Angry and Privileged

I see several former students from my over decade in serving in Youth Ministry posting some very angry anti-christian posts. Some of these students I knew and know personally, others I had a passing relationship with, but one common thread exists in all of their posts: they are angry. Very angry. It's hard to put a finger on what they're angry about; many are from broken homes, some have gone to school, and school has changed their perspective, others, still, have looked at their life situation, and find themselves unsatisfied. I think the thing most of them are truly angered by is that "God does not work for them." That means exactly as it sounds. God does not answer the prayers they want, does not work according to their expectations, timetables, and ideas, and God does not do as they ask. In short, God does not "work" the way He's supposed to, in the way in which they have formulated in their minds. I'm not saying this to disparage anyone. It's just a statement of fact. We feel privileged enough to walk in to God's most Holy Place, stand boldly before His throne and have a list of demands. The only reason we have a "right" at all is because our Advocate sits at His victorious righteous right hand. And yet, we feel like we're entitled to come before Him in a way we please. One of the biggest lessons I received from my dad was the time I tried treating him like one of my friends. I remember (And still feel) nearly 20 years later his hand firmly pressed against my chest and his stern, even tones saying "I am not one of your friends, you don't treat me as one of your friends, I am your father and you'll respect me." He wasn't on a power trip, he didn't do it to demean me, but I needed to be humbled and remember that I was his son, and he was my father, and as such, he was in authority in the household, and deserved respect. In the same way, the Lord deserves our respect. we need to approach the throne of grace with humility, not pride. We deserve death, but He gives us life. We deserve punishment, because our hearts are wicked and rebellious, yet He calls us sons and heirs. He holds all together, and the world does not revolve around us. It's time for us to realize that, and to humble ourselves before our God. We need to teach it to our children and those who come after us. It is then we see the TRUE power of God manifest itself, and allow the Holy Spirit to take over.

2 Timothy 3

Godlessness in the Last Days

1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whoma you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of Godb may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Footnotes: a 14 The Greek for whom is plural b 17 That is, a messenger of God (the phrase echoes a common Old Testament expression)