9 More Attitudes Wrecking Our World

by Eddie Foster
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Topics: Christian Living, Social Issues

This post concludes the answer to the question of why the world is the way it is, and our part in it. Thankfully, there is something we can do!

Again, it is instructive to ask ourselves: Is God happy with the way things are today? Or is He saddened and angered by where humanity is today? 

Let’s continue our exploration of Paul’s list of characteristics that cause “perilous times.”  

Click here to read part 1 of this series. 

More perilous conditions

11. Slanderers. Do journalists embellish and slant their pieces to make certain people look bad? Widespread dishonesty has destroyed trust in everything from friendships to major news organizations, when all God asks is that we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Again, it is instructive to ask ourselves: Is God happy with the way things are today? Or is He saddened and angered by where humanity is today? 12. Without self-control. Is our world rampant with sexually transmitted infections, harmful addictions and destructive emotional outbursts? Satan has done a masterful job of destroying self-control—a vital fruit of God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23)—in our modern society.

13. Brutal. Does it seem as if criminals—serial killers, armed robbers, vicious rapists and terrorists—are getting more brutal, and that law enforcement officers are responding by fighting violence with violence? Instead of loving one another (Romans 13:8), why do we brutally tear each other down?

14. Despisers of good. Why do people call things like abortion, casual sex, atheism and greed good and societal progress? Many things God defines as evil are being branded good (Isaiah 5:20) in defense of freedom, choice or economics.

15. Traitors. Do people in leadership positions in business and government regularly betray those who depend on them? So why do we still trust human leaders, who consistently disappoint us, instead of the all-perfect God (Psalms 118:9 and 146:3)?

16. Headstrong. Are people generally willing to change themselves for the better rather than to stubbornly get set in their ways? It seems like “stiff-necked” is an apt description of many today (Deuteronomy 9:13).

17. Haughty. Do leaders boast about their power and how they are the only agents of real change? Do political leaders recognize that one day their offices will be replaced by the rule of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 2:12, 17)?

18. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Why are millions of people addicted to pornography, entertainment, junk food, drugs, gambling, partying and so on? If an idol is defined as anything we put before God, then Jeremiah’s description of a people “insane with their idols” is an apt description of our culture (Jeremiah 50:38).

19. Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Do millions of professing Christians live by every word of God, including the Sabbath and holy days found in the Bible? Instead, the vast majority of professing Christians ignore the Sabbath (Deuteronomy 5:12) and the holy days (Leviticus 23), and instead observe “traditions of men” (Mark 7:8).

What do we do?

Paul ends this list by saying: “And from such people, turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:5). We have to make a choice: We can either embrace these “perilous” characteristics or “turn away” and escape them through repentance, prayer and the help of God’s Holy Spirit.

God’s plan is to end these “perilous times” by instituting His loving and peaceful Kingdom through the return of Jesus Christ. 

But, in the meantime, where do you stand?

To learn more about the Bible’s warnings for us today, read “As in the Days of Noah: Warnings for Today.”

Date Posted: September 28, 2016