The End of the World as we Know it
Okay, so this came out last month. I just found out about it. An article in the Atlantic asks, "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?" Now, I have to warn, such a question borders on heresy, on bigotry, on hate, even, doesn't it? I mean, aren't smartphones the best thing since sliced bread? (Sorry, old phrase.) Look at all the benefits of social media and instant information and continuous connection! "No," the article says, "you won't believe the negative impacts on the current generation."
Statistics tell us that teen sex is on the decline, but it's not because they've wiser, better informed, or influenced by Christian values. It's because they're not getting together anymore. The article says that in 2015 only 56% of high-school seniors even went out on dates. They don't "date" anymore; they "talk", by which they mean they engage in texting usually. If they find they are more strongly drawn to the person, they may end up "liking" them, which is what we would have called "dating". They're not as inclined to be independent and not as concerned about spending time in the company of others. Their childhood is extending into high school, maturing later and later. Their smartphones and iPads are making them more and more isolated, not connected. Isolated from friends, isolated from faces, isolated from family, from sleep, even isolated, according to studies, from happiness. "All screen activities are linked to less happiness, and all nonscreen activities are linked to more happiness." At the same time, this generation is growing up with a constant connection to pornographic ideas that create impossible expectations alongside untethered morality which, in the end, will destroy sexual relationships for them entirely. The law of unintended consequences.
Double Standards, Anyone?
The Washington Times is reporting that a gay coffee shop owner evicted some folks from his shop who were there for a cup of coffee. The reason? "I'm gay; you have to go." Okay, not quite. They were a pro-life group that had been handing out pamphlets outside the shop. They stopped in to take break and get a coffee, but one of the employees told the owner what they had been doing outside (not inside) and he insisted (with ruthless profanity) that they leave. He was denying them service (according to him) because they were Christians and he was gay. Well, of course, the Washington State anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws -- those same laws that fined and put out of business the florist who asked a homosexual couple to buy their wedding flowers at a competitor's shop -- kicked right in and that gay owner has been fined ... oh ... wait ... no, it didn't. Now, why would that be so?
"Uncomfortable" is the Thing to Avoid
It is wrong, evil, unacceptable that anyone, especially children, ever be "uncomfortable". That's my takeaway from the story that Biloxi has pulled "To Kill a Mockingbird" from their school cirriculum reading list because it "makes people uncomfortable." Heaven forbid you teach kids history or about how to deal with "uncomfortable" or even "what's wrong with that book". Just avoid it. That way, the next time they feel "uncomfortable", they'll likely sue because "comfortable" is a right, right?
Can't Say I'm Surprised
As if to say, "See? We really don't care what Scripture says," Willow Creek Community Church has selected a co-ed team to replace Bill Hybels when he retires next year. "Can our congregation have a lead pastor that’s a woman?" Hybels said they asked themselves and answered, "And because this is a deeply held value in our church, we said, 'No problem.'" Female leadership is a "deeply held value" there ... as opposed to, say, what the Bible says on the subject (1 Tim 2:9-12; 1 Cor 14:32-37; 2 Tim 2:2; 1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:6; etc). To be fair, this isn't new info. The woman selected to be one of the two leaders is the current executive pastor, Heather Larson. They crossed that line a long time ago. It's just sad when "big names" wholly affirm positions opposed by Scripture and Church history, making the anti-biblical the norm.
3 comments:
The End of the World as we Know it
While I use my smart phone regularly, especially at work quite a bit given the amount of down time between duties (easier to carry than books, plus I have a variety of things I do with it during this time), I pretty much hate the darn things. But this story suggests it has done some good, if reduced teen sex and pregnancies are truly connected to their prevalence. I'd prefer it be the result of a spiritual awakening, but I'll take this for now.
On a more personal and selfish note, if smart phones also means fewer visits to my house by my daughter's friends because they find it easier to just text each other, that ain't a bad thing either. It's not that they ain't swell kids. It's just that they're kids in my house...if you know what I mean.
Double Standards, Anyone?
Of course this isn't really a double standard at all, is it? No. The bakers, florists, photographers, etc., merely rejected a specific request from people they would otherwise serve as they do any other potential customer. This coffee shop homosexual, on the other hand, was engaging in the very type of discrimination of which he accuses the bakers, florists, photographers, etc. that don't wish to use their products or talents to enable sinful behaviors. THIS is the guy that needs to be held legally accountable for hateful and discriminatory behavior of they type such laws are meant to prohibit.
"Uncomfortable" is the Thing to Avoid
Now this is a double standard. Imagine if you felt uncomfortable with, say, just about every TV show today because they all seem to have pro-homosexual content. Do you think anything would be done about it? Do you think the entertainment world or gov't entities would care that you're uncomfortable?
Not too many years ago, a high school district near me (214) had a woman (who also happened to be a customer of the company for which I worked at the time) who was, apparently, the only conservative Christian on the school board. She fought tooth and nail to have several sexually explicit books removed from the summer suggested reading list for students. Many parents who were unaware of these books were indeed uncomfortable that the school their children attended allowed them. The woman lost the fight, as I recall. But her protests made the rest of the school board and the left-leaning teachers uncomfortable.
Can't Say I'm Surprised
I live in the same town where Willow Creek is based (assuming they might have branch locations---I have no idea if they do or not). It's huge. The very definition of a "mega-church". I've met many people who attend or have attended there. I've never been. Years ago, Hank Hanegrath, "the Bible Answer Man", spoke in less than glowing terms about Hybels and his brand of Christianity. Some of those I've known who used to attend seem to validate Hanegrath's opinion. One person with whom I was a close friend for several years, and who is very devout and never has said anything that would lead me to think his beliefs were less than ideal, might possibly have said otherwise. Don't know if he still goes there.
Decreased teen sex is a good thing, but I'm not sure "decreased teen sex because they have far fewer face-to-face relationships" is. Humans are designed to be relational. Being enveloped in an insular world will not be good for that generation.
It's a double standard because it's NOT acceptable for a Christian to hold to a First Amendment guarantee, but it's PERFECTLY acceptable for a gay man to hate purely on the basis of religion and clearly NOT because of anything they had done.
Not saying it's ideal. I would prefer going back in time when only land lines were available. I hate having to be connected (I can usually leave it at home when I'm not at work, but at work....) all the time. But the reduction in teen sex goes in the benefit column since it's unlikely we'll ever be rid of cell phones short of a successful EMP attack.
I think we're saying the same thing with regard to double-standards, but from different angles. As a 1st Amendment issue, yes...double standard. As a discrimination angle, not so much given how the term is applied. The baker...against a behavior. The coffee shop dude...against the person.
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