Our Cultural Decay

by John Waddey⁽⁴³⁾
firstcenturychristian

Few people question that America is in a state of serious cultural decline. This decline was vividly displayed in the orgy of adulation and adoration for entertainer, Michael Jackson. Led by the nations decadent media and organized and promoted on a world-wide scale by those who stand to profit from the revenues of the Jackson estate, it was truly a scene to behold.

A few short years ago Mr. Jackson was a disgraced, despised man who had avoided conviction as a pedophile by paying a multimillion dollar settlement to the alleged victim, a young boy, and his family. He was a long-time abuser of drugs and medications. He was extravagant, spending millions of dollars more than his annual income. At the time of his death he had debts estimated at upward of half a billion dollars. He was eccentric and bizarre in his personal life and conduct. Yet, in his sudden death, our pathetic media engaged in a feeding frenzy over this once disgraced entertainer from "Never Land." The coverage and the memorial would challenge the deification service of a Roman emperor.

It is true that Jackson was capable of fancy footwork and creative costumes. It is a fact that kids bought millions of his records and videos making him fabulously rich. But this flawed man was not what the media and his promoters depicted him to be. Contrary to the exuberant claims, this was not an event that will be remembered as a highpoint in our cultural history. People will look back and wonder what possessed a people to behave in such an irrational way.

The true heroes of America are the devoted, responsible parents, the dedicated teachers, the patriotic volunteer soldiers, the gifted surgeons, the compassionate nurses and others like them who truly benefit those they serve. Their contributions will still be bearing fruit when Mr. Jackson is forgotten.

Article submitted Wednesday, July 15, 2009 & read 17 times.

Please log in to leave your comments.

» left by Tired of Fake Christians (2 years 211 days ago.)

I’d agree with you that the US is in moral decline, but for totally different reasons. The world is supposed to be worldly, that’s just how it is. I’m afraid it is Christians who have fallen down on the job.

Like you, many Christians in America have traded the Cross for politics, giving up any real transformative power. Instead of listening to the Holy Spirit, they listen to talk radio and biased tv ‘news’ programs to support their own biases and bigotry. Evangelical christianity in the US has become just one more worldly religion, appealing to ones flesh as a tool of division instead of servanthood.

» left by Anonymous (2 years 210 days ago.)

Dear friend: Thank you for sharing your views. One must be careful of the assumptions he makes.

* You assume I have traded the Cross of Christ for politics. Yet you do not know me. Are you not being judgmental without evidence? Like Paul, I glory in the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14).

* You assume I do not listen to the Holy Spirit, choosing to listen to talk radio and biased tv news. You do not know what I listen to. The Holy Spirit speaks to me in the Bible, the Word of God, which He inspired (II Pet. 1: 20-21). That Word I have diligently studied for 56 years. I do my best to follow its precepts and spirit in all things.

* You assume that I am a part of the Evangelical movement, some of whom have become just one more worldly religion. I am not. I am a Christian, I worship and serve Christ in His church, but do not count myself as part of that Evangelical movement which you mention.

* You assume that all Evangelicals have become a "worldly religion" yet you do not know that. Could it be that you have read or heard that from some of your favorite liberal sources and took it to be true?

* You assume that the Christian is to have no interest in the world in which he lives and certainly should have no opinion of what is happening in and to our society and culture. Jesus taught that we should pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). He taught us to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world and a city set on a hill (Matt. 5:14-16). By the good life we live some citizens of the world will come to glorify the Father in heaven. Paul taught is "to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works fo darkness, but rather even reprove them..." (Eph. 5:11). It seems you assume to tell Christians how they should live and what they should do when you are not that familiar with what Christ expects of us.

* You assume I am biased and bigoted. Have you considered that you yourself might be biased against Christians who does not think and behave as you do?

Have a nice day. John Waddey

» left by Tired of Fake Christians (2 years 210 days ago.)

“By their fruit you will know them” and I know you a lot better than you think, Mr. Waddey. For years I’ve witnessed the rotten fruit left in your wake as you seek to condemn those who you don’t think as worthy as you. You are like those whom the Paul called “Judaizers” , those who attempt to use legalism and prejudice to create a religion of works to satisfy your own fleshly biases. Your glory isn’t in the cross of Christ, but rather in your adherence to your own twisted man-made rules.

I think I am familiar with what Christ expects of us, yet I’ve never seen you write of the Greatest Command, or the Second Greatest Command, nor Perfect Religion which James speaks of. Instead, you strain at the gnat and swallow the camel. You have become a white-washed seplecure, chosing to wash the outside of the cup while the inside remains filthy.

Your boasting of your 56 years of study is evidence of your self-righteousness. Like Paul's religious training before he turned to follow Christ, your religious training is like filthy dung-rags. You’ve wasted your 56 years studying how to condemn others instead of how to unify. I would say to go learn what this means: I desire mercy rather than sacrifice. You’ve studied in vain. You've missed the more important parts of the law, and baby Christians have surpassed you in understanding.

» left by Disgusted (2 years 210 days ago.)

Funny how Rush Limbaugh took another mans wife (while she was still married) and was strung out on pain meds (and probably still is), but you don't blame him for cultural decay. Shame on you!

» left by Anonymous (2 years 210 days ago.)

Dear Friend: If Mr. Limbaugh did as you say, he is almost as bad as President William Jefferson Clinton. Right? What does that prove? Yes, Limbaugh did become addicted to pain medications. He acknowledged his problem, sought help and the evidence is he is now drug free. On what basis would you suggest he probably still is addicted? What has Rush Limbaugh got to do with the fact that our media disgraced itself with its coverage of Michael Jackson’s death and funeral? Political bias and hatred can affect one’s judgement just as do racial bias and hatred.

John

» left by Disgusted (2 years 210 days ago.)

This proves that you would take 2 men, one who has tried to spread love and racial harmony, and one who spreads hatred and racial animosity, and you choose the side of the one spreading hatred. Conservatives have disgraced themselves by choosing the side of hatred.

Rush didn’t just “acknowledge his problem.” He was caught. I’ve heard him say numerous times that when someone apologizes because they were caught, they are only sorry that they were caught and there is more that they are guilty of. By his own words he is condemned.

» left by If u condemn the created from you condemn The Creator (2 years 210 days ago.)

Don't blame it on the sunshine

Don't blame it on the moonlight

Don't blame it on the good times

Blame it on the boogie

2-1-0-0-2-ADSM