Shifting sands of culture

Ever thought about the classic rock that we listen to now was so evil back in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s when it came out? Now folks are reminiscing about how they wish all the “good” music would come back and not this drivel that is being passed around today.

And the TV’s shows from back then….I wasn’t allowed to watch The Smothers Brothers or Laugh In or Sonny and Cher because they were to racy or controversial. They would be pretty tame today.

Interesting how society’s values have changed. We have spent so much time pushing the envelope that it seems like the envelope has been stretched so far it cannot return to its original shape. Like a rubber band stretched too far, it becomes unable to serve as it was formed. Has our society pushed things so far that we have a hard time setting boundaries and knowing right and wrong and everything is relative?

I think that there are moral absolutes, but boy is it hard having that conversation with others. I remember listening to teens in our church youth group several years ago talk about how it was ok to cheat (creatively respond) on homework and exams in order to get better grades to get the scholarships to let them get a better education to allow them to serve God better. Really? That’s how that works? And these were kids raised in the church with parents in positions of leadership, who should know better. You try to discuss the odd juxtaposition of thoughts and they didn’t get it.  But it isn’t just teens. Remember a few years back when a school district in the south was caught tampering with standardized tests to raise their scores to allow the schools to qualify for more federal aid?  They justified doing what was wrong in order to better serve the community at doing something good for the students. These were educated people, people in places of responsibility and authority in the schools. How do you have a rationale discussion with people that these things are really crossing the line and are not to be accepted?

It’s interesting how far people will go to justify that what they know is wrong, is actually ok in that it helps them. Isn’t that kind of like “the ends justify the means”? And I have heard churches say that they must change to meet the changing needs of the community and the changing expectations of those who are unsaved. I understand that. Paul said that he would be all things to able to save some (loose translation of I Cor. 9:22). But I think that means finding ways to fit into the culture to make Christ relevant without compromising the integrity of the Gospel. He did not mean intentionally sinning in order to save some. Just as Jesus used parables that the people could understand, Paul is saying we must be as relevant with our testimony to those who don’t understand all the buzzwords and coded acronyms that we toss around so freely in the church.

 Just thinking that while other standards may change, our standards and convictions related to Christ and the church should not, cannot change.

What do you think? Am I too “old school”?