Man has always been capable of horrendous evil ever since sin entered the world. However, I do believe behavior in America has gotten worse. In my mom's generation, they rarely heard of anyone getting divorced. Couples stayed married until one of them died. They didn't have to lock their doors or fear their children were going to be abducted and murdered. The worst problems teachers faced in the classroom were chewing gum and talking too much.
Sure people were depressed back then but not like today. Dr. Archibald Hart, a clinical psychologist for 45 years, said that 30 years ago the onset of depression was around 45 years old. Now, it is 14 years old! Something has gone terribly wrong in our society.
I believe it is a combination of things. Throwing out biblical principles is the most important one. With that comes divorce, abortion, and all kinds of evils. The breakdown of the family is destroying societies. Children need a father and mother. This is why God hates divorce. Divorce breeds anger in children.
The way children are being raised is another problem. Few parents are raising disciplined adults. They no longer say "no" to their children, teach them boundaries, or discipline them. This has raised a generation of selfish adults. It is all about them. When people were depressed years ago, they would be unhappy and maybe end up killing themselves, not taking down 20 children with them.
We also have a culture of death. Abortion is death to millions of babies. Homosexual marriage is death to procreation of children. Pornography is death to marriages and true intimacy in marriage. Television, movies, and video games trivialize death and destruction.
Our only hope is in Jesus. It always has been and it always will be. He transforms the human into a new creature and puts His Spirit within them enabling them to walk in love. Pray for this nation. Pray for your neighborhood and church. May all men come to see Christ living in you.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 5110
