Sometimes we can get exhortations from places we would never consider: sometimes an exhortation can come from someone who doesn’t know God, or who is expressing ideas inconsistent with God’s teachings and directives.
An article in the local morning paper hit the mark. It was taken from “The Hartford Courant”, on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. It was found in the Parent & Child column by John Rosemond1, who is a family psychologist, and it was titled “Why a Child’s High Self-Esteem Threatens America’s Future”.
Here are some highlights from that article.
- “Research … has clearly shown that high self-esteem is closely associated with anti-social inclinations.
- “At this writing, two generations of parents were persuaded to devote themselves to creating child-rearing environments that were rich in praise and reward but lacked reality, elevating their children to idol status.
- “… the last generation of American kids who were not allowed to possess high self-esteem … were taught … ‘It would be good for you to remember that no matter what you accomplish in this world, you are really just a little fish in a big pond’. It’s helpful today to remind myself (the author) of this on a regular basis.
- “Today’s typical parent seems to think his/her child is the only fish in the pond worth noticing, which is really too bad for his/her child.
- “It’s bad for all of us, actually, because research also finds that the higher a person’s self-regard, the lower his regard for others.
- “People with high self-esteem want to be paid attention to and served.
- “They believe in their entitlement.
- “On the other hand, folks with high regard for others pay attention to others and look for opportunities to serve them.
- “Entitlements weaken, and a culture-wide entitlement mentally weakens the entire culture.
- “This is corrosion. It threatens America’s future.”
Compare that article with this quote.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” (2Tim 3:1-4).
Even in this world and with its corrupt thinking, occasionally the danger of this world’s philosophy is clearly seen and clearly expressed. No one will question or debate that we live in the “last days”, an era so corrupt, so bereft of God’s teachings and God’s righteousness, that God’s judgment out of necessity must come. And will He be able to find a small contingent of faithful believers left on this earth?
Whenever we have seen the advent of God’s judgment and destruction it has been precipitated by a very consistent phrase. “… every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” The Prophet Isaiah clearly warns of this behavior: “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isa 5:21).
When humanity raises its position to be equal that of God; when they use their own eyes as a measure for rightness; then God’s judgment is close at hand. All the perversions that the world has perpetrated do not bring judgment; it is this philosophy of high self-esteem, high regard for self that brings destruction.
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen 6:4-8).
Mighty men, men of renown, men of high regard for themselves and their accomplishments. These men were sinful, yes; but they were men who had high regard for themselves. It seems that all the other sins that man does should bring about judgment, but judgment is always precipitated by this philosophy of self-regard. The reason is that its affect is so devastating to the faithful. Every aspect of our lives is influenced by this type of thinking. We are forced into acceptance by society for all the sins of this world.
If you do not think so, consider the consequences of vocally disapproving of gay marriage, gay rights, abortion, pre-marital sex, babies out of wedlock, and the list goes on. To voice an opinion that considers these wrong, will label you as unmerciful, close minded, small-minded, bigoted, and intolerant. In fact, to voice an opinion other than “anything goes” will get you tagged with these negative labels. So we are forced to keep quiet.
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” (Prov 26:4, 5).
It has no benefit to speak out to those who have no ears to hear. We live in perilous times, not because sin is rampant, but rather because sin is not considered wrong. Within the household of the faithful we hear of divisions within ecclesia’s because of the acceptance of abominations, and of the corruption of God’s laws so that all things are considered good for the sake of peace. God’s judgment must come or there will be no one left that is righteous. The Psalmist clearly expresses the danger:
“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he ceased to act prudently, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; evil he doth not refuse” (Psa 36:1-4).
We would never make this choice, but it is our surroundings that continue to press upon us; to slowly manipulate our thinking, to slowly transition our perceptions and philosophy to fall in line with their beliefs, their philosophy.
The generation that I am from or the generations before me do not fall prey as easily to this present world’s philosophy. As the article in the paper mentioned, it is only the most recent generation that has been exposed to this universal philosophy of entitlement and high self-esteem. My generation and those before me were taught to think of others, to live godly lives, with society’s moral barometer more in line with those living Godly lives.
The generation that followed, lives in an age where the erosion of society’s moral compass has been completely destroyed. As in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, the depraved and corrupt are considered normal. Our children suffer the effect of this lifestyle. They are bombarded with perversions that are considered normal, right, and good. Even constant reading of Scripture does not fully defend against this philosophy. It is on TV, in books, on the radio, advertisements, packaging and products; we can’t escape it.
For the older generations, we have a point of reference, we lived in an age when these things were wrong, but today’s generation has no point of reference. Today it is hard to keep a Godly perspective; these are dangerous times. In Proverbs we are warned over and over of the danger of this present world’s philosophy.
“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov 3:7). “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts” (Prov 21:2). “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Prov 12:15). “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself” (Prov 18:2). “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Prov 28:26). “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men” (Prov 30:11-14).
We live in this generation.
The answer is not to remove ourselves and hide; it is to hold on and pray for strength to endure, to continue to teach our own against these perversions. In the wilderness Israel was given a reminder against these same philosophies. Their garment was to have a ribbon of blue on the bottom edge.
“And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring” (Num 15:39).
Whoring is a term that is better rendered from the Dictionary as; “To compromise one’s principles for personal gain.” Talk about hitting the mark. Substituting that definition into the quote from Numbers it now reads as;
“And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to compromise one’s principles for personal gain.”
This is the generation we live in. Christ has instructed and warned us of these last days.
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” ((Matt 24:3-13).
“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matt 24:22).
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matt 24:30-31).
The most chilling and poignant words he spoke are “but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” As in the days of Noah … if God did not destroy the world then, there would not have been anyone to save today.
We must constantly re-evaluate our thoughts and beliefs and measure them against the standard the lies before us in symbol today, at this table. We must become blind and deaf to this world’s philosophy and have eyes to see and ears to hear the direction of God alone. Although this generation has many dangers and weakens us continually we must remember the words of the prophet Isaiah.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa 40:31).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One