That is a subtle, but
definite point R. Emmet Tyrrell, Jr. makes in the article at this link. Until the coming of
age of the Baby Boomer generation, the United States was characterized by what
Albert Mohler calls "Cultural Protestantism." That is the idea that,
although the majority of Americans were not necessarily true Christians, their
ethics and conduct were very much in line with what protestant Christianity teaches.
Society until then, was mostly tolerant of religious views and considered them
good for its progress and wellbeing.
That all changed with
the "rock and roll culture" of the 1960's. The sexual revolution, the
increase in drug use, the female liberation movement among others, thrust our
nation into uncharted territory. Our society was little prepared to withstand
the assault that the generation coming of age during that decade would submit
it to. Institutions struggled to understand why the young had become seemingly
unhinged and unmoored from its moral foundations. In the proverbial blink of an
eye, we had gone from the "Greatest Generation" to the “Me”
generation and all that came with it.
We can certainly debate
why this radical change took place. The Great Depression and World War II
certainly had their effects on the generation that came of age during those
struggles. But the issue at hand for us is how much farther we can stray from
our foundational values before our society suffers a complete collapse. Once
the acorn falls from the tree and begins to roll, it will naturally keep
rolling until it is stopped by a greater force. And when those who become
untethered from morality in turn have children, it will not be surprising to
see those children become even more divorced from what the nation once stood
for.
Thus, we arrive at our
present day. America is witnessing the increasing 'infantilization' of its
society as parents abdicate their responsibilities as the moral guides for
their children and instead seek to raise them as the most important creatures
ever. Young parents are terrified that their children will be displeased by
anything and go out of their way to ensure that the little creature understands
that he is at the center of their universe, a fact that would very much
displease Galileo. This could be seen in bold relief in an article I read
recently where the mother speaks of her 7 year old son as a "girl."
And why does she do that? Because when he was three, he expressed a desire to
wear a tutu and act like a girl. According to this mother, in her home children
are always told "yes" regardless of how ridiculous the child's
request may be. Hence, we have a boy who believes himself to be a girl because
his mother did not have the moral fortitude to tell him "No!"
Just where is all this
going to lead? Romans 1 tells us what happens to a society when God gives it up
to its sin. When you read the catalog of sins a society becomes known for once
God abandons it, you'll be quick to recognize the sexual immorality that
American life has become known for. The homosexual revolution is now devolving
into a transgender one. Pedophilia is now beginning to be spoken of in some
quarters as something that just may be respectable. And on and on it goes. What
was once condemned is now celebrated; what was once celebrated is now
condemned.
Fortunately for those of
us who call ourselves Reformed Christians, God is always in command. There are
some who despair believing that God does not control the events of history. To
them He is no more than a benevolent grandfather who wants to help, but is
helpless in the face of so much evil. Or like someone recently wrote "evil
just happens." No particular reason and no particular purpose. Thank the
Lord that the Bible knows nothing of such a God. Isaiah records for us the
words of the Almighty as He declares that "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and
create evil: I the LORD do all these things" (Isaiah
45:7). And in that, we can take complete comfort!
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