When you think of countries that influence the rest of the world it is hard to look past the United States as the number one influencer of cultures on the globe. However, while US TV, Sports, Politics and personalities overload foreign television sets, the United States is a follower of European and Japanese culture in many ways.
Just look at your cell phone! The technology that is so revolutionary today was in the rest of the world yesterday. Those slim line fitted new pants you just purchased from the “Buckle” on Saturday are in the clearance section of some European store today. Those small compact cars that are filling our interstates this week were jamming the roads of London, Tokyo and Paris over ten years ago. Growing up in Europe it is now amazing to see how the American culture evolves (yes I used the word ‘evolve!”) to become more like it’s European counterparts.
Now as a resident of the US this doesn’t concern me except for one area. I have seen over the last twenty years how the terms God, Spirit, Church, Christianity and Religion have almost become taboo subjects. I have watched as churches have emptied and people who once had a strong faith now see Sunday mornings as a day to stay in bed.
It gets worse! People who were once the pillars of their churches are no longer committed. The lifestyles they once lived are now viewed as legalistic, old fashioned and stuffy! So now Christians partake in things they thought they’d go to hell for in the 70′s! Church is no longer a community but an obligation and above all, God has been either forgotten or lost!
The result of this is a generation of kids growing up who have no convictions! They do not know the word moderation and their lifestyles are no separate from their peers at the local pub or University Student Union. Many no longer see the need for God, Faith and certainly not the local church. This makes me sad! I look back on my years in the UK and think, ‘what did I do to stop this slide?’ I tell you what I did! Nothing!
I see the same cultural slide in American life. If you think what your kids are doing now is bad enough. If you think what the schools are teaching now is horrifying enough; well, take a look at Europe! Within ten years this American culture will mirror that of Europe today!
So what do you believe we can do to stop this slide? I have a suggestion! In the book of Revelation, John wrote to the church at Ephesus. They were a good church. Lots of people coming through the doors, lots of new innovation and lots of money in the coffers! However, they started to slide as we have done. God’s word to them, ‘Return to your first love!’. Basically, find your love for Christ again! We need to teach, preach, show and live the love of Christ. It is only a passion for his love that will save us from ruin and will save our kids from a Godless life!
