Paradox of Our Times (2 Timothy 3:1-5, Proverbs 14:12)

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I recently heard a country song by Bucky Covington entitled, Different World. The song talks about how different things are from what they used to be when we were growing up and he paints some word pictures in the song that bring back fond memories. The refrain of the song says, "It was a different life when we were boys and girls; not just a different time, it was a different world." I agree. I'm amazed at the things I see and hear in the media that were absolutely unacceptable when I was a boy.

I've heard that the use of profanity in the movie, Gone With the Wind, opened the door for the widespread use of profanity in the cinema industry. It disturbed me that nudity was approved for thirteen year-olds in the blockbuster hit Titanic a few years ago. It should have disturbed me that nudity was approved at all. Do you think we are losing moral ground? I do. We are on a slippery slope and losing ground fast.

Try this one. In the 70's, when the Watergate transcripts were released, Americans were outraged that the words "expletive deleted" were found so many times. They were offended that foul language would be used in the nation's Oval Office. These days, many Americans are boldly proclaiming that it is none of our business what goes on in the Oval Office. Need I say more? The slippery slope is getting more slippery.

What is the answer? The Bible. Christ. God's way. With this in mind, take note of the following sent to me by a friend. It gives perspective to our dilemma. Its author is Anonymous (I'd really like to meet this "anonymous person" sometime) and it is entitled PARADOX OF OUR TIMES.

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;
we spend more, but have little; we buy more and enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge but less judgement;
more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get angry too quickly,
stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom,
watch TV too much, and don't pray often enough.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom and lie too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life, but not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We have higher incomes but lower morals, more food but less appeasement,
more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but less success.
We build better computers to hold more information,
produce more copies than ever, yet have less communication.
We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and upset stomachs; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare, more leisure and less fun.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes;
tall men and short character; steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of quick trips, throwaway morality, one-night stands,
and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom.

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul reminded his young friend that times would change and moral decay would be prevalent even among people who claim to be godly. As the times change and morality slips to new lows, let us be people who strive to raise the bar of morality, not lower it. If something is unacceptable, we need to say so. And we certainly need to educate our children on what our moral standards should be and let scripture establish the basis for our convictions, not what is acceptable to the culture in which we live (Proverbs 14:12). The times are changing for sure, but God doesn't change. He is the one constant in this universe who gives us hope for eternity.

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