Marriage Is a Joke Now
If you are at all observant, you have noted a change in attitude toward marriage in this country. The change is anything but subtle; it is overt and defiant. The sacred, God-ordained relationship between man and woman (Gen. 2:22-24) has been cheapened beyond imagination. For the benefit of our young people, I wish to note some things that are happening which are leading to the destruction of the divine institution of marriage. Would you please be certain that your children and grandchildren read this?
A Joke?
When I was just a young man in high school and college, the marital messes of Hollywood were cited by preachers of all religions as examples of the decline of marriage as God intended it to be. Particularly, the multiple marriages of Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney were used to sound a warning on Hollywood’s influence in the destruction of the marriage relationship. Apparently, few people listened, because we have seen divorce and re-marriage statistics skyrocketing for several decades now. Today, half of all marriages end in divorce.
Is this funny? Apparently. The Akron Beacon Journal (01-14-01) printed a “Porter’s People” column on the 82nd birthday of actor Mickey Rooney. The column quotes some of Rooney’s statements regarding marriage:
If I don’t make this one last there’s something wrong with me (Marriage #4, 1949).
This one is for keeps. We’re really in love (Marriage #5, 1952).
The perfect end to an imperfect journey (Marriage #6, 1959).
It’s unimportant how many times a person is married. We don’t think in chronological numbers. Margie’s my wife and we’re sure this is a good one (Marriage #7, 1966).
At last I’ve found the real one (Marriage #8, 1975).
His previous wives just didn’t understand him (January Chamberlain, 25, Mrs. Mickey Rooney #9).
Yes, Hollywood has succeeded in turning the sanctity of marriage into a joke. More people are amused at such adulterous sin than are disturbed by it.
World Leaders Haven’t Helped Either
Do you remember the infidelity of Jimmy Swaggart? He was one of the earlier television preachers. He was caught in an adulterous relationship with a prostitute and disgraced himself, succumbing to public humiliation. His ministry collapsed, and he is scarcely heard from anymore. If you hear of him today, he is the object of ridicule.
A few weeks ago Jesse Jackson, the world-renowned preacher, politician, and civil rights activist confessed he had fathered a child in an adulterous relationship with a woman who worked for him in his organization. The “confession” came the day before The National Enquirer ran a story exposing his sinful affair. He immediately announced he was going into seclusion with his wife and five children, to regain his spirit.
Fortunately, for Jackson, that took a total of only three days! He is already back in the limelight, but unlike Swaggart, Jackson is not disgraced in the eyes of the media or the public. How do you explain the difference in the fates of these two well-known preachers? There are several possibilities.
1. Swaggart was a fire-breathing, conservative preacher who often spoke against such sins.
2. Media prejudice toward conservatism is a major contributor to the difference.
3. Media protection of the vices of liberals in every field of endeavor is too obvious to miss.
4. Changes in the public mind toward marriage is a major explanation for the difference. The devil has gained another victory by destroying respect for the sanctity of marriage in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Just A Reminder: God’s Law Hasn’t Changed
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man (Rom. 7:2-3).
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery (Matt. 19:9).
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge (Heb. 13:4).
Young folks, these Scriptures are true of preachers, politicians, even neighbors and friends. Do not listen to the lie of the Devil!
Shocking!
The Akron Beacon Journal (01-19-01) in an article about the adultery of Jesse Jackson, reported an absolutely startling statistic. The information comes from a Baltimore psychologist, Shirley Glass, identified as a “national expert on infidelity.” (Now, don’t ask me how a person becomes an “expert on infidelity.” I can think of at least one way, but I rather doubt that’s how it happens.)
Anyway, Glass reports that “about 40 percent of married men and up to a third of married women will likely have an extramarital affair at some point.” Tell me it’s not so! Surely she has to be wrong. If she is right, then 40 percent of married men, and up to a third of married women, are committing the sin of adultery. The Bible says adulterers will not go to Heaven! (Gal. 5:19-21). Parents, you had better live right yourselves if you expect your children to act differently than the sinners described by Mrs. Glass.
Lewis Willis, 491 E. Woodsdale, Akron, Ohio 44301 lwillis100@aol.com
Truth
Magazine Vol. XLV: 8 p12
April 19,
2001