Fifteen years ago it would have been hard to imagine American culture under the attack it has experienced in the last six months — from the worlds of communications, commerce, and judicial activism has come an almost unrelenting assault on aspects of life that Christians hold dear.
Last month there was the scarcely reported story that the Federal Communications Commission has officially sanctioned the use of the “f-word” over the public radio and television airwaves. On the heels of numerous complaints and public outcry over rock musician Bono's use of the word f-word during the national telecast of the America Music Awards, the FCC reacted by officially condoning the use of the swear word over the airwaves. The federal agency's only exception for the word's use? If it were used in a sexual context.
Not only is this ruling outrageous, it flies in the face of common decency and numerous community laws that protect the public from disorderly conduct and public swearing. With this ruling, the FCC has abdicated its responsibility from decades of public standard guidelines. This agency has been mandated to oversee the public airwaves and to protect the public interest. Instead, the agency is now controlled by a government bureaucracy that is accountable to no one.
Now we hear of two national companies that market to younger audiences — Ambercombie & Fitch, and CKE Restaurants — that are conducting advertising campaigns which actively attempt to sexualize our youth. Abercrombie & Fitch recently produced an extremely sexually enticing “clothing” catalogue that promotes group sex, group nudity, and very provocative imagery featuring very young models. CKE, owner of Carl's, Jr. and Hardees, offers an advertising campaign with porn icon Hugh Hefner. The ad makes sexual innuendoes about Hefner's sexual tastes and sexual variety with the variety of Carl's, Jr. menu.
Both of these companies use erotic sexual messages to reach their younger “target” audience. You can expect such behavior from smut peddlers on the Internet, but these are publicly traded companies with multiple outlets around the country. What happened to a society that preferred to protect the innocence of its youth instead of corrupting them?
Next came the Massachusetts Supreme Court and its ruling that ultimately could elevate homosexual unions to a legal status similar to that of traditional marriage. This ruling presents an immediate and present danger to the traditional family as we know it. In a 4-3 vote, the court has disregarded the definition of marriage between a man and a woman — an institution that has been the cornerstone of civilization for more than 3,000 years. With this ruling, the Massachusetts high court has demonstrated two things: (1) it is an activist court, and (2) it is out of touch with close to 70% of Americans who want to protect the time-honored definition of marriage.
A federal appeals court in California has declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because it contains the phrase “under God.” That ruling will be addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court next year — but the mere mention of the word “unconstitutional” in context with the phrase “under God” would have caused the Founding Fathers to turn in their graves in light of the spiritual heritage of this country.
Now we see secularists who want to eliminate any semblance of God or religion in the public place. Witness what happened to Judge Roy Moore in Alabama. Already atheistic organizations, leftist propagandist organizations such as the People for the American Way, many major players in the print media, and the ACLU all want to rid the country of any trace of God. What happened to the courageous ministers we had during the Revolutionary War who would denounce civil injustice? Where are the vanguards and spokesmen for morality in this country? Sanity must be restored in the land. It is going to take many of us speaking out against this moral landslide if we care to preserve this country for our children.
The “Silent Majority” can no longer afford to be silent. We cannot afford to wait because these trends only foretell of things to come. We must learn from those that oppose us. Although small in numbers, they are determined and certainly vocal to change the cultural landscape of America. While representing a much larger percentage of the population base, America's religious community can no longer be complacent. And while we gaze at our children at night as they sleep, we need to decide what kind of society we want to pass on to them. We can't be afraid; we can no longer be apathetic. We cannot let moral principles be overrun in every arena of society and commerce. Already, we are seeing that Pandora's Box is opening.
If we care about the kind of world we are leaving to our children, we need to passionately share the gospel of Christ and take moral positions which are consistent with the teachings of the Bible. Certainly Paul's generation “turned the world upside down.” Why can't we?
(This article courtesy of Agape Press).
