In the twenty-first century people are regularly indoctrinated with the secular definitions of self-esteem, self-image, self-realization, and self-actualization. The ideas and principles of psychologists Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Eric Fromm, Sigmund Freud, and other psychologists are being taught on America’s college and university campuses. As a result, the dominant fascination in public life is with pleasure, emotional and sexual stimulation, and what is called “personal fulfillment.” This produces the lifestyle that ignores the needs of others and asks, “What’s in it for me?” It is, in reality, “living life by the cafeteria plan” – self service only!
Millions of people need to hear these words found in the book of Ecclesiastes: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NIV). Is there a more accurate definition of the culture in which we currently live?
In the re-release of his book, Storm Warning, Dr. Billy Graham states that millions of Americans today are obsessed with the personal pronouns, Me, Myself, and I – three words he calls “the trendy trinity.” During past generations both tradition and religion made it clear that self-centeredness was antisocial and unacceptable. Parents and schoolteachers alike taught that “rights” were always accompanied by “responsibilities.” Millions of people have forgotten the wisdom of the apostle Paul’s words, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
The legacy of the free-thinking 1960’s convinced an entire generation that “turning off and spacing out” was a legitimate lifestyle option. The “yuppies” and “uppies” (those obsessed with climbing the ladder) in the 1980’s and 90’s were captured by the idea of accumulating more and more possessions on the way to the top. Music lyrics became increasingly self-centered, erotic, and antisocial. The vulgarity that was widely common in movies found its way into books, magazines, and later onto the Internet. Yet, even into this kind of world there are signs of a moral groundswell. Dr. James Dobson and Gary Bauer’s Children at Risk describes America’s moral crisis in great depth, calling it a civil war of values.
How can this trend toward modernity be countered? The answer is clear. Christians must re-dedicate themselves to the goal of saturating their minds, hearts, and souls with the Word of God. We must become dedicated anew to the challenge of living God’s truth in our daily lives. God has said, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you – they are your life” (Deuteronomy 32:45-47).
In today’s world Christians need to strongly distinguish themselves as followers of Christ, not as persons who meld into any group. We are commanded and expected by our Creator to carry the marks of the Lord Jesus, not adapt to the fashionable counterculture of the day. Most of all we are commanded to “set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-2). This is the only lifestyle that will reflect honor upon Christ’s church and give glory to Him.
Those who hope to stand with Christ in heaven at a time of God’s own choosing must be willing to stand up for Him in the world today. If you keep your Bible open you will never find the door of heaven shut.
The Paper Pulpit 
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