True, it is not normal out there in the world but then who is to blame? Psychology blames the past and drugs our sin-sick souls to think we sin because we are sinners. However the Bible reveals the whole truth. Unlike what most of us tend to think, the “original sin” has not rendered humanity as completely depraved.

Human beings instinctively obey the natural laws that are written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them as wrong or tell them they are doing right. Which means we do have the ability or free will to choose between good and evil, right and wrong… and when people do wrong to deliberately choose to disobey and break those laws, anarchy reigns and so, who is to blame?

“Earth is polluted by its very own people, who have broken its laws, Disrupted its order, violated the sacred and eternal covenant. Therefore a curse, like a cancer, ravages the earth. Its people pay the price of their sacrilege. They dwindle away, dying out one by one…The chaotic cities are unlivable. Anarchy reigns…” (Isa 24 The Msg)

What about us within the church? I agree with the comment above that said that if we really begin to live the righteous life that Christ lived, the lawless world would think we were abnormal. In the process of being transformed to become more like Jesus Christ, we do sin. And yes, the solution is to confess—the story however, does not end there because mere confession is not enough. I really do not believe in the Catholic way of confession or even confessing my individual sins to one another in an accountability group.

Therefore, in order to become normal the key is to repent for my individual sins…to grieve and then confess to seek God’s forgiveness. Repentance is possible only if I have a standard to measure up to and that is God’s law. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Sadly, many Christians reject God’s law and in so doing also reject God…

“You assessed your defenses, inspected your arsenal of weapons… You found the weak places in the city walls that needed repair…You took an inventory of the houses…and tore down some to get bricks to fortify the city wall…You looked and looked and looked, but you never looked to Him who gave you this city, never once consulted the One who has long had plans for this city…
God, called out …for a day of repentant tears, called you to dress in somber clothes of mourning. But what do you do? You throw a party! Eating and drinking and dancing in the streets! You barbecue bulls and sheep, and throw a huge feast— slabs of meat, kegs of beer. “Seize the day! Eat and drink! Tomorrow we die!” (Isa 22, The Msg)…

In all of the verses quoted above, confession of generational sins is needed only if they continue in the same sins generation after generation. Anyway, it does not apply to us who are under the New Covenant in Christ. There is no need for me to confess the sins of my grandparents if my parents or I, are not committing those same sins.

“When that time comes you won’t hear the old proverb anymore,
Parents ate the green apples, their children got the stomachache.
“No, each person will pay for his own sin. You eat green apples, you’re the one who gets sick. (Jer 31: 29-30)

Thank you for sharing – you spur me (and others) on to take a good, serious look at our hearts and to seek after truth.

May we never be content with “the way things are” and be always open to God’s work in our lives – through any circumstances or means.

Sin is not right. It must be ‘normal’ to the lost, because it is all they know. God is not their father. Does rampant sin ever make your heart ache so much you just want to crawl under a rock and hide for awhile?

This world will never, never be right until Jesus comes.
No one can make all things right, no matter how hard they try.

Jesus left us here to do His work, and to be salt and light. We can ask Him to use us–to be a glove on His hand. Without Him, our work is in vain. We can do nothing.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that this life is not all there is? There is a much better place for us.
But, then, think of all those who are lost. . .

The family unit is lost and in disrepair. Parents are lax in their teachings……..

seems to me anyway

I have always been a rebel and in my earlier days it was against authority. Now I am a rebel against evil and I love every minute of it and that is against what is the norm in our world. Hallelujah!!!

What comes to my mind is Exodus 20:4-6 (New International Version)

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Imagine…according to the above my great grandkids (if I will have any) would feel God’s wrath if I worship someone (or thing) other than Him yet 20,000 years from now (isnt He coming back before that?), my offsprings are going to be blessed. How cool!!

When children come to school crawling with lice, dirty, or upset because mom’s boyfriend has been smacking them around, what are we to do? We both know how pervasive the hydrocodone/oxycontin and meth is here–tucked back in the hills and hollers.

Deut. 6 outlines the father is to have control over their child’s education. A sad very few parents don’t care how/if they are educated. School is a place to keept their offspring for 8 hours. I don’t see teachers here who are anti-God. With the exception of the Science/Social Studies book, the books are safe. They are far from anti-God. Most teachers–even public ones–even those who are not Christians, would give anything or do anything to help one of their students. Most all techers are there to help children get their lives together. Their sole purpose isn’t to indoctrinate their pupils with their own beliefs. There is barely time to teach what needs to be taught.
Just a thought. Hope this didn’t come across as offensive. Was in no way trying to be unkind.

The greatest factor we play in any equation is impact. We impact the lives of others by building relationships. We claim salvation because someone shared the ‘Good News’ with us, because someone shared with them, because someone shared with them, because someone share with them…

God created us; but, He did not stop there. He wanted a relationship with us. Adam walked with God in the garden before the fall. After the fall, God did not shut the door. He continued to reach out and provide for His creation with full knowledge that many (if not most) would reject His benevolence under the deception of self-indulgence.

He also knew that a few would respond and accept His plan for a relationship thru Jesus Christ. We share in the inheritance of Christ, the Son of God, due to our relationship with Our Savior. We reject ‘abnormal’ life we inherited from Adam and replace it with the ‘normal’ life God originally planned.

That is also the key to good parenting…good schools, good friends, good churches, good govt, good nations…

One person can and often does make a difference by investing themselves in relationships. Satan knows this and that is why he works so hard to limit and destroy them by his number one tool…deception.

Think about it, am I really too busy to get involved?

Is working extra hours to provide for my family an excuse for not having daily impact on their lives?

Will the burden of a newer vehicle, a second or third car, a boat or RV, jetski, snomobile, a ‘christian’ school, brand name clothing outweigh the impact you could have provided instead of working longer hours?

Even secular authorities recognize the early years of childhood as integral in developing personality, core values and coping skills for dealing with the world.

Ask yourself this question. Does anyone value our possessions as much as we do? (just remember the last time someone returned a borrowed item to you)

How could anyone value our children more than we do? We have been deceived into believing that ‘others’ can relieve us of that responsibility and do a better job.

Govt uses that argument but, we have let govt become so large that it runs itself. This is true even in church govt. We must remain involved and constantly vigilent. Anything less is shirking our responsibility.

It is NOT NORMAL to let others make decisions for you. God does not allow that; why should we? God intended us to grow and become happier, more responsible, more productive through relationships. That is HIS NORMAL.

Huggs
frank