Dear Parents,
Over the last several weeks we have seen tragedies in our country in which school children have killed school teachers. What recently transpired in Massachusetts testifies that the violence issue is not about a certain type of weapon, but the condition of man’s heart, and specifically the way children are being raised. The Bible says in II Timothy 3:1-5 that perilous times will come in the last days.
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, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Notice how the text says “disobedient to parents” and “fierce.” How do children become so disrespectful and violent toward authority and others? By us as a nation turning away from God. Rejecting the light of God’s revelation always propels people into greater darkness. What follows is that the lusts of the flesh begin to dominate the actions, and the scourge of conscience becomes stifled. People don’t want the rule and reign of God in their lives, but they do want society to function with the benefits of God’s special presence. It just doesn’t work like that.
What is the answer? It is not “going to church.” Notice how verse 5 says that these people have a form of godliness. Religion of itself only produces a shell of a man without transforming the nature of the man. The answer is turning to Jesus Christ by grace through faith to have Him rule and reign in one’s life. People must receive the gospel. Any solution less than this will always promote the works of the flesh carried out in the description of our text. Jesus Christ is the answer, and the condition of our society is evidence of that this is true.
Sincerely,
Pastor Sutton
Over the last several weeks we have seen tragedies in our country in which school children have killed school teachers. What recently transpired in Massachusetts testifies that the violence issue is not about a certain type of weapon, but the condition of man’s heart, and specifically the way children are being raised. The Bible says in II Timothy 3:1-5 that perilous times will come in the last days.
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, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Notice how the text says “disobedient to parents” and “fierce.” How do children become so disrespectful and violent toward authority and others? By us as a nation turning away from God. Rejecting the light of God’s revelation always propels people into greater darkness. What follows is that the lusts of the flesh begin to dominate the actions, and the scourge of conscience becomes stifled. People don’t want the rule and reign of God in their lives, but they do want society to function with the benefits of God’s special presence. It just doesn’t work like that.
What is the answer? It is not “going to church.” Notice how verse 5 says that these people have a form of godliness. Religion of itself only produces a shell of a man without transforming the nature of the man. The answer is turning to Jesus Christ by grace through faith to have Him rule and reign in one’s life. People must receive the gospel. Any solution less than this will always promote the works of the flesh carried out in the description of our text. Jesus Christ is the answer, and the condition of our society is evidence of that this is true.
Sincerely,
Pastor Sutton