Are you looking for this?
The Apostle Paul writes,
“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...”2 Timothy 3:1-4.
I hear from the pulpit and other reliable Christian sources that it is widely believed we are in the “Last Days”. The days just prior to Christ coming and the ultimate judgement of mankind. And I have no reason not to believe it. And besides we technically have been in the last days since Christ ascended to heaven.
That being said my wife ever the book worm was given some old books One book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
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."
This is exactly what the apostle Paul was talking about in his letter to Timothy. Sadly especially were I live in North America, there are many claiming to be Christians who are simply religious men and women saying they are Christian.
While the true Christian message of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is lost.
Paul Gallico and many others are looking for true Christianity. A life style fashioned on Love for God, and one’s neighbours.
Jesus when asked,
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40
Please think about it.
