My society
By Erik Farstad
March 13, 1998
"...everyone who looks to the Son and believes shall have eternal life..." John 6:40
A reader asks: How well do you feel you belong to society?
The first thing I need to do is define society, in my opinion. My definition will determine how "well" I fit into it. Society is made up from a bunch of different people, with different views, beliefs and lifestyles. My belief in Jesus Christ puts me in the minority of society. I believe society, or rather the views of society, has changed over time.
The bulk of the changes started in the early 1960’s, when America underwent a series of radical cultural changes. The civil rights movement, the flower child evolution and the rejection of established order, began the seeking of a new brand of freedom...one’s own! Freedom from all forms of doctrine, responsibility and especially God. Now there were good things that happened in the 60’s and beyond and some terrible events as well. What began in the 60’s was the major societal change from God to hedonism. This "if I like it it’s good for me" is not a new way of thought, it’s happened since the beginning of time.
The problem, that I see, is now it has crept it’s way into our government, our laws and is the majority of thought by society. If you doubt what I am saying here, go sit in a elementary school classroom sometime. Schools are becoming psycho-centers, where personalities are shaped rather than minds educated. Children are taught to think independently, which is good, but they are also taught that there is no right or wrong, just "what’s good at the moment". How far will society go, if everyone can do anything they like just because it feels good, they like it or they want it? Let me give you an example of how far we ALREADY have gone: It is a crime to rape a man/women because you do not have consent of the other person. Both parties need to agree on the action. But it is not a crime to have an abortion in this country. The living child does not have a say in whether he/she wants to live or not, yet millions of babies die each year legally! Will rape one day become legal, like abortion, just because one person wanted to do it? Of course not. What I ask you, is there a difference between rape and abortion. I say no, but our society and our laws say there is. That discrepancy scares me. I pray my children do not grow up in a society where rape is legalized based on the abortion law mentality of (non)mutual consent.
My society is filled with things I love and despise. I love being able to interact with such a wide variety of God’s creation, people. I love to fellowship with God’s children, believers in Jesus Christ. You’ve already been given an idea of what I despise. So how well do I fit in? Well, in all honesty I hope I never do and don’t want others to see me as ‘fitting in’ with society. I want to live differently, believe differently and represent Christ at all costs. My true society is waiting for me in Heaven. By being different than society, I hope others will see my joy for life in a lifeless world. My joy comes from Christ and is free for anyone who wishes to call on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If I do fit into society, I hope and pray it’s fitting for Jesus Christ my Lord!
In Him, "E"