1 Kings 15-16

In summary, 1 Kings 15-16 give a list of the kings of Judah and Israel post-Rehoboam/Jeroboam. It's a bit disheartening to read over and over again that this king "did evil in the eyes of the Lord." By the time chapter 16 is over, we are generations removed from King David and King Solomon, seemingly the last two kings that walked with the Lord (with the exception of Asa, King of Judah). I've read about Elijah in 1 Kings (starting in chapter 17) before but even if I hadn't, you just get the feeling that God is about to give everyone a nice big wake up call.

At the same time, this passage really made me wonder. In His mercy, God withheld judgement upon the kings and the nations but it was definitely on its way. Take a step back and look at our nation, one founded on the principles of Christianity. How far have we, as a nation, strayed from God? The other day I was reading an article on CNN about some Canadian high school in which the teachers performed a lap dance at a pep assembly. That in itself was pretty bad. Then to read the comments "Well, it's no big deal. Kids see this stuff on MTV anyway" broke me a little bit more. I don't know what's worse, the fact that people are saying that such a thing is okay, especially in the context of a public school, or the fact that our culture is growing moral-less. Regardless, this is not the life that we are called to live in as Christians. Though our culture may dictate 'right and wrong', we answer to God, the ultimate authority. I am beginning to see more clearly what the Bible means when it says that we are called not to be apart of this world.