Movies like "Fiddler on the Roof", one of my all time favorite musicals, gives us a peek at life in the old country when daughters came with dowries and matchmakers arranged the best marriage deals to satisfy all parties involved. I used to think it was quaint and a sad sort of thing. But now that I have children, I'm beginning to think that hand-picking their spouse myself would be the perfect solution. (Don't worry guys, a mom can dream, can't she?)
I just say that because as I look around, I see Jesus' words coming true today more than ever, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Christian moms, be aware, the world is encroaching on the values that we think we are instilling in our young ones, sinking their roots into them like crabgrass. It makes you want to put them in a sealed space-pod and shoot them into the stratosphere until you find the perfect mate for them so they can avoid any more contamination. But of course, no one wants to be "set up" by their elders any more, no one wants to have anyone meddling in their romantic affairs because it's just not done and it is so very, very, very uncool.
It's so uncool that a movie last summer became a sleeper hit of the season, "(500) Days of Summer". A guy likes a girl, a lot. He thinks she's "the one." Girl likes guy but hates commitment. Girl flirts, makes sexual overtures, eventually sleeps with and practically moves in with the guy but insists that they are not a "couple." Girl gets offended when he tries to defend her honor as if he has the right to think she's his girlfriend. Guy is in love, girl treats him like trash, but says she really likes him. Stupid guy keeps obsessing about stupid girl. The end.
Hate to spoil it, but that's the movie in a nutshell. There have been other movies with this sort of message, but few have tried to pretend to be so profound as if they were revealing deep truths about life and love. and millions of people eager to swallow these "truths" paid $60,000,000 at the box office to make it a huge hit.
But there are certain boundaries that were set in place by God, certain age-old truths about relationships that can't be undone just by the fashion of the day. Girls who flirt and make sensual comments boost a guy's ego, while they degrade themselves in the process. Wanting to have a boyfriend while having close "guy friends" at the same time undermines trust and proves that they have no idea what a blessing true commitment is.
But you as a mom say, "But that's just kids these days. This is a different culture." Yeah, but God doesn't change, and the evil nature of humanity doesn't either. Don't let the pleas of your daughter to wear revealing clothes, to speak too suggestively to the men she knows, to constantly text and call and throw herself at guys with the excuse that they're "just friends," fool you. Be the mean one for the moment and say no. You need to realize that it's time to make some big changes before it's too late.
Christian girls are encouraged to think that they can mix the secular values they find in school and on the screen with their faith. Maybe they'll won't loose their virginity before marriage, but they sure do enjoy being a tease. And when they see other young women trying to live a life of purity and integrity, they'll say, "Good for you!" and then laugh at them behind their back because they're such bores. Wake up and see that the sweet darlings that you thought were such nice church-going girls, have their hearts set on indulging their emotions. Don't think for a moment that she would never be so false; the influence of this world is too much for anyone who doesn't have an uncompromising faith. How do you change the desires of her heart? Only God can do that, but there are steps you can take to lead her in the right direction. Stay tuned for more.
Meanwhile I'll be in my workshop constructing those space-pods...
