The people in charge of popular media in our society have become very creative in describing and depicting abominable acts in ways that make them seem respectable.By doing so, they hope to bring tolerance, acceptance, and participation to behaviors that should never be condoned in a decent and godly society.Through television, newspapers, books, movies, and the internet, deceiving and influential messages are spread from the few people in charge of these media to the masses of our population from coast to coast.
Consider a few examples.(1) Unmarried persons who live together are said to cohabitate.This harmless sounding description takes our attention away from the fact of their sinfulness and fornication.Instead, it simply describes two people who happen to live in the same home.In truth, this is far from an innocent arrangement.(2) Homosexuals are described as gay, as if to imply that they are unusually happy.This is a far cry from the Bible’s description of degrading, unnatural, and indecent passions (Rom. 1:26-28).The truth is that there is nothing happy about their conduct.(3) Pornography is called “adult entertainment,” as if it is simply a pastime for persons who are highly mature.Meanwhile, it is destroying marriages and families, and there is nothing entertaining or mature about that.
The fearful truth is that these attempts to redefine blatantly sinful practices as morally acceptable are very effective.More and more people are not only tolerating and accepting such behavior, but also they are participating in them.The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that the number of opposite-sex couples who lived together (“cohabitated”) was 6.4 million in 2007 (10% of all couples).Thirty years ago, that number was less than one million.The Census Bureau also reported that there were 776,943 homosexual couples living in the U.S. in 2005 (the total number of homosexual individuals was 8.8 million).This number increased by 20% from 2001.Regarding pornography, Family Safe Media reports that the industry’s revenues in the U.S. increased by $710 million from 2005 to 2006.Their total revenues in the U.S. were $13.33 billion (for perspective, this total exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC).These increasing trends are indicative of how effective the messages of popular media have been.
There is nothing new about these methods.The enemies of God have been practicing such deception and intimidation throughout history.Isaiah announced the condemnation of such deceivers: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5:20).Those who practice such deception do not only call evil good, but they also condemn others who refuse to embrace their wickedness.Righteous persons who speak out against evil are labeled as prudes, “homophobes,” and bigots.Thus, those who are truly good are depicted as the villains in society, and morality is turned upside-down.
Therefore, let us be aware of these methods with their effects, and let us be on guard against them.Many times, such messages are very subtle.They tend to gradually increase in explicitness rather than being sudden and strong.As these lies seep into the culture and grow in popularity, we must not be swayed or intimidated.Regardless of popular opinion, the truth is still the truth.“Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.” (Rom. 3:4) The popular media may convince many with their deceit, but they cannot change the truth. Regardless of how anyone chooses to describe wickedness, it is still evil.Do not be deceived.Do not tolerate their lies.Do not accept their false messages in contradiction to God’s word.“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.” (Eph. 5:11-12)Call it like it is – good is still good, and evil is still evil.
