A Bleak Warning
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2Timothy 3:1-5.
Here is a bleak warning to Christians from the apostle Paul. He is saying that people will eventually turn from God. Essentially he warns that the world is if you will, going to Hell in a handbarrow. It reminded me of a quote from an old book my wife found entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written today.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than we were in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with burning brimstone.
When I speak I can only truthfully speak of what I see first hand from my perch here in North America where I live.
To live in North America is to be bombarded daily by a media calling to the individual to get the latest gadget, the latest designer clothing. It must be the latest, it must be brand name or you’re not "cool".
Not only do you need "it" "but you need it now!" forget about paying "buy now pay later." is the general philosophy.
It seems like everything has a price tag, everything is a commodity. Everything from toothpicks to basic human rights such as food, housing, and health care. Society simply states if you can afford it you can have it. If not, even if it is essential to keeping you alive, tough, you can’t have it. Love and compassion it seem are missing.
Some claiming to be Christian are not any better it seems. They have becomes religious copies of secular society. Some preachers and evangelist calling out to people if you give to God he will give to you ten, twenty, a hundred fold. As if God were a supernatural banker giving super interest. Such people seem to be in love with money. Using money and wealth as a standard for success in life and the sign of true faith. Something simply not true. These people ignore the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Many calling themselves Christians are not following the teachings of Jesus to Love God, your neighbour and even your enemy. They are not following the teachings of Jesus to help the poor and needy of this world. Compassion seems to be lacking.
Someone even told me that those who call themselves evangelical Christians are no longer relevant they’ve become too political. There message is lost in all the protesting they do. People it seems know far more of what evangelical Christians are against, than what they are for.
They have a form or godliness but have lost the true message of Jesus. As Mahatma Gandhi said,
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
The rest Jesus is speaking of is a rest many people in our society are looking for. A rest only God can give. It is a message they will not hear if we as believers in Christ are not true to the teachings of Jesus in word and deed. As Francis of Assisi wrote,
What is your sermon saying about Jesus?
Please think about it.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2Timothy 3:1-5.
Here is a bleak warning to Christians from the apostle Paul. He is saying that people will eventually turn from God. Essentially he warns that the world is if you will, going to Hell in a handbarrow. It reminded me of a quote from an old book my wife found entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written today.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than we were in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with burning brimstone.
When I speak I can only truthfully speak of what I see first hand from my perch here in North America where I live.
To live in North America is to be bombarded daily by a media calling to the individual to get the latest gadget, the latest designer clothing. It must be the latest, it must be brand name or you’re not "cool".
Not only do you need "it" "but you need it now!" forget about paying "buy now pay later." is the general philosophy.
It seems like everything has a price tag, everything is a commodity. Everything from toothpicks to basic human rights such as food, housing, and health care. Society simply states if you can afford it you can have it. If not, even if it is essential to keeping you alive, tough, you can’t have it. Love and compassion it seem are missing.
Some claiming to be Christian are not any better it seems. They have becomes religious copies of secular society. Some preachers and evangelist calling out to people if you give to God he will give to you ten, twenty, a hundred fold. As if God were a supernatural banker giving super interest. Such people seem to be in love with money. Using money and wealth as a standard for success in life and the sign of true faith. Something simply not true. These people ignore the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10
Jesus said,“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Many calling themselves Christians are not following the teachings of Jesus to Love God, your neighbour and even your enemy. They are not following the teachings of Jesus to help the poor and needy of this world. Compassion seems to be lacking.
Someone even told me that those who call themselves evangelical Christians are no longer relevant they’ve become too political. There message is lost in all the protesting they do. People it seems know far more of what evangelical Christians are against, than what they are for.
They have a form or godliness but have lost the true message of Jesus. As Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful,
but you Christians
- you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently,
yet today many in church are chasing after the world
not to win them, but to be like them.”
Billy Graham
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22,23.
These are the attributes of those who follow Christ. Of those who truly have Christ at work in their lives. They offer to the world Love, Peace, and Rest for the Soul.Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
The rest Jesus is speaking of is a rest many people in our society are looking for. A rest only God can give. It is a message they will not hear if we as believers in Christ are not true to the teachings of Jesus in word and deed. As Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do
may be the only sermon
some persons will hear today”
Francis of AssisiWhat is your sermon saying about Jesus?
Please think about it.
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