[294 words]
William Barclay, in his commentary on Thessalonians, states that during the period of the Roman Republic, the Romans had not a single divorce for a 520-year period. However, as they moved away from the Republic into more of a socialistic empire, things began to change. Although they had previously conquered the Greeks militarily, the Greeks “Grecianized” the Romans in terms of morality. The fornication, homosexuality, and related sins of Corinth are an indication of this Grecianization in the first century.
Similarly, the American Republic has also moved further and further away from personal responsibility toward more collectivism—arrangements whereby we are subject to many more laws, regulations, institutions, and bureaus designed to do what was previously done by individuals. We are now suffering the same dissolution as did ancient Rome: our morals, our patriotism, our self-esteem, our productivity, and, of course, our homes have deteriorated.
There is little that individuals can do to change a major tide of history, but we can form our families and our characters according to the ancient standards of God, as recorded in the Bible. We do not have to go along with the crowd. We do not have to salivate like Pavlov’s pups simply because the culture in which we live rings a bell of conformity. We can resist the fornication lies indolence, and dishonesty around us. We can form marriages with like-minded Christian people and live faithfully ever after. We can nurture our children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.
Of course, as Lot could tell you, it’s difficult to keep our family standards intact in Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet, it’s not impossible. Remember, “He that is in us is greater than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Bert Mercer
Parkway church of Christ
Fulton, KY