The
Harvester
SEPTEMBER 2004 No.
225
AND LOW-RIDER
JEANS
What are little girls made of? “Sugar and spice and
everything nice” have been replaced by belly-button jewelry, super-small skirts,
and pants that reveal far too much information. These days, every other
teen-age girl at the mall is wearing her favorite pair of “I wear a size 8, but
the 6’s fit so tight, I went ahead and got the 4’s” low-rider jeans that let
her wiggle around in pride, showing off her new tattoo just above the caboose
along with the belly-button ring she bought with last week’s allowance.
From early on, our society teaches the feminine
child that body glitter and exposed cleavage are the rights of passage that will
carry her to the status of “cosmopolitan womanhood.” From the time they can
fantasize with the Barbie doll that has become progressively more lumpy over
the years, to the day she can pick up the latest “sophisticated” women’s
magazines, our daughters are slowly being pressed into a mold of destruction
and ruin.
Even underwear that only a few years ago was
considered “for adults only” is now in vogue for innocent girls at the
tenderest age. Recently, the infamous Abercrombie & Fitch porn and clothing
store began testing the limits by peddling a line of thong underwear for girls
as young as 10 or 12 years old garnished with pictures of cherries, and
suggestive words like “kiss me,” “wink wink,” and “eye candy.” When your
daughter is walking around with “kiss me” stamped on her derriere, what kind of
message do you think is being advertised?
The young men in our culture are no less targets of
the allure of “glamorous” living. Almost every break in any given televised
sports event is peppered with seductive women and carefree young men promoting
one prevailing hedonistic message. The adolescent men walk around with their
underwear hanging out all over the place, with perhaps something that might be
called a shirt. And when mom or dad complain about their son’s behavior, the
boys reaffirm their independence and personal sovereignty – then ask for twenty
bucks and the car keys.
What is the result of this permeation of sexual
marketing and anemic parenting? The fallout is devastating. Every year, some 12
million Americans contract a sexually transmitted disease; 63% are less than 25
years old. Every year, near 1 million girls between the ages of 15–19 become
pregnant; approximately a quarter million of these end their pregnancy by
aborting the baby.
The teen mother who keeps the baby will most likely
not complete high school, and become a permanent dependent of her parents. Her
child will probably have poorer health, fall behind in school, and is more
likely to become the victim of abuse and neglect. The father is long gone on to
greener pastures – frequently without a thought of the fruit of their sinful,
irresponsible behavior. The new mom and her parents are left with heartache and
stress, and a child that desperately needs a family as God planned for her. There
may be exceptions to the bleak picture painted above. Still, they are
exceptions.
In the not-too-distant past, it was the case that if
you went to a public amusement park, or even to the local shopping mall, you
would expect to see the fashion sense of worldliness walking around. Now,
however, it is increasingly the case that the young women and men in the Lord’s
church are not only wearing immodest apparel with abandon, but they are even
arriving to worship the Lord of heaven and earth dressed so inappropriately.
Young ladies, with exposed cleavage and tight, revealing clothes sit beside
disheveled young men wearing wrinkled T-shirts and scruffy sweatpants.
Occasionally, they even have the nerve to “make-out” on the church parking lot.
Preachers and elders need to lovingly, yet firmly,
address this type of behavior. We ought not be intimidated by permissive
parents who resist biblical teaching when it is applied to their precious
offspring. Lessons from the pulpit are important. But so is courageous, personal
counseling.
Parents, especially fathers, you need to exercise
the authority and discipline the Father has bestowed upon you. If your children
are dressed for success in Satan’s cause, it is your fault. If they live in
your house, take a stand. They may kick and scream, but it’s up to you to set
the standard in your household.
Moms, please don’t make your daughter the object of
your vicarious teenage rebellion. Teach your tender offspring the value of
purity and honor. The greatest gift you can give her is the self-respect of not
needing to rely upon her curls and curves to achieve the great milestones in
life. Actively teach her that she can instead rely upon the majesty of her
heavenly Father (1 Pet. 2:9), the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5), and the humility
of Mary (Lk. 1:38). Those traits will last much longer, even into eternity.
Young men, tuck in your shirts and show some
dignity. Act like Timothy, not like p-Daddy diddly doo or whoever is the
big-shot rapper of the day (Dude, that means like, read 1 & 2 Timothy!). A
good dose of the Proverbs are prescribed as well.
Ladies, the way you dress does matter. Please, put
on some decent clothes. You may not contract an STD or get pregnant, but
avoiding those results are pretty good reasons to live pure and wholesome
lives.
If those aren’t good enough reasons, at least dress
modestly for the sake of those around you. There are men who will be weakened
by your display. And if you don’t care about them, at least have the dignity and
self-respect to not advertise yourself as a cheap sex object.
Ultimately, you ought to comport yourself as the
temple of the Holy Spirit, for such you are (1 Cor. 6:19). Instead of trying to
turn the heads, try turning the hearts with a beauty of holiness and depth of
character possessed by the great women in the Bible. “And be not fashioned
according to his world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom.
12:2).
JARED JACKSON
Copied
from
Christian
Courier
YET SO
AS BY FIRE”
1
Corintians 3:13-15, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day
shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try
every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath
built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
A foundation
is laid for the purpose of being built upon. The foundation may be strong and
durable, but the material used in building upon it may be subject to
destructive forces. Such material as brick and stone (gold, silver, and
precious stones) might endure a fire, but wood, hay, and stubble would surely
be destroyed. Even though his efforts in building might be unsuccessful and he
would suffer loss, still the builder himself would survive.
In
making a spiritual application of these principles Paul states in verse 11 that
the foundation is Jesus Christ. He then proceeds to show that our work as
Christians is building upon that solid foundation. The time is coming, however,
when “the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (verse
13). In our effort to persuade others to join us in following Christ, for
example, some who are approached may respond in obedience but some may reject
the truth. Our efforts upon those who spurn the truth will not have been
successful, however, and we will suffer the loss of that work. But we sincerely
tried and will be saved, though our work will be burned.
HARRY COBB
PO Box 75
Wedowee, AL 36278
THERE’S MORE
We can only see a little of the
ocean,
Just a few miles distance from the
rocky shore,
But out there – far beyond our eyes
horizon,
There’s more, immeasurably more.
We can only see a little of God’s
loving,
A few rich treasures from His mighty
store,
But out there – far beyond the eyes
horizon,
There’s more, immeasurably more.
Author Unknown
