In these perilous times, as foretold, society exhibits a profound lack of affection, described as being without natural affection or family love. This absence of human connection manifests in the breakdown of familial bonds, where the natural love between family members is eroded. Historical accounts from the Roman Empire reveal a time when children were discarded if not acknowledged by their fathers, and even prominent figures justified drowning weak or deformed infants. In our current era, this lack of affection is evident in the alarming trends among youth, where teenagers commit violence over material possessions like trendy clothes or gadgets, and carry weapons to school, driven by a culture that glorifies rebellion and lawlessness. This coldness of heart, as prophesied, stems from abounding lawlessness, causing love to grow cold through a gradual, constant process, much like cooling a hot bowl of soup by blowing on it. As lawlessness multiplies, love diminishes, becoming ingrained in societal norms and personal priorities, affecting how we treat our families and each other. Yet, there is a call to resist this decline by enduring in faith, staying close to God, and immersing oneself in the Holy Scriptures, which equip us for every good work. By doing so, we can rekindle our love, showing natural affection to one another as brethren, and thus honor Him through our actions toward the least of His brethren.

In these perilous times, as described in II Timothy 3:1-5, society is marked by a profound lack of affection, termed as "unloving" or "without natural affection" in various translations. This concept, rooted in the Greek word "astorgos," signifies a heartless absence of family love, a callousness that has been building in our culture for decades. The bonds of affection, particularly between parents and children, have been systematically eroded by societal changes and influences. Where once families spent nearly all their time together, fostering deep connections through shared work and education at home, now children and parents are often separated by school schedules, extracurricular activities, and the pervasive distraction of technology. Even when physically together, they remain emotionally apart, engrossed in individual digital worlds, neglecting meaningful interaction. This lack of natural affection is further exacerbated by media portrayals that pit youths against adults, promoting strife and diminishing the value of parental roles. Such depictions often mock traditional family structures, presenting parents as dispensable or foolish, which contributes to a broader societal acceptance of discord over unity. As lawlessness abounds, as Jesus warns in Matthew 24:12, love—whether familial or divine—grows cold through a gradual, persistent process, much like blowing on hot soup to cool it. This cooling of affection is not sudden but develops over time due to increasing sin, which begets more sin, stifling the warmth of love with each act of selfishness or iniquity. The consequence of this trend is a society where personal gain overshadows communal bonds, where the priority of "me first" undergirds attitudes of narcissism and indifference. Jesus cautions that even the agape love within His disciples can grow cold under the influence of a corrupt world, urging vigilance against such decline. To counter this, Paul in II Timothy 3:12-17 advises continuing in the practices learned and deepening understanding through God's revelation. By holding fast to truth and actively doing good, as exemplified by Jesus Christ in Acts 10, believers can resist the cultural drift toward heartlessness. This involves not only knowing the teachings but also embodying them through acts of service and spiritual giving—offering love, joy, and patience to others as fruits of the Spirit. In this concentrated time of learning and fellowship, there is a call to be countercultural, to push back against society's retreat from natural affection. Among the gathered, there is an opportunity to practice servant-leadership, to serve one another in ways that rebuild and strengthen bonds of love. By learning from righteous examples and actively serving, the community can stand as a beacon of God's way, resisting the coldness of the world and fostering the warmth of true affection.