Carol's Soapbox 3-22-12

Judges 21:25 is one of the most telling descriptions of life without God. It was written about the nation of Israel thousands of years ago, but certainly is just as pertinent to us today, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

It was then, as well as now, a time of “humanism,” where each person rather than God was the basis for choices, for lifestyles, and for mindsets. In the days of the judges, the people were too progressive and too modern to follow God. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

Is Christianity old-fashioned? Are churches relegated to the gray-haired crowd while the younger, smarter generations have so many more entertaining activities to hold their focus?

How is that working out for us individually and as a nation? Are we better off than we were years ago?

My heart has been heavy for the kids who are the first victims of our progressive lifestyle—little children who are “throw aways,” unwanted, uncared for, and merely the accidental results of irresponsible physical choices. Since the 1950’s, core values have crumbled. We look back and mock at Happy Days, Ozzie and Harriet, and the Cleavers. Sixty years later, we are so much smarter, kinder, hipper, and more modern. Really?

Are there fewer broken homes? Fewer at-risk children? Lower welfare rolls? Lower prison population? Are there higher test scores in schools? A more robust economy? Safer communities?

It’s not rocket science to see that crumbling morality is enormously expensive, hazardous, and counter-productive to a nation. Yet, our national leaders continue to rush blindly in the wrong direction.

One example I feel strongly about is that our educational leaders spend our money to punish the schools for not solving the “education” problem. It isn’t an education problem, it’s a sin problem. Hungry, scared, lonely little kids can't learn very well. Duh!

Today, gas is just a hair under $4 a gallon, taxes are rising, regulations are multiplying, freedoms are dwindling, and unfortunate little children are being sacrificed on the altar of an irresponsible attitude of “I’ll do whatever I want—I am my own king.”

It didn’t work for Israel and the judges, and it’s certainly not working for us. What are we supposedly enlightened people thinking? (End of Soapbox)