It makes us angry, doesn’t it? Every generation seems to rise up with thoughts and ideas that are contrary to the previous generations, and they are adamant to these new concepts. Their parents and grandparents have no clue as to how the world should work while they, the younger generation, have it all figured out. I suppose I was that way, too, but not like this generation. Today’s young people seem to be enamored with the concept of socialism. I recently heard a politically ‘progressive’ (someone who favors socialism) talking about the president of the United States. This individual said that the president was just like Hitler. It would be funny, except it is so tragic. Hitler started the Nazi party in Germany. NAZI is an acronym and stands for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. In English, this translates to ‘National Socialist German Worker’s Party.’ This socialist politician was saying she dislikes the president because he is acting like Hitler, who was a socialist and who acted like all socialist leaders have acted throughout history. And the young person interviewing her had no clue and just agreed with her. Man, oh man, what do they teach in the schools these days?

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

          Not only that, but young folks today want to raise the minimum wage to the point that an entry level position will support a family without realizing that raising the wage will just raise prices and eliminate jobs. What, exactly, is taught in school today?

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

          Now in school the thinking is that since the world revolves around computers, kids need to learn with computers. So, the kids have computers in school. I get that. The world has changed a lot since I had to learn how to use a slide rule. But what about classical education? Famous literary works, art, even history? What about civics? “Such things will not be important in the future.” Apparently, they are not important now, either!

Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary

          The thinking of today’s young people is just going to lead the country into the dumpster. I look at these kids and wonder just what are they thinking? Because they have a desire to change things, we have young people who refuse to look at common sense and instead embrace silly political notions. In my day, we wouldn’t have done that!

In the old rugged Cross, stained with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To pardon and sanctify me

          In case you haven’t figured it out yet, this is not really a rant against young people or political ideologies or the changes we have gone through or the challenges we face. I mean, yes, I do despair over the things I hear and see on the news. I do wonder why young people today tend to embrace things like socialism when history shows that every time it has been tried a tyrannical dictator has emerged. I do question political motivations from both parties. But I have my vote and by the time it comes to vote I am well informed and that is pretty much it for me. I have a higher calling. As a Christian (not as a pastor, but as a Christian) I am responsible for preparing myself to share the wonderful story of the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. If I burn up time getting all fired up about other things, then I am taking time away from my real job. Besides, the US is not mentioned in prophecy, unless you want to twist Scripture, so by the time the Lord returns, America will be a weakened nation. The only thing we can do that will have a lasting impact is the sharing of the Gospel.

To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share

          The old, rugged Cross. We tend to not be really comfortable with the Cross. We like the stable scene with the manger. We like the picture of an empty tomb. But the old, rugged Cross was a place of death. We don’t like that very much. But, the old, rugged Cross is where the sacrifice took place that allows me to look forward to heaven. And for me to be a good tool to be used by the Master until I reach heaven, I have to keep the old, rugged Cross front and center in my mind. Political ideologies will come and go, young people will always think different than their elders think and times will always change. But the Cross, well, the Cross makes all the difference.

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown