Crime. Violent crime and people who are incarcerated for committing it. Big surprise, right?
But did you know how much it's gone up? Since 1976 (less than thirty years) the number of people in prison in the United States has increased 820%. Yes, there are three numbers there, not 82% -- 820%!
One in 138 people in this country are incarcerated for some type of crime. I wonder if these increases reflect how our children value themselves and others?
This increase was measured from 1976, but crime actually was on the rise a few years prior to that. Interestingly enough, our government took organized prayer out of public schools in the early 1960s. Abortion was legalized just a few years later.
What message did this send to our nation's children? "You are the ultimate authority in your life. You should not depend on a higher power and you should determine your own right and wrong."
That may seem like a harsh assessment, but since then we've just come up with euphemisms to make the same message fall a little more softly. "Our children must have self-esteem. They must be comfortable with their own bodies. We must allow them to decide for themselves."
I agree. We should allow them, after providing all the available information, to decide whether to follow God's plan or Planned Parenthood. And if they make the wrong choice we should pray for them and love them and continue to model Christ for them. We should teach them respect for others and to love themselves because Christ gave his life for them.
This past week kids all over the country gathered around the flagpoles in front of their schools and prayed for our nation, our leaders and each other. They prayed for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and for the safety of those in the path of Hurricane Rita. They prayed for the persecuted church in Sudan and many other worthy causes.
Think of what would happen in the church if we encouraged the kids who showed up this week and a few of their friends to meet weekly for prayer before or after school.
Think of the impact if every Christian in the nation prayed fervently for the upcoming appointments to the Supreme Court. Then think of the possibilities when the right judges are appointed.
Perhaps it's time to rewrite history?