I grew up in the fifties and sixties. My parents and the parents of just about everyone I knew were married. Once. For life.
I learned songs like "Faith of Our Fathers" in public elementary school music class. I went to a public high school, with about 2,000 other students, where the Bible was read over the public address system by the school principal.
Hit songs featured on the popular "Hit Parade" television show included faith-based songs like "This Old House" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." People on television shows were often portrayed as praying or otherwise acknowledging God. Television hostess, Loretta Young, kept a Bible on the set of her show and occasionally read from it on the program.
An awareness of the existence of God and our accountability to Him was present in most of our culture. Morality was taught at home, in school, and by society in general.
The elderly were respected and held in high esteem.
Teen pregnancy was rare.
In our town of about 250,000 people, murders were so uncommon that it was headline news when one occurred. Homes and cars were often left unlocked and were seldom molested.
In 1962, the United States Supreme Court ruled that organized prayer in public schools was unconstitutional under the First Amendment Establishment Clause, which says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
In the fifty years since that ruling, children have been taught that they are nothing more than highly evolved animals. That there is no God who loves them and to whom they are accountable. That there are no absolute rights and wrongs. That they shouldn't be expected to control their sexual desires any more than any other animal does. That sexual perversion is just an alternative lifestyle. That life has no intrinsic value. That pre-born babies are nothing more than tissue
to be destroyed so as not to inconvenience the mother.
Untold millions of pre-born children have been murdered in the womb, by the very person God intended to be their greatest protector.
Why, then, are we so surprised that a culture which so devalues human life should produce mass murderers?
You nailed it! This about tells it all.We are pushing God out of every area of our lives and then cry the blues when things go so wrong.
ReplyDeleteAMEN, Linda... Thanks for a great post... And you are SO SO SO right! We--as a country--have turned away from God... I read somewhere this weekend that God isn't even allowed in our schools ... AND---God is not allowed in so many other places these days. We are in a MESS here... Scary!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post.
Hugs,
Betsy
Very well said Linda. My heart is heavy for those families who lost loved ones.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad time in which we live. Our society whants to blame the gun or the shooters mental state, etc. when something horrible such as this happens. It's really the condition of the heart which the Bible states is wicked. How we need to keep our own hearts in tune with God, study His Word and ask Him to have control of our very being.
Thanks for a very thoughtful post. I'm surprised and saddened that so many people refuse to see a connection between the way faith has been downplayed over the past fifty years and the results that lack of faith bring about.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, you have articulated so well my thoughts exactly!!! We've either got to turn back to God or we will see more of this type thing. God help us and have mercy on us. "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." 2 Chron 7:14
ReplyDeleteI prayed the above verse many times, after a particularly rebellious phase. God did bless and heal me and continues to do so. We have the power.
Thanks, Linda, for this wonderful article that expresses my heart-felt feelings also. We were raised in the same era and am so thankful the Lord allowed me to grow up in that time-frame because of all the reasons you mentioned. We, too, continue to pray 2 chronicles 7:14 and hope the Lord will draw people to himself.
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