This post originally appeared at https://www.vcy.org/from-the-executive-director/2023/06/13/from-the-director-3/
“Wickedness Prevails: What’s the Answer?”
By Jim Schneider, Executive Director
VCY America
Without question the wickedness in our society is abounding in ways many never dreamed we would see in our lifetime, at least not in a nation many have viewed as being “moral,” “religious,” or “Christian.” Yet we see our nation crumbling before our very eyes.
It is imperative we remember the great wickedness that occurred in societies past. Shall mention be made of the evil going on during the time of Noah? “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) This was a time in history marked by evil, lawlessness and great wickedness. God brought swift destruction on such a wayward people. Sadly, this verse sounds like a commentary on today’s news.
Let us examine some of the current egregious behavior and practices impacting this country.
While we rejoice at the overturning of Roe v Wade, we are sickened by the depths many are willing to go in order to take the life of preborn babies. Recently it was reported that the Biden Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services actually announced a plan for abortion referrals and information by providing a 24-hour hotline for Title X recipients. While they indicate they will provide “neutral” information, we know this will be used to steer many to the abortion chamber.
The proliferation of the abortion pill is taking the nation by storm. The abortion pill not only kills the baby, but also places the life and health of the mother at risk. Some women are injured physically and virtually all are injured emotionally. It’s outrageous that the FDA declares this deadly and dangerous pill as being “safe.”
An increasing number of states have passed legislation to allow the killing of the preborn to occur up to the moment of birth. Some corporations are providing funding to pay the travel costs for their employees who are prohibited from killing their baby in their own state to go to another state that allows the killing. Many companies find it far cheaper to pay the travel and hotel costs to kill the child rather than lose an employee to what some view as the plague of motherhood.
In Wisconsin, so-called “conservative” lawmakers are hard at work to increase exceptions for abortion, thinking it will make them more “mainstream” or “popular.” This thinking is flawed.
Another sign of the great wickedness in our society is the sexual perversion paraded before the eyes of the American public by secular media. Corporate America has swallowed the lie hook, line and sinker. It is outrageous for retailers to showcase “pride collections” with all manner of clothing including infantwear which advocates the LGBT agenda. It’s not limited to just clothing, but also accessories, jewelry, party supplies, books, movies, music, pet clothing, pot holders, beach towels, pride spatulas, tablecloths, dinner plates, candles, and even a “drag queen bird decorative figurine.” Really?!
Baseball teams across the nation with the exception of one are all hosting “Pride Nights.” (Kudos to the Texas Rangers for not assaulting moral values.) Just play ball!
Yes, the wickedness of mankind is great. Sadly, this nation is not learning the lesson of the judgment that fell upon the world during the time of Noah. Today there is scoffing at the judgment that fell on Sodom and Gomorrah. Denialists advocate that the destruction of Sodom had nothing to do with sexual perversity. Again, the prevalence of wickedness is noted, “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” (Genesis 13:13) God called their sin “very grievous.” (Genesis 18:20)
What happened at Sodom was an example of God’s judgment and our society should learn from what took place. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 7) Sadly this wickedness is ignored by politicians, Hollywood, the broadcast industry, educators, book publishers, etc. And it’s leading us down the pathway to destruction.
Violence and wickedness are hitting cities across the nation. Over the last weekend of May in Chicago, it was reported 53 people shot, 11 fatally in the deadliest Memorial Day weekend in the city for multiple years. Chicago is not alone with such violence. Cities such as Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle and others are following in Chicago’s footsteps.
Scripture provides yet another example of the wickedness of mankind which invoked a different response from the perpetrators. The location was Nineveh. God gave Jonah a directive, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2) Nineveh was a stench in the nostrils of God. There was grotesque violence and killings going on in Nineveh including the killing of young children. God sent Jonah with a message that this wickedness would lead to their destruction.
After God got Jonah’s attention, he obeyed and delivered the message of Nineveh’s destruction. The people hearing this message “believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.” (Jonah 3:5) The king also responded by putting on sackcloth and ashes and proclaimed that all should “turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.” (Jonah 3:8). He told the people to cry out to God and to turn from their evil. Because the people turned and repented, God withheld the judgment that He was going to pour out on this land. While a scan across this nation would define our society as being guilty of “great wickedness,” it is imperative for us to also repent. To ignore such a warning only begs God’s judgment. Little time remains. May we turn to God!