I can look around the culture I live in and sometimes feel pretty depressed. It seems we just continue to experience a downward slide. I read in the newspaper about horrendous crimes, immorality, child abuse and other appalling things we people do to one another. It seems rather obvious that at least in our society, we are not evolving into "better" people. In fact we are just discovering new ways to sin proven by the big boon in Internet pornography and all the peripherals that go along with that. I must stop and take a deep breath. I’m reminded of Psalms 37:1, "Do not fret because of evil doers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity." OK! Don’t fret! Fretting doesn’t help! God will bring justice to the evil doer even though it may not be evident in this life. Psalms 73:1 & 2 continue this thought, "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Here is the part that is puzzling. Many times it seems as if the wicked do prosper in this world and that the righteous suffer. The Psalmist dwelt on that and very nearly lost faith in God’s ways. However the Psalmist regained his footing (perspective) in v.17, "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end." By worshipping and experiencing the presence of the living God it brought perspective back for the slipping Psalmist.

My friends, we just cannot dwell on the evil around us but neither can we ignore it. We must be able to call sin evil and be discerning as to what that is. So let us start by judging right and wrong according to what God has said in His Word, not according to what others are doing around us, Christian or not. In God’s Word we will find perspective and the ability to discern.

Yes, it seems our culture is on a slippery slope. You and I don’t have to be a part of it. In fact the church in North America should be having an effect on our culture. Does it? Has it been effective in changing cultural ills? Are we failing or are we making a difference in our corner of the world? By the power of the Holy Spirit that lives with in every true Believer, let’s make a difference.

By Pastor Tim