CORRUPTION

G.J.I

As i grow older, i see that the world we live in is drifting away from the truth, that is Christ. the world is becoming more and more Corrupt every day, people are slipping away from God with all their greed, lies, abuse, lusts, worldly desires, misuse of athourity.

why is this happening? is the devil succeeding? has humanity failed? is God trying to test us?

the world is falling, new belief are being made, there are more athiests, churchs are going off God's teachings.

how do we seperate ourselves from this, if "bad company corrupts Good habits" corinthians ch 15 v 33
how can we escape when we face bad company everyday???

Abanoub88

G.J.I.,
Here all what we must do is pray for the world. And remember this:

(Speaking to St. Athanasius): The world is against you Athanasius.
(St. Athanasius) : And I am against the world.

Let us gather and praise: our Lord Jesus Christ: We cry to Him, who said: "Lazarus, come out."
- Chris

SunBabyNJ

GJI--it may seem as if there is more corruption now than ever. But I believe immorality and corruption has existed all throughout history. Christ's words "remember if the world hates you, it hated me first." There were wars back then, greed, rich people living like kings, slaves catering to them, murder, sexual immorality. Many times Christ indicated that he is "not of this world" and neither should we be. I'm not sure if that answers your question; but I definitely think whatever exists now existed before just in different forms. It's not a new concept for mankind to be disobedient.

marys

"You have said, 'It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.' " Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name. "They shall be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him." Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him. "
....so i guess what i'm trying to say is that you shouldn't worry about it.. for the more righteousness prevails, the more the powers of darkness try to do everything they can to bring it down... it's the course of life... it's not God testing us as much as it is the devil throwing a temper tantrum that he's losing... :)

G.J.I

thnx guys u helpped heaps :)
SunBabyNJ i know wat u mean, good point, although i believe it got worse, i mean back then ppl were scared to do any evil cause there were harsh consequences, as in, people could be kicked out of the synagog, i sure i spelt that wrong, ppl wood be killed, stoned...
now if some one does any thing like, sexual immorality, adultery, nothing happens...
the world has become more loose, more tolerant, which in some ways a very bad thing, as now same sex marriages are being accepted, this is the devils work.

and thnx Mary ;) u gave me hope, ur a legend... beautiful quotes as well... luv the part bout the devil tantram aswell :)
George

peet

Do not fear for I have overcome the world (sorry guys can't remmember the refrence"

petergergis

Wow these are all great responses. This kinda leaves me without anything to say. Individuality, is something achieved by oneself. It involves discipline, and sometimes means seculding yourself from others. I believe that this is the most difficult yet effective way of secluding yourself from the immoralities of the world. Just be who you feel is right.

PrincessMary

CORRUPTION OF HUMANITY

Corruption has always existed, yes now probably more...but we always have to keep in mind what Jesus said "They are not of the world just as I am not of the world" John 17:16..we are all God's children, we have to do our best to be different from the world that we are living in. Living in the world that is full of sins,..none of us is perfect or without blemish...."because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of CORRUPTION into the glorious liberty of the children of God" Romans 8:21, in all of us, lies some corruption; in St. Basil's liturgy, " For none is pure or without blemish even if His life on earth is a single day"...but Christ came to deliver us from the corruption of sin, but if we sin we have to remember that repentance & confession will cleanse us from our sins, and shall make us as white as snow, “though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow” Isaiah 1:18


CHILDREN OF JESUS CHRIST: DO NOT LET THE DEVIL DECEIVE YOU, THE CROWN OF GLORY AWAITS YOU, NOTHING IS WORTH LOSING IT, DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD


The problem is that we think its too difficult to live in the world and not be affected by it, we live in a world full of so many lusts and temptations but at the same time we love God and we try to be good, but yet, we find it, at times, difficult to do so, "that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a CROOKED AND PREVERSE GENERATION among whom you shine as LIGHTS IN THE WORLD” Philippians 2:15..just remember this verse and remember that YOU, are the son or daughter of GOD, not of the WORLD-"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, but I chose you out of the world, therefore THE WORLD HATES YOU" John 15:19.YOU, have to be a candle that shines in the darkness, a light that shines in a dark, dark, world.
"In the world you will have tribulation; BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD" John 16:33 Jesus overcame the world and if He is with us...we can overcome the world too and all its lusts and temptations.


BE A LEADER NOT A FOLLOWER, DON’T FOLLOW THE WORLD, LET THE WORLD FOLLOW YOU, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5: 16


“How can you escape when you face bad company everyday”-“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them” Ephesians 5:11, if you have a friend or…someone that you know will take you away from Christ..and make you go further and further away from Christ ..avoid them……If you see many people around you in society sinning, pray for them, pray for their hearts to be opened, and for their eyes to see the true light, don’t be like them, u r different, as a child of God, u will fight the evils of the world till your last breath, “be imitators of God as dear children” Ephesians 5:1, remember that u have to be like God and follow Him forever, so imitate Him, not the world.

G.J.I

does any1 else have anything to add?

wfhanna1

well i have one small comment. If the world got better and no corruption and nothing and it was a perfect world than why we we strive to be good so we can go to Heaven and live with God

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2Then I, John,[1] saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4

So if we had a perfect World right now we would miss all that stuff and won't be looking for the new heavens and new earth. is that a risk you want to take?

Unknown

Do Not Be Afraid, Believe Only.
Luke 8:50

said 366 times in the Bible, one for each day... even for leap year

Abanoub88

Well isn't that something. Thats very interesting. Thanks SMS!

In the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
- Chris

G.J.I

noway, that is soo kool, good stuff sms :D

G.J.I

hey i know there are alot of new members on this site so i just wanted more opinions on this topic...
thnx guys.

mmatt95

I dont think the world now is any worse than before, i mean it can't possibly be worse than this scene, the world has always been filled with corruption and always will be, unfortunately :(

(Genesis 6)

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

SMS

Hos Erof has a point.... (surprise surprise)
but corruption has existed since the beginning of times.... perfect ex: sodom and gomorra (dont ask me to spell it right)
but we cant just kick back n relax and say that it will always be that way... we might not be able to change the world all on our own, but considering the fact that we're all christians and we all have the same christian values and are all guided by the same God, we can attempt to set proper examples to the world. if we can show God's impression through our deeds and ways, and leave a stame in at least one persons heart... the world JUST might become a better place..
it sounds incredibly unrealistic when you're reading it, but once you try it and really effect someones life... you realize how little effort it takes to make an impact on the life of only one person, who then passes the deed on....
kinda like a smile ;D SMILE.... JESUS LOVES YOU
k im done

SMS

Matthew 7:12-14
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

sums up what i wanted to say ;)

Unknown

the only thing that changed was from the old testment to the new. let me explain, first the devil tried to have people worship fake Gods, but after Christ, he played with the divinity of Christ, God, Holy Spirit, etc, and how he is to be worshipped (protestantism, Baptist, etc) and many other things, such as islam, aethist, Jehova Witnesses, etc.

Magnoona4lyf

[quote author=Marys link=board=1;threadid=235;start=0#msg1554 date=1084130806]
" "
....so i guess what i'm trying to say is that you shouldn't worry about it..



MaryS let me just say u are gifted with words...u have a way of putting things together in a certain way for people so that they'd easily understand difficult situations...I also couldn't agree with u on wut u said about not having to worry about it anymore
I strongly believe that there is a time and a place and a solid, firm reason for everything that happens. I'm not exactly sure but I think in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1-8 talk about how EVERTHING has its own time and place...i'm not really sure but I think it said (sorry guys if i'm wrong with the verses, they might not be in exact order) "To everything there is a reason, a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to kill and a time to heal. A time to break down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather them. A time to gain and a time to lose. A time to keep silence and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time of war and a time of peace..."Sorry guys this isnt the exact verses but thats all i could remember but i think u get the idea...I think if in ur heart u really want to prevent corruption God will show u the way for he said "seek and you shall find". We sometimes want to help the whole entire world and think that we can perfect it but the truth is we cant do anything. All the strength comes from God and i believe that if u want to serve the Lord by trying or helping to prevent such corruptions from this wicked world then ask God to show u how and what u can do to help others grow in Christ....u cant stop people from hating or doing evil things because if u could then there would be no reason for free will, ALL you can do is attempt to bring them to Christ and hope that their eyes will be opened to feast upon our Lord, and keep in mind that before we go dwelling on what others should or shouldnt or are or arent doing, we should dwell on our own selves first and become perfected in Christ ourselves so that we can perfect others, sorry guys i kno i dont help much but hopefully sum1 would get wut i'm saying ;)


GOD BLESS ALL! :-*

Unknown

That's a very interesting question but we have to understand that b4 Jesus came, the world was a lot worse and even more corrupt. I mean, at least now people's hearts are kind of open, but before they were just merciless and nothing effected them. Besides, we can change the entire world through prayer, it does wonders and that's the only reason god is merciful to us. Because there are many who are so close to God and pray for all of mankind and of course he is not going to reject their request. If we worry about ourselves and fix all that we have then maybe we can one day change the world..

aek.

[quote author=Peter Gergis link=board=1;threadid=235;start=0#msg1608 date=1084204521]
Individuality, is something achieved by oneself.

Must disagree with you, we are living in a highly secularized society that has cultural traits that are destructive to traditional values. The profane culture of MTV, pornography, consumerism and hedonism—what political scientist Benjamin Barber calls “The McWorld”—is at odds with religious values. In brief, we let our selves me controlled by man, following westernized culture leaving God secluded in the corner of our minds. So its virtually impossible to be individual in the society unless we lock our selves into a cage :P

G.J.I

good point aek.
i see wat u mean
thnx for enlightening us ;)

CopticSoldier

[quote author=aek. link=board=1;threadid=235;start=15#msg11894 date=1095754817]
[quote author=Peter Gergis link=board=1;threadid=235;start=0#msg1608 date=1084204521]
Individuality, is something achieved by oneself.

Must disagree with you, we are living in a highly secularized society that has cultural traits that are destructive to traditional values. The profane culture of MTV, pornography, consumerism and hedonism—what political scientist Benjamin Barber calls “The McWorld”—is at odds with religious values. In brief, we let our selves me controlled by man, following westernized culture leaving God secluded in the corner of our minds. So its virtually impossible to be individual in the society unless we lock our selves into a cage :P


Hey aek,

It not a good idea to associate morality with any paticular culture if you look at Orthodox Christianity you'll see Orthodox Churches in Russia, Greece, Egypt, Syria, India and even OCA in America. Christianity is not something that has to adhere to any specific culture or even traditional value in any 'cultural sense', I have a favourite passages in one of the greatest early Christian writtings the epistle to Diogentus:

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

Culture is hence not a restraint on being a Christian because we unlike the people in the world have a representative of the trinity working in us, the Holy Spirit that works to unite our will with His will and our minds with His Mind.

I also find it a bit unusual that your appealing to a globalisation author on this issue, I can see what your getting at with having values imposed on us (paticularilly in reference to globalised media) but our aim is the profound pauline quote "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. " Romans 12:2

It is the Holy Spirit that allows us to share in the outward aspects of any culture without falling into its excesses and as it has done with our fathers for centuries it will continue to do so for us and it is our identity we have in Christ that makes us as true individuals.

God bless you,

CS

aek..

dont worry guys, the whole is corrupt and will be corrupt until the last man on this earth dies...

mmatt95

i was actually thinking about this; and actually it's not as bad as it seems. Millions of people in church partaining of the Holy Sacrements every day, bible available for basically everybody. As for the people who live a sinfull life; it has always been like that...

CopticSoldier

There are a few things you are neglecting aek, please allow me to elaborate, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled." Titus 1:15

Seeing the world as being a corrupt place is in part related to a persons own internal corruption but when one is purifed by God then they start to see the things in the world in a pure way and no longer look at everything as being intrinsically sinful but something good because God created it.

If the world was so totally evil then Christ would not have said "And when he was demanded by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with outward observation" Luke 17:20 and we are taught as one of the fathers said that if you don't experience the kingdom on earth you will never experience it in heaven.

God bless you,

CS

Unknown

[quote author=aek. link=board=1;threadid=235;start=15#msg11894 date=1095754817]
So its virtually impossible to be individual in the society unless we lock our selves into a cage :P


i disagree. there have been many rightous people that were still rightous although they were in the midst of complete corrupt. St.Athanisus is a perfect example. If we take God into our lives and ask His help, we could get through this corrupt word without any influence from it.

If there was no corruption, there would be no need for salvation.

Magnoona4lyf

So r u kinda saying that we have no hope? That no matter how hard we try this world will have its way of influence on us? I'm sorry but i dont think thats true in any way. I mean if the world was perfect dont u think we'd have no purpose here, denying the fact that we have no hope is denying Christs death and resurrection and passion for us, We have free will, we brought all this corruption onto ourselves so God has nothing to do with it cause if we decide this world is too corrupt there's no point in having hope, then ur saying God has no purpose in our lives :-\


GOD BLESS ALL! :-*

Unknown

wait was that directed to me or aek?

Magnoona4lyf

No, not u....i was asking aek wut he thought ;D sorry about the confooosion!


GOD BLESS ALL! :-*

Magnoona4lyf

I recently was recommended to read Job 2 and verse 10 plainly and simply explains that God allows us to have bad experiences. Faith in God does not guarentee a perfect life with no obstacles, but lack of faith in God does not exactly mean eternal damnation either. I mean if this was true then people would just believe in God to become rich and powerful. God can always rescue us from suffering and corruption, but he also allows us to suffer and corrupt and be corrupted for reasons we can not comprehend. I mean that is exactly what the devil wants us to do; is to doubt God in such moments when something goes wrong! That's when he's all over u going, "He doesnt care about u, there's so many people in the world u think he's acually listening or even thinking of u?" But thats y we have to hold on and understand that in order for peace to come forth u have to have something go wrong first....u cant win a battle unless u fight it! If we always knew WHY we're suffering, there'd be no room for us to learn from our sufferings and mistakes and develope in Christ...


GOD BLESS ALL! :-*