Do What’s Right
The discussion over at MInTheGap about the ‘Plan B’ has me thinking about much more than just that issue. As I said in a comment over there, it saddens me that people just don’t seem to want to do what’s right.
Now I know we all have our own set of standards and morals. But generally if you are a Believer, your desire should be to serve God and use His word as a guidebook. If you are not a Believer, you may or may not have grown up with a set of standards and morals.
What bothers me is that the distance between the two listed above is growing greater and greater. Fifty years ago, everyone seemed to have a better understanding of ‘right and wrong’ and practiced it. I’m going to list a few things that most everyone understood the same way.
1) Sex was for married people and married people were a man and a woman. If you had sex outside of marriage, there was shame in it. If two people of the same gender had sex, there was shame in it. Yes, I know that people have been having sex outside of marriage since sin began in the Garden of Eden. I know there has been homosexuality. But…there used to be shame in both.
2)There used to be shame to have an abortion. Before abortion was made ‘legal’ women would ’stay under cover’ to have an abortion.
3)There used to be shame in going out and getting drunk and partying. IF you did it, there was an embarrasment to it. Today it’s something to brag about. As if losing all self-control and spending ridiculous amounts of money on drinks is something to be proud of.
4) Dressing inappropriately for ANY occasion used to be an embarrassment. You didn’t go to the store in your pajamas, you didn’t flaunt all your attributes for everyone to see and if you went to church, you dressed for the occasion. It wasn’t a huge effort…it was just what you did.
These are just a few things that come to my mind when I think of how much things have changed…and it is NOT for the better. With each of the things I mentioned, there is no shame anymore. With that lack of shame has come a selfishness, an arrogance and even bitterness in most people. An attitude of ‘not doing what is right’. Let’s list those four items again, but put today’s twist on it.
1) It’s fun to have sex outside of marriage; it’s my right, it’s my body, I’m an adult. I was born to be a homosexual; it’s my right, it’s my body, I’m an adult. Note the selfish attitude taken and the arrogance. The bitterness comes after a time with the attacking of other people that don’t have the same beliefs or agree with them.
2)I want to have sex even though I’m not married, if I get pregnant I can have an abortion or even take Plan B in case I messed up. I’m an adult, it’s my body. If I’m raped, I have both options because I don’t want to ’see through’ something that I didn’t start or ask for. That wouldn’t be fair to me! Note the selfish attitude taken and the arrogance. Again, over time there will be bitterness and a justification of what they’ve done.
3)I like to drink and party. I have fun with my friends and they all like it too. I’m an adult, it’s my body, it’s my money. Note the selfishness again and the arrogance. But, sometimes in this case, it can lead back to the first to items: sex outside of marriage and abortion. And, it can also lead to death becasue of drunk driving. Talk about bitterness!
4)I like showing off my body. I like wearing whatever I feel like whenever I feel like it. No one is going to restrict my individuality by telling me what to wear. I express myself this way. Panty hose are uncomfortable and I hate to wear a dress, the same with a suit or sport coat. I should be able to do whatever makes me comfortable. Again note the…you get the picture.
If I went back and boldfaced all the ME times in this post, we would see nothing else. We have become a ME society.
What about doing what is right? What so many people knew was right just a few years ago when you think about it?
1)I’m going to wait to have sex until I’m married. I’m going to have sex with the gender God designed my body to have sex with.
2)If I become pregnant and it’s not convenient or I’m not ready or I was raped…I will still have the baby and see it through. So many people want to adopt. What is nine months out of my life for a lifetime for someone else? I’ve been pregnant six times…I know what is invested!
3) Why waste all that time and money on acting like an idiot? If you want to have fun there are so many activities to do. And you don’t have to regret your actions of the night before!
4) Do what is right. Put a little effort into your appearance. Put on clothes before going to the store. Show respect for God by dressing for church, show others at church that it is an important day for you. NO ONE wants to go anywhere and see others looking like slobs…unless they’re looking for someone to laugh at.
So…come on! Do What’s Right! Be the first of the people around you to take responsibility for your actions.
