Thank you for the application question on II Timothy 3:1–17, “What is the one thing that speaks volumes to your heart and mind in reading 2 Timothy 3:1-17? How could this section help you and others?”
As I read the verses, many Christians would cite II Timothy 3:16–17 on the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. This is one of the bedrocks of inspiration.
The verse that speaks volumes to my heart and mind is this, “12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
As we live in uncertain times with uncertain moral values and with an uncertain Presidential election ahead of us, our country is already at a crossroad or even half way through the crossroad. Will there be any turning back or change of course? It does not appear so to me for we are a polarized nation between conservatives and progressives, Republicans and Democrats, Christians and atheists, Bible and science.
I believe theists even Christian’s rights will continue to be eroded and banned. The argument of separation of Church and State, the argument for government right and power in a crisis to control and limit freedom is being established through the Covid Pandemic. the right of government to establish limits on gathering of people for the “national good” will become the bases of religious persecution in our country. The right of the government to determine whether Charter School, private and or religious schools is legal and the mandate for the content of education to the exclusion of religious references is not distant from today. The sign of the cross or religious symbols will be dismantled and banned for one is walking on public property owned by the State and churches are granted tax exemption that can be revoked by any Congress. Even today, one person can claim that a religious symbol offends him/her based on the separation of Church and State. We are only one step from being a progressive, socialist society whereby science is “god” and nothing can contradict it. Science and God can’t co-exist in our modern culture. There will come a time when religious freedom is seen as extremist and contradictory to science. It is harmful to society and must be eradicated. I believe we are seeing the beginning stages of religious limitations that will move to re-education of those who believe in theism including Christianity. For those who object to that re-education, there will be persecution beginning with loss of rights, fines, imprisonment and even death. If the Roman Empire did it. If Germany did it. If China is re-educating its Muslims people, who will be next! Will our country come to that same view of needing re-education of religious people for the betterment and unity of the nation?
This 2020 election will begin to determine the course of our country and the religious freedoms. Two paths are before our nation. Your vote will effect the outcome of our nation for years to come.
SUMMARY: The separation of Church and State will over ride religious freedoms for the State must survived at whatever cost to religious freedom.
Fore more perspectives: