I Am a Father

I can’t ignore it.  I was told that there are far more important things that we need to talk about other than the disgusting display of Miley Cyrus on the awards show.  It came to my attention while watching the news and what I saw absolutely floored me at first that the news would consider it important enough to talk about over many of the more important.  I was becoming irate that this type of behavior was considered “news”.  As I waited for them to hurry through the dialogues I heard the voice of my two young daughters in the other room.  My heart sunk.  I can’t ignore it.  I can’t ignore it because as a Christian the moral values of America is important.  The Christian church is the last line of defense for moral values in America.  If Christians refuse to stand, then moral degeneration shall occur.  So many of our moral values have already been trampled on by print, media, and social networks.  It used to be that what happens in the privacy of one’s own home stays in the home but the ease of social networking has brought what was once cherished as intimate, cherished, and private to the forefront.  Instead of enjoying the wonderful events of a family or sharing in wonderful news, we spend more time deleting vulgarities and scantily clad pics in seductive poses or showing off their newest tats.  This is the world my children are growing up in.  I can’t ignore it because as a father, I find it all too important to ensure that my children are taught wholesome values.  God gave me these children.  I am a steward for these children.  I am responsible for the things that I allow into my children’s lives.  I can’t let the Miley Cyruses and the Justin Beibers of this world be allowed into my home.  Not while their young minds can be so easily shaped by the things they see or hear.  Not while they continue to be called "wholesome entertainment" yet their despicable acts of rebellion and selfishness and disrespect are on full display.  I can’t ignore it.  As a pastor, I have a duty to take a stand for what is right.  I have a duty to stand against sin.  I have a duty to cry aloud as said in Isaiah “Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1).  The moral value of America is shrinking at an alarming rate because we have stopped raising our voices at the moral undressing of America.  Maybe because we are fearful of offending people.  Maybe because we just want to climb into our shell and say God will take care of them, it is not my problem.  But in doing so, you would be forced to ignore Ezekiel 3:20 - Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.  Yes, God will take care of them but God will also hold us accountable for ignoring it or keeping it.  I can’t ignore it.  As an American, this should not be reflective of who America is.  We cannot allow Hollywood shape the image of America or even the world for that matter.  The spiritual battle rages on so many fronts.  From personal, to the home, to the church, to the country and to the world.  Acts like these are only a small part of a larger scale of assault against moral values in society today.  My daughters are laughing now.  I need to go pick them up and hold them close to me.  I can’t ignore it.  I need to teach them.  I need to love them.  I need to raise them….all in accordance to God’s Word.