Dear Editor,

Recently I have been watching a lot of street preachers on YouTube.

I remember as a child in Bellaire my mom would have my brother and I attend every church service at the Salvation Army.

One of those services was called, “open air.” We would march up to the corner across from the old national bank building and actually worship Jesus in song and have our pastor preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

On a few occasions a drunk from across the street would harass us but most of the time people would sit in their windows or stand down the street and listen.

There was an outward and inward respect for the Word of God being preached.

Today the mission field of street preaching is more of a jungle and there seems to be nothing but anger manifested at these brave folks. They are openly mocked, ridiculed and sometimes physically attacked. Who are these haters of God’s Word?

Sadly, the majority of these videos are young people who are supposedly college educated and to make the matter worse … it is usually young women.

These young people do everything they can to disrupt the preacher. They curse at him, throw water at him, kick over his booth, steal his Bible tracts, and eventually someone usually runs up and slaps him in the face.

These are American children. Each year the number of those who believe in Christ in our country lessens. Our children and grandchildren, as a majority, deny Jesus and curse the Holy Spirit.

Our Christian culture is hanging on by a thread.

This is what happens over time and something must fill the void.

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” -Luke 11:24-26.

But this is not just the state of a man or woman. This is referenced to a generation, culture and a society immersing itself in evil.

It is very easy to see that in the 1960s and ’70s this country “swept clean” its faith in God.

The Scriptures say that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. He doesn’t do this through his own strength but must convince humans to act on his behalf, even when they don’t believe or know he exists. Satan manifests himself in his hatred toward Jesus.

America is failing. Our institutions are corrupted. The Bible says that things will only get better when Jesus returns and those who sin against Jesus and God are judged.

Our only hope is repentance. Seek it before the terrible day of the Lord as stated in Scriptures.

Randy Marple

Shadyside