Sept 1986 - Editorial

Until recent times society in many Western lands displayed a distinctly Christian facade. This meant that the Christian disciple was usually indistinguishable from the rest on account of dress, behaviour or speech. But this situation is rapidly changing. The evil lives that were at one time seen only in the pagan fringe, are fast becoming the norm. Unfaithfulness, dishonesty, contempt for authority, foul language, sexual perversion, cruelty, drug taking, alcoholism and violence of every kind, even if not actually approved by the masses, are allowed to pass with scarcely a protest. They are depicted by the media as "true to life".

The perpetrators of such evils "think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" (1 Pet. 4:4). The apostle Peter's experience is fast becoming ours. The true Christian now clearly stands out from his contemporaries and is an obvious target for abuse. That is not altogether a bad thing, even though it may bring ridicule and perhaps persecution. A good testimony will demand in these circumstances a closer walk with the Lord and a fuller commitment, as Mr. Shattock emphasizes in our main article this month.

These signs of the approach of the last days (see Tim. 3:16) find a link this month with what Focus has to say about the Chernobyl accident, hinting at the possible nature of the end time disasters foretold in Revelation ch.8. When men faint for fear and expectation of the things which are coming on the world (Luke 21:25,26), the Christian has his unfailing refuge in God.

unknown | Sept 1986
Editorial