Oh, Our Modern Age!

I suppose every age has its advancements in technology, communication, transportation and science, but perhaps there has never been a generation that has witnessed as many changes as has ours (unless it be those living during the time of the industrial revolution). I can still remember when a computer was something you saw on television or some science fiction Saturday afternoon matinee at the movies, and a “window” was what mom had us clean every Spring so as to allow more summer sun into our homes. A “ram” was the cousin of a goat, “meg” was the little girl who lived down the street, an “application” was something you filled out when you applied for a new job, and a byte was something you got from a mosquito. Some words have taken on entirely different meanings than they had when I was growing up. For example, a “program” was a TV show, a cursor was someone who used profanity, and “memory” was something that you lost with age, not space on a computer.

Our generation has witnessed a dramatic change in television viewing as well. We have been introduced to digital television with pictures so sharp that it has been billed as the biggest change in viewing quality since we moved from black and white to color. For three decades now we have traveled the world-wide-web of the internet and experienced an information explosion unlike any previous generation. We can access thousands upon thousands of digital books for no charge. My digital library now exceeds more than 4,000 volumes. I do not expect to ever read many of them, but at least they are available for future research.

The irony of it all is the undeniable truth that while we are making gigantic strides in accessing knowledge, we are loosing ground when it comes to the quality of material that we are able to access. As the late Paul Harvey once said, “TV turns the sky into a sewer.” Some years ago Public Opinion magazine conducted a survey addressing the influence of television on society. According to that survey, 65% of those who work in what we might call the ‘television industry’ admitted that TV was a major influence on social behavior. Ironically, that same group of producers would have the public believe that television programming reflects societal norms rather than influencing behavior. Talk about wolves in sheep’s clothing! Seeing that television actually shapes societal behavior, the following statistics are quite alarming. Among the “cream of the crop” of television’s “most experienced and respected members,” 93% said they seldom ever, or never, attended religious services. The absence of religious inclination on the part of the producers helps us to understand why few (if any) of today’s prime time programs depict Christianity in a positive light. The simple fact is, the devil got his claws into the television industry some seven or eight decades ago and has not let go yet, nor does it look like he will do so anytime in the near future. It seems like every fall the new “line up” in prime time viewing pushes the limits just a little further into the wilderness of sin.

The movie industry is no better. Most of the movies coming out of Hollywood are ‘R’ rated or ‘PG-13’ rated (neither of which are fit for human consumption). Once in a while they will produce what has been called faith-based movie. It is family oriented, with very little (if any) bad language. These moves typically teach a good moral lesson and the hero always wins. Despite the fact that such movies usually show great box-office returns, Hollywood ignores this and continues to shove the violent-filled, sexually-themed moved down the throats of the public. The sheer violence depicted in most of the movies has desensitized us to the value of human life (I wonder if all of this has anything to do with the record number of homicides in Chicago this year). Where will it stop? Or will it? When will America, its leaders, and Hollywood cease and desist? So far it is “no holds barred,” and while we argue with ourselves over what constitutes censorship, or how to define pornography, young and innocent minds are being overwhelmed by the evil side social media and the internet.

And then I think: The only thing that has really changed is man’s capacity and not his propensity to sin. Modern technology simply provides the avenues by which sinful man can exercise his evil desires. There may be more opportunities for sin, but as Solomon reminded us, “there is nothing new under the sun.” Several years ago when I moved to a new location I went about obtaining internet service. I was offered a package of internet, telephone, and television. “Internet only,” I responded. “I pulled the plug on cable TV more than thirty years ago, and have not missed it at all.” “What do you do for entertainment?” came the response from the representative. The bottom line is that the rep seemed amazed that I had no desire to sign up for 220 sitcom stations, two dozen sports stations, a dozen or more news stations, history stations, comedy stations, romance stations, shopping network, HBO or Showtime.

While I am amazed at the technology and the ability we have to access so much information, I marvel at the modern age in which we live. And as I anticipate the possibilities for good and/or evil, I think to myself, “Oh, our modern age!” I just don’t know whether to weep or rejoice.