Almost four decades ago Paul Harvey wrote an article for his syndicated column entitled: “They” Misled Us. Having been in radio broadcasting for over fifty years, Harvey is still one of the most listened-to and respected newscasters in history. In that column, he addressed a subject that may even be more relevant today than it was back in the 60’s. The trend of thought is even more pronounced today that it was then.
Consider the following excerpts from Paul Harvey:
“They” told us if we would relax about sex
and not get uptight about it, that there would be
no more sex crimes.
So, we “let it all hang out”, and the incidence
of rape has increased by 10% in just one year.
Maybe we would be wise to question some of
the other advice “they” gave us.
“They” said that churches were too “old
fashioned,” that they must modernize, liberalize
and compromise. But those that compromised
most are shrinking the fastest.
“They” insisted our schools must leave God
out and rely on enhancing Junior’s intelligence.
So we graduated a generation of Juniors with
refined intellects and undisciplined emotions.
“They” told us alcoholism and drug addiction
are sicknesses. Now, we are gagging, choking,
strangling on forbidden fruit.
This is just a part of Harvey’s article, but there are some very familiar sounds to it. America has fed on this “they said” philosophy for decades and we still have not connected the symptoms with the disease. Why can we not see the connection? Things have not improved. In fact, they are dramatically worse. But we are still hearing those same platitudes from that same segment of our population, and even more off-the-wall “solutions” from others, and people are still “buying it.”
When Paul Harvey wrote those words he could not have known that America would soon begin voluntarily to kill millions of our own children by legalized abortion.
He could not have known that our cities would become literal battlegrounds for the drug wars we witness today.
He could not have foreseen that homosexuality would be idealized as it is today.
He could not have foreseen the multiple killings of and by our own children in the public schools of our land.
He could not have expected the epidemic of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases that are rampant in our modern society. But here they are, because people believed what “they” said, and now we must live with them and suffer the consequences.
As Harvey said, it’s time for us to take another look at the “advice” we got from those individuals thirty-to-forty years ago. It doesn’t seem to be working the way those who gave us the advice promised.
It is no surprise to us, but God’s Word, the Bible, has anticipated the very things that many were too blind to see. God knew the end results of caving in to the carnal cravings of human thought. In a time when many of today’s problems were already being experienced, God caused inspired men to write and warn us of the consequences of sin. Don’t you think it is time we listened to what He has to say about the “mess” we’re in?
“Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God,” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
“Fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting: but rather giving of thanks,” Ephesians 5:3-4.
“Professing to be wise, they became fools…who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women did change the natural use for what is against nature: And likewise also the men…and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due,” Romans 1:22-27.
[All quotes are from the New King James Version]
Just as the Bible says, we humans often get carried away with our own “wisdom,” even to the point that we think our “wisdom” is greater than God’s. That’s how we get ourselves and those who listen to us in deep trouble. Yes, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death,” Proverbs 16:25. So, let’s quit making the same mistakes over and over, and instead listen to and trust God’s wisdom.
