The Year Ahead
(Editorial - December 1999)
Declining morals are such a pervasive feature of our societies that we cannot escape the painful reminders of what is happening. From supermarket check out lines to the Internet to roadside billboards, we see an incredible absorption in the lusts of the flesh. We have a daily problem in keeping this trend from invading our hearts and our ecclesias. The practical impact on society of this decline is measurable.
"In the early 1990s, 41 percent of first births occurred outside marriage, compared with 8 percent in the early 1930s, writes Census Bureau demographer Amara Bachu" (USA Today, Nov. 10, 1999).
While most of us are not exposed to it, the pornography industry has become a very large business. The July/August, 1999 edition of Morality in Media citing a Forbes magazine article of June 14, 1999, noted that the "legal" part of the pornography industry now has worldwide sales of $56 billion. The Forbes article commented: "Even as pornography becomes more appallingly graphic, it is becoming more mainstream. Phone companies, cable companies, hotel chains and now investment bankers are all part of the act. Last year, 8,948 hard-core videos hit the U.S. retail market, up from 1,275 in 1990. In 1998 Americans rented 686 million ‘adult’ tapes. This year X-rated videos should generate some $5 billion in sales and rentals, double the revenue of five years ago...A channel like The Erotic Network sells views of [a particular porn film] to its 6 million addressable homes. All the films produce a revenue stream of perhaps $7 million a month. The network keeps 20% of that stream; the other 80% goes to the cable operator, a blue-chip company like Time-Warner...AT&T, which connects callers to 800 and 900 phone sex numbers and is the proud owner of [cable companies] TCI and Media One, is as much a part of the modern porn industry as [its leading performers]."
Great opportunities
While we must do everything possible to cleanse our homes and lives of the
filth of the flesh, we know that is not enough. Our lives may be swept clean and put in
order, but unless they are filled with plenty of activity that is good and spiritual, we
face the danger of filling them with even worse evil than was cleaned out (Matt.
12:43-45). And we are greatly blessed in this generation with plenty of opportunity to
fill our lives with these good things.
Hear one of our recent correspondents:
"We are constantly thrilled and excited with the massive amount of work ongoing in the vineyard. What with our own small Gospel Publicity League efforts and the enormous work of Duncan Heaster, and the Indian theater, and some others, it all boggles the mind. In all these projects there are wonderful brothers and sisters giving unselfishly of their ‘all.’ Christadelphia is certainly excelling itself in ‘going into all the world’ with the Gospel message. Can you feel the electrifying atmosphere in these last days (even as some waste time arguing about doubtful disputations)? I sometimes can’t sleep for thinking about it and wondering how I can do MORE. I will spend 10 hours at the desk today (and most days) but still I want to do more. Through your magazine, I suggest you ask your readers to remember and pray for all the wonderful work of the few who are striving to prepare the minds of men for the coming of our Lord Jesus.
"Fraternal Greetings to all and much love in the Lord
"Charles French, Sec. for the GPL committee"
Bro. Charles speaks of India, and brethren from many quarters are there helping out. As we write, North American brethren are helping in Bangladesh, India, Israel and the South Pacific. November is the month of the St. Lucia campaign, domestic mission work carries on in Ottawa, Canada and Petersburg, Virginia and first-principle seminars are being given all over the continent.
We can only urge that we get involved and breathe at least part of the enthusiasm that fires Bro. Charles.
Caribbean link-persons
During the last few months we have mentioned several times about the new opportunity
that the new year brings for mission work throughout the Caribbean. The work is organized
around brethren who serve as link persons for each of the areas and who will be
approaching many for help in the area assigned to them. At the moment the link persons for
the Caribbean areas are: Bahamas - Bro. Ken Curry, Toronto; Barbados - Bro. George
Jackson, Toronto; Antigua, Caymans, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago - Bro. Russ Dawes,
Toronto; Jamaica - Bro. Ken Sommerville, Los Angeles; Guyana - Bro. Ted Sleeper, San
Francisco.
Help is going to be needed from all over the continent as much activity goes on throughout the Caribbean and more islands are steadily being included in the efforts.
Yes, we have a war to fight against the personal and ecclesial impact of a society of declining moral values. But we also have great opportunity to fill our personal and ecclesial lives with the fire which can only come from preaching the word. In the coming year, let’s continue to put away the bad and give ourselves wholeheartedly to the good.
Don Styles