AT a time when paedophilia reports are regularly hitting the headlines and child pornography is assuming plague proportions the question has to be asked, what is wrong with our society?
The answer – something drastic. It’s reported that 60 per cent of Web sites are pornographic. Seventy per cent of all Internet porn traffic occurs between 9-5 on weekdays. Seventy-seven to 87 per cent of child molesters regularly use and have access to pornography. Eighty-nine per cent of sexual solicitations of youth are made in chat rooms or instant messages.
In 2001 there were 280,000 X-rated Web sites generating $10-20 billion in revenue. (Wall Street Journal, November 26, 2001)
To put a finer point on ‘what is wrong with our society?’, we’ve been given a key that I believe helps us as a community to identify and deal with the damage. It’s been summed up pretty succinctly in the Bible when it says: ‘The love of money is the root of all evil’. Not money itself but the love of money.
It’s no secret that we live in an excessively materialistic society, yet the increasing rate of addictions bears witness to the fact that materialism alone, whatever it’s form takes, does not satisfy us; rather it brings us into increasing bondage.
The smart money is on to the fact that it’s profitable to try and meet spiritual needs with material objects which are often of an illicit nature. It’s a need which can never be satisfied in this way but people keep trying; and so an addiction is established, an addict is created and the supplier is guaranteed a lucrative source of income.
Meanwhile, a society of increasingly dysfunctional addicts is being created.
So if that’s the problem, then what’s the answer?
Jesus who probably knew more about human nature than anyone said: ‘No one can serve two masters. You’ll either hate the one and love other or else hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money’. Yes, we need material possessions but we need God more. When the possessions possess us, we lose the balance and become what we are today – a society in crisis and potential decline.
Unless we choose to call on God, pull out of the nose dive and let him meet the deepest needs that materialism never can, we will continue to be fodder for the suppliers of addictive substances and slaves to their substitute god.
MICHELLE SHAVE
Hamilton Hill, WA
