Is the world getting better or worse

[DarkNebulaWelder]

First, I am not a conservative or fundamental Christian; I am a liberal who is going through many faith changes and learning to be more tolerant and compassionate to those who may see the world differently than me---whether it's a religious difference or otherwise.

Second, through my education via school and personal study, I have come to accept and understand different issues in our world. The abortion matter, for example---it is a medical procedure. No, I don't think it's the best option, but I have learned to have compassion on women here. If a woman was raped, and early termination is sought, then I can understand that. Or if it's shown beyond doubt that the fetus was suffering or diseased in some horrible way, then I can understand the compassion of the mother who feels she must terminate. I would be ashamed to call every woman who seeks early termination a murderer. It's not my place to judge what's happening inside of another human being.

HB, it's not about judging people....it's about knowing the difference between right and wrong. You say you are a liberal....do you mean religiously, or politically?

Being a liberal Christian does not remove you from the responsibility of taking a stand for what is ethically sound.

It's good that you have compassion for these girls, but true love and compassion is expressed in sternly showing these women just WHY IT IS that abortion is wrong, so they don't have to suffer the guilt and possible physical consequences of their actions.

Sweetheart, I am a 36-yr. old female who has made some absolutely WRETCHED decisions in my life. I've lived life hard, and have just recently come back to Christ. I made PLENTY of painful mistakes. Sure, I learned from them, but I still wish that some Christian had come to me with a loving heart and pointed out the error of my ways before I had made the mistakes I did.

Your liberalism is not doing anyone any service....I understand the discomfort in "bumping heads," or not wanting to offend someone, but if you have to sacrifice personal integrity for compromise, your efforts are futile.

-I would say I'm a liberal both religiously and politically. Being liberal is not just about "not offending others," nor does it mean personal integrity is sacrificed. One of the reasons I'm liberal is because I desire change and progress in the USA, which includes caring for the environment and caring for all cititzens regardless of social status, race, etc.

-Not everyone---not even all Christians---think abortion is unethical. At least not under all circumstances. I do believe in properly informing women of the abortion procedure, so they can be educated before they make a decision.

That's great, but Jesus cared for all citizens regardless of race, social status, etc., but He still told it like it was.

This is the example that we, as Christians, strive to follow.

[minnow]

I'm probably going to stir the pot here a little, but in my opinion, I do think things are getting worse environmentally, other than that, I believe that we are in a time where those things that were once committed in secret are being brought into the light, nothing will be hidden, everything will be exposed and no deed will escape the attention of our Lord. God is still in control, everything that has been prophecied to happen will happen and the Lord will return at the day, time and hour that our heavenly father commands.

God's plan will happen in accordance with His time-frame. All will be held to account before a holy and righteous God.

I grew up in a time when everything was swept under the carpet. If a domestic incident was happening, most people would turn a blind eye, shrug and mutter that it's not any of their business or something worse like: oh well, she probably deserved it. Today, there is compassion, support for the abused, mercy and places of safety. This to me is a step forward.

I was actually in a situation recently where I witnessed a husband treating his wife in an extremely physically aggressive manner, at the climax of a heated argument where a variety of accusations had been made and where the marriage was on the point of collapsing. What most disgusted me was that this was carried out in front of their 12 year old son and 7 year old daughter. While I took a risk by making a comment along the lines of "not in front of the children", I did not take the matter to the Police as my priority at the time was to attempt to work for reconciliation, not only to try and restore the relationship, but also in the interests of 4 dependent children. Sometimes we have to make decisions on what we think serves the greater good.

It bothers me that people complain about sex education, because I remember when rape and other such things, were covered up and victims grew up to be broken hearted and broken spirited adults. Sex education, I believe can be a positive tool that teaches the young about making informed quality decisions and gives them skills on how to protect themselves.

The problem I have with "sex education" as taught in Schools is that it invariably promotes the lie of "safe sex" - what is correctly known as SIN. The only real "safe sex", and the only outlet God has authorised for sexual relationships, is that between a man and woman within marriage.

[INLJ]

A lot of ppl would think the world is getting worse since they`ve been younger... Cuz you get to know a lot of things that you haven`t seen before... Mostly bad things... For me it`s getting better... Cuz i grew up and now can change some of the things that i didn`t like when i was a kid, i`m getting more independant.. And now more ppl are turning into christianity.. Or may be i just see more christians around me.

[GeneV]

I voted worse and running.....tmi to go into.

[Guest]

I'd like to add that the world is getting worse. The Bible makes it pretty clear that it was going to get worse the closer to the Lord's return we get, and keep in mind that the NT was written by those surrounded by a corrupt culture themselves. I've studied enough history to know that life was probably pretty cheap in the Roman Empire. This got me to thinking of a few things that have happened to myself and others.

We've got a fairly sick society when a single person has to work 2 jobs in order to have a place to live and a car.

When a family has to have both parents work to keep a house and vehicles so they can get by (barely) while the kids wind up raising themselves.

When a person has a job, but no health insurance -- and makes "too much" to qualify for State help. This happened to a friend who almost died from a toothache that got into his sinuses. Why? He didn't have the money to see a doctor and get some antibiotics. I had to take him to the ER in the middle of the night.

When an awful lot of good paying jobs are being shipped overseas and are not being replaced. (This one happened to me twice.) Yes, there are jobs, but if you live in many parts of the country they don't pay much.

When insurance companies want to run a credit check as an excuse to charge you more for something required by law, if you have bad credit. (Sounds like a lot of mercy and forgiveness there!)

When a person who wants to work, is able to work, and is looking for work, doesn't get hired because of the company he/she was downsized out of and spends over a year unemployed. (Happened to a friend.)

Life is hard, but is more difficult for some. It's not getting any easier with gas at $3.00+, either.

[Marnie]

What an awesome thread.

I would say, even though I am still a youth (in my mind, at least) that things are most definitely getting worse. I agree with Leonard, technology and recent innovations give mankind the appearance of progress, but man as a human being is in decline morally, spiritually, even physically. All societies are slowly moving away from the Lord, as is evidenced by the decline of culture. The farther away from the Fall we move, the more decrepit we become.

[Smalcald]

I agree Marnie.

I always check myself a little because as we age we do have a natural tendency to believe that things were somehow better when we were kids, so I want to be careful of falling into that trap. But we can just simply look to some very basic statistics.

1.) We murder more than we did 50 years ago, substantially more. We are a more violent place than we were in the 1950's. I hear about how horrible the 1950's were and how hypocritical etc, but hey, we were a more peaceful people, something right was going on!

2.) Breakdown of family and sexual morality. This is easily measured by just comparing the out of wedlock birth rate, divorce rate, and rates of abortion. All up, way up from the 1950's.

3.) The gap between rich and poor, our attitudes toward work in general, both getting worse although this is harder to measure. But for example in the 1950' most women could afford to stay home and raise children, most people had health insurance, yet we lived in much smaller homes, we rarely had two cars, and we didn't have giant home entertainment systems.

So just objectively we are getting worse on these issues.

But I think also that we can't make giant generalizations about all of a huge society. Some are getting worse, and the Lord is also working in the land, many are getting better.

[Marnie]

But I think also that we can't make giant generalizations about all of a huge society. Some are getting worse, and the Lord is also working in the land, many are getting better.

Yeah, I would agree. I think, though that as a general movement of society, it has to be getting worse. I think that is not only a position you arrive at from observation, but also from the Biblical perspective. However, as man degrades, the Spirit is quietly working through His Church to redeem man to Himself. So, yes, in that regard, I would have to say that, at least for those of us in the Family of G-d, we are getting better and better. Interesting perspective!

[Guest]

1939 all over again?

The CURE

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:11-12

Come Quickly Lord Jesus, Come Quickly

[EricH]

Some things are getting better (like flush tiolets, no polio, indoor plumbing). But in general there is a moral decline. And the Cubs are not improving