOLUTE responsibility for our children ALL of the time instead of letting the world have ANY hand in it.
Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Do we really think that the children will enforce this upon themselves?? It is the parents' sole responsibility to make sure this commandment is followed to the letter. The consequences for not doing so are evident all around us. We as Christians ought to know better, we are to be a shining example for the world and not the other way around.
But there is a bigger problem than even this. What do we do about the heathen and their children? They will not live by Christian principles. So what do we do?
The answer is to obey the Great Commision. We must not hesitate to go out to the highways and hedges and bring the lost to Christ! As long as we sit on our hands and only complain about or accept what is happening to America's character, it will never improve. We must work diligently to bring America back (if possible) to what she was before. America needs to repent and turn back to God! When America magnified Christ, she was great, both in unity and moral character. When America magnified God's Word, she was a shining beacon and the envy of the world.
Until America repents she will never again be great. And if America does not repent, she will cease to exist. All you have to do is read the Bible to confirm that this is how God deals with wicked nations. Can anyone deny that the United States of America is fast becoming a wicked and perverse nation? Here are some startling facts about America that did not exist 50 years ago:
1. Millions of unborn children murdered at leisure, legally
2. The Bible looked upon by the courts as "inappropriate" in public schools
3. Prayer in Jesus' name outlawed in public schools and meetings
4. Sodomites taking to the streets to protest family values
5. Legalization of homosexual "marriages"
6. World-wide anti-American protests, even by her allies
7. Parents arrested and jailed for disciplining their children
8. Rampant drug use both in the poor and wealthy circles
9. Sex and violence glorified in television, movies, video games, etc
10 Sex promoted to children in the form of free condoms for "safe sex" and the ridicule of parental authority in such matters
This is just a brief list. We all know it is grossly larger than this.
What is the solution? Jesus Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen for the sins of the world. That is the ONLY solution. We must evangelize tirelessly, not counting the cost, if we are to have any effect on this generation or the next one. You see, the problems and sin are so widespread and deep, that it may indeed be too late for this generation. It may certainly take an entire generation to purge the wickedness from out nation, to effect a lamentation and repentance back to God. We simply don't know. But our responsibility is to "go ye therefore" and do as we are commanded by the Saviour. We are to "preach the gospel to every creature" and let God work in His mighty power.
As long as we do nothing. The cancer will grow and the destruction will come.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-&#@*!^-boom-boom-boom-@*%&#-boom-boom
"BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!" (Nuclear blast)
The sound of the permanent future of America?
Yours in Christ,
Br. Tony
|
|
|
|
Post by benshelpmeet on Nov 14, 2005 10:04:22 GMT -5
Wow! Amen Bro. Tony, You hit it square between the eyes. It couldn't be better put. What a shame our America has become, Bro. Ben and I were talking about this very topic all weekend. On Saturday we discussed the decline of America. Spring was the begining of our nation through the 50's, Our country was formed eairly spring, then it went through stormy times during the years of war and depression it is late spring when we have tornado season...Summer was the 60's with its bright colors ( tie die ) representing that sin is fun for a season 1962 is when they took the bible and prayer out of public school, the 70's were the fall season the colors people used were orange ( pumpkin), green, yellow (darker shades), rust, med marroon, those were the colors of the 70's ( remember the 70's folks?) and the 80's - early 90's these were declinning years, you can see the picture here using the seasons... Now! were in the Winter...  Look at the morbid cold colors people wear...Black clothing, white pasty faces and skin, black , blue fingernail polish or lipstick. These colors are cold morbid colors. We often see and hear the sounds of bondage, like bro. Tony mentioned, We see body piercings...(ears are a part of our body, there have been people in bondage and paganism ever since bible times...) We see weird clothing black with silver jewelry (satanic symbols) and chains hanging down all over the person as they walk. Most christians just get kind of use to it with a chuckle in there voice as they murmer out to their friend, spouce, or children...weird...    But it's much more than weird, it is satanic bondage! Our nation is in for bad trouble. Nakedness is getting out of control. I am afriad were in for much darker immoral days ahead. Where christians will not even want leave their house. The things we see in public should make us all blush and if it doesn't you need to get right with God, because it's ungodly the things I see in our collage town. young lovers behaving in an improper way in public, young (even old ) women dressed in an ungodly, immodest, improper manner, Magazines!!! I turn them over in the rack, I saw a 10 yr old girl in a pink mini sirt so short I made my children turn their heads. This was a child! When I buy childrens underware for my girls I make them turn their heads because the pictures of these little girls ( face painted like a harlot) poseing on the package like a trashy model is ungodly, the underclothing for these small children is the same as in the ladies dept. What is America comming to! We ( christian's) have been like a frog in warm water, when the heat was turned up we hardly even noticed then we started to cook through and through... when it gets hot it's too late were already had... Christians need to wake up that's for sure, but I do not think most will, because our preachers are decieved too. As we travel around preaching at Ind Fund Baptist churches we see preachers (kids) that are carnal in actions, speach, and wild acting, even exibit demonic behaviour. Not all but some, sometimes it will be just one child in the family... Shocking! We have seen wild uncontrolled hyperness ( not ADD) where the child contorts their face clinces it's fists, makes gutteral sounds, flings around on the floor, rolls his eyes, talks about bad things, etc...this is just one of the fine preachers we know, another we encountered was not to outwardly hyper, but they talk to you with there eyes rolled up in their head and they talk in another voice, this child mocks the things of God preaching, singing hymnal songs ( he opened a hymn book and proceeded to sing mocking the song in his behaviour) ''I made my children leave the room'' One of my children said who needs TV or Videos just sit down and watch those children play'', this pastors son has foul language ( very crude, no cussing that I know of ) irractic behaviour, says really cruel things to the children. We have seen strange behaviour in good church going lay peoples children as well. My son was at a creek with a boy ( actually my son walked up to this boy ) the boy was standing beside the creek staring into the water making gutteral sounds my son called his name three times before the boy recognized him then my son said ( his name ) then said christions do not make sounds like that, the boy stopped, the same boy later that day was playing around with our sound equiptment trying to tare it up or something, another boy jumped in and scolded him before my son could say something. All of these children come from fine decated ( faithful to church , etc ) families ( 2 pastors homes, fine decated brothers in the Lord) homes, they all have TV's and Videos and are allowed to play with action figures that are not of God. If God had a child He would not let them play with these type of toys....Disney figures of any sort, Batman, Barbie, Brats, ETC...Wicked sin... We are Gods children... We are not suppose to let our children have these ungodly toys much less watch questionable...Yes questionable things on Video much less on TV. I am referring to so called nice innocent childrens videos even so called christian ones... Parent's do need to wake up! Parents need to quit their '' fleshly practices '' all done in the name of '' christion boundries. '' Who sets up these boundries??? Carnal christians do. Yes that is a strong statement, but I see this compromise first hand as we meet dedicated firey Fundamentalist ( Ind. Fund. Bapt. ) that have carnal, worldly, hyper, disobediend children, the parents allow these bad influances into their childrens lives and'' they '' enjoy some of these carnal vices themselves ( TV and Videos among others, improper beat christian music, and other subtle compromises.) They justify their compromises, they say they are very conservative and careful. We are shocked at what they consider careful and conservative. These are supposed to be the strongest, most together Baptist churches around ( Ind. Fund. Bapt. churches) and we are falling too. The declinning state of our strong doctrinally sound churches and the '' christian '' home is so sad.  God help us! Why not get rid of your TV and VCR , and any simi questionable toy or item in your home and replace it with non questionable items and sell out to God 100% and start raising a family to the glory of God (no compromises ) That's what we did, were not perfect, but we've gained alot of ground and we are so thankful the Lord opened our eyes to the sad and declining state we were in. We need to do right in their young years because they grow up fast, but it's never too late to start doing right even if your child is a teenager ( you just have to pray harder, and be commited to truth and honoring God ''no compromises'', and be open and have many heart to heart conversations with your children ''win their hearts, be their friend '' and above all pray) God can change the hearts and desires of '' you and your loved ones.'' He delights in doing the impossible and He wants us to be sold out to Him 100%. He'll work in your behalf. Step out by faith with a purposed heart.  A change in America ( an awakening of sorts ) begins in our heart's, lives, and homes. And our pastors, and church leaders need to have clean hearts and lives seeking to please the Lord in '' all'' areas of our lives. '' Everything rises and falls on leadership. '' We need strong, purposed, godly, leaders. We as christians need to clean up our lives and help others come up to higher ground. 50 years ago this would not be considered higher ground by godly christians. We have come along way downhill. Truth is distorted and there are now gray ares and things christians call amoral. Shameful!!! Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ~sister Darlene ~ |
|
|
|
Post by nightingale on Nov 14, 2005 11:38:23 GMT -5
Thank you Bro. Tony...and Darlene, Thank you...where do I start...everything you say is so true...but it is so overwhelming...I am a single parent forced to place my daughter in public, private "christian school" and I am surrounded by people who think I am a extremist/radical... Do you remember what happen when I went to dresses only? I guess what I am saying I need lots of prayers, I truly what to serve the Lord and bring honor to HIM in all that I do...Love ya, thanks again, your a sweet sister...Love Debbie
|
|
|
|
Post by Andrea on Nov 14, 2005 12:04:28 GMT -5
Thanks for this Bro. Tony and Sister Darlene. What you say is so very true, even here in a small town. The girls that hang out up town are my daughter's age .. and my daughter is only 12. I would never think of allowing my daughter to go off with some friends just to "hang" up town. I don't understand what the parents are thinking..? I know my daughter's friend had a birthday party on Saturday afternoon. I know the family. They go to our church. Nice people. Help teach the young kids at church.. so I didn't think anything about letting her go over for 2 hours for the party. Well she calls me and says that they are playing rock and country music and she told them she doesn't listen to it and they told her that they would change her mind before she left. And they had boys there too.. I was soooooooooooooooo angry. I went straight way and picked her up. I couldn't believe that these parents would allowed their daughter, who just turned 13, to have a mixed party and play the most ungodly music .. I'm still very angry over this the more I think about it. I'm telling you right now, that's the last time my daughter will go anywhere without me. It just never dawned on me that there would be anything like that at these people's house. The mom is a friend of mine. Man, you just don't know about people anymore, even the ones that call themselves Christians. I was so thankful that my daughter called me and that she knows what is godly and what isn't. I just praise the Lord for her. She will not go there again. She won't be going to any b-day parties unless I know the family extremely well before hand.. I'm just really shocked and angry at the whole thing.  |
|
|
|
Post by benshelpmeet on Nov 14, 2005 12:27:22 GMT -5
Bless your sweet heart Debbie. It's a shame when other christians call you extremist/radical, just for believing women should wear modest dresses. Our churches have come a long way! I am and will continue to pray for you and that the Lord will lead, guide, and protect you and your precious family. The days are such that we as christians need to learn how to stand alone in this world even in our churches, (because the world has crept in ) and be convinced of and commited to living godly, seperated lives for our Lord and Saviour no matter what the cost. Love your friend and sister ~ Darlene ~  encouragement for you sister...coveredbaptists.proboards31.com/index.cgi?board=devotions&action=display&thread=1130263790Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. |
|
|
|
Post by Brother Ben on Nov 14, 2005 12:35:29 GMT -5
Sister Debbie said:
First of all, sister Debbie, I agree, it is overwhelming, but remember, though all the evil seems great,
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4
Though you may be a single parent, Mordecai, had to put his precious niece into the hands of the secular palace of the king. With the exception of her uncle and his prayers, there was nobody on her side...except for the Mighty God.
Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God [is] among you, a mighty God and terrible. Deut. 7:21
and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?
Esther 4:14d
Extremists get great rewards.
Hbr 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Hbr 10:33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Hbr 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Go ahead and serve the Lord, sister, and all of you as far as that goes. In this world of wickedness both out of the church and in, we should arm ourselves with holy boldness and do something in our little corner of the world.
Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Our children aren't perfect and neiter are we, but time and time again, we go out in public and to the churches and the Lord confirms in our hearts, this is the way, and we are to walk in it!
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. Jer. 7:23
Be encouraged!
|
|
|
|
Post by benshelpmeet on Nov 14, 2005 12:47:41 GMT -5
Ruth, that's awful!!! I would be upset too. Rightiously indignant to say the least. This is appauling. The things that go on. Who knows what would or could have happened if she hadn't called you. I'm glad she called. I go everywhere with my girls, we do not have sleepovers or let ours go to others eaither, we do not allow phone calls, and I read all letters that my children recieve, even Benjamins. We try to be very careful, but you can't allways see and hear everything, my children tell all, and sometimes what they tell me shockes me. I do the best I can and I am confident the Lord will fill in any gaps if I am dilligent and faithful at my job as a parent. My children only fellowship at church and church related get togethers under my watchful eye and ear. The other day at a '' good church '' a girl asked my daughters if they have ever played Dead Grandmother?!!! My daughters put a quick stop to that subject and quickly told me. My children play together it's safer that way. Keep up the good work Mama. It's not easy rasing a family in these dark, weird days, but it is doable and God is all powerful and able to help us, give us wisdom , and protection. amen! |
|
|
|
Post by George on Nov 14, 2005 13:10:36 GMT -5
You are so, so correct in that assessment! It is a sad state of affairs. There are a seemingly endless number of people out there who "call themselves' Christians and yet they are so attached to the world and the things of the world it is rather sickening.
It is rather frightening to me to hear of this complete lack of judgment on the part of these parents. My goodness!
Yours in Christ,
George
|
|
|
|
Post by bereanman on Nov 14, 2005 15:29:12 GMT -5
Dear friends, I had no idea that I would see these kind of sad stories shared by starting this thread. But what I am not sad about is that I see there are still many sold out, God fearing and loving Christians who still want to live to please Him rather than the world or themselves.
I too find Ypil & me getting strange looks or even downright told-off because of our "extremist" or "holier-than-thou" standards of separation. We certainly do not ever look upon ourselves as better than anyone or perfect, on the contrary, we see ourselves as so unprofitable and unworthy of God's love that we would be ashamed to live our lives with any less of an awareness of God's holiness. We try to gently, yet firmly teach and exhort others about these issues and, frankly, it's not always well received- I'm talking about Christians.
I lament often about my great and beautiful USA, my homeland and blessed Christian nation. I would to God that I could do something to change her back to God. Indeed, Ypil & I and a few other faithful brethren from our church and others have done what we could, preaching the gospel in the streets and knocking on doors. But I just, with my human eyes, do not see it getting any better. I wish and pray that the greatest revival in world history would happen in America.
But alas, my calling is now to the precious people of the Philippines. I remember how hungry those people are for the gospel, how when I preached there, many were saved and baptized. I remember once in a sermon I briefly mentioned how wicked tv was, and how two Filipinos came to me after the cervice with concerned look in their eyes, told me they were going to get rid of their tv's. I am thankful that God has given us clear direction to go and minister to those people, but my heart will also ache for my homeland as long as she is in the quagmire of sin & iniquity.
But you all are a great encouragement to us. I pray that somehow we might meet yet in this life. In any case, we will see you here, there, or in the air!!!
For Him,
Br. Tony
|
|
|
|
Post by benshelpmeet on Nov 15, 2005 7:04:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by nightingale on Nov 15, 2005 19:16:01 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by George on Nov 15, 2005 22:05:37 GMT -5
Ah, the state of "Christian" America! My goodness all one has to do is look at who the majority of people who profess to be Christian follow. I was listening to a tape by Dr. Curtis Hutson this morning. In it he quoted a Gallup Poll which had been done shortly before the recording of his sermon. In it 34% of people claimed to be born again. 50% of them claimed to believe the Bible. (How can that be? If 50% believe the Bible then 50% ought to be born again. Something wrong there.) There was another figure given which I have forgotten.
Anyway...I can most likely affirm to you that the vast majority of those who claim to be Christians follow men like billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Max Lucado and others of that like. To me those people's Christianity is suspect at best. All I know for sure is there is most likely going to be a whole lot of people really surprised at where they end up when they die.
Now don't get me wrong please. I don't think the only people who are going to heaven are Baptists. There will be others there also. The biggest difficulty is that America is being sold a brand of "christianity" which is not found in the Bible no matter how manytimes they change it to make it appear that way. I also ought to mention I believe there are some Baptists that may be surprised where they end up too!
If one takes the time to research the difficulties we are having in this country they can all be traced back exactly to the time when prayer and the Bible were taken out of our schools. That is the absolute truth. Take a look at crime statistics from that date forward. Take a look at church membership and attendance from that time forward. We are into the fourth generation of Americans now who have been raised without knowing there even is such a thing as absolute truth. They have been deluded and defrauded by the post-modernist, secular humanist crowd.
We even have so-called "men of God," some of them in the short list above, who have shared their platforms with atheists, homosexuals, buddhists and you name it. Many of them are in league with the pope of Rome.
Friends, brothers and sisters, one of the largest missionary fields in the world is right in our own backyards. In the shadow of the steeple someone is dying. We have thousands of people in our own country each and every day who are dying and going to hell because they didn't have anyone to help them. People are crying out for the Gospel of Christ. People are searching all over the place for Truth. Truth is a man! Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus christ said, "I am the Truth." People cannot find that Truth unless someone witnesses to them. they will not hear it on the radio or see it on the TV. They will not read of it in the newspapers and needless to say they will not find it in the public schools.
It is up to us!!! We can choose to sit on our back sides and bemoan the spiritual state of our country or we can choose to do as The Lord has commanded and go out to find the people to bring to the wedding.
Now, let us see here...I do believe it says to go into the highways. Hmmmmm. They were not told to go to Galatia or Capadocia or Tyre or Sidon or anywhere else to find the ones worthy of attending the wedding. They were told to go out and look in their own city.
Forgive me. I could preach on this subject. Many of us will give faithfully to the Church to support missionaries but when faced with a homeless person on the street will cross over to the other side to avoid them. but oh brother George, they are scary! That may very well be but we must remember that those homeless people we see begging on the same corner every day (and they ought to get a job) may be dealing with addictions the like of which most of you can't even begin to imagine. Addictions so bad the only hope they have is God and yet people turn their backs on such and walk away from them. In fact many of us run from them. How sad it is.
Friends did you know that as of 2002 there were 30 million people in this country directly addicted to alcohol and drugs? That does not include tobacco, pornography, gambling and such like. Each one of them DIRECTLY affects 4 other people. That makes a total of 150 million people in our country who are either addicted or directly affected by addiction. That is about half of the population.
The only chance those people have is through The Lord. but without someone to help them; someone to tell them, they will die without knowing God and the healing, peace and comfort that comes with a relationship with Him. We have the opportunity to be missionaries each and every day we are around people who are lost. There are a lot of Churches these days that complain about declining membership and attendance. Teh question Ihaveis how long has it been since there has been a person sitting in that Church who smelled of alcohol? How long has it been since that Church has seen an unwed mother? How long has it been since tha Church has had a homosexual that is struggling mightily with trying to change their lifestyle to one pleasing to God? And such were some of us...
The question is, do we seek those to bring them to the wedding or do we just walk on?
Yours in Christ,
George
(I apologize to anyone who may have read this in its unfinished state. The computer ate it and I had no idea where it went until I saw it on the boards.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Andrea on Nov 16, 2005 10:55:37 GMT -5
Now don't get me wrong please. I don't think the only people who are going to heaven are Baptists. Bro. George, My pastor says this... "You don't have to be a Baptist in order to go to heaven. But if you want to go "First Class", then Baptist is the way to go."  |
|
|
|
Post by bereanman on Nov 16, 2005 22:00:07 GMT -5
Amen Br. George, well put and very encouraging to me. I often find myself praying for God to help me not complain about the ills of the world, but to help me go out and work so that the lost may experience the new birth.
Although it has been a few weeks since I have last invited my neighbors to church, I will go out and do so again this week. How can I call myself a missionary and claim to care about the lost in other parts of the world if I cannot even minister to the people in my own neighborhood?
For His sake,
Br. Tony
|
|
|
|
Post by benshelpmeet on Nov 17, 2005 11:22:50 GMT -5
Friends, brothers and sisters, one of the largest missionary fields in the world is right in our own backyards. In the shadow of the steeple someone is dying. We have thousands of people in our own country each and every day who are dying and going to hell because they didn't have anyone to help them. People are crying out for the Gospel of Christ. People are searching all over the place for Truth. Truth is a man! Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus christ said, "I am the Truth." People cannot find that Truth unless someone witnesses to them. they will not hear it on the radio or see it on the TV. They will not read of it in the newspapers and needless to say they will not find it in the public schools.
Forgive me. I could preach on this subject. Many of us will give faithfully to the Church to support missionaries but when faced with a homeless person on the street will cross over to the other side to avoid them. but oh brother George, they are scary! That may very well be but we must remember that those homeless people we see begging on the same corner every day (and they ought to get a job) may be dealing with addictions the like of which most of you can't even begin to imagine. Addictions so bad the only hope they have is God and yet people turn their backs on such and walk away from them. In fact many of us run from them. How sad it is.
Friends did you know that as of 2002 there were 30 million people in this country directly addicted to alcohol and drugs? That does not include tobacco, pornography, gambling and such like. Each one of them DIRECTLY affects 4 other people. That makes a total of 150 million people in our country who are either addicted or directly affected by addiction. That is about half of the population.
The only chance those people have is through The Lord. but without someone to help them; someone to tell them, they will die without knowing God and the healing, peace and comfort that comes with a relationship with Him. We have the opportunity to be missionaries each and every day we are around people who are lost. There are a lot of Churches these days that complain about declining membership and attendance. Teh question Ihaveis how long has it been since there has been a person sitting in that Church who smelled of alcohol? How long has it been since that Church has seen an unwed mother? How long has it been since tha Church has had a homosexual that is struggling mightily with trying to change their lifestyle to one pleasing to God? And such were some of us...
The question is, do we seek those to bring them to the wedding or do we just walk on?
This is so sad but true! People need the Lord and we are to go out and tell what we know. Tell of Gods mighty hand to save. The gospel is simple, and simple to share, but most are just too busy, too carnal, too worldly minded, too caught up with self and selfishness, etc, to go and tell others. We keep all kinds of tracts on hand and when were out in town we give them to just about everyone we see. It's alot of fun, a real blessing.  Also I like to witness to the most unlovely person I can find because, I know God can save anyone in any situation, no matter how bad things seem...God is the Redeemer! He delights in saving lost souls...Thats what it's all about. Our time is short! Only God knows how short... Cancer is attacking christians everyday! It's the deadliest thing I can think of. There are many more dangers out there that could take our life in the blink of an eye... Then we stand before The Almighty God and give account for our life, every word, thought, deed, action, motive, everything we did ''or did not do'' while here on earth. We are going to be accountable! Who's blood will be on your hands? This is not a pleasant thought! Christians need to wake up and smell the coffee! Chrurch and christianity is not about me and what I get out of it, but about others and meeting others needs, begining with their need for salvation, then a relationship with god, then we must not forget the needs of our precious brethren (which are terribly neglected even in the churches. We are to equip ourselves daily with Gods Word and Prayer. Anyone can be greatly used of God no matter how long they've been a christian. God can greatly use a yeilded heart! We need to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on others. Our time is short. What we do for Christ will last ....for all eternity! May the Lord always burn a deep desire ''unquenchable'' in my heart for lost souls and may He do the same for all of you out there in cyber space reading this post. Get your heart right toward God and be a yeilded vessel and tell lost souls about the Saviour Jesus Christ. And work on your own issues in your life and draw close to the Lord and He will draw close to you. amen! God is good and His ways are peace and rest in this much stressful, unpeaceful world thats spinning out of control ( even our churches ) Praise the Lord for His abundant life and the victorious christian life we can live when yeilded to the Master ( The Lord Jesus Christ )
|
|
Look at the morbid cold colors people wear...Black clothing, white pasty faces and skin, black , blue fingernail polish or lipstick. These colors are cold morbid colors. We often see and hear the sounds of bondage, like bro. Tony mentioned, We see body piercings...(ears are a part of our body, there have been people in bondage and paganism ever since bible times...) We see weird clothing black with silver jewelry (satanic symbols) and chains hanging down all over the person as they walk. Most christians just get kind of use to it with a chuckle in there voice as they murmer out to their friend, spouce, or children...weird... 
But it's much more than weird, it is satanic bondage! Our nation is in for bad trouble. Nakedness is getting out of control. I am afriad were in for much darker immoral days ahead. Where christians will not even want leave their house. The things we see in public should make us all blush and if it doesn't you need to get right with God, because it's ungodly the things I see in our collage town. young lovers behaving in an improper way in public, young (even old ) women dressed in an ungodly, immodest, improper manner, Magazines!!! I turn them over in the rack, I saw a 10 yr old girl in a pink mini sirt so short I made my children turn their heads. This was a child! When I buy childrens underware for my girls I make them turn their heads because the pictures of these little girls ( face painted like a harlot) poseing on the package like a trashy model is ungodly, the underclothing for these small children is the same as in the ladies dept. What is America comming to! 
God help us!
Also I like to witness to the most unlovely person I can find because, I know God can save anyone in any situation, no matter how bad things seem...God is the Redeemer! He delights in saving lost souls...Thats what it's all about.