Romans 1:24-25
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
The creation was never meant to become the recipient of worship. Rather it was created in such a way as to display the magnificence and excellence of the One who designed it. These are my thoughts after an unusual experience at work this evening.
"That's not the point..." I thought to myself as I pondered the condition of those who gathered in the small building to engage in severely misplaced worship. Thoughts of the end time reference to the "days of Noah" (Mat. 24:37) passed through my mind.
"That's not the point..." The creation was not meant to be an end in itself, but a means to the ultimate end - the worship of the Living God. Eternal majesty neglected for things infinitely less glorious and infinitely less satisfying.
At this point you're probably wondering what this unusual experience was. Suffice it to say that it was a vivid example of idolatry. A living illustration that will leave a lasting impression on me as to the folly of worshiping finite things and the evil of the wayward human heart. It would not be appropriate considering the focus of this blog to delve into further detail.
Showing posts with label Total Depravity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Total Depravity. Show all posts
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
12 Year Old Addicts?
During a traffic stop this last week I had an unusual encounter as I came across a 16 year old driver with a 15 year old passenger. A search of their vehicle resulted in locating 2 substantial baggies of crack cocaine.
What is unusual about this traffic stop is not finding the crack, as the area in which it was found is a high drug traffic area. Rather it is the age of the subjects who were found to be in possession of the narcotics. During a subsequent interview of the driver it was discovered that the 16 year old has been using crack since the age of 12.
This is devastating.
12 year olds are supposed to play with G.I. Joes and video games and enjoy playing various sports with their friends, not get addicted to crack. The grave concern in this incident is not that this is a rare thing, but that it is likely less rare than we know. Statistically speaking, if as a police officer I encounter two youngsters with such issues there are likely many more involved in such things.
As I write this I am reminded of another shockingly depraved incident in which two very young teenagers ran away from home and threw themselves into prostitution as well as other horrors of "street life."
Both of these incidents occurred in the inner city, which is not at all to say that these types of incidents are restricted to the inner city. Yet there is an inner city sub-culture in which such terrible things are not remotely uncommon.
The depravity of man is not limited to adults. It is clear that when children are exposed to greater levels of depravity in society they are greatly impacted and also often succumb to the levels of depravity with which they are surrounded. One only needs an occasional glimpse at national headlines to have an idea of the devastation that is involved when children are drafted into this street life, which includes but is not limited to narcotics use and distribution, prostitution and other illicit sex, violence, theft, and various other criminal activity.
All that to say this:
These incidents are powerful evidences that the need for intervention is enormous. There is an incredible need in our society to reach into the lives and culture of the inner city with the powerful and life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. I am convinced that there is no other hope.
I came away from the interview with the 16 year old and his mother overwhelmed with the fact that the need in our society is so great.
What is unusual about this traffic stop is not finding the crack, as the area in which it was found is a high drug traffic area. Rather it is the age of the subjects who were found to be in possession of the narcotics. During a subsequent interview of the driver it was discovered that the 16 year old has been using crack since the age of 12.
This is devastating.
12 year olds are supposed to play with G.I. Joes and video games and enjoy playing various sports with their friends, not get addicted to crack. The grave concern in this incident is not that this is a rare thing, but that it is likely less rare than we know. Statistically speaking, if as a police officer I encounter two youngsters with such issues there are likely many more involved in such things.
As I write this I am reminded of another shockingly depraved incident in which two very young teenagers ran away from home and threw themselves into prostitution as well as other horrors of "street life."
Both of these incidents occurred in the inner city, which is not at all to say that these types of incidents are restricted to the inner city. Yet there is an inner city sub-culture in which such terrible things are not remotely uncommon.
The depravity of man is not limited to adults. It is clear that when children are exposed to greater levels of depravity in society they are greatly impacted and also often succumb to the levels of depravity with which they are surrounded. One only needs an occasional glimpse at national headlines to have an idea of the devastation that is involved when children are drafted into this street life, which includes but is not limited to narcotics use and distribution, prostitution and other illicit sex, violence, theft, and various other criminal activity.
All that to say this:
These incidents are powerful evidences that the need for intervention is enormous. There is an incredible need in our society to reach into the lives and culture of the inner city with the powerful and life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. I am convinced that there is no other hope.
I came away from the interview with the 16 year old and his mother overwhelmed with the fact that the need in our society is so great.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thoughts after a night shift
Tired... home at 6:30 a.m.
Naiveté often flees as age comes. Years ago, as a teenager, I remember thinking the world certainly has a long way to go in order to reach the awful state of the days of Noah again.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
I don't think that anymore. It was only shortly after beginning this job that my naivety began to encounter more reality. The state of decline in our society and world is to me astounding. On this night shift, 8p-6a, my partner and I investigated an incident where an irritated man shot his neighbor's dog, the family beagle whom the victim got for his son's birthday 2 years ago.
Shortly after that incident, during a traffic stop for a simple traffic violation in Benton Harbor we arrested the driver for CCW (carrying a concealed weapon - handgun). The 22 year old South Bend resident was headed to a party and said he was only carrying it "just in case." During my contact with South Bend PD to obtain further information on this suspect and the gun, I was informed that South Bend PD was investigating 3 shootings that occurred this night. I wonder how many of those shootings involved people who also were carrying "just in case." My thoughts quickly turned to my long time friend, who was working for SBPD tonight, and who only 8 months ago was involved in a shooting himself in which his partner and the suspect were killed.
I've stopped watching the news because of it's severely depressing content. I still catch headlines in the internet news sites which abound with sad and horrific events. Discussions have occurred with my wife regarding the wisdom (if any) in keeping the tv and allowing our family to be exposed to it's increasingly depraved content.
Noah's days were undoubtedly rough. Ours are very rough as well and are no doubt heading ever more rapidly in that direction.
Total Depravity...
The recent lessons from my journaling through the book of Job are helpful to me today; God has purposes in allowing such evil. He knows what He is doing, He is never out of control, the vision of Him seen more clearly through this darkness that He allows will be well worth the suffering that we experience on this journey called life.
I am very thankful for hope. Thankful for hope to one day see the glory of Jesus' face. Thankful for hope to one day to be separated from the pain and joined to the eternal satisfaction of God. I am thankful that though I am a sinner, Christ is a great Savior. I am full of hope in the midst of this dark world because God became Man and lived in the midst of this very same darkness and then died to bear the punishment for His people, in order that they might enjoy Him for eternity. Thank God for hope...
My heart has been saddened to be exposed to this darkness, but my heart is full of joy in knowing that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. There is a lifeboat in this down pouring rain which will no doubt result in a flood to cover the earth in filth and wretchedness. That lifeboat is Jesus and my hope is in Him.
2nd Corinthians 6:10
"Sorrowful yet always rejoicing"
Naiveté often flees as age comes. Years ago, as a teenager, I remember thinking the world certainly has a long way to go in order to reach the awful state of the days of Noah again.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
I don't think that anymore. It was only shortly after beginning this job that my naivety began to encounter more reality. The state of decline in our society and world is to me astounding. On this night shift, 8p-6a, my partner and I investigated an incident where an irritated man shot his neighbor's dog, the family beagle whom the victim got for his son's birthday 2 years ago.
Shortly after that incident, during a traffic stop for a simple traffic violation in Benton Harbor we arrested the driver for CCW (carrying a concealed weapon - handgun). The 22 year old South Bend resident was headed to a party and said he was only carrying it "just in case." During my contact with South Bend PD to obtain further information on this suspect and the gun, I was informed that South Bend PD was investigating 3 shootings that occurred this night. I wonder how many of those shootings involved people who also were carrying "just in case." My thoughts quickly turned to my long time friend, who was working for SBPD tonight, and who only 8 months ago was involved in a shooting himself in which his partner and the suspect were killed.
I've stopped watching the news because of it's severely depressing content. I still catch headlines in the internet news sites which abound with sad and horrific events. Discussions have occurred with my wife regarding the wisdom (if any) in keeping the tv and allowing our family to be exposed to it's increasingly depraved content.
Noah's days were undoubtedly rough. Ours are very rough as well and are no doubt heading ever more rapidly in that direction.
Total Depravity...
The recent lessons from my journaling through the book of Job are helpful to me today; God has purposes in allowing such evil. He knows what He is doing, He is never out of control, the vision of Him seen more clearly through this darkness that He allows will be well worth the suffering that we experience on this journey called life.
I am very thankful for hope. Thankful for hope to one day see the glory of Jesus' face. Thankful for hope to one day to be separated from the pain and joined to the eternal satisfaction of God. I am thankful that though I am a sinner, Christ is a great Savior. I am full of hope in the midst of this dark world because God became Man and lived in the midst of this very same darkness and then died to bear the punishment for His people, in order that they might enjoy Him for eternity. Thank God for hope...
My heart has been saddened to be exposed to this darkness, but my heart is full of joy in knowing that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. There is a lifeboat in this down pouring rain which will no doubt result in a flood to cover the earth in filth and wretchedness. That lifeboat is Jesus and my hope is in Him.
2nd Corinthians 6:10
"Sorrowful yet always rejoicing"
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A striking example of depravity
While working the night shift recently I encountered three young people from the inner city. Two out of three of these young people have been charged with multiple felony home invasion charges, and the third will be charged at a later date.
Three police departments working together while investigating five felonious crimes developed these three suspects, interviewed them, and solved those five crimes which occurred on five different nights. Four home invasions and one burglary of a business were among the crimes that these young people were involved in. Thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen were their ages. The oldest currently sits in the county jail facing all these charges as an adult. The youngest and probably hardest of the three sits in the county juvenile center and faces the possibility of being charged as an adult. The fourteen year old awaits some of the very same charges to come at a later date.
These three demonstrated a hardness which is increasingly more common. Lies and disrespect riddled their behavior while in contact with several investigating officers.
The youngest, however, displayed a hardness of heart, mind, and life which have rarely been seen in people many years older than he. Absolute depravity is what came to mind. The fallen nature of mankind will fall to the lowest point possible given an absence from graces which otherwise restrain such living. Granted this young one lived in circumstances absent many such graces like a solid family unit, discipline, instillation of wisdom, and shielding from much exposure to the evils of our society.
Proverbs 29:15-18
The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
I watched as no less than 6 well trained and seasoned officers attempted to interview these three. Partial confessions were gained but officers were unable to obtain any information regarding the two handguns taken during these crimes. For a thirteen year old to defiantly lie, change his story, and restrain from telling the truth when confronted with such as these officers is still shocking to me, even after seven plus years in this line of work. Hardness of heart permeated their language and attitude. Most shocking was the fact that these officers were seasoned with a combined total of well over 100 years of law enforcement experience and these kids remained very much unshaken from so many lies. Experience tells me otherwise that it is usually not terribly difficult to obtain complete confessions from children of such ages.
For children such as these to so value more being “hard” as they call it, turns the stomachs of officers who all too often deal with this wickedness. Why police officers often become cynical with many such experiences is not difficult to see.
My finger points not at these children, who in many ways are products of our society’s state of deprivation, though this does not shirk them of their responsibility in such matters nor the consequences thereof. The judgment rather points out the condition of heart that so gravitates toward the pit and the grave. This fallen-ness lay not only in the hearts of criminals, but in yours and mine as well.
That the battle with sin in our own lives rages is proof enough. That there remains in our hearts desires which rival our desires for God is more evidence still. That your heart and mine would, only once (though we are all guilty of many more such offences), choose something over Him is nothing less than high treason and as such convicts us as guilty. The very same depravity lurking in the heart of that hardened thirteen year old, creeps around in the corners of our hearts as well. If as you read this you think, “my heart is not as bad as that.” Then you remain in the very dangerous place of not seeing your sin for the atrocity that it is. So great and terrible is sin that it took God in the flesh to unfetter our lives so desperately bound in it. It took the sacrifice of the God-Man, Christ Jesus, who endured our deserved punishment because of the outrage of sin. That He should suffer and die is the ultimate evidence that sin is atrocious, horrific, despicable, and vile.
Convicted as guilty we are, whether we see it or not. Yet there remains an answer for the sin in our hearts and in our world. It is the good news that Jesus died in order to save sinners like hardened thirteen year olds and like me.
Three police departments working together while investigating five felonious crimes developed these three suspects, interviewed them, and solved those five crimes which occurred on five different nights. Four home invasions and one burglary of a business were among the crimes that these young people were involved in. Thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen were their ages. The oldest currently sits in the county jail facing all these charges as an adult. The youngest and probably hardest of the three sits in the county juvenile center and faces the possibility of being charged as an adult. The fourteen year old awaits some of the very same charges to come at a later date.
These three demonstrated a hardness which is increasingly more common. Lies and disrespect riddled their behavior while in contact with several investigating officers.
The youngest, however, displayed a hardness of heart, mind, and life which have rarely been seen in people many years older than he. Absolute depravity is what came to mind. The fallen nature of mankind will fall to the lowest point possible given an absence from graces which otherwise restrain such living. Granted this young one lived in circumstances absent many such graces like a solid family unit, discipline, instillation of wisdom, and shielding from much exposure to the evils of our society.
Proverbs 29:15-18
The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
I watched as no less than 6 well trained and seasoned officers attempted to interview these three. Partial confessions were gained but officers were unable to obtain any information regarding the two handguns taken during these crimes. For a thirteen year old to defiantly lie, change his story, and restrain from telling the truth when confronted with such as these officers is still shocking to me, even after seven plus years in this line of work. Hardness of heart permeated their language and attitude. Most shocking was the fact that these officers were seasoned with a combined total of well over 100 years of law enforcement experience and these kids remained very much unshaken from so many lies. Experience tells me otherwise that it is usually not terribly difficult to obtain complete confessions from children of such ages.
For children such as these to so value more being “hard” as they call it, turns the stomachs of officers who all too often deal with this wickedness. Why police officers often become cynical with many such experiences is not difficult to see.
My finger points not at these children, who in many ways are products of our society’s state of deprivation, though this does not shirk them of their responsibility in such matters nor the consequences thereof. The judgment rather points out the condition of heart that so gravitates toward the pit and the grave. This fallen-ness lay not only in the hearts of criminals, but in yours and mine as well.
That the battle with sin in our own lives rages is proof enough. That there remains in our hearts desires which rival our desires for God is more evidence still. That your heart and mine would, only once (though we are all guilty of many more such offences), choose something over Him is nothing less than high treason and as such convicts us as guilty. The very same depravity lurking in the heart of that hardened thirteen year old, creeps around in the corners of our hearts as well. If as you read this you think, “my heart is not as bad as that.” Then you remain in the very dangerous place of not seeing your sin for the atrocity that it is. So great and terrible is sin that it took God in the flesh to unfetter our lives so desperately bound in it. It took the sacrifice of the God-Man, Christ Jesus, who endured our deserved punishment because of the outrage of sin. That He should suffer and die is the ultimate evidence that sin is atrocious, horrific, despicable, and vile.
Convicted as guilty we are, whether we see it or not. Yet there remains an answer for the sin in our hearts and in our world. It is the good news that Jesus died in order to save sinners like hardened thirteen year olds and like me.
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