FEBRUARY 2013 EDITION

"Tolerance is no longer a virtue when we place our stamp of approval on attitudes and values and lifestyles that plainly contradict the teaching of the Word of God"  from "Good News, Good News, Good News, Selected Sermons of Dr. Charles A. Sineath"

"It only takes one generation to go from abomination to acceptance."

Unknown

Think about it:

 In the 50' On TV sitcoms like "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and 'I Love Lucy", a man and a woman who were married were shown sleeping in two separate beds. Now it is commonplace and "the norm" for an unmarried couple to be shown sleeping together.  Being a virgin before marriage is now roundly ridiculed, whether in the media or public discussion!  Movie stars proudly announce the birth of a child borne out of wedlock. (Let me interject a thought here.)  I have heard it said that there are no illegitimate children….only illegitimate parents. I agree.

In the 50's, the two parents, male head of household situation was the norm. Now, 40% of children are born out of wedlock and are raised in a single parent, female head of household situations.

Since 1973, fifty-five million abortions have been performed.

At this time, nine states plus the District of Columbia have legalized homosexual marriage.

The number of unmarried couples living together soared 12-fold from 430,000 in 1960 to 5.4 million in 2005. Couples who do marry after living together are 50% more likely to divorce than those who did not. Only 12 percent of couples who have begun their relationship with cohabitation end up with a marriage lasting 10 years or more.

Are we better off as a country given the present state of affairs? (pun intended)

What do we tolerate today that we would have been shocked at twenty, thirty or forty years ago? I am guilty of this. Yes, I admit to watching T.V. shows and movies that I would have thought were bad when I was younger. I accept things I never would have accepted years ago. I rationalize; telling myself, "Everybody is doing it. It must be acceptable." I do not want to be thought of as old-fashioned or (gasp) intolerant. Perish the thought! The acquiescence to the culture is so subtle. It is the old 'frog in the kettle" scenario.

Where are we headed as a nation? Ruth Bell Graham was quoted as saying, "If God doesn't judge our nation, He should apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!"

What are we to do? What can I do? The Bible speaks to this question:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land". Second Chronicles, Chapter Seven, Verse Fourteen

Humble myself. Tough to do. You bet.  And, yes, I know…when all else fails, Pray!  That should be the first thing we do, not the last, Right?  Speak out when I can. Be intolerant to sin when we encounter, even in ourselves and lovingly confront it where we can.