Information Related to "Symptoms of America's Cultural Darkness"
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An incisive article late last year by longtime nationally syndicated American columnist Cal Thomas caught our attention -- titled "Signs of National Decline are Everywhere This Holiday Season" in the Washington Examiner (Dec. 2, 2013) and, at FoxNews.com, "A Prescription for Decline -- Worshipping the False Gods of Prosperity and Money" (Dec. 3).
In one sentence each, Thomas briefly highlights a number of incidents of public violence around America. He then sums up their significance, stating, "In the era of flash mobs and a growing entitlement mentality fueled by politicians and 'income inequality' alarmists, these far-too-frequent instances now seem to be symptomatic of a decaying culture." He sees failure to instill traditional values that have well served previous generations is a big factor in America's cultural decline.
He further observes: "People and nations must be ruled by something, or there is anarchy. Either it is God, or secular laws that control our lower nature. Today, we are out of control as we pursue happiness through prosperity in the false hope that money and things will satisfy . . . As the ancient writer said, 'Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.' (Ecclesiastes 5:10) Who today is satisfied with their income and circumstances?"
This unusual column highlighted Americans' often reckless spending on Black Friday, the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday that commonly marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Thomas likened it to what King David wrote in Psalm 12:8: "The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men."
Today far too many call evil good and good evil (see Isaiah 5:20). Living a balanced, godly life helps counter these growing blots on American life. To begin living a spiritually abundant life yourself (John 10:10), read the free booklet Making Life Work . (Sources: FoxNews.com, Washington Examiner. )
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