The Love of Many Will Grow Cold
Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. – Matthew 24:12
Ecclesiastes 8:11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.
2 Timothy 3:12-14
Indeed, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
The Decline of Trust in the 21st Century
The phrase “Trust Fall” originates from a team-building exercise in which one person falls backward, relying on others to catch them. This act symbolizes vulnerability and trust, demonstrating the expectation of support from others. It demonstrates how people trust others, systems, or institutions, expecting them to act honestly, with integrity, and good intentions.
Recently, trust has sharply declined across society, a trend some describe as a universal “Trust Fall.” This decline is not confined to specific demographics, social groups, or geographic regions. Traditionally seen as pillars of stability and trustworthiness, institutions such as government and the media are increasingly falling short of public expectations.
Notably, both the government, which many believe should lead significant change, and the media, usually seen as either supporters or watchdogs, have become some of the most mistrusted entities in contemporary society. Scandals, corruption, misinformation, and a focus on self-promotion or groupthink have undermined public confidence in these institutions. This erosion of trust creates a ripple effect impacting other parts of society.
The Ripple Effect of Broken Trust
The erosion of trust doesn’t occur in isolation. It sets off a chain of consequences that impact relationships, community spirit, and societal stability. People become more skeptical instead of confident, disengaged instead of involved, and in extreme cases, distrust can escalate into hostility.
The “Trust Fall” leaves individuals feeling disconnected and uncertain about whether the systems and people they once relied on are dependable.
The metaphor of “Trust Fall” captures how fragile trust is today. What once served as a foundation for cooperation and growth has now become a source of division and suspicion. To rebuild trust, we need more than rhetoric and promises; we require transparency, accountability, and consistent actions that demonstrate reliability and integrity. Without tangible results from these efforts, how much longer can society endure the effects of this “Trust Fall” before the damage becomes irreparable?
The Importance of Social Trust
For a society to operate efficiently, “social trust” is essential. “Social trust” refers to the confidence that people, for the most part, will behave in accordance with societal norms and expectations. According to Webster, “trust” is defined as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” At its core, social trust embodies the belief in the dependability, integrity, and accountability of individuals within a community.
Ed Batista offers a straightforward formula for understanding trust:
Trust = Motive + Reliability + Competence
Throughout much of the 20th century, Americans exhibited significant confidence in their institutions. For example, in 1964, 77% of Americans expressed trust in the federal government to make the right decisions most of the time. However, this confidence eroded over the decades. By 1994, after numerous ethical scandals and societal upheavals, that trust had plummeted to just 20%.
The Rise of Explosive Distrust
In the 21st century, the “Trust Fall” has evolved into what can be described as “Explosive Distrust.” This phenomenon goes beyond mere skepticism or apathy. Explosive Distrust is marked by hostile animosity and a desire to dismantle opposing viewpoints. Those who harbor this mindset view their adversaries not only as wrong but as illegitimate. As Linda Huang writes in The Atlantic, “Explosive Distrust” fosters an environment in which disagreement becomes a justification for outright rejection and destruction.
The Spiritual State of Distrust
Distrust breeds more distrust, creating a destructive cycle that corrodes societal bonds. This mindset has been described as a spiritual condition known as “anomie.” The term anomie is derived from the Greek word anomia. Anomia is typically translated as “lawlessness” or “without law.” “Anomie,” co-opted by sociologist Emile Durkheim in his seminal work, “The Division of Labor in Society” (1893), to describe a situation where social norms and values break down, leading to social instability. In this state, people feel disconnected from society. This breakdown leads individuals to believe the system is corrupt, causing them to feel invisible and undervalued. As a result, they trust only themselves.
In the twenty-first century, anomie is used to describe the state of social and moral disintegration associated with social alienation, moral ambiguity, and cultural instability.
Anomie is a troubling and hazardous state characterized by the breakdown of trust, which ultimately threatens the core of social cohesion, harmony, and collaboration.
A Warning from The Scriptures
While the concept of Explosive Distrust is both concerning and dangerous, it is somewhat astonishing to realize that nearly 2000 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ warned about such conditions before His return to planet Earth. This societal unraveling, marked by pervasive lawlessness and rampant self-centeredness, acts as a sobering reflection of the spiritual crises each of us faces today.
REFLECT & PRAY
Children of the King are called to stay alert, resisting the pull of apathy and the chilling effects of lawlessness. In a world increasingly filled with distrust and division, they must stand firm, protecting their hearts from the disintegration of love and faith.
Father, I desperately need Your help to resist the oppressive force of lawlessness in our age. How easy it is to let my love grow cold.
INSIGHT
The Disciples’ Question and the Lord’s Response
Matthew 24:3: “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”
When the disciples inquired about the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of His return, the Lord Jesus Christ offered a comprehensive overview of the conditions that would define the world leading up to these events. He likened these signs to recurring birth pains, increasing and intensifying, as the eschatological climax of history approaches: the Second Coming of Christ.
The Rise of Lawlessness
One of the prophetic markers Jesus highlighted was the increase in lawlessness. As He described in Matthew 24:12: “Because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold.”
The Greek term plethuno, translated as “increase” or “abound,” is indicative of “far more than simple growth. It implies multiplication, an exponential and overwhelming surge.” In contemporary American slang, it might be described as being “supersized.” This dramatic escalation of lawlessness has a chilling, profoundly demoralizing impact on society.
Chouinard observes, “Where lawlessness prevails, selfish interests and personal concerns completely overshadow a loving regard for others.” Similarly, Morris explains, “By definition, the lawless person is motivated by personal, selfish concerns, not by any regard for others or for the rules that govern our interactions with one another.”
The Extinguishing of Love
The phrase “the love of many will grow cold” in Matthew 24:12 uses the Greek word psycho, which is translated as “to grow cold” or “to cool.” It is often associated with the imagery of a fire or flame that diminishes, cools, or is extinguished. In this verse, psycho is used metaphorically to describe the extinguishing of love, likening it to a neglected fire that has lost its heat and vitality and is left to die out.
The Greek verb psycho, used in the passive voice, conveys that the action of “growing cold” is not instigated by the individuals themselves; rather, it is a consequence of external influences. In this context, the pervasive rise in lawlessness, or anomia, serves as the external catalyst that causes love to diminish and ultimately fade away.
The term psycho indicates not a mere decline but instead a complete failure of love. John Nolland notes that it signifies love being “snuffed out” or “extinguished,” presenting a somber depiction of a society where the warmth of compassion, care, and selflessness is overshadowed by cold indifference, selfishness, and apathy.
This loss of love is accompanied by betrayal, suspicion, and hatred, as described in Matthew 24:10: “Many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.” Such a climate of distrust and animosity creates an unbearable environment, one devoid of compassion and unity.
A Prophetic Picture of the 21st Century
It’s astonishing how precisely Scripture describes the characteristics of the modern age. The rise of lawlessness, the decline of love, and the spread of betrayal and hatred all hallmarks of the 21st century. According to the Lord Jesus Christ, these events are like labor pains, signaling the end of this age and the start of the next.
Donnell captures this imagery beautifully: “It’s cross now, crown then. It is labor now, delivery then. So be patient. Endure. Breathe in; breathe out. Trust that God will work everything for your good. That baby is soon to be born. And the hard and long labor will then all seem worth it.”
A Call to Wakefulness
In light of these sobering realities, children of the King are called to stay alert and strengthen what remains. As stated in Revelation 3:2: “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.”
This is a call to action, reminding us to persevere, guard against the chilling effects of lawlessness, and remain steadfast in love and faith as the world moves closer to the fulfillment of God’s ultimate plan.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯5-11-3
© Dr. H 2026
Dr H Reflections 