Monday, February 2, 2009

Sodom and Gomorrah - Divorce Prevention

Genesis 19:12-14 The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it." So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, "Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

The divorce rate in America for first marriage, vs second or third marriage as stated on divorcerate.org says "50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce, according to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri.” With divorce rates being so high - we have to be particular about who we choose as a mate. We have to look for those red flags that might say to us, 'this is not who I should spend the rest of my life with'. Some of those red flags might be: a man who is in debt because of gambling issues. Someone who has to spend his Friday nights at the club. Someone who hits the bar directly after leaving work. Someone who might be part of an angry mob trying to homosexually rape strangers - these are the types of red flags to look out for.

The verse says that when the angels told Lot to get all of his family, he goes outside to tell his future sons-in-law. Outside. Outside where all the men have gathered to attack the visitors in the city. These are the men he has chosen for his daughters? This is who he wants caring for his own children?

The truth is all too real here just as it is today. When you are in the midst of sin, it is not hard to soon become enveloped in it. He was about to bring that lifestyle into his family. It is not an easy job to protect ourselves from what the world feels is 'okay'. To remain strong in knowing what is right and what is clearly wrong. I feel for our teenagers today who have to attend public high schools. They are surrounded by the ideas and morals of what society has said is 'acceptable'. We must stick to the rules God has set before us - anything else is 'unacceptable'.

3 comments:

Greg C said...

Well said. And when athletes who we have been telling our children to look up to, break the law, we shouldn't stand there and say: "he is only human". I think it sends a bad message. I am worried about my boys because they go to public schools.

Kelly said...

Great words. Even our Christian leaders fall and it is made hugely public. It's terrible. Lord, help us all.

Edie said...

Very good word Dorothy. Our response to bad situations is key to what we teach. We just had a public confession, apology, and resignation in our chuch from a very beloved staff member. It was a very sad service but the way it was handled from every direction was a positive lesson.