Relatively Speaking

Earlier this week, our president made a pronouncement that "made history." Aside from the politics of his change of heart, which I have no intention of getting into in this space, it does bring up an interesting point for all of us to consider. On what do we base our convictions?

Are we to determine what we believe based on conversations with others? Do we allow our convictions to "evolve" based on ever-changing cultural norms or what the media or academia tells us is "the right side of history"? And who defines what is right and wrong, what is acceptable and unacceptable? Our president? Our political party? Hollywood? Our church?

In our relativistic society, where people seem to make their decisions by which way the wind is blowing at any particular time, it's easy to feel the pressure to determine our belief system by the "everybody's doing it so it must be okay" mindset. To be out of step with the mainstream culture is to be out of touch, backwards, even intolerant and bigoted. Try to stand for a long-held conviction, and you're quickly labeled, and usually the label includes the word "hate."

When the subject moves to traditional beliefs on the family, the rhetoric tends to get even more heated, especially when the enlightened among us speak in condescending tones about our out-of-date old-fashioned values. It is very much in vogue to redefine family roles and values, as if there is no black and white and everything is gray.

But contrary to popular belief these days, right and wrong is not a moving target. There is a standard of absolute truth on which we can base our convictions, and that truth does not waver nor does it depend on the latest poll data. The truth of Scripture never goes out of style.

This Sunday, we'll begin a new series of messages that will address "family values" from a Biblical point of view. There will be no political statements, just practical Biblical answers from the New Testament book of Colossians for family living in the 21st century. It will be truth about living with our relatives, but the truth won't be relative; it will be grounded in God's word. I hope you can be with us.

In the mean time, have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Mother's Day. I am praying for you, as I hope you are for me, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

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