Talking About Us Now

II Timothy 3:1-5

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“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!“

II Timothy 3:1-5

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I started with the scripture today because I wanted those words in our minds and hearts from the very beginning. Doesn't this sound like Paul was describing America today! We live in a "me first" culture that preaches "tolerance", but tolerance has come to be defined as "You will accept me for who I say I am, and people I identify as like me, or you will pay the price for being intolerant". In other words, tolerance has been hijacked to mean a one-way forced acceptance of a singular viewpoint. It is very intolerant!

While there is so much disagreement in the world, we demand that no one disagree with us. If they do, we slap a title on them like: evil, homophobic, bigoted, hateful, racist, xenophobic, etc. All of this selfishness, division, and strife is ungodly. "God is not the author of confusion" (I Corinthians 14:33). Look at this list of characteristics:

- Lovers of self

- nothing is sacred

- hate good

- Lovers of money

- unloving

- betrayers of friends

- boastful

- unforgiving

- reckless

- proud

- slandering others

- arrogant

- scoffing at God (blasphemers)

- no self-control

- lovers of pleasure

- disobedient to parents

- cruel

- religious but not Godly

- ungrateful

All of this describes our current cancel culture. People live in fear that they will say the wrong thing to the wrong person and find themselves fired from a job, and have their name drug through the mud on a public platform. What comment from our past may come back to haunt us? What statement will be taken out of context and weaponized against us? What if I share the wrong Bible verse or Biblical view on an issue?

If we focus on the negative, we will live in fear. So, this is what God's Word says about that:

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”

I John 4:18-19

”...For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:

“The LORD is my helper;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5–6.

”And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19.

All I can say after that is God's got you. Trust Him through this time. Some people are tired of all this and are looking for answers. Pray God leads you to those people and let your light shine (Matthew 5:16).

Father, this is a crazy world we live in. If we are not careful we will allow fear to consume us. Help us to let our light shine, that people may see our good works, and glorify You in Heaven. May that light reveal the saving love of Jesus to them.