Am I Negative?

I am by nature an optimist. I have been criticized, by some, for being too positive. I do indeed think that sin is negative and salvation positive. So call me positive, if you like. But I’m negative, too. Right now, I’m scared. I’m sacred of where we are, where we’re headed, scared of what will be the problems faced by my grandchildren and yours.

There’s a reason why God reported, “Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12). It argues that wrong tendencies should be carefully noted and avoided. Lot’s problems were confounded greatly by this simple move in the wrong direction. We are moving in a direction in this country that is not so noticeable, but very dangerous—perhaps even disastrous.

Language is a part of whom and what we are. It plays a vital role in our culture. It is astounding what has happened to our language in this age. Just in my lifetime, I’ve seen dramatic changes in what is acceptable spoken language, a calamitous turn in the lyrics in our music, a ruinous change in our everyday use of words. At one time the FCC would padlock a radio station’s door, without a trial, for just one simple, off-color remark or even an inadvertent curse word such as are routinely heard in today’s broadcasting.

Filthy language is everywhere. Even the children’s TV programs are filled with inappropriate humor and inadvisable innuendos. I occasionally hear it from 5-year olds at the grocery store. All you need do is to listen when they drop something—you’ll get an earful. Is there no shame any longer? Are parents teaching their children about the use of profanity?  How long since you saw someone blush? We’ve forgotten to be embarrassed about sin. Let’s read Isaiah 59:1-4, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity, your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.”