Dear John,
After our many discussions during the holidays, I have been thinking about the situation that exists in the assembly as far as some of the young people are concerned. I know several who are in a state of emotional unrest because of their efforts to reconcile the role they are playing in the world with regard to their place in the assembly. I feel certain that they believe on the Lord Jesus as Savior, since I have had many happy talks on the Scriptures with them; but to see them in this state of turmoil makes me feel that we all must be more dependent upon the Lord or the occurrence of these incidents will increase. There has been a marked decline in spirituality in the last decade, and as simple faith in the Word of God has been the antidote in the past, I am sure it is so today.
I have enjoyed some thoughts taken from the lives of Jeremiah and Paul which would be pertinent to our position in this hedonistic society of the seventies. I had occasion to discuss this with some young people recently, and we found it to be helpful, so I felt that you would find it encouraging too. Perhaps you too have additional thoughts that could be a blessing to all of us; and, of course, we would be appreciative if you passed them along.
The historical background of the book of Jeremiah is relevant to the present situation. Jeremiah prophesied between 629 B.C. and 587 B.C. From the first few verses of the book, you can see that Jeremiah wrote during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. This was a time of steep decline for Judah; after Josiah died, ungodly kings reigned. If you read 2 Kings 22, you will find that Josiah was a godly king that feared the Lord. The people, because of their fidelity to the king, went along with his reforms; but if we turn to Jeremiah and read portions from it, such as chapter 10, we find that this was mere outward reform, because their hearts were not right with God.
If a Christian looks ahead into the 1970's and extrapolates from the articles that have been appearing in the national magazines (such as, Time, e.g., "God is Dead," and "Is God Coming Back to Life?"), he can be sure that Jeremiah's characterization of Judah will also apply to the professing Christian world. "For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jer. 2:1313For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13).
Jeremiah, commenting on the morality of Judah, scathingly attacked their lustful actions; and we today, upon viewing the salacious literature appearing in the daily newspapers, could employ the same diatribe. "How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken Me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor's wife. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" Jer. 5:7-97How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. 8They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor's wife. 9Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (Jeremiah 5:7‑9).
After glancing through literature coming off the religious press today, I am sure that we can echo with Jeremiah, "An appalling and horrible thing is committed in the land: the prophets prophesy falsehood, and the priests rule by their means; and My people love to have it so. But what will ye do in the end thereof?" Jer. 5:30, 3130A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; 31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jeremiah 5:30‑31); J.N.D. Trans. Jeremiah faithfully pronounced God's judgment on all Judah's wickedness. I think if you read Jeremiah through with this perspective and try to draw a parallel with his day and ours, you will realize, as I did, that the Lord's coming for His own must be in the near future.
Young people today are prosperous and apathetic. I talked to a student several days ago who smoked marijuana and had decided to leave home because he felt restricted there. I tried to bring Christ before him, but he said he had an appointment that he "really had to get to." I trust some of these young people will turn to the Lord. Through Jeremiah the Lord spoke to the people. "I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, and thou obeyedst not My voice." Jer. 22:2121I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice. (Jeremiah 22:21).
So far I have described only the society in which Jeremiah lived, and have not looked at how Jeremiah comported himself in that wicked society. I think that this is a very important aspect to consider. Our day is similar to his, and if we look at how he acted, perhaps we can obtain some instructions for ourselves.
It is evident from the Lamentations of Jeremiah that he felt very keenly about the wickedness of his people. He condemned his countrymen, not because he felt self-righteous, but because God called him to do it. "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!" Lam. 1:11How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! (Lamentations 1:1). Surely we see the increasing apostasy of the professing Christian world; but, as in Jeremiah's day, there is a path for those who desire to follow the Lord. Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed judgment; the people did not believe him. They ridiculed him, they persecuted him, and they cast him into a dungeon because he opposed their words—but the judgment came! Jeremiah was responsible to show them the way of life in view of the impending judgment and death. "And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death." Jer. 21:88And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21:8). They chose the course that resulted in death, and the majority of the people in the world today also choose a course which their own minds prescribe, leading them to eternal separation from God.
Jeremiah was faithful and walked a path of loneliness in the fear of God. How this speaks to my heart! We often forget Christ because of our desire to be accepted and successful in this life; yet, we should seek the path of faith in which only Christ has the pre-eminence. Although difficult, it is imperative that we as young people derive our perspectives from the Word and not from the priorities of the society in which we are found.
In 2 Timothy we find Paul surrounded by decline in both the world and the Church. Demas had forsaken him, having loved the present world;
Alexander, the coppersmith, had done him much evil; and all those in Asia had turned away from him. In these final words to Timothy, he described what would be the characteristics of the last days. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.... But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:1-131This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1‑13).
There was degeneracy in Jeremiah's day and decline in Paul's day. Both these men followed the path of faith, and now the question is, What constitutes the path of faith in our day? I was talking to a very cynical young person a short time ago. He felt that he could expect many assemblies to crumble and deteriorate into merely social groups, and that there was little we could do about it. Did Paul advise Timothy to give up, telling him there was nothing that he could do about it? No, he told him by the direction of the Spirit to "have an outline of sound words" (J.N.D. Trans.). He was to keep the deposit of truth that had been entrusted to him. (See 2 Tim. 1:13-1513Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 15This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (2 Timothy 1:13‑15).) This should be a burden of every Christian today! He was to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. 4:22Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul also exhorted him to "be sober in all things, bear evils, do the work of an evangelist, fill up the full measure of thy ministry." 2 Tim. 4:55But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5); J.N.D. Trans. Here Timothy was told to make sure that the gift that the Lord had given him was to be used in His work. How many Christian young people today are using all their talents and energies helping to run corporations, or in other areas of the business and educational world, and spending very few hours per week even considering the things of God. I suggest that unless we start asking ourselves how the Lord might use us, and then earnestly seek His will in how we might do this, there will be much decline in the moral and spiritual tone in the assemblies of God's people.
John, there is much to pray for in this respect. I know that I do not make it a matter of prayer often enough, but the Lord is able if we only trust Him. If there were more of a heartfelt concern for each other, there would be more of an effort to encourage one another in a path pleasing to the Lord, and thus there would be less of a tendency for some of us to turn toward the things of the world. I trust that each of us will make these circumstances a matter of personal concern before the Lord. If He leaves us here, and if the trend continues, it will be even more difficult for our children. The Lord is able to sustain individuals as He did Jeremiah, but the fellowship of saints is a privilege which all enjoy now; and it would be sad to be deprived of this because of increasing apathy and worldliness. It is encouraging to see that the Lord undertook for Paul and Jeremiah in very trying circumstances. I believe that although we should be deeply concerned about the decline that surrounds us, the Lord would have us take all our cares to Him. He has certainly blessed each one of us in the past, and we can count upon His help in the future. I am sure that each Christian who looks to the Lord for guidance could be encouraged by the words of Solomon in Proverbs 3: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
This has been a lengthy letter, but I trust that the subject has been of significant importance to you. I would be glad to hear your comments on these thoughts.
With love in Christ,