Two university studies have unearthed two alarming yet inter-related facts. “Boys who grow up without a father are twice as likely to be jailed later in life as boys who grow up with their dad. Boys who grow up with a stepfather are three times more likely to be incarcerated.”[1] The second area of investigation revealed that couples who live together before marriage are 48% more likely to get divorced than those who do not. Also, living together almost doubles the risk of wife-battering and child abuse. Unmarried couples also register lower “happiness levels” than married couples.[2] So, singleness and remarriage are the causes of delinquency in male teenage children and unmarried couples fair far worse than married couples.
This is a solemn and sobering revelation, but the Bible knew all about it centuries ago. It teaches about family values and the necessity of marriage for life, especially for our children. Modern lifestyle applauds singleness, single parent families, mocks fidelity and scorns virgins who refuse sex before marriage, but God didn’t set laws in motion to amuse himself, but to benefit mankind. Whatever he rules is for our ultimate benefit.
Those people who say that they stayed together for their children did a wise thing. It prevented their offspring developing criminal tendencies. If our modern young people would take advice from past generation Christians, and not count them as old fogies, it would hold them in good stead. The more we learn in the secular world the more we find that biblical standards are not only valid but health imparting.
When couples intending to get married visit me I take them through a booklet I have had printed. I cover the various aspects of marriage with the last chapter dealing with sex in marriage. As I introduce this subject quite often a deadly hush settles on the room, and I am convinced that they are convinced that they know more about the subject than I do – they may be right. But pre-marital intercourse is called fornication and after marriage adultery, both carry God’s displeasure and curse. Such teaching today is absent from many pulpits, as it is on heaven, hell and the second coming.
Recently a preacher on Premier Radio said that the last generation biblical text was “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) whereas today it is; “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1). Political correctness is the order of the day. A speaker on Radio 4 recently said that those churches that preach a black and white standard are those that are full, although I am sure there will be those who huff and puff about the expression “black and white” well, let them!
Someone said to me a few years ago “your preaching has changed, you seem more confrontational; you will preach HICC either full or empty” – it wasn’t empty last time I was there! It is certain that I do not intend to be politically correct for the fear of man brings a snare. One thing is sure, those who do not compromise the eternal and divine truth will eventually suffer persecution, but will always have an audience.
Now I am 80 I can look back 60 years on developing trends in preaching and notice an absence of life changing teaching and a reduction in biblical exposition. Six decades of experience in spiritual matters have only reinforced the accuracy of God’s word, and the value of keeping those written statutes. “All things work together for good” says the word, “for those who are called of God.” Our calling through the living word can only lead to the eternal blessing of future bliss. The materialistic humanistic people of today have nothing to look forward to, but we Christians know that death is the door to life. Impatience circles the globe and generates excess that leads to dissipation. The failures of history are being repeated with similar results and unavoidable consequences. Britain was at its highest in world influence when the Bible was a core element in life, now the world brushes past us and we are unnoticed. As it says: Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!” [Hos 4:17]. To be ignored by God is fatal.
[1] Article in the New Scientist
[2] Article in the Daily Telegraph dated February 3rd page 15 by David
