Now, according to one of our comedians of the past...
'If you nose runs and your feet smell... you were born upside down!'
But in all seriousness, if my grandparents were catapulted into the world of today then I'm sure they would wonder if they had been 'born' upside down! After all, so many of the attitudes and values which they would have considered non-negotiable are not only questioned today but are being turned on their heads... some even in my own lifetime.
For example, back in February 1965 Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders took 'The Game of Love' to number 2 in the UK singles chart, the opening words of which are...
'The purpose of a man is to love a woman, and the purpose of a woman
is to love a man.'
Now, I ask you, can you imagine a song with such lyrics being written, performed, distributed and sold in sufficient quantities today as to reach number 2 in the charts?
CONDONING AND LEGITIMISING
On the other hand, could my grandparents imagine a society condoning and legitimising the establishing of a 'safe consumption room' for addicts to be 'helped' to engage in illegal drug-taking? OK this hasn't happened yet, but don't worry, it's on its way... even when it's well known that there's no 'safe' way to take illegal drugs.
Or could they imagine a Headteacher being prevented by law from disclosing to the parents of a child that at school they're self-identifying as the opposite sex! After all, it's a well established fact that it's always in the best interests of a child for the home and school to work together in open, honest partnership! Whatever happened to loco parentis?
Or could they imagine it actually being illegal to stand on a pavement outside an abortion clinic to simply pray for those engaged in the 'lawful' practice of killing unborn babies?
Or how would they feel if their children were urged by their Care Home to have them considered for euthanasia. 'After all, they're not contributing much to the common good, their quality of life is poor and just think of how much money you'd save in future Care Home fees'. (Yes, this is already happening in other so-called 'civilised' societies.)
I'm sure my grandparents would have been shocked to see just how far we as a society have drifted from basic Christian principles, and would ask, 'How did all this happen?'
PROMOTING AND CELEBRATING
Well, let me suggest just how easily this kind of thing develops. I'm not sure who wrote the following but it sums up the downward spiral of which many of us are aware, yet feel pretty powerless to do anything to stop...
'First we overlook evil. Then we permit evil. Then we legalise evil.
Then we promote evil. Then we celebrate evil.
And then finally we persecute those who still call evil, evil!'
And it's against this developing societal backdrop that God's warning is crystal clear...
'Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.'
Isaiah 5:20-21
Sadly, so many fail to realise that...
'It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.'
Hebrews10:32...
