|
|
|
Is the modern generation better than the previous ones?
Nowadays, there is a lot of talk about tolerance, but is it just that the line between right and wrong has been moved all the time?
When there is a development in the area of morality in modern times, many may think that we are now going in the right direction. They might explain that people are much more tolerant and loving nowadays than they were 50 or 100 years ago. Many consider themselves better than what our grandparents and ancestors were. But is it really so? Are people today more tolerant and loving than previous generations? Perhaps it is the case that only the boundary between the concept of right and wrong has changed, but people themselves are no more tolerant and loving than our grandparents were. Thus, in modern times, there is a positive attitude towards things that were previously clearly considered wrong. This is reflected in the attitude towards extramarital sexual relations, in the increasingly positive attitude towards divorce and in the increasingly positive attitude towards homosexual relations. Before, they were considered wrong, now they are not. In a sense, the state of the current generation resembles the time of Jesus. When there are many divorces now compared to previous generations (Nowadays, almost every other union ends in divorce. In the years 1901 - 1910, there were only approx. 125 divorces annually in Finland.), this was also common in Jesus' time. So Jesus called the generation of his time an evil and adulterous generation:
What does the former mean? Perhaps, the current generation lives in a kind of bubble where it doesn't see how we go further and further in evil. This view should be taken into account, because development in this direction has clearly taken place in some areas. Let's look at some examples.
TV shows have changed. Everyone knows the films and shows of the 1950s. They were relatively innocent, pure-spirited, and the speech respectful of others. However, there has been a change in this area. The following example deals with the most popular series of 1973 and 2014 in the USA. They show the direction in which we have gone. The development is similar to previously mentioned sexual matters:
In 1973, the ten most popular television series in America were: All in the family, Sanford and Son, Hawaii 5-0, Maude, Brigitte Loves Bernie, Sunday Mystery Movie, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Gunsmoke, Wide World of Disney and Ironside. Compare these to the ten most popular series in 2014: Breaking Bad (contains a lot of drug use, violence and sex), Game of Thrones (fantasy series full of sex and violence), Les Revenants (supernatural crime series), Mad Men (drama series with sex and nudity that is recommended to 14-year-olds and older), Girls (in the series student women take part in many sex scenes, which are being shown in more or less detail), Orange is the New Black (drama comedy situated in prison with a lot of sex and profanities), The Walking Dead (drama series filled with murderous zombies, sex and nudity, and it has for a long time been more popular than football among 18 -to 49-year-olds), Nashville (main character is a teen who has sex with many different partners), Masters of Sex (tells about the sex life of Master and Johnson), and Americans (contains sex, violence, and blood shed). (1)
Schools. There has been a change in schools. Mental nausea among children and young people has increased, and it has certainly had an impact on schools as well. Discipline in schools has loosened and teachers are under a lot of pressure because of this. Before, teachers had it easier and they were respected. In relation to this topic, the main headline of Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (October 23, 2016) on the front page reported about a survey that the teachers had answered. The front page brought up the following points. 74.4 percent of the teachers were of the opinion that the students' behavior had not gone for the better but for the worse. The article also refers to the behavior of parents:
The heading of the front page: School: ESS poll reveals, teachers have subjected to violence, vandalism, threats and parents’ rage
The poll that the teachers took part in: How do you think the behavior of students has changed over the last few years? 2,6% it has gotten better 23,1% it has stayed the same 74,4% it has gotten worse
The poll of OAJ: Students are the worst bullies to teachers in the whole country according to the poll 50% of elementary school teachers have experienced bullying over the last year.
Another article related to the school is an audience section article. It describes how it used to be calmer in schools as well as in health centers. If development has taken place, it has not gone in a better direction:
Discipline or mobiles? Schools: Discipline in place of rhetoric There were news in Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (13.10.2016) about some events in a school in Lahti. The subheading at page A4: “Teachers experience more and more bullying.” At end of the article there were some really disturbing words: “From the teachers, who responded, 41 per cent had experienced inappropriate treatment or bullying over the last 12 months.” Then a solution was suggested that made my skin have goosebumps: The barometer for working conditions, notes that a welfare and a safety program are needed in the teaching sector. With that we can create procedures and schemes, which ensure the well-being of future workers.” Instead of the suggestion of the barometer of working conditions, one should look at the old and good times and take back the means that have been proven to work. Instead of verbiage, this way is expressed with only ten letters and those are d, i, s, c, i, p, l, i, n, e. Discipline. The parents of this day ought to be in horror. Our large age groups had over 40 students in their classes. In the 1950s, Tammela Elementary School had 44 students in the 3rd and 4th grades. I remember plenty of things, but not any disorder during classes. There were no cell phones, and there was no knowledge of ADHD. A school was a place of learning, because Finland was extremely poor and needed age groups, who could create a welfare state with their hard work. In the 1960s, not a word was allowed to be said at the Tampere Lyceum in high school mathematics and physics classes!Only answering the teacher's questions was allowed. The focus was on the things we were learning. As a product of strict discipline, my classmates did not become disturbed adults, but professors, graduate engineers, judges and doctors. … As a professional of healt care, I bring to your attention the behavior of patients. When I was on call in the central hospital in the emergency room in 1974, it didn’t even come to mind that a patient would be violent or make threats. Today it occurs continuosly in the emergency room. They must have learned it from somewhere. So what happens, when no one (from Finnish people) doesn’t want to serve – or teach? With the loss of discipline, we have also lost civilized behavior. Restoration of discipline is simple, if you will. The will seems to be directed towards adapting to the consequences of indiscipline. More resources, more resources, more debt. Well, that is what the undisciplined policymakers will do. Jyrki Joensuu, a specialist doctor in general medicine and psychiatry, Lahti (Etelä-Suomen sanomat 17.10.2016 / Lukijalta [Etelä-Suomen sanomat 17.10.2016 / from the reader])
Diminishing of respect
- (Matt 5:22) But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- (Matt 5:44-46) But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same?
- (1 Peter 2:17) Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
One of the most important things is having respect towards other people. According to the Bible we should respect and value our neighbors regardless of whether they think differently than we do. We should love and appreciate even our enemies. If we do not love or seek to respect our neighbors, we are doing wrong and the opposite of what Jesus and the apostles taught. Unfortunately, we are often far from perfect. In which direction has development gone in this area? Has it gotten better or worse? There is no need for much thinking here. We live in a society where respect for our neighbors is not as prominent as it used to be. The previous examples about the development in schools and health centers prove it. Although, these days people talk a lot about tolerance and love, we can say the shift has been for the worse. It manifests itself in derogatory writing towards others on the internet, in the vilification of politicians and in attitudes towards foreigners. What about behavior in politics? Poor behavior and the belittling of others have also found their way into politics. Some say that society is headed towards a more tolerant direction, but this kind of development is not visible. Only the line between right and wrong has been moved in many areas, such as extramarital sex, abortion and homosexuality, but people do not behave more respectfully towards each other. The following rather fresh article (Siitä on lähdettävä, että tähän on tultu” [We must accept that this is where we have come to], interview with MP Tapani Tölli) shows how poor behavior has also managed to integrate itself into politics. People no longer take seriously the advice contained in the letter of Peter: “Honor all men...” (1 Peter 2:17). Similarly, Jesus also talked about the same issue (Matt 5:21,22): ”You have heard that it was said of them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
... Tölli is a highly conciliatory and cooperative member of parliament. That is why the last election period has been difficult for him. It has become less pleasant in many ways to be in politics, he says… ... Tölli lists: Politics has become more superficial. Long-termism has disappeared. The ability to make decisions has weakened. Imaginations have become more important than facts... ... Tölli is particularly upset by the harsher use of language. Parliamentary debates are often like a twitter debate, where the participants compete to see who can come up with the nastiest insults. "Sometimes the discussions in the plenary session are such that you feel like leaving the hall." According to Töll, the worst thing is that representatives deliberately misunderstand each other's statements - and then take a stand on these intentionally misinterpreted views. "It's a pseudo-debate. It's really tiring. It has nothing to do with dealing with common issues." ... Tölli is not alone in his views. The same has been said by others who are abandoning politics. Seppo Kääriäinen, a long-standing Member of Parliament from the Centre Party, also justified his resignation with a change in politics. "In today's transition, it makes sense to give space to forces that are better suited to the current mood and style of politics." Lenita Toivakka of the Conservative Party complained that politics had become more short-sighted and aggressive. Misunderstanding is popular because it gets into headlines and gets clicks. Politics has changed and the dividing lines have become steeper. And not only in Finland, because it is a worldwide phenomenon. (Helsingin sanomat 26/8/2018)
The following quotation will provide a good example of what it was like before, i.e. how others were respected and how the speech was more refined. It is a text from a book written by an already deceased woman. In modern times, the opposite direction has been taken in the attitude towards neighbors or people far away:
... At that time, there was already this restlessness in the world and there was a lot of it. It was not such restlessness that people were afraid of war, it did not exist yet. I understood that humanity has somehow drifted away from God. People did talk in a civilised manner and had high morals. Drinking or swearing in public was very uncommon then. If there was a party or a gathering, people never cursed or came to the party drunk. People considered such behaviour substandard. Booze and swearing were left out at the times when Finland became independent because people were closer to God, thanks to the times of revivals. This influence lasted until the 30's or even the 40's. People did not talk dirty or rude in public. Everybody was very well-behaved, and polite towards women. Violence was very rare, too. The entire village disapproved if someone hit a woman. Later then this violence began to increase. I fully understood the reason. As people began to reject God and distance themselves from God, the world began to swallow the young. The enemy of the soul began to bring his own doctrines. People used ugly language that was rare before. It still feels bad for me when I hear people in public or in the TV or radio cursing... A responsible person who has experienced these two eras had to be worried about what was to come. Praise the great Lord that He has not allowed the Word to be lost among us altogether! People started to destroy, and later on even question the existence of God! It was a horrible thing to hear for a person whose life God had guided all the way, to whom God was always talking, always explaining things, and who clearly saw that God exists. Is this how far Finns have come from God? What will happen to the nation if it rejects God this way? (2)
Attitude towards foreigners
- (Eze 22:7,29-31) In you have they set light by father and mother: in the middle of you have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in you have they vexed the fatherless and the widow. 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yes, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out my indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed on their heads, said the Lord GOD.
- (Eze 16:49,50) Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
Another rather fresh article from the news is mainly concerned with foreigners. It discusses increased hate speech towards foreigners and its other manifestations in society. It is increasingly difficult for refugees and immigrants because they experience insults, even physical violence. This shows how respect towards our neighbors has diminished from the past.
Increased hate speeches disturb people’s ordinary life Hate seminar: Muslim women must avoid going out. “Any one of the well-dressed Finnish people can spit in your face.”
…You can hear hate speech on the streets, in public transportation, in schools, in the media, in social media and even from politicians. Hate speech has increased over the last few years remarkably, as well as hate crimes. - The situation seems very worrying. The amount of hate crimes increased this year by 50 per cent from last year, tells superintendent Måns Enqvist from the police administration in the Hate speech-seminar organized by the Federation of Human Rights in Helsinki on Tuesday. What makes the situation problematic is that people, who are victims of hate speech or hate crimes, do not report it. The majority of hate speech offences remain in the dark. "The atmosphere has changed, and hate speech has increased a lot over the past five years," said Habiba Ali, projector coordinator from the Foreign Aid of the Church. She came to Finland from Somalia at the age of six. She used to know, who are the people to be wary of in public areas: skinheads and drunks. Now any one of the well-dressed Finns might spit on her… (Etelä Suomen Sanomat 30.11.2016)
Related to this topic is an interesting prophecy that was received through an old lady in the late 1960s. Emmanuel Minos received this prophecy but kept it for decades because he considered its fulfillment to be a distant thing. The prophecy tells, for example, about television programs and their change, but also about the attitude towards foreigners. The attitude towards strangers, foreigners and refugees is indeed one factor that can affect the fate of society, as in ancient Israel. It is not a question of that to refugees should give everything from the outset: expensive homes, cash, and everything, ready-made, which can easily arouse resentment among the unemployed and other underprivileged. However, indifference or outright violence can be one basis for conviction. If society has a negative attitude towards refugees and starts to hate them, the measure of its sins can be full.
People will accept what they see and they will not have only one alternative to watch on TV; instead, they will have plenty to watch. The TV will work just as the radio. We will be able to switch from one show to another, and all of them will be full of violence. People will consider this entertaining. The worst imaginable murders and scenes of violence will be staged for people to see, and such behaviour will spread through society. Sexual intercourse will be shown on TV. The most intimate of things that should only be part of a marriage, will be shown onscreen. This will happen and you will see it taking place. The laws we now have will be broken and amazingly lecherous things will be shown to us. People from poor countries will flood to Europe. They will also arrive in Scandinavia and Norway. People will not like the refugees being here, and they will be harsh towards them. They will treat them more and more like Jews before the war. This is when the debt of sin will be filled. This will happen right before Jesus Christ returns – and before WWIII. It will be a short war. Everything I have experienced about war will be like child's play compared to this. It will start like a regular war but it will spread and end with atomic bombs. The air will be so polluted that people will not be able to breathe, and this will happen on several continents. America, Japan, Australia – the rich countries. Water will be polluted. We will not be able to cultivate the land in these places. The people still left in the rich countries will try to escape to the poorer ones that are undamaged. They will be treated there like we treat them here, and they will not be willing to accept us. (3)
Then back to moral development. Many often consider themselves to be progressive, moderate and tolerant. They think they are more morally advanced than their grandparents and ancestors, who had a negative attitude to divorces, sex relationships outside of marriage (unmarried couples), homosexual relationships, abortion, and euthanasia. These people may not have realized that they have only moved the line between right and wrong. Things that were considered clearly wrong before are now accepted. So there is little basis for the notion that people are more tolerant and morally advanced in modern times than before. This is not true, because many indicators point in the opposite direction. This is demonstrated by diminished respect in schools, health centers, less respect among politicians, less respect towards foreigners, and changes in TV programs. If there has been a change, it shows that the current generation is more selfish and evil than previous generations. It is like in Israel in the old days, when children did always worse things than their fathers.
- (Jer 16:12,13) And you have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, you walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not listen to me: 13 Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that you know not, neither you nor your fathers; and there shall you serve other gods day and night; where I will not show you favor.
We should also take into account the Bible prophecies related to the topic. According to them, development in the last days will not go for the better but for the worse in terms of morality. Thus, when we talk about tolerance in modern times, it is often only tolerance for evil, selfishness and lust. True love and caring for others has not increased, but people have begun to favor selfish lifestyles.
- (2 Tim 3:1-5) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, has prophesied about similar development. His prophecy is from more than a hundred years ago and it deals with what the state of the world and Christendom will be like the day before Jesus comes. The prophecy says, e.g., that there will be politics without God, that is, there will be political leaders who do not have a single ounce of respect towards God. Similarly, it is prophesied how people will proclaim forgiveness of sins without repentance. This is an apt description of the current development, where our own society and the whole of Christendom has turned more and more away from the traditional Christian faith:
1. "Then there will be politics without God... The day will come when the official state policy of the entire Western world will be such that no one at any governing level will fear God anymore... a new generation of political leaders will rule Europe, a generation that will no longer be in the least bit afraid of God; 2. Then there will be Heaven without hell (...) There will be a day when a great withdrawal of what the Bible says to be "the Gospel of the full truth" will take place. At that time a "gospel" for the itching ears of the people will be preached. The hearers will determine what is preached from the pulpits. Then, the common order for the pulpits will be 'speak mild, sweet words; speak about heaven, leave us in peace so that we would not have to be strained when you preach about hell.' 3. Christendom is full of forgiveness without repentance. The Bible's doctrine that there can be no forgiveness of sins without repenting of the sin is disappearing from Christianity. 4. The day before Jesus' coming is filled with the joy of salvation, in people who have not been born again from above. 5. There is a lot of religion without the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:5 Jude 18,19). 6. Christianity without Christ. Christ is not anywhere where the 'BLOOD and FIRE' are not valid – deny one of the two and you will have forms of Christianity but without Christ."
References:
1. John Hagee: Kolme taivasta (The Three Heavens), p. 128,129 2. Kerttu Kalmari: Jumalan ihmeitä, p. 12,19,25 3. Prophecy received in Norway and passed on by Emmanuel Minos
|
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
Grap to eternal life!
|
|
