Greetings!
While checking out something else, I ran across this on snopes today:
The text that caused all the "hullabaloo" was a list of things supposedly published in a 1950's Home Ec textbook on how to be a good wife. What caught my attention was not the issue of whether or not it was actually published in the textbook, but, rather, the reaction to the text itself.
Very interesting that these tips for being a good wife fit in perfectly with Scriptural principles on marriage, love, deference, putting others' needs first, seeking the good of the other, etc. Also very interesting that in 1950, those things were already beginning to erode, but were still widely accepted, in both "church and non-church" circles. Today, those things receive a strong reaction from women/men both inside and outside the Church.
This has caused me to do an "Examine yourself" project (1 Cor 11:28, 2 Cor 13:5, Gal 6:4) on our nation today. Have all this in mind as you view these statistics...
In this chart, I particular compared the statistics of 1950 and 1990 - virtually doubling, rising from 29.1 to 57.5 (a rise of 28.4). This is in contrast to the previous 40-year period of 1910 to 1950, where we see it rising from 24.8 to 29.1 (a rise of 4.3). Quite a contrast, and not without consequences.
This next chart is similar. However, it only covers 1970 to 2008, and gives the added information of the children affected.
Women's Liberation Movement Timeline
1848 The world's first women's rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, NY, July 19-20. A Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions is debated and signed by 68 women and 32 men, setting the agenda for the women's rights movement that followed. 1855 Lucy Stone becomes first woman on record to keep her own name after marriage, setting a trend among women who are consequently known as "Lucy Stoners." 1859 The birth rate continues its downward spiral as reliable condoms become available. By the late 1900s, women will raise an average of only two or three children. 1945 Women industrial workers begin to lose their jobs in large numbers to returning service men, although surveys show 80% want to continue working. (A very interesting fact. I believe the "Why?" of this is very important.) 1957 The number of women and men voting is approximately equal for the first time. (The only date given for the 1950s.) On this chart of significant womens liberation movement dates, a total of only 5 "movement" dates were given for the 40 year period of 1920 to 1960. The time period beginning with 1960, including the next 36 years, (1960-1996), in contrast, shows 27 dates. Lining up the "accomplishments" highlighted on this chart, you quickly see that the two top winners of issues having the most "progress" are connected with either abortion or employment. What were virtual non-issues before 1950 bacame major off-the-chart issues over the next few years. 1960 The Food and Drug Administration approves birth control pills. 1973 In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court establishes a woman's right to abortion, effectively canceling the anti-abortion laws of 46 states. 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor is the first woman ever appointed to the US Supreme Court. In 1993, she is joined by Ruth Bader Ginsberg (A tragic day for those upholding Biblical principles). 1993 Take Our Daughters to Work Day debuts, designed to build girls self-esteem and open their eyes to a variety of careers. (Go back and review the Divorce Statistics chart. Check out what happens during this same time period, 1960s through 1990s. Now add in the information on the following charts. Pay attention to the dates.)    Add in these facts: Living Together Without Marriage (These facts explain the decline of divorce shown in the Divorce chart above in the 1980s and 90s. Partners living together outside marriage, who go their separate ways, do not show up on a divorce chart. The effect is that the statistics indicate an improvement in the stability of marriages ... a misleading, false indication.) Over 12 million unmarried partners live together in 6,008,007 households. - U.S. Census Bureau. “American Community Survey: 2005-2007.” The number of cohabiting unmarried partners increased tenfold between 1960 and 2000. - U.S. Census Bureau. “America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2000.” The number of cohabiting unmarried partners increased by 88% between 1990 and 2007. - U.S. Census Bureau. “America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2007.” Now subject these statistics to God's Word - the many commands and principles that are to govern a Believer's personal home life (marriage and parenting). These are easy to find with a good concordance. Be sure to at least study many of them (if not all), in order to perceive the whole counsel of God's Word ... His opinion. A recent poll conducted by George Barna shows only a 1 percent difference between divorce rates of Born-Again Believers and Non Born-Again Believers. Reflections on Marriage and Divorce by George Barna George Barna, who directed the study, noted that Americans have grown comfortable with divorce as a natural part of life. "There no longer seems to be much of a stigma attached to divorce; it is now seen as an unavoidable rite of passage," the researcher indicated. "Interviews with young adults suggest that they want their initial marriage to last, but are not particularly optimistic about that possibility. There is also evidence that many young people are moving toward embracing the idea of serial marriage, in which a person gets married two or three times, seeking a different partner for each phase of their adult life." |
If anyone actually looks at all this, plus the Scripture, it is extremely sobering. When Christians (speaking specifically of Christians here in America) virtually live their lives - especially the parts of their lives that can be seen and observed by the world - just the way their lost friends and neighbors live theirs ... is it any wonder that fewer and fewer people are being drawn to the Lord as Savior? What do we actually show them that Christ offers? If they read our lives, He doesn't appear to offer anything that will help keep families from falling apart, does He? And in that, we are living lies and presenting to a lost world a God of our own making, rather than the God of the Bible ... a God Who does, INDEED, offer something that will keep our families together!
Conclusion: The ONLY solution....
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
(2 Chron 7:14, emphasis mine)
My prayer today is that we, as God's people, will study His Word diligently - to show ourselves approved unto Him, without need to be ashamed, and able to handle Scripture rightly and teach it correctly. (2Tim 2:15) May we then humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways. Then, and only then, can we experience God's forgiveness and healing in these vital areas of our lives - and begin to show a desperate world that God's ways DO work! May it be so. Amen and Amen.
