To start, let me take you back some 40+ years to the time I was really getting serious about Bible prophecy & the whole 'faith thing' in general. .. The moment I want to recall is a conversation I had with a Lutheran pastor. .. After some back-and-forth discussion, he made a statement that I have never forgotten .. one that shocked me at that time, and today is becoming a dominating thought pattern of a large portion of the  Christian community. ... Here's his statement .. "I no longer believe the apostle Paul's teachings are relevant in today's world." .. Instantly bewildered, and, being relatively 'young' in my Christian walk, I asked him this simple statement ... "If that is true, then where do we draw the line?" ... Needless to say, I never got a solid theological answer. .. Why? .. Because there isn't one! It is simply shocking to watch today's Church as it 'sells itself out' to the ways of this sinful world! .. I mean, Isaiah 5:20 is coming true right before our eyes .. "Woe to those who call evil good. and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness .." I've even experienced this extremely dangerous pattern in my own family. .. The question of the validity of 'all' the scriptures has risen its ugly head. .. And once again, all I can say is .. 'where do we then draw the line?' ... Looking further into this extremely dangerous dilemma, I've come upon many comments from especially the younger generations that believe Christianity today has become too critical, judgmental and pushy. .. In fact, young unaffiliated Americans are quite blunt as to their views of modern Christianity. .. The most-often used words to describe today's Christians for them are these:  abrasive, self-righteous, anti-homosexual, hypocritical, old-fashioned, out-of-touch with reality, insensitive, boring, intolerant of other's faith, and confusing. .. As a result, those that were once followers are falling away in large numbers, and the others are continuing to hold a strong anti-Christian bias. .. One of the biggest culprits contributing to this evangelical failure today are the churches themselves. .. For various reasons, todays 'pulpit politicians' have tinkered with the 'Gospel of Christ' as though it needed adjustments. .. No major alterations, most will tell you, but some minor tweaking here & there. .. In fact, most hide these changes by declaring there is no major changes involved, only a shift in emphasis. .. Hence, we have witnessed the birth of the 'social gospel,' which attempts to make it all seem less harsh. .. Basically. all 'judgmental' preaching is disappearing from today's pulpits - all consequences of a sinful lifestyle have been removed. .. But herein lies the danger. .. When people 'pick & choose' truth, then there is essentially no truth. .. When there are no 'absolutes,' there is no conclusion. .. Many in today's church could give a whit about absolutes. .. They simply want to choose a God who thinks just like them. .. What it simply comes down to is this .. people have chosen a path of freedom from religion, meaning we can now pick & choose to believe what we want, and act as we want. ... Let me now share a comment from Francis A. Schaeffer. .. He titled it 'Christian Accommodation:' - "Here is the great evangelical disaster - the failure of the evangelical world to stand for truth as truth.  There is only one word for this - namely accommodation:  The Evangelical Church has accommodated to the world spirit of the age. First, there has been accommodation on scripture, so that many who call themselves evangelicals hold a weakened view of the Bible and no longer affirm the truth of all the Bible teaches - truth not only in religious matters, but in areas of science and history and morality." ..... Few can say it any clearer than that ... This dilemma so reminds me of the prophecy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 which says, "For a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." "  .... To sum up, God gave the Apostle Paul some very relevant prophetic insight into our current chaotic world. .. Staying with his writings to Timothy, Paul shares this ... "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!" .. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) .... Look familiar? .. Do these verses pretty much sum up the condition of today's society? ... They certainly do, and again, Bible prophecy is proving to be 100% accurate! .. Also notice that in the opening verse, we are told that these societal conditions would clearly indicate that we are, in fact, in the final moments before our Lord's triumphant return. .. These truly are the last days! ... Hallelujah! ... But until that trumpet blows and Christ calls His true Church home, we must stand strong & be completely unwavering in the teachings of ALL the Bible. ... I agree that some of it is very difficult to follow .. and yes, I wish that maybe it wasn't there sometimes .. but I DO NOT have the right to pick & choose what I follow. ... It is ALL of it, or NONE of it! .. We either ARE, or we are NOT! .. We are either IN, or we're OUT! ... God's Word is NOT optional! ... Jesus Christ is coming soon and He will put an end to all this folly we have created in religion, government & society. .. There is a new world coming that will be full of peace, joy & happiness. ... Hallelujah! .... Hang in there ... this chaos is almost over! ....... so ... Until next time, Red