What in the world is going on?
By Paul Bawden
Perhaps you have asked that question as well.
We don’t know who we are any more. Are you a man or a woman, are you a boy or a girl?
Yes, we can determine who we are – science doesn’t matter. Even the government and public schools are promoting transgenderism. We are being conditioned to think against science. Richard Dawkins, the famed biological atheist, has said that science tells us that we are either male or female. Have we become irrational?
Then there are the barbaric mass shootings in the US, even youth shooting one another. Those who break into stores are not prosecuted since they have been deprived of thriving in the culture. Does law and order matter anymore? Why are people so angry? Where’s the value of human life? Where’s human kindness, respecting and accepting one another?
In artificial intelligence, there may be the possibility to build artificial intelligence to create a “digital god,” a silicon-based lifeform that would understand everything in the world. . . . and give you back the exact right thing instantly.” “Who would have thought such could happen? Who gives the input? Is man going to supersede the biblical eternal God?
On the weekend of April 30, 2023, the SatanCon 2023 was held in Boston, where hundreds of satanists attended. This sold-out event hosted by a group known for making fun of Christians and theologically conservative beliefs. Many of those gathered are likely to display their support for abortion as the Satanic Temple promotes what it calls abortion rituals; the group has filed legal challenges against state restrictions on legal access to abortion, arguing that abortion is a religious right. What is this all about?
So, is there a solution to what’s happening in the US and around the world? It’s a matter of the heart and having a lasting standard. Jesus said that the heart, our spiritual nature, is corrupt exhibiting all kind of godless activity such as evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness” (Mark 7:21-23).
Along with having a spiritual heart problem, we want to be our own standard for living, which means we can decide what is best to do for ourselves. Look where that has gotten us from the examples above. This means that we need eternal knowledge outside of ourselves that provides a foundation that is lasting and can apply equally to all of us.
Only one that I know of who can provide us a new spiritual heart and lasting eternal knowledge is – the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man, who said that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He proved that through His death, burial, and bodily resurrection for us – providing us a new spiritual nature which enlightens the believer to know his life is eternally valuable, male or female, from conception to the grave, with the power to show His love, respect, honor, and acceptance to others, and the desire to follow the teachings of Christ and His word causing the believer to life a holy life which glorifies Him.
Only Christ provides the answer to what is going on in the world and how to solve the different problems man has created. If you know Him personally, enjoy living for Him. If you need to know Him personally – reach out in faith, accept Him as your Savior. (Romans 10:9-13). You’ll be glad you did!
Paul Bawden is married and served in the full-time pastoral ministry for 45 years, retiring in 2011, after which he and his wife served in four interims, three in Wisconsin and one in Iowa. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Speech and attended Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Theology. He has taken counseling courses at Trinity Evangelical Seminary in Deerfield, Illinois. Paul is a lifetime member of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as well as being a member of Interim Pastor Ministries (IPM), which serves churches during their time of transition in searching for a new pastor. He is also a volunteer writer for GotQuestions.org. Paul likes to write, read, and work in the yard. The Bawdens have had the privilege to travel to Mexico and Romania on mission trips and visited various countries in Europe. They have three daughters and five grandchildren.