I went through Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island during one of the most mentally challenging times in Marine Corps history. The Vietnam War was just ending and there was much bitterness in the drill instructors because of the way it was ending and we recruits were their victims. Things got so bad that a full congressional investigation was launched just after my graduation to being a United States Marine.
During my 13 weeks at Parris Island, I wrote many letters to my Uncle Steve over the course of time I was in boot camp training. My Uncle Steve had been a POW in WWII. He saved all my letters so I could read them years latter. When I finally did get to read them in progressive order, I could not believe I was the one who wrote them. My views had been shaped into a hardened soldier so I could protect my country. It made me realize that so much of what each one of us thinks is shaped by our environment whether we want to admit it or not.
Because God is a God of order, He took this into account and that is why He gave us only one guidebook so that we could avoid being led down the wrong path by our environment. If two people tried to build a house together with too different tape measures where their footages were off, there would be total chaos, much like what we are seeing happen in the world today.
We are in an extremely divided world today because our society has pushed the Bible aside. If you take a controversial subject like abortion, non-Christians will give their opinion. But a true Bible believing Christian will not give their opinion or view. They will recite what God has already said about it.
I’ve noticed on both social media and news media that controversial subjects bring all sorts of comments and opinions. Those that reply from a Biblical perspective are considered wrong, judgmental, and closed minded. In reality, society is not as much against us as it is against God. We represent God and society wants nothing to do with God or anything that represents Him. They will not recognize the fact that God created them and that they will be judged by Him according to His Word the Bible. In their mind, this gives them the right to have their own opinions and set of rules to live their life by. You will hear them use the words “I think…..” all the time. Because life’s circumstances play a big part of what they think, you will also hear them say, “I used to think…..” a lot.
We who believe are considered narrow minded because we stick to beliefs that are stable and unchanging because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
What was ironic about boot camp, while the Marine Corps was trying to shape me into a soldier for this country, I received a pocket NT bible from the Gideons. This started me on the journey of receiving Jesus Christ as my LORD and Savior while still in the Marine Corps. What is utterly amazing is that I am now a technician that repairs the equipment that produces the little Gideon Vest Pocket New Testaments that you see in the photo collage at the beginning of this post.
The Word of God became the supreme guide in my life. I recognize that when I engage in any controversial subjects with those of the world, it won’t be my persuasive words that change them, but the power of the Holy Spirit thru the written Word. I must be careful to know when to walk away from a subject if there is total rejection because it is really God that is being rejected:
“And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” (I Samuel 8:7 NKJV)
So, the next time you get in a heated discussion with someone who is not a believer, cool your jets down and remember that you are standing on the Rock and they are not. Unless the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to this, much of what you say will be futile. So allow Holy Spirit discernment to take control of your discussions! I sincerely say this because I see firsthand the frustration many of my Christians friends experience, especially those who are politically involved with social issues. The results they want to see may never come simply because of the end times we are living and the world is being set up for the antichrist. That is why Jesus essentially told us when we see all these things happening around us, to LOOK UP! Put a smile on your face for your redemption draws near!
Annointing 
2 Peter Chapters 2-3 provide a good overview of what is going on today, not only in society at large, but the so-called Christian church in America, as well.
How true my brother. Thank you for the added insight. I like especially II Peter 3:4 NKJV:
“Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
That does seem to be the common view these days.
Yet Micah 7:10 (NKJV) takes Peter’s question to it’s logical conclusion:
Then she who is my enemy will see,
And shame will cover her who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will see her;
Now she will be trampled down
Like mud in the streets.