I once heard it said that a good adage to live by was to say it, forget it, write it, regret it. It seems this wisdom has been lost in our current culture. It appears that if one thinks it, it will soon come out of their mouth. There was a time when people had filters to keep things that shouldn’t be said from being said. A good example of this is the Rotary model of the four-way test, a great model to live by.

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Recently, someone shared that they had seen this on a Church sign: “Be kind or be quiet.” Again, a good model to live by, but do we follow it? The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Again, good words to follow, regardless of one’s affiliation with the Church or a religious organization.

Culture has changed, or has it? Are we only seeing the heart of mankind through social media, as it has always been? Could it be that social media has given people an outlet for what goes on in their minds, allowing it to now come out in their words? I love what the Prophet Jeremiah said, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Perhaps we’re only seeing today what has always been there. I’d like to think this wasn’t so, but it appears we’ve crossed a threshold of depravity with no road back except through God. 

I encourage you to take time to read 2 Timothy 3. I believe it accurately describes what we are seeing today. Sadly, if the culture is to change, we will need to change. Many are unwilling. Think about it.