We know what changed, but society just doesn’t want to admit it. It isn’t the things outside us that are the problem, it is the things missing on the inside.
Show me a kid from a strong family who goes to church, participates in sports, has a part-time job, works hard in school and is actively engaged in community (scouts, band, etc) and I will show you a kid who is not at risk of being a mass murderer. In fact, just show me the kid who is any ONE of these things and I'll show you a kid who is not at risk.
I've thought thus for some time now. There is no other explanation for evil to be so prevalent. My sister has started attending a church an hour away from her. The minister says these things outloud, even calling out government officials who get it wrong. They put the government first, not God. The minister says the job of Christians is to tell others about Jesus so they can be saved. This church is growing at a phenomenal pace. Going against the decreases in most churches.
Amen, brother, AMEN! A few of your words triggered a memory and a thought. “Do it if it feels good. You get to judge whether it is right or wrong.” In the late '60s it was stated as "If it feels good, do it!" Either way, how would one know about a good feeling without having done it? This implies as you've said the individual ought to ignore any morality taught in order to have worldly pleasures no matter the impact on other individuals. I may be a bit older than you remembering the '60s and '70s.
America might be the least spiritual and most materialistic society in modern times. It may be that the anticipated food shortages and famine will lead to a revival in Christian churches. It might be that the millions of illegal immigrants that have arrived in the past 17 months will bring life to Catholic churches.
It may be that a new religion combining the teachings of Jesus and Buddha will develop. Meditation might become part of church services instead of the embarrassing and stupid tradition of encouraging worshippers to wander about inside the sanctuary shaking hands.
I was brought up by two religious and extremely conservative families. Many Mennonite and Free Methodist preachers were in my family, going back to at least 1706 when Jakob Clements first arrived in the New World.
Now, most have discarded the obligation of going to church on Sunday or having fellowship with other believers. Many question the reason the early church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to the "venerable day of the Sun". In our society, many question the idea of a virgin giving birth. It seems as likely as a man becoming pregnant. Personally, my biggest obstacle, the things that keep me from becoming a traditional Christian is my inability to ignore two contradictions. (1) Jesus said the only proof he would give that he was the Son of God would be his experience of being entombed for THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS. Magically, this prophesy was denied by the church, giving us Good Friday, followed two days later with Easter. (2) The superstitious, frightening tradition of most churches is that sinners will be tortured for eternity by our "loving spiritual father". It seems contradictory that a loving father would torment his children for eternity due to misunderstandings. That makes YHWH seem more evil than Satan.
Yes, we need a moral code. We need to believe in something bigger than us. But modern people demand logic and consistency.
Show me a kid from a strong family who goes to church, participates in sports, has a part-time job, works hard in school and is actively engaged in community (scouts, band, etc) and I will show you a kid who is not at risk of being a mass murderer. In fact, just show me the kid who is any ONE of these things and I'll show you a kid who is not at risk.
I've thought thus for some time now. There is no other explanation for evil to be so prevalent. My sister has started attending a church an hour away from her. The minister says these things outloud, even calling out government officials who get it wrong. They put the government first, not God. The minister says the job of Christians is to tell others about Jesus so they can be saved. This church is growing at a phenomenal pace. Going against the decreases in most churches.
Amen!!!
Amen Brother!
Amen, brother, AMEN! A few of your words triggered a memory and a thought. “Do it if it feels good. You get to judge whether it is right or wrong.” In the late '60s it was stated as "If it feels good, do it!" Either way, how would one know about a good feeling without having done it? This implies as you've said the individual ought to ignore any morality taught in order to have worldly pleasures no matter the impact on other individuals. I may be a bit older than you remembering the '60s and '70s.
America might be the least spiritual and most materialistic society in modern times. It may be that the anticipated food shortages and famine will lead to a revival in Christian churches. It might be that the millions of illegal immigrants that have arrived in the past 17 months will bring life to Catholic churches.
It may be that a new religion combining the teachings of Jesus and Buddha will develop. Meditation might become part of church services instead of the embarrassing and stupid tradition of encouraging worshippers to wander about inside the sanctuary shaking hands.
I was brought up by two religious and extremely conservative families. Many Mennonite and Free Methodist preachers were in my family, going back to at least 1706 when Jakob Clements first arrived in the New World.
Now, most have discarded the obligation of going to church on Sunday or having fellowship with other believers. Many question the reason the early church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to the "venerable day of the Sun". In our society, many question the idea of a virgin giving birth. It seems as likely as a man becoming pregnant. Personally, my biggest obstacle, the things that keep me from becoming a traditional Christian is my inability to ignore two contradictions. (1) Jesus said the only proof he would give that he was the Son of God would be his experience of being entombed for THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS. Magically, this prophesy was denied by the church, giving us Good Friday, followed two days later with Easter. (2) The superstitious, frightening tradition of most churches is that sinners will be tortured for eternity by our "loving spiritual father". It seems contradictory that a loving father would torment his children for eternity due to misunderstandings. That makes YHWH seem more evil than Satan.
Yes, we need a moral code. We need to believe in something bigger than us. But modern people demand logic and consistency.