Part 7: Today's Questions and Problems
All are horrified by the rising count of deaths among our young from suicide, shootings, knifings, clubbing and other assaults. This body count is clearly caused by a general decline of morality in our country.
Just a week after the Littleton, Colorado high school shootings in April of 1999, a nine-year-old boy in a distant state drew a picture of a gun and showed it to his elementary-school teacher. The school's principal suspended the boy for a day. When the boy's mother protested, the child was suspended permanently. This kind of action taken against an immature child is extreme. It shows how badly America's sense of justice and propriety has been warped during the last two decades. School shootings are relatively modern occurrences. They were unknown during the country's extreme stress of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Firearms were glorified during such times by the nation's efforts and victories. Too, the possession of guns for self-protection and sport has long been and remains widespread.
Although guns make a massacre easier and bloodier it seems clear that something other than these encourage such crimes.
Do these outrages originate from failures to teach moral codes of behavior by parents and/or schools? A teenager can have an abortion, obtain condoms and have it suggested to them in school that pre-marital sexual intercourse is okay. But if a student or teacher brings a Bible through the school doors they are instantly suspended.
The removal of displays of the Ten Commandments from the schools has apparently resulted in a host of problems for our youth. The Traditional Values Coalition demonstrates rapid changes regarding our young since 1963 when Bible teaching in the schools was banned. Some of these are: SAT Scores down 10%; Teen arrests up 150%; Teen suicide up 450%; Illegal drug use up 6,000%; Births to unmarried girls, 15 to 19 year old, up 500%.
These changes, beginning at about 1960, grow from a widespread decline of morality within western society. Primary among these is parental divorce. The growing sense of independence, the focus on personal “rights” and the requirement for “fairness” causes divorce. These demonstrate growing selfishness. It is the children of divorce and of unmarried sex that are the most likely to engage in violent crimes. These children, in turn, tend to produce children who are more likely to engage in violence and other antisocial behaviors. These have been called "Children Without Souls" and "Super Predators." As these children grow and mature crime rates that will make even today's statistics seem tame will likely appear. Is it coincidence alone that church attendance and moral teaching in the homes and schools have almost disappeared in certain areas of Western society?
Too, our justice system releases convicted murders and rapists, especially juveniles, back into society where they very often return to comparable criminal activity. Most convicted criminals will be returned to prison for crimes similar or of greater violence than that of their initial conviction.
What can we do about these situations? We can personally instruct our children and ourselves to be well oriented in morals and Godly principles. Attend church often, as a family, and study the Bible together. Be sure that the teachings in church are in accord with New Testament doctrine. We cannot teach moral or religious thought unless we, ourselves, follow valid teachings. Worthy examples are the best teachers.
Many of today’s churches fail to closely follow scripture. Select a church carefully. Use more care than when looking for a new doctor or a dentist. The Bible teaches us in Ephesians, Chapter 4, Verses 4 thru 6 that:
There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians, Chapter 4, Verses 4 through 6, read above, tells that there is but one faith satisfactory to God, not many faiths. We must worship God to please Him and not necessarily to please ourselves.
With our very important gain of moral principles through Bible study, we should also petition our political leaders to prevent, change or revoke foolish, improper or counter-productive laws. But to know what is foolish and what is needed we must be well informed through broad study. This study most certainly should devalue political campaign promises or statements. Then, better knowing the economic and political situations, Christians can partake in efforts to change harmful laws and court decisions. This will help to reduce our country's count of fatalities from violence.
We ask that you prove to yourself that these teachings are true through careful study of your own Bible at home.