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How
Can You Counter
a Degenerating Culture?
As
a reader of The Good News, you are probably
disturbed by many of the values of the culture around youand with good
reason.
How can we counter the degrading influence of much of popular culture?
by Ralph Levy
Culture:
Its a word we hear a lot about these days. But what does it mean? One
dictionary defines culture as "the particular system of art, thought and
customs of a society." Author Robert Dugan offers a broader definition.
He defines culture as "the ways of thinking, living and behaving that define
a people and underlie its achievements. It is a nations collective mind,
its sense of right and wrong, the way it perceives reality, and its definition
of self. Culture is the morals and habits a mother strives to instill in her
children. It is the obligations we acknowledge toward our neighbors, our community,
and our government . . . It is the standards we set and enforce for ourselves
and for others: our definitions of duty, honor and character. It is our collective
conscience" (Winning the New Civil War, 1991, p. 169).
Does popular cultureand our attitude toward itmatter?
The Bible contains a disturbing prophetic glimpse of culture in the last days
of human civilization. The apostle Paul was inspired to write of the last days
as "perilous times" (2Timothy 3:1). He describes that age as a time
when "men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God . . ." (verses 2-4).
Could Paul have been writing of our culture, that of the Western world in 2002 ?
He certainly seems to describe a culture bent on pleasure, entertainment, vanity,
greed and utter selfishness at the expense of stable marriages, families and
other relationships.
Consider a lesson from history. Sociologist and historian Carle Zimmerman, in
his 1947 book Family and Civilization, recorded his observations as he
compared the disintegration of various cultures with their parallel decline
of family life:
Western
culture has become what sociologists call values neutral. Advocates of this
approach argue that we should not adopt any system defining absolute right and wrong. |
"Eight specific patterns of
domestic behavior typified the downward spiral of each culture Zimmerman studied:
Marriage lost its sacredness (and) is frequently broken by divorce; traditional
meaning of the marriage ceremony is lost; feminist movements abound; there is
increased public disrespect for parents and authority in general; an acceleration
of juvenile delinquency, promiscuity and rebellion occur; there is refusal of
people with traditional marriages to accept family responsibilities; a growing
desire for, and acceptance of, adultery is evident; there is increasing interest
in, and spread of, sexual perversions and sex-related crimes" (quoted in
Confident Living, November 1987, p. 34).
Values-neutral
philosophy
A major change over recent decades is that Western culture has become what sociologists
call values-neutral.Advocates of this approach argue that we should not
adopt any system defining right and wrong and expect all to adhere to it because
no one has a right to impose his values on others.
A former U.S. senator from Indiana, Daniel Coats, reported: "I recently
saw the story of a high school values clarification class conducted by a teacher
in Teaneck, New Jersey. A girl in the class had found a purse containing $1,000
and returned it to its owner. The teacher asked for the classs reaction.
Every single one of her fellow students concluded the girl had been foolish.
"Most of the students contended
that if someone is careless, they should be punished. When the teacher was asked
what he had said to the students, he responded, Well, of course, I didnt
say anything. If I come from the position of what is right and wrong, then Im
not their counselor. I cant impose my views" (Imprimis,
September 1991).
But if figures in authority wontor cantteach standards
to children, where will they learn them? In all too many cases, from the popular
culture around them.
Tragically, most Americans no longer believe in the concept of absolute moral
truths. A George Barna poll conducted late last year found that only 22 percent
of American adultsand a minuscule 6 percent of teenagersbelieved
that "there are moral absolutes that are unchanging." Sadly, only
32 percent of those who described themselves as Christians believed in absolute
moral standards, and only 26 percent cited the Bible as the source of their
moral principles.
Impossible without faith in God
How are we to establish an ethical and moral cultural base for our societies
and families? Previous articles in The Good News have highlighted the
biblical foundation of true values and the fact that, when the United States
was founded, its leaders unashamedly accepted many of the principles of Scripture
as the basis for its laws and culture.
Reminiscent of such long-abandoned values, columnist Georgie Anne Geyer wrote:
"I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to have a moral community
or nation without faith in
God, because without it everything rapidly comes down to me, and
me alone is meaningless. "Today Americans have . . . stopped
acting on what they knew was rightand me has become the measure
of everything.
However, moral societies are the only ones that work. If anyone thinks
there is not a direct and invaluable relationship between personal integrity
in a society and that societys prosperity, that person has simply not
studied history.
"And this should not surprise us. Great moral societies, built upon faith
in God, honor, trust, and the law, blossom because they are harmonious; because
people love or at least respect their fellowman; because, finally, they have
a common belief in something beyond themselves . . . Alexis de Tocqueville
said it best when he realized even at the very beginning of our national life,
America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good,
she will cease to be great" (Bits & Pieces, Sept. 17,
1992, pp. 23-24, emphasis added).
These sentiments were echoed by Svetlana Alliluyeva, daughter of Soviet dictator
Joseph Stalin, when she unexpectedly defected from Russia to the United States.
Why did she defect? In her own words: "I found it impossible to exist without
God in ones heart. I came to that conclusion myself, without anybodys
help or preaching.
That was a great change because since that moment the main dogmas of Communism
lost their significance for me. I have come here to seek the self-expression
that has been denied me for so long in Russia" (quoted in Morning Glory,
Feb. 5, 1994).
It is faith in God that provides the anchor for a culture. Without it we are
cast adrift, lost in a sea of values neutrality or hedonism and robbed of any
method of determining right from wrong. The result is a culture that staggers
like a drunkard unable to find the wall.
Crumbling morality threatens a nation
The dramatic effects of the Western cultural shift are best illustrated by contrasting
social trends. Consider some changes over a 50-year period: "In New York
City in 1943, 3 percent of all births were illegitimate. There were 44 homicides
by gunshot. In 1992, 1,499 people died of gunshot. 45 percent of births in 1993
were illegitimate. Nationwide, nearly 30 percent of all babies today come home
fatherless, 68 percent in Washington, D.C." (Gary Bauer, Family Research
Council letter, Nov. 4, 1993).
William Bennett, former U.S. secretary of education, published a book in 1999
titled The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators. Here are a few of the
statistics he presented, comparing life in 1997 with 1960:
Finally, consider the result of a
survey conducted in 1988 by the Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center. About 1,700
students between the sixth and ninth grades attended adolescent assault-awareness
classes conducted in schools across the state. Each boy and girl was asked whether
a man should have a right to force a woman to have sexual intercourse if he
had spent money on her.
The shocking results? Nearly 25 percent of the boys and 16 percent of the girls
said "Yes." Sixty-five percent of the boys and 47 percent of the girls
in the seventh through ninth grades said it is permissible for a man to force
a woman to have sex with him if they have dated for six months or longer (James
Dobson and Gary Bauer, "Children at Risk," Word, 1990, pp.
258-259).
Influence on Christians?
Lets not carelessly assume these trends have no effect on those who describe
themselves as Christians. The Community Impact Seminar: Focus on the Family
reported that two out of every five self-identified Christians say you may do
anything you want just as long as you dont hurt anyone else.
In New Testament times, the grinding effect of a permissive, anything-goes popular
culture was illustrated by the story of the Church of God congregation in the
Greek city of Corinth. Located on a natural harbor and at the intersections
of several major trade routes, the city was quite prosperous.
But tragically, like the city of Sodom centuries before (Genesis 13:13; Ezekiel 16:49-50), Corinth had allowed its wealth to lure many of its inhabitants into
immorality. So legendary had this city become that it even gave its name to
the term corinthianize, meaning to act in an immoral way.
Christians are not immune to their cultural surroundings. The Corinthians reflected
the loose, values-neutral backdrop of their city in their own moral carelessness.
The recorded story of the congregation in Corinth tells us of a man who was
cohabiting with his stepmother (1Corinthians 5:1), a sin that was toleratedor
perhaps even condonedby many in the church (verse 2). The values of Corinthian
society had affected them to the point that they would tolerate this kind of
degeneracymuch to their shame.
You can also read of their tendency to allow their contentions to boil over
in lawsuits (1Corinthians 6) and their failure to remain faithful to their
marriage vows (chapter 7). A sectarian, individualistic spirit (chapter 3),
and drunkenness at the solemn occasion of the Passover (1Corinthians 11:17-22),
were among the many spiritual weaknesses of the Corinthians.
Paul had to sternly correct these sins and several others. No, these Christians
were not immune to the corroding influences in their culture, just as Christians
today arent immune to their culture.
Countering the culture
So what can you do?
First, you have to recognize the
influence of popular culture on all aspects of your life.
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What manner of person would you have
been if you had been born in another place and another time? How are you different
now because of the culture around you?
Familiarizing yourself with the history
of our cultures, and with the changing value systems of the modern world, will
allow you to begin to appreciate the impact of the time and place of your birth.
Second, you must develop moral
and ethical convictions. What do you allow yourself to do? What has shaped
your standards and morals, your values? Do you recognize there is a cause and
purpose much greater than you, much greater than life itself?
There are indeed proper definitions for the terms right and wrong,
sin and righteousness. Those
definitions are provided in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Studying that book
was once commonplace. Your studying it now will provide you a moral and cultural
anchor.
Third, diminish your concern about what others will think. There is no
point in worrying about them, because convictions never bring universal approval.
Those who accept a moral code derived from the Holy Scriptures will find themselves
opposed by many (though not by all). Yet your concern needs to be not what people
think, but what your Creator thinks.
Finally, stand up for what you
believe.
Remember the saying: If you dont stand for something, youll fall
for anything. The courage to stand up for whats right may carry a price
tag in the short term, but it will reap valuable returns in your character over
the course of this life and into eternity. GN
Related Information:
Table of Contents that includes "How Can You Counter a Degenerating Culture?"
Other Articles by Ralph Levy
Origin of article "How Can You Counter a Degenerating Culture?"
Keywords: culture war moral values morality, crumbling culture, popular values neutral philosophy God, faith in right and wrong
God's faithfulness: