We Live In A Different World

by Micky Galloway

We live in a world of complete disregard for God. There are many causes for this including television, the internet, modern “music,” the breakdown of the family, etc. It seems living together, same-sex marriage, and divorce on demand has become commonplace. In fact today is the conclusion of the 47th annual, three-day Los Angeles Pride Parade and Festival sponsored by the LGBT community in West Hollywood. What will the next generation be? Polls have shown that there is a slow, but consistent decline in church attendance and religious affiliation. Is it really surprising that we read, “The large declines in religious practice among young adults are also further evidence that millennials are the least religious generation in memory, and possibly in American history” (psychologist Jean Twenge of San Diego State University) (Click here to read the article).

Indeed, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:8-10 NASV). After the death of Joshua we read, “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah …” (Judges 2:10-11). By the end of the book of Judges we read, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Everyone was doing as he pleased. Historically this has been true. Sometime in the early period of the divided kingdom, Ahab was ruling in the northern kingdom (I Kings 16-18). We read, “And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah above all that were before him … and Ahab did yet more to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (I Kings 16:30-33). This is not new, but what happens to create such departures?

Trivialize sin. Ahab considered the sins of Jeroboam (the low standard of wicked kings for many years prior to Ahab) “as if it had been a light thing” (I Kings 16:31). Jeroboam’s idolatry was considered as nothing. Ahab would go well beyond that by introducing other gods. Sin is considered a non-issue to the majority of the world. When one declares that there is no God; that we all just evolved by chance and were not created; that there will be no judgment where all will give an account for the choices we make; then there is no motivation to have or uphold any moral standard other than each individual’s desires. Factor in one generation of ignorance and you have the condition, “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Establish New God’s. Almost immediately after becoming king, Ahab “went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made the Asherah” (I Kings 16:31-33). Since Ahab no longer cared to serve the one, true and living God, it was nothing then for him to follow after false gods and set up altars that others might worship them. In our efforts to not serve God, we have in fact established gods of our own. Paul said, “Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves (as) servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey?” (Romans 6:16). Whatever we elevate to the highest position in our lives becomes our god, whether it is power, material gain, alcohol, sex, entertainment, etc. All of this is prompted by selfish choices, so the god we serve is the one we create that allows the condition, “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Attack and Vilify the Faithful. Not long afterward, Jezebel (Ahab’s new queen) began the process of eliminating the prophets of God (I Kings 18:4). When Elijah the prophet confronted Ahab about his wickedness, “Ahab said unto him, Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?” (I Kings 18:17). Isn’t that common? Let’s blame those who point out sin and brand them as “intolerant.” Let’s ostracize and exclude those who call for the “old paths” as they did Jeremiah (cf. Jeremiah 6:16). They plotted against him saying, “Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words” (Jeremiah 18:18). Jeremiah cried out, “I am become a laughing-stock all the day, every one mocketh me” (Jeremiah 20:7). Clearly, Ahab was the “troubler of Israel,” yet he could only see Elijah as the one to blame because he pointed out sin. Jeremiah was cast into a pit. “Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon … And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire” (Jeremiah 38:6). Wicked Jezebel sought to kill Elijah (I Kings 19:1-2). Typically those who cry out for tolerance are the most intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them. Some are already attacked and vilified in the courts. Even in the church, those who would expose error are labeled as trouble makers. When we fail to “preach the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) or take the position, “We don’t preach on that here,” we are paving the way for every man to do that which is right in his own eyes.

Yes, our children and grandchildren are growing up in a different world and those of us who are growing older are reminded that, “This world is not my home.” Though we live in the world, let us not be “of the world.” Jesus told the apostles, “If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). Let us not be discouraged, but continue to do our part by showing God to the world through the things that are made (Romans 1:18-20), through His Son (John 14:8-9), and through His word (I Corinthians 2:9-10).