As I watched the replay of the 2024 Olympic boxing match between an Italian female boxer and her opponent, described by media outlets as an "Algerian boxer with male chromosomes," boxing as a female, I found myself saying, “Enough already! Where do we draw the line?” Watching someone clearly built as a man, with the strength of a man, punch a woman in the face, as “sport,” with the match ending after only 46 seconds and the Italian boxer in tears, left me feeling sick to my stomach. For me, it only confirms that society has reached another new low, and in this situation, appears to glorify violence against women in the name of “sport." And I’ll admit, I was angry. I was angry with righteous anger. This was morally wrong on every level…Biblically. And I pondered, how did we get here?
As I went about my day, a song that I hadn't heard in years suddenly popped into my head. The song was "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. It’s a fast-paced, history-packed song that features a montage of historical events and figures from the years 1949 to 1989. The lyrics depict the rapid changes and tumultuous events of the time period, with major events, such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the moon landing, while the chorus emphasizes that the current generation is not responsible for creating the problems of the world, but rather inheriting them from previous generations. I decided to re-watch the video and spent time thinking about the song. I tried to look at it from the position of a Christian, which led me to re-read 2 Timothy 3, a powerful portion of Paul’s letter that describes how people will behave and treat others in the last days, before Christ returns. In fact, he calls those times “perilous." Perilous meaning troublesome, hard, harsh and fierce. It also means hard to bear and difficulty to cope with because so harsh. To live righteously when treated poorly will be difficult, so Paul reminds believers to cleave to the scriptures which makes us wise for salvation, because all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
So, I ask the question…in this acceleration of societal change, are we cleaving to Christ and His word? Is He the rock we are holding onto when the waves come and beat on us? In other words, is Christ enough for us in a world growing more hostile to Biblical morality?
Every generation shares in struggle and yes, subsequent generations inherit the effects of those struggles, but in the last days it will be even worse. It will be perilous, harsh. The struggle will be like no generation before. And, if it’s us, it will certainly test us. We may be insulted and hated and treated poorly. We may be persecuted and afflicted because scripture describes people becoming unholy, unforgiving, slanderers, brutal and despising what is good. If we’re here for all of that, what will it do to us? Will we still persevere? We will hold fast? And, so I asked myself, “Will I, and will other followers of Christ, be able to bear up in such times? Will we be able to find contentment in perilous times, the way we do when times are easy? Will Christ and Christ alone be enough?
This thought process took me to 2 Corinthians 11:22-29, and Paul’s sufferings for Christ. I encourage you to read it out loud:
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation.
And this…
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:11-13).
And this…
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us (Hebrews 11:32-40).
Today
Most people can sense that something is off in the world. Like the song from Billy Joel, we are living in a fast-paced history packed time period, and most of us are trying to discern how best to navigate the sweeping changes. May I encourage you…look no where else than Christ Jesus! Whether we abound (exceed the ordinary) or are abased (brought low, humbled), we dismiss all reliance on self-government, emptying ourselves of carnal ego, and exalt the Lord, and Him alone, as our all-in-all, prompting the gift of His fullness in us. When we do, then we can truly say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Is Christ enough for you?
God Bless You,
Carole
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