Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 13:43:04 EDT
From:         "Fritz Block, LCF Summer President" <BD32@LAFAYACS.BITNET>
Subject:      Can society destroy the family?

> Fritz mentions several things he thinks the government can do to promote
> "family values."  Let's look at them:
>
> Defeating or passing the "freedom of Choice Act" has no bearing on family
> values.  Any given family can have any values they wish.  In past times,
> there were far worse situations trying to tear apart close families, and
> they held on, not because of government regulations, but becuase they held
> on to each other and to God.

It has to bear on valuing unborn babies as equal members of the family.
(I realize that some prefer the term "fetus" to "unborn baby" -- no jab
intended.)  Not protecting their lives by law encourages families to not
value them.

> Education and condoms in schools are again, irrelevant.  As a child is
> taught right and wrong by a parent or parents, they will have to make their
> own choices.  If a condom is offered, they will have to choose.  The lack
> of the offering or it's presence will not in any way affect the values of
> the child's family.  Those values are set by the family members, not by
> society.

Teachers are role models and often have much credibility in the eyes of
students.  Their actions can affect the values of the family children as
they compete with their parents teach.

> The Camel advertising is part of our freedom of speech.  Banning it would
> abridge that.  Christians do not have a right to ask others to stop doing
> offensive things in my opinion, they simply must avoid the offensive
> behavior.  A parent can train their children what is good and not.  If the
> child makes poor choices, they will learn from that.  Nothing a parent or a
> "traditional family" can do will stop a person from making bad choices.

You have a good point with the Camel issue, but keep in mind that
advertising is already regulated, restricting "freedom of speech."  I
don't consider this to be a distinctly Christian issue, by the way.
Children don't necessarily learn from wrong choices, especially when
the parents aren't aware of the mistakes.  My mother wasn't aware (and
still isn't, come to think of it) that I smoked in junior high.  I quit
because I became a Christian and felt that I was injuring my body, God's
possession.  My mother didn't lead me to Christ, and I could've
continued smoking until I became hooked.

> While I agree that parent's authority should be kept over children, I
> remember what I said in a post a couple of days ago:  Moses was removed
> from his mother at a tender age, yet her instruction served him well.
> Dedicated parents will rear dedicated children despite society.  Again,
> there is nothing the government or Hollywood can do to tear up the family,
> only the family can do that.

We disagree on how much effect society has on values.  I believe that
even excellent parenting can be marred by bad social influence.  It's
happened many times.  (Funny how so many preachers' children grow up to
be rebellious.)

And how about when parents who don't do an excellent job of raising
their children?  You don't seem concerned with how those children turn
out.

> The final point was giving the FCC greater powers.  This is horrid!  They
> have far too much now!  Censorship will never, never keep anyone pure and
> undefiled.  Under the direct control of God, the Israelites snuck off to
> the hills to whore with the Moabites.  No!  You cannot legislate a family
> value of any kind.  Stop trying to get the government to make life save and
> protected for the family and put energies into making good families.  As I
> said before, if God builds the house / home, nothing will destroy it, and
> if He does not, no amount of societal protection will save it.

In what ways does the FCC have far too much power now?

You can't legislate family values, but legislation can at least not go
against family values, and in some cases promote them.

I don't see why one shouldn't want government to promote good families.
There's not too much one can individually do about how other families
turn out.

*++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*
* Fritz Block    "Love is not a ballad on the top ten chart            *
* bd32@lafayacs   Love is not a virus from cupid's dart                *
* 215-250-8031    Love is not a promise that you tear apart            *
* Lafayette Col.  Love is a commitment heart to heart" -- Larry Norman *
*++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*