How have the church and Christians become social clubs and nice people? It is an almost irresistible force and happens repeatedly through history.
During my life I have seen the transformation of marriage. I have witnessed the gradual acceptance of divorce. I don’t mean the obvious cases of adultery and abuse. I mean the large number of “incompatible” and “no contest” splits. What used to be rare and frowned upon has become mainstream and cool. It started as an attempt to be loving and compassionate and has gone a long way toward undermining a foundation of society.
We are also redefining marriage. We are silencing our minority of people who still claim that marriage is between one man and one woman. Today the force behind it is the homosexual community. Tomorrow it will be the Mormons and Muslims. In the process we are redefining what family means. No longer is it bound by blood and marriage.
The sexual revolution has become the status quo. We have begun to accept fornication and out of wedlock births. When you accept the tenants of evolution it is amazing how easy it is to accept animal behavior as “natural”. It is amazing how often people claim to be followers of Jesus and yet they are living in physical intimacy that God reserved for the marriage bed.
Discipline has gone out the window in the name of self esteem and caring. Corporal punishment can lead to court cases. The death penalty is rejected. Both of those are clearly endorsed by scripture. What does it mean when people who claim the Bible teaches salvation by faith refuse to read the parts that teach the death penalty? Protestants talk about cafeteria Catholics when the term applies equally well to the one doing the pointing.
Wealth has blinded our eyes to balance and stewardship. In Proverbs the excellent wife dresses her household well, feeds them well and runs a business. Jesus wore a seamless cloak which was not cheap. Quality clothing and good food are not condemned and yet somehow I find it hard to justify a closet full of shoes and a steak dinner that costs more than a week’s groceries. At the same time we have large numbers of illegal aliens working in sweat shops at substandard wages.
I am sure if you are thoughtful you could add to the list.
We need to act like we are in the locker room at half-time and the coach is saying, “Listen up, you clowns.” The drummer is beating. We should get in step.
homo unius libri
Preach it, brother!
ReplyDeleteAs long as there is breath in my body, an internet connection and feeling in my fingers.
DeleteGrace and peace.
I really enjoyed reading this. Evolution has knocked me for a loop and toppled sanity in the world.
ReplyDeleteBlind acceptance of evolution in the face of the contrary evidence is part of the world that young people are being raised in. Even evolutionists books like "Lost World" point out that there has not been enough time for evolution a la Darwin to be realistic.
DeleteGrace and peace.