Were There Really "Good Old Days?"
Merriam-Webster defines the good old days as, "A period of time in the past that a person thinks were pleasant and better than the present time. * In the 1960s, everything seemed possible. Those were the good old days."
Ironically, this example of the 1960's is true, at least from a Christian point of view. According to "The American Heritage Collection" DVD series by WallBuilders, unprecedented Supreme Court decisions in 1962 and 1963 removed voluntary prayer from and prohibited Bible reading in schools. Unfortunately, this opened the door for further court rulings which hindered the free exercise of Christian faith. For example, in 1985, the Supreme Court further ruled that the praying of a silent voluntary prayer in school was unconstitutional. Really? Did they really rule that my thoughts can be unconstitutional? Sadly, that is exactly what they decided. This is an extremely different sentiment than the Supreme Court of 1892 which stated, "No purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or nation, because this is a religious people... [T]his is a Christian nation."
Please understand, that I am not advocating for the opposite extreme, that students be forced to pray and read the Bible, but I would have liked our first amendment right to have been upheld by the highest court body in our nation instead of redefining it to fit the growing sentiment by the loud minority of our culture.
Have these court rulings had any affect on our society? Can we measure any affects? Absolutely! By measuring societal changes that had little reason to change other than by these unconstitutional decisions, we can review the cause and effects. WallBuilders reports that since 1962-1963, the following changes occurred in demographics that had been relatively stable for decades prior.
1. Birthrates for unwed girls between 15-19 years old increased by 400%
2. Birthrates for unwed girls between 10-14 years old increased by 460%
3. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's) increased in 15-19 year old students by 226%
4. Divorce rates increased by 117%
5. Single-parent households with a female head increased
6. Unmarried man and woman couples living together increased by 1,000%
7. Students' Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores plummeted
8. Violent crimes increased by 470%
Our teenage daughters becoming pregnant not only has moral implications but has practical consequences as well. According to the National Conference of Legislatures (NCSL), "Teenage mothers are less likely to finish high school and are more likely to live in poverty, depend on public assistance, and be in poor health than slightly older mothers. Their children are more likely to suffer health and cognitive disadvantages, come in contact with the child welfare and correctional systems, live in poverty, drop out of high school and become teen parents themselves." The Johnston Archive reports that abortion rates increased every year between 1964-1981. The decline of morality is recognized by other organizations as well, such as the reputable Pew Research Center which reported the following.
1. The rate of two parents who remain in their first marriage declined since 1960
2. The rate of mothers in the labor force with children increased since 1975
3. Less-educated 18-34 year old persons who live with a parent increased since 1960 from 20% to 36%
Does our nation have a responsibility to turn around these trends? Our politicians and media do not deny that our country faces serious issues but fail to encourage good behavior preemptively. Sadly, their solutions often focus on dumping money into rehabilitation programs, more prisons, and government assistance for those who have made poor life choices. There is very little headway made by our Christian politicians to undo the damage from the 1960's with constitutional legislation.
The good news is that our nation was never meant to be saved by the government. Christian principles of the people whom the government was formed to preserve advance true virtues able to reverse these destructive trends. Our national founders understood such principles. In 1813, former President John Adams wrote, "The general Principles, on which the Fathers atchieved [sic] Independence were... the general Principles of Christianity." In a 1789 letter, President George Washington wrote, "I have often expressed my sentiments that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience." These are two of over one thousand recorded statements by our Founding Fathers regarding their reliance on God, the Bible, or Christian values. Here is a link to 143 of them. In fact, WallBuilders reported that political science professors researched 15,000 writings from the Founding Era and concluded that 34% of the quotes were taken from the Bible.
What can you do to help undo the damage caused by the unconstitutional legislation of the past? First, do not accept that you are helpless to overcome the growing number of evil hearts in our society. It is not we, as believers, who have the power to overcome the wicked and selfish desires of mankind, but our Lord Jesus Christ who said, "These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NASB). Jesus already overcame the world, and we need to walk in courage and in faith, trusting that He will bring glory to His Father's kingdom through our obedience and even perhaps more so in our weakness. Paul wrote, "But he [the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Cor. 12:9, NKJV).
Secondly, do not conform to the world around you but remain steadfast in the teachings of Christ. Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:2, NASB). My wife would say, "Do not do what is easy. Do what is right." In our culture of moral relativity it is even becoming offensive to hold ourselves, as believers, accountable for things that make us feel ashamed. It is easier to presume that our intentions are somewhat pointed toward God, but that He does not really expect us to stand up against the world or He would have just made it easier or else send a pastor to do jobs like that for us.
We cannot justify ignorant cooperation with the world any longer. Today, the poles confirm that an increasing number of Christian denominations are sanctioning same-sex marriage. Statistics like this are evidence that an increasing number of self-professed Christians are conforming to the world and redefining the Bible much in the same way that the Supreme Court judges redefined the U.S. Constitution in 1962 and 1963.
Lastly, we must continue to study, live out, and teach all the commands of Christ. This may not sound like a comprehensive plan to get our country back on track but is a Biblically sound system that honors God and hinders our own agendas from getting in the way. If God has allowed you to sense the injustice of your nation, your community, or even in your local church body, then He is giving you the opportunity to grow spiritually by trying to do something about it. Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33, NKJV). He is faithful to meet our needs in their due season, much like the birds, lilies, and grass, but only if we truly seek His will first (Matt. 6:25-34).
18 June 2017
