Thursday, July 06, 2006
MORALS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR LORD GOD
Today's discussion at my Journey Church LIFE group brought out a long held concern of mine. Something that has developed with the time that has passed since I was a teenager. Society's morals are seemingly in continuous decline. Tonight I watched a fascinating interview by noted FOX News stalwart, Bill O'Reilly....who himself has faced dillema's of moral preponderance.(If you don't know...he was once accused of the sexual harrasment of one of his female producer/staffers)....He and noted 21st century dating and relationships columnist April Masini discussed the disturbing trend among today's young women....It does appear either the self-esteem of many young American women has perhaps been inhibited by an ever-growing need for acceptance by a society that continues to look at sex now as "casually acceptable." April Masini, author of "Think & Date Like a Man," says part of the reason for the change is that the women's liberation movement, for better or worse, has changed the meaning of what a marriage is.
"It used to be seen as women were not giving anything up when they got married; they were gaining a husband," Masini said. "But now it's seen as their last hurrah because they're giving up their single life instead."
Masini, who offers dating advice on her Web site "AskApril.com", says as gender roles have equalized in the minds of many Americans, women feel more comfortable acting up. But what about the guys?
"I think that men have become more conservative than women," Masini said. "I can tell you just from questions I get on my site there are more women having affairs than men and there are more men getting dumped by women. ... Women have less reasons to get married or remain in a marriage than they ever did before."
A 2005 "WeddingChannel.com" survey revealed that 55 percent of brides-to-be said the tone of their bachelorette parties was "girls gone wild." Almost half said their parties went on for more than a single evening.
Casting all these statistics aside....I am concerned we are not providing the proper role models...male or female....as our parents/elders used to do for many of us....and that if things do not shape up....our relationships/consideration for one another is going to eventually dry up as well. Many are simply coming from a background that simply does not have a consideration going for them in their home country.(Many in the Somalian culture can be used as an example for this...especially with the continuing rise of stories of violence involving those that fled from the clans there)....My hope continues to be that our churches can continue and reach out into these communities and show a compassion and ability to communicate a non-judgemental love.....regardless of our impatience or candor towards them due to fear or unknowing. I, myself...want to become a role model in this regard...but with no one to follow...am finding it very difficult to begin such a tremendous undertaking.
"It used to be seen as women were not giving anything up when they got married; they were gaining a husband," Masini said. "But now it's seen as their last hurrah because they're giving up their single life instead."
Masini, who offers dating advice on her Web site "AskApril.com", says as gender roles have equalized in the minds of many Americans, women feel more comfortable acting up. But what about the guys?
"I think that men have become more conservative than women," Masini said. "I can tell you just from questions I get on my site there are more women having affairs than men and there are more men getting dumped by women. ... Women have less reasons to get married or remain in a marriage than they ever did before."
A 2005 "WeddingChannel.com" survey revealed that 55 percent of brides-to-be said the tone of their bachelorette parties was "girls gone wild." Almost half said their parties went on for more than a single evening.
Casting all these statistics aside....I am concerned we are not providing the proper role models...male or female....as our parents/elders used to do for many of us....and that if things do not shape up....our relationships/consideration for one another is going to eventually dry up as well. Many are simply coming from a background that simply does not have a consideration going for them in their home country.(Many in the Somalian culture can be used as an example for this...especially with the continuing rise of stories of violence involving those that fled from the clans there)....My hope continues to be that our churches can continue and reach out into these communities and show a compassion and ability to communicate a non-judgemental love.....regardless of our impatience or candor towards them due to fear or unknowing. I, myself...want to become a role model in this regard...but with no one to follow...am finding it very difficult to begin such a tremendous undertaking.
