Articles
Cultural Values
We live in a time where culture wars are a flame. But the culture wars are not about political affiliations. Culture wars are not about who is elected. Culture wars are not new. They existed in the time of Noah, as well as in Sodom and Gomorrah. The culture wars of today are the same as they have always been. As long as there has been Satan and God there have been wars between good and evil, right and wrong, unrighteousness and righteousness.
Culture seeks to define marriage for us. Culture says two people of the same sex can be married. Culture also says that marriage is not forever. It is acceptable to start over with whoever, whenever you want. But God says it is one man and one woman. He also designed marriage for life. God designed the family with one man, a husband and father, and one woman, a mother and wife. Man, woman, and children flourish when God’s design is respected and pursued. Broken homes, distorted relationships, even sinful relationships adversely affect everyone’s life. Nobody is better off listening to culture.
Culture also tells us our body belongs to us. Therefore, “It is my body and I have the right to use my body any way I please. It is mine!” No. Our body does not belong to us. It belongs to God. God created us. God owns us. Men and women can choose to use their body as they wish, but there are serious consequences when the body is used differently than God designed. It is amazing to me that women cry loud and long about the rights of their body and how they choose to do what they want when they become pregnant. They can have an abortion. It is their right. But nobody ever talks about the right of that baby who also has a body. Here is the choice. You can choose to engage in sexual activity that will result in pregnancy or not. But once you become pregnant, there is no choice. That choice has been made. The choice is not whether there is life or not. It is termination of life. The choice is whether or not to engage in that which produces life outside of marriage.
God’s people have always faced culture wars. The question is, will we live in the culture or will the culture live in us? Jesus prayed that His disciples not be taken out of the world but that they would live in the world without the world living in them. God’s people are not immune, nor are they isolated. It is important that we gain our beliefs and values from God’s word. There are two different, competing values for our hearts. Who will we listen to?
Rickie
