#cutoff

Put no trust in a neighbor;

have no confidence in a friend;

guard the doors of your mouth

from her who lies in your arms;

for the son treats the father with contempt,

the daughter rises up against her mother,

the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

a man's enemies are the men of his own house.​

Micah 7:5-6

There was a cultural phenomenon that occurred as ancient Israel fell into hard times and the disarray of exile. With enemies arrayed against them, the Jews of the Northern Kingdom began to experience a societal collapse. People could not trust neighbors, friends, spouses, or even their own children. There was social, and most sadly, generational chaos across the board. It was painful for those caught in the chaos.

There is a very similar kind of thing going on today. People are leery of trusting others. They are told that self is the measure of what is right or wrong, good or bad. And if my self does not trust your self, I am told I am free and right to keep myself protected by dictating the terms of any relationship. This pain is being acutely felt in families right now.

The same kind of cultural phenomenon that Israel felt with the Assyrian threat is now eerily similar to what Boomers and Gen-X’ers now find happening in their families. A recent trend generationally across social media is the #cutoff or #nocontact movement. Adult children are ending all ties to family members. Using therapeutic and self-agenda language fed to them by a selfish, psychologized worldview, they are cutting off all ties with family, with siblings, with parents, and with past friendships. The societal pain is vast. Over 20% of families now report at least one estrangement as part of their household. The stress this creates is high. And the number is growing.

Only the gospel can mend this need for reconciliation. Only God can be the hope of those now living cutoff with no contact with people they love. Micah 7:7 provides perspective and help: But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.