A thought for the 21st Century

A thought for the 21st Century

We live in a world that is becoming a violent place. The rise of terrorist groups in the world is just the tip of the iceberg.
Violent crime is everywhere in the world. Here in North America alone thousands die due to violence of all types every year.
Morality it seems is slipping away. People have no fear of the consequences. I listened to a news report about the trial of a man who had killed three RCMP officers. The man said it seems rather matter o factly that he simply wanted to kill police. From what I heard there was no real emotion from the man. He just did what he did.
I’ve heard other similar stories over the years of people who have simply killed because they simply wanted to do so.
Young people are picking up guns and killing other youth simply because the person said the wrong thing, was in the wrong gang, or even something as simple as accidentally bumping into them.
The world in general is becoming a harsher place to live.
Here in North America, Canada and the United States where I live I see the influence of Christianity waning and with it the morals of our society.
I came up through the “do your own thing” days of the sixties and seventies. A time when the values of society were being questioned.
Supposedly in the psychedelic sixties my generation was disillusioned the society of our parents. Yet what we have put in it’s place is no better and if anything worse.
Secular humanism mixed with materialism in all its forms has slowly taken over morality as we use to know it is slowly disappearing if it has not gone already.
I do know there is an alternative to our modern society however and that is following Jesus.
Christianity offers moral absolutes that are relevant and right for today.
Jesus had rightly been called the prince of peace. He has said when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus however goes one step further saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
Matthew 5: 43-45 
Whether you believe in God or not. No matter what you think of Jesus the words he spoke are truth. They are words that are relevant for today.
Words and ideas we should be teaching to our children and practising ourselves.
Think about it.