Where is the morality of today’s world regarding marriage?
September 20th, 2008 by Ron S.
I’m not one that is usually surprised by what I find out about the world today. I know that sadly the lines of morality are getting more blurred and that the black & white of what is right and wrong is often getting repainted with drab coats of grey. But two things that I encountered in the last few weeks have made me downright troubled about the lack of any kind of a moral compass in today’s society.
First a friend sent me this article with some cutting quips about the writer’s poor attitude toward her marriage: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/08/26/o.divorce.dreams/. I too not only found the writer’s “me-first” attitude stupid and beyond selfish, but more so that this was coming from the world-wide leader in “it’s-all-about-me” Oprah Winfrey and her publication arm – Oprah.com. And probably because of that, it was picked up and published out on the websites of CNN, and MSN (on their front page – lead featured article one day).
Then a week or so later, I started hearing some very disturbing radio commercials. As a sports fan and fantasy sports geek I listen to my local sports radio stations quite often. So I hear a lot of radio “spots” that are tailored to this kind of “guy” audience (e.g. beer, trucks, tools, etc.). But a new spot I started to hear was one that I just couldn’t believe was being aired. The commercial featured a deep-voiced guy asking male listeners that if they weren’t “scoring” at home (i.e. with their spouse), then they should check out this new dating website for married people looking to “hook-up” with no strings attached. BTW, here’s a Washington Times newspaper article about this same company (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/05/tangled-web/). I’m FAR from being prudish, in fact I’m a bit jaded in some respects from my early years away from my faith. But I still couldn’t believe that this kind of commercial was being aired in a major market, on a big-time radio station. I instantly thought a “what is this world coming to” thought and shook my head. Though as the Washington Times article above states about some broadcasters like ESPN pulling the spots after they first started airing, I believe this sports radio station did the same as I haven’t heard them since that first day or two.
However the point remains that societal attitudes about marriage, affairs, divorce, and the like have all become extremely laxed. Not only do we see examples like these two, but people are constantly bombarded by movies, TV, and advertising that glorify the trashing of monogamy and marriage if you don’t like what you currently have. It’s a “its OK to be selfish and look after your own wants and desires. Never mind trying to any real work in your relationship. Never mind actually doing some real, honest communication with the person you committed yourself to.
The problem is this type of morally bankrupt attitude just leads to greater problems than the one most people think they’re solving by leaving what they have and going after someone else. People just can’t see that “the grass” is NEVER really “greener on the other side of the fence”. It is only DIFFERENT. They’ll simply trade one set of strengths and weaknesses for another slightly different set of strengths and weaknesses. And in the process they’ll cause themselves and most everyone close to them a TON of grief and heartache. It is far easier in the long run to put in the work to solve any issues in that current relationship. But that’s not the way of today’s “disposable” culture. Society today is groomed to think that it is better to just junk the old and get on with getting something new. Sadly now that means “spouses” in addition to cars, refrigerators, watches, etc..
What can we do as followers of the one true God and his son the Messiah? Well we can speak up and try to show people these ways of the “world” are false and empty. While they may look and appear desirable to a lustful modern culture, it really is just “fools gold”. Not only in what you will actually find – yet another one of Satan’s deceptions. But that “this world” is not the one we should be letting guide us.
1 John 2:15-17 tells us:
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Thoughts anyone?
Ron,
I agree whole heartedly with you! I do not know who it was that was saying this I was listening to the radio going into Atlanta, this morning. There was a speaker stating that if people are true disciples of God the divorce rate is non existent. It is when they give up that close relationship with God that divorce becomes more prevelant. This is the crux of the morality issue! BUT, unfortunately until the time of God’s kingdom this will grow worse and worse.
Mark E. DeYoung
You’re right. Jesus told us the world would get worse. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. Even those who claim to be Christians have as high (or higher) a divorce rate. We can’t change the world, but perhaps we can teach those Christians who want answers how to put God at the center and see His love prevail.
A strong discipleship program is very important. I am not talking about just in a church setting.
Each of us as believers must take time for a time of private devotion. A time that we read the Word simply for our edification, think on the Word, meditate on the Word(I know a little redundant), then in prayer starting out by “clearing the air” by repenting, then simply praises, songs, Scripture passages that are memorized, then our requests and petitions, finishing with thanksgiving and more praises.
A simple time of private worship. Listening for that small still voice.
Too often we settle for study and research in our walk as Christians and we neglect the important aspects of being a Christian.
In previous centuries when the duplication of the Bible and Bible related books were few and far between. The average man had in many cases not enough education to read these things even if he had access to them.
But the faith endured. The truth endured! Why?
Because there still were those who meditated and thought on the things they heard and prayed!
Today, we have become too busy! There are too many distractions!
Mark E. DeYoung
Mark C, I assume you’re referring to historical pessimism in apocalyptic movements? I’m unsure if Jesus fits this pattern, I haven’t found a lot of evidence. The only evidence I do have talks about the very end of the age being incredibly dark and evil. But, I don’t think that can be extrapolated to say everything from then to the end would be downward spiraling. I’m open to being convinced.
While the world grows darker and families disintegrate, there is an opportunity for the people of the kingdom to live a prophetic lifestyle of restoration shining forth an ever brightening beacon of Zion’s light spilling over from the future right down into the present.
A couple of passages that come to mind right away:
Matthew 24:
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
II Timothy 3:
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Besides, it stands to reason that since the devil is in control for now, things would get worse until Christ returns, with the exception of the false peace that will be seen under the Antichrist.
I work with the aged. I am challenged and heart-broken almost daily. When I reflect on it, I see prosperity coming, then, families being too busy to care for their children, then, those children growing up and not caring about taking care of their parents and families.
We have demonstrated how to be self serving and unfaithful to our responsibilities, so it seems a logical conclusion that most are not willing to work at, or even realize that it is important to work at, being covenant keepers instead of covenant breakers.
But I am happy to find a dissatisfaction of the way of the world, and I am a firm believer that where sin abounds, grace much more abounds, so let’s allow God to show us and annoint us to bring a message to people hungry for one.