How Close Have You Pitched Your Tent to Sodom?
By Contributing Writer, Bambi Moore
We’ve been witnessing the crumbling of the Christian family for decades but are now observing the landslide. Society is no longer content to ignore the sanctity of marriage or blur the roles of Biblical manhood and womanhood—now it attacks with a vengeance.
Over half of all marriages end in divorce, including those among Christians. Many men are abdicating their positions as that of provider, protector and spiritual leader. Women have now taken on that role. Same sex marriage is now allowed in eight states. Abortion has reached an all-time high: the death of the unborn has risen to twice the amount of holocaust victims of World War 2.
As terrible as all this sounds, Believers must brace themselves, because the onslaught against the Christian family is only escalating. Could it be possible that in the near future, Christians, who uphold the Biblical definition of marriage and family, will be consigned to the same moral category as white-supremacy groups, and any effort that opposes homosexuality will be labeled as hate speech?
Could it be possible that this blog post will one day be removed due to a violation of law? The war against the family–and our children who will one day be fighting in it, is intensifying.
A key player in this war is Hollywood.
Whenever Hollywood depicts a family, whether it be a movie, a sitcom or television drama, it paints a picture of a dysfunctional unit. There is often an absence of male authority and sometimes no authority at all, creating an “anything goes” scenario. Dad is non-existent, but so is mom. She is off working—either at her job outside the home, or on an adulterous affair. Many television shows have made a mockery of marital fidelity as well as a healthy family. It’s the stuff American entertainment is made of, and we eat it up.
And why do these portrayals of the Christian family now dominate the big screen, when once they were so rare? Because they are an accurate reflection of our fallen culture.
Commenting on the epidemic loss of morality in our society, Bible teacher and pastor Dr. John MacArthur writes:
“Casual sex is expected. Divorce is epidemic. Marriage itself is in decline, as multitudes of men and women have decided it’s preferable to live together without making a covenant or formally constituting a family. Abortion is a worldwide plague. Juvenile delinquency is rampant, and many parents have deliberately abandoned their roles of authority in the family. On the other hand, child abuse in many forms is escalating.”
For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:26-32)
Hollywood just gives us what we want. They supply what we demand: corruption.
I think of Lot and how he “pitched his tent as far as Sodom,” (Gen. 13:12) even though ”the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” Yet the next time God tells us about Lot, he’s one of the leading citizens! He calls the inhabitants “his brothers,” and marries and raises two daughters in that pagan environment.
When the Lord sent two angels to rescue him, the inhabitants of the land sought to assault them sexually. His sons-in-law mocked him when he fled with his wife and daughters, and his wife was turned into a pillar of salt when she longed to go back to the wicked city. Apparently, the folks in Sodom didn’t pay much attention to Lot’s discussions about God.
But thank God for grace! Because after all this, the Bible tells us that Lot was a righteous man. In 2 Peter we get this:
and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);
We can be thankful that Lot was still counted righteous. We can also look to him as an example of how easily the world can pollute a righteous mind. How strong the pull of wickedness is.
Not that we can blame Hollywood and TV for all of society’s ills–they are merely reflecting the ideology of the age. That’s why the idea of being accepted by a culture at odds with biblical Christianity is not realistic. This isn’t even our home; we’re just pilgrims passing through a barren land. We are the ones who have what they, the culture, need. So how do we prepare our children to live here in this temporary dwelling?
Many of us are still trying to figure that out for ourselves.
Dr. Voddie Baucham, in his book, The Ever-Loving Truth gives some helpful words:
Cultural apologists usually advocate one of three approaches to the issues that are currently redefining the culture in which we live. Either we can be isolated from our culture, immersed in our culture, or insulated in the midst of our culture. Each of these approaches can be illustrated by a diver’s relationship to the water. The diver who jumps in without gear represents immersion. The diver with a wet suit and scuba gear represents insulation—in the water but protected from and unaffected by it. A man on the shore who refuses to dive into the water represents isolation.
…I am not however, asking you choose between insulation, isolation and immersion. I don’t find any of these solutions totally sufficient. I believe that we should infiltrate and invade the culture. To infiltrate means to enter enemy territory without being detected. To invade means to enter by force in order to conquer. I believe the task at hand requires both.
…we must get our hands dirty in people’s lives like those committed to immersion; keep the lines clearly drawn like the isolationist; all the while exemplifying the balance of the insulation approach.
Struggle and conflict are inevitable. Will we purpose to transfer our faith to the next generation, doing all it takes to prepare them to “infiltrate and invade?” Will we stay on our faces before the throne of grace begging the Lord to use our feeble efforts?
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16
May He make the seed of the righteous to flourish.
Tags: changing culture
Great article, Bambi. Here’s an illustration of what you’re saying: at our state fair this year, the volunteers at the “Vote Yes to the Marriage Amendment” booth were spit on, knocked off their feet, glittered, and verbally abused by folks who call themselves “tolerant.” One was walking around with a t-shirt that said, “Kill the Christians One Bullet at a Time.” The state fair officials did nothing. Can you imagine if anyone wore a t-shirt that said…well…something different? You’d be arrested for a hate crime!! You can say, “kill Christians! and nobody blinks an eye. That’s apparently a “normal” thought to have. But you’re a hateful blankity blank if you believe the Bible when it calls sexual deviation of any kind “sin.” Christians are fast becoming the only ones who are NOT tolerated in our abusive, depraved culture. Good is evil and evil is good. The lines are being drawn. Here’s a great article on this same topic: http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2012/09/pleased-to-meet-you-hope-you-g.php
We read that article, too, Natalie. Great post!
Bring it, girl. My husband and I have been talking a little about this stuff lately, although I tend to be an ostrich about it all. It’s getting harder to pretend like all those birth pangs aren’t happening, though. :/ Excellent, as always. (See, still reading – just a little off the grid about it.
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Excellent and thought-provoking article!! I think one of the worst things about television is that is desensitizes sin. This concept is clearly portrayed in the movie “The Time Machine”. When a man from the past is sent into the future he was uncontrollably outraged while watching TV and witnessed an unmarried man and an unmarried woman kiss on screen. The man becomes indignant and we become ignorant. No one could comprehend why he was so upset; not even the little boy who saw the same thing, only he had seen 1000+ times already in his short life.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to teach and encourage!
Wow, Bambi! Really convicting.
Now that our family has gone from being somewhat isolated to being immersed (by a recent move we made) we are totally aware of our need to be insulated – to be protected by the armor of God, daily.
We see the culture around us daily. And it needs the Saviour! So we must get our hands dirty and take risks. But those risks, like Lot, must be cautious, prepared, and having our lines drawn clearly.
Thanks so much for this piercing post!
My beloved and I talk about this often. One thing we notice is that there is no cost to saying you’re a Christian and that there is no brotherly accounatbility to living what you claim to believe.
This means everyone and their dog can say they are Christian without actually opening their bible and trying each day to live like they ought and when we do slip up and say or do something that is not of Him NO ONE says anything for many different reasons, we are not a member at that church, we aren’t sure how the other person will take it, we don’t want to offend, or we don’t want to push people away.
When we have internet conversations it’s VERY easy to misunderstand another’s voice in what they are saying, but when we have conversations FACE TO FACE it’s much harder. We see the eyes, hear the voice, and maybe even see the body language. These things help each of us hold the other accountable. That is very important thus we are not to forsake the fellowship. We are to hold eachother accountable, to encourage and uplift as well as to sharpen and edify eachother. It’s crutial in our spiritual growth. This is coming from a Momma who thought we all were doing this but when I go about my business of talking to other moms about staying home or homeschooling they tell me they think I am judging them, NOT TURE! I am not judging, rather I am trying to encourage them to grow in His ways.
I had better got for now, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, it’s SO VERY True! We are a bit too close to the flames in my humble oppinion! Have a lovely evening ladies. Sincerely, Mommy of two growing blessings & so much more!
Thank you for writing this Bambi,
The vote is currently in our federal parliament about the marriage definition here in Australia. I have emailed & emailed & emailed politicians & hopefully if enough Christians do that they may listen. Your post here is certainly challenging & very relevant.
Blessings
Renata:)
I keep thinking of the phrase ” Bloom where you are planted”…. and the phrase ” People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care”. We can reach people just by taking an interest in their lives.
Regarding the persecution issue… wow, it is tough, but I loved the quotes from Vodie Bauchum.
My husband and I have had some recent persecution from extended family, and boy can that hurt!
God provides the forgiveness, but what we do with the relationship after that can be a huge balancing act. I believe that most family relationships can and should stay intact…Sometimes we need a bit more distance, but I try to keep all the family in our lives and show them honor. Part of the balancing act is simply avoiding conversations that we know won’t be fruitful. I think of the fool that is mentioned over and over in Proverbs. The fool won’t listen to wisdom, so there is no need to even bring it up or he may mock you. We are careful to keep our conversations on nuetral subjects, and pray for peace… It is an area where I think God will be teaching us for a long time, but maybe someday we will see our relatives make a commitment for Christ.
Ladies, this week time simply has not permitted me to respond to all these comments individually as I would have liked to. Please know I am reading them all and am thankful for each one of your thoughts and perspectives on these issues. May God be praised!
What do you mean being a wife and mom keeps you busy?! *big smile* We are so greatful when you do get the chance to respond indevidually that we look for it is all. *smile* Thank you for making the time to let us know that you have had a plate full, it helps us know how to bless you in prayer. *smile* Have a lovely Friday Bambi. *smile* Sincerely, Mommy of two growing blessings & so much more!
We read this passage in our family devotions yesterday, as we are reading through the book of Genesis. We shared your post (slightly edited for the little ones…) with all our children. Thanks, Bambi.