I am longing for purity, honesty, integrity, commitment, godliness, and morality. A society where there is no Miley Cyrus' or Lady Gagas to pollute our young people. Where movies have good moral stories to them instead of blatant sexual promiscuity and immodesty. Where people know right from wrong and love their neighbors. Where Christians are impacting society and society isn't impacting Christians. I guess I am longing for heaven, that is all.
I know this world has had evil in it since Eve decided she wanted to be like God and ate the apple. There will continue being evil until Jesus comes to take us home and makes all things new. However, we, as believers in His powerful name, should look so different than the world.
People should be able to see the difference in our lives. They should be able to look at us and see strong, healthy marriages. Children who walk in integrity and Truth. Homes that have the sweet aroma of Jesus, namely love without conflict and strife. Employees who work hard for their employers and employers who are benevolent and kind.
We should be salt and light in this world. The world wants to see Christians who are not hypocrites, who live by the golden rule of loving God and loving others. They are tired of those who preach one thing and live an entirely different way.
This is what I am longing for; A people who are called by His name to start impacting society for good. We have the power living inside of us to do this. The Creator of the universe lives inside of us and promises us that we can do all things through Him. Now just start believing it and living it.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare
the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare
the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9
Logging you in...
Tracy Word · 599 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 599 weeks ago
Amanda · 599 weeks ago
Cynthia · 599 weeks ago
I, too, long for things to be better. I recognize that some of these things are not found in the past, but in the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. I dream of a world without bloodshed, with eternal peace.
I agree with you about the importance of commitment in the family unit. It makes a huge difference to the family members, and to society in general. At the same time, though, I recognize that in the past, couples didn't always stay together. My great-grandfather beat and then abandoned his pregnant wife. When we talk about what needs to be done today to improve families, we need to consider that there are laws today that didn't exist years ago, which can force men who abandon their families to support them, and laws which can protect those who are victims of domestic violence.
My grand-mother had a half-sister who was mentally handicapped. She was sent to Austria for treatment. Unfortunately, while she was there, the Nazis came to power, and they murdered her. That's why I have such a strong gut reaction against seeing that time period as a time of better morals. I may not be crazy about a silly celebrity's antics, but it pales in comparison to an evil ideology of murdering anyone viewed as weak or disabled or from the wrong racial/religious group. I know you weren't aware of my family's story when you wrote that post, but my initial reaction was "how can anybody say that a stupid dance move is worse than killing so many millions of people?"
As the daughter of a teacher, I can certainly appreciate that teachers should be respected. At the same time, I get a bit uncomfortable with words like "obedience" because someone can be obedient to authority without being moral. Sometimes, being obedient to God and doing what is moral requires a willingness to be disobedient to authority. Again, I think it's important to recognize that some people see obedience as a bad word because the Nazis valued it so highly, and because of the infamous "I was just following orders" defense at Eichmann's trial.
I do agree that in order to reach that time of Eternal Peace, we need to lead moral lives, care for others and love them as ourselves, and be a shining example to those around us. That's part of the reason that I'm not thrilled when so much moral outrage is directed against celebrities. We need to lead by example. The nature of celebrity is that it is about being known and in the public eye. Celebrities get bigger when they get attention - ANY type of attention. Far more people have now seen a lewd performance because of the outrage it caused. They may have not seen the original performance, but then they heard about it and sat down to google it or viewed it on YouTube. Every time that happens, she makes money from YouTube views, she gets more free publicity, and some kids will like her because she is seen as a rebellious figure so they're buy her music. So, what do moral leaders do? They promote positive examples. Organize youth to do volunteer work and fundraisers, and then publicize the good works they do. Honor local heroes. Find people making passionate music with positive messages. Shop at stores that don't put the gossip magazines at eye level at the check-out. Demonstrate a commitment to avoid gossip. Direct all that youthful energy into positive pursuits.
Along with Christian music, there is some mainstream music that I'd recommend. Here are some examples:
Waving Flag (Haiti disaster relief fundraiser): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB7L1BIDELc
Respect (Aretha Franklin): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0
One Day (Matisyahu): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRmBChQjZPs
Video (India Arie): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRmBChQjZPs
Mi She'maanim (unfortunately, I could only find this version in Hebrew with Spanish subtitles, but the meaning "Whoever believes is not afraid" is beautiful): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N32D7S7tAFc
Tiffany · 599 weeks ago
PJB · 599 weeks ago
Charlotte · 599 weeks ago
I also wonder (and I certainly have no research on this subject, this is pure speculation) if the world then was not necessarily better than today, but if because of our media infused world now we realize the problems more. When children are kidnapped all across the country we hear about it, when maybe in the '40s or '50s you wouldn't have. And while it seems more children are molested, is it true that it is more, or is it simply less taboo to talk about? as well as the media spreading it for all to hear.
In a way I wonder if this is a tool of satan. when we know more of the evil of the world it may lead us to despair which leads us away from God. I still believe that media (depending on how it is used) is a gift of God and can be used for much good, but I think that satan has retooled it for his own purposes.
Joluise · 599 weeks ago
"First detected in the 1930s, the breakdown of the family had become nearly a truism by the following decade. There were the so-called "problem families", whose acute poverty and neglected children brought them to the attention of authorities. Even worse, though, were the signs of a moral breakdown among the populace at large. Skyrocketing rates of illegitimacy; a huge rise in the number of divorces; an epidemic of juvenile delinquency, personified by the spectacle of degenerate and rebellious Teddy Boys; an influx of colonial subjects with their own distinctive patterns of familial life; bombed-out families doubling up and getting on each others nerves: everywhere the fragility - but also the centrality - of family life was apparent. . . . Britain was in serious trouble. " (exert from Family Secrets)
Nothing has changed!
Kim · 599 weeks ago
(another) Kim · 599 weeks ago
Cynthia · 598 weeks ago
I tried an experiment a while ago. I sat down with an old photo album, picked out the happiest childhood times that I remembered, and then did some research on what was happening in the world beyond my doorstep.
On my 2nd birthday, while my whole family was gathered together around my cake, my husband was screaming in a bomb shelter.
On a beautiful spring day when I was playing with friends on our lawn at the age of 4, the Vietnamese were dealing with the fall of Saigon.
You get the idea. In my mind, the 1970s were an absolutely wonderful time, but that's because I was a child growing up in a loving family on a quiet street that felt safe (I later learned of problems) with good friends and lots of fun. It was only when I was much older that I realized just how turbulent that time period was.