Don’t Mess With My World

  A few years ago I had the opportunity to teach a young couples’ Sunday School class. My lesson examined some current issues that I deemed either ethically, morally, or spiritually unacceptable. As I spoke, the class stirred. I could remember the day when these very topics were not even debated among serious Christians, but on this day my young class was struggling to accept what they considered my outdated point of view.

  Later, my mind drifted back to earlier years. I had just married and was feeling like my time had arrived. Every generation before me had enjoyed their day at the top, and now, finally, I was a grown-up and it was my turn to help run the world for a while. Still I could picture those old gray haired saints who carried large print Bibles and would periodically shout “Amen” during church services. In that day, there were some things going on in the world that these men considered ethically, morally, or spiritually unacceptable. I remembered well how I felt cramped by their old fashioned ideas and ideals. I simply could not see the world through their eyes, nor understand the issues from their perspective.

  My point is simply this: Every generation, including my own, is inclined to view the world as if it began in their youth and will end when they die. Moral and ethical judgments are often formulated by observing the best and the worst of our contemporary culture. The result is a continual drift in society toward liberalism and lawlessness.

  No one can deny that we have come a long way, but are we better off or worse? Obviously, we are on a path that leads forever away from God. There must be a better way—a safer way. Perhaps ours, and every generation to come, would do well to forsake the old floating standard and consider the words of the Psalmist (as they are reprinted in my LARGE PRINT Bible), “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. (Ps. 119:160).”