What’s the Biggest Problem in the World Today?
I’ll be preaching this Sunday at Austin Avenue, and am in the process of pouring over my Bible looking for the answer to this question.
What caused me to choose this topic was a keynote speech delivered at the ACU lectures last week. The presenter believed that the biggest problem facing the world today is global warming and proceeded to pontificate his view of the theology behind hugging trees.
No, I’m being serious, not sarcastic. He half jokingly, half seriously said Christians should be happy to be called tree-huggers, because “trees symbolize God in the Bible.”
That was the first time I’d ever heard that idea presented, and after hearing his lesson I’m still unconvinced. Nonetheless, he has an interesting view of things (fyi for regular readers – when I say something is “interesting,” that’s normally an indication I think it’s silly).
Anyway, the lesson really got me thinking and I’m in the midst of serious study. I spent all day yesterday researching what the secular world says the world’s biggest problem is (if you’d like to have some fun, Google “world’s biggest problem”) and plan to contrast it with what the Bible indicates. Lord willing I’ll be presenting my findings this Sunday, and I’d like your help:
1) In your opinion, what is the biggest problem in the world today?
2) How can it be solved?
Those are atomic questions – I expect atomic answers.
I would have to guess that the world’s biggest problem would be: failure to take God seriously. We tend to forget that he is involved in our lives. We tend to use his name in a casual manner. We tend to disbelieve his word. We tend to mock people who try to live by faith in him.
The solution would have to be: Christians who take God seriously, who model the faith that we seek to share.
I’m looking forward to other responses. I could be wrong, but I would like to see the ideas of others. Great post!
Good insight, Terry. That’s huge!
Here are a couple of responses that came via Facebook:
Adam G. says, “I think I can help you with that question. I believe most of the problems we have are do to insecurity.”
Ryan L. says, “John 17:21, “that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us, SO THAT THE WORLD MAY BELEIVE THAT YOU SENT ME.” My take on this is that when we are one with the God head and are one with each other in unity….then and … Read Moreonly then will people truly beleive that the Father sent the Son. When division among Christians cease to exist….the possibilities for conversion would be endless!”
I deleted the post on Facebook so people would comment here.
What say you, folks?
We all want to be our own little gods, that has been the problem ever since that serpant first spoke to Eve (see Gen 3.5) and nothing has changed.
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Even though I believe there is some merit to the global warming concern, the way you describe the presentation at ACU Summit sounds like someone just trying to trendy with the times.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Wonderful words and questions for us all to think about. I think the worst thing in the world today is sin. I think we take care of it by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. John reminds us that we still sin.
Yet we have the wonderous grace of God.
I think we should cherish the grace of God instead of using it as a license to sin. We as Terry mentioned should take God seriously. Wonderful point Terry.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
Thanks again for this wonderful post.
Keep up the great work you do with your blog.
You have a great talent.
Good insight guys – thanks for the compliment Kinney
And yes, Rex, I do believe the topic was chosen to appeal to current trends.
[...] This Blog’s Purpose ← What’s the biggest problem in the world? [...]
1) In your opinion, what is the biggest problem in the world today?
Wes, it did not take a long time for me to figure this out but I believe the biggest problem in the world today is DUMBING DOWN THE SCRIPTURES. Many, too many people, want a fix, but go to the wrong places to get it. I have just recently been released by the Holy Spirit from a 40 year bondage of sorts, and if it weren’t for scripture study and more, than I might still be trapped or dead.
2) How can it be solved?
It can be solved by not just blogging about man’s words and man’s thoughts but ABOUT GOD’S WORD AND HIS WORD ALONE. I have a great friend who has been a blessing in my life having known him now for 22 years. The WAY TO SOLVE IT IS FOR PREACHERS AND TEACHERS OF THE WORD TO PREACH THE WORD AND NOT TELL STORIES SO MUCH, BUT PREACH THE WORD. For a couple of sites to explore go first to http://www.wayofthemaster.com and then my friend also put me onto a website just yesterday, http://www.proclaimit.org/pages/proclamation.htm – without Jesus people will end up in HELL, AND IF that isn’t a problem that is huge, I don’t know what is. Sincerely, Jim Cooke
the worlds biggest problem is that we haven’t read the bible the way it was written. i think i have talked to you about it before wes, but it was written in a style that we are not used to reading. it was written as a story that starts from the beginning, gets to the middle(Christ resurrection) and then goes back to the beginning.
If we all could come to understand that God is working on us and the world around us to make it back into that place that he created in the beginning and stood back and said…”It is perfect!”(Gen 1:31) We are being made perfect AS LONG AS WE ARE SEEKING HOLINESS(Heb 10:14)For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
If we are seeking anything but what God is about then we aren’t going to reach that perfect point. In other words we aren’t going to be where we need to be in order to hear verbally God say “It is perfect!” someday.
This isn’t saying we have to be perfect now, just that what we are seeking is what God is seeking which is to someday get back to the very beginning whenever God finds that perfection once again.
I find that more and more people, including me, don’t even realize what their schedule tells God they are seeking in our lives. Am I working my tail off because I want to run the business someday or is it because God tells us that whatever our hands find to do do it with all of your might, so that people can see God. Not only so people can see God, but so that we are seeking what God is seeking and not what the economy or the world’s career field tells us to do.
[...] still haven’t forgotten about the other posts I promised regarding the biggest problem in the world. Those will be coming [...]
[...] Comments This is the fourth post in a series discussing the biggest problem in the world today. Here the discussion was started, here I looked at what secular society says the biggest problem in the [...]
well i will say, when i read this question i did not fear for my life but others. I know God will surely destroy everything to establish a new earth and heaven but what about the world? 2 pet 3:12
people has completly reject to hear and listen to the Word, 2 tim3:8 even those who have been one saved!, we need hold on to our faith Heb 4:14, luke 18:8
and the solution for me is to bring the Love of God and His word back each one heart’s. Jer 31:31-37
But i am wondering if it’s going to be easy?