A bartender on our dinner cruise beautifully proclaimed "Live Free" in a tattoo on her right forearm. I asked her why she had that and she said she has a free spirit. Should she have right to do whatever she wants? (What happens when her live free bumps against my live free? Legislation!)
I no longer question whether tattoos are intrinsically immoral or not. They are so mainstream and unescapable. Christians my age are no longer appalled (except at the quality and permanence of some of the atrocious "artwork").
And that illustrates the first force in sin pressure: cultural legitimization. If I enjoy an activity that is very prevalent and generally does not hinder successful participation in society, it's not sin. It's normal.
Women sunbathing topless is 'normal' in some countries while it is agains the law in America. But if enough women do it, it will be normalized. And anyone who takes a stand saying that is wrong will be considered a prude--judgmental and morally out of touch.
The cultural legitimization that helps transform "sin" to "normal" is dependent upon moral relativism: "What you believe and do is right for you, just as what I believe and do is right for me." This is America, a free country, where we are entitled to hold any dogma we wish. And it is an intrusion to question another's view. I don't have the right to ask you to question your principles because we are all equivalent.
Or are we?
Cultural legitimization and moral relativism flourish where conviction about the absolute truth of the Bible is lost. Instead of making life's small and big decisions based on some absolute standard like Scripture, we simply choose what seems good to us. Choosing whether or not to engage in pornography is as weighty as choosing whether to wear a beige shirt or whether or not to add cheese to a hamburger.
With all this moral relativism, society is a soup of ideas and values. And none of it is labeled 'safe' or 'dangerous', 'harmful' or 'helpful'. When unguided curiosity encounters an appealing opportunity to sin, because the opportunity is so appealing (gratifying, possibly beneficial), the sin catches the unwise just like the lure catches the fish. Previous generations are letting the younger generations down because, although the previous generation may have a higher moral standard, that standard is based on tradition rather than Scripture. The younger generations don't care about tradition because the older generation has also lost its conviction about truth. All of life is PG-13!
Artists who make a difference explore themes that are on the edge. They strive to powerfully and meaningfully portray some truth, or some tendency. That quest to starkly portray difficult themes has the artists thinking deeply with the fringes of 'normalcy'. And when someone is constantly thinking there, making value judgments from that fringe perspective, their art becomes a signpost that promotes us to think those thoughts too.
When a boy is effeminate, he isn't automatically gay. But, today it is much easier for him to go there than ever before:
-homosexuality is culturally legitimate (gay marriage laws, gay celebrities and positive/accepting portrayals in media)
-it is morally equivalent to heterosexuality because what the Bible says about it is either unknown or dismissed
On top of that, consider the peer pressures the prissy boy faces: negative pressure from those who hate they boy because he's different. And positive pressure from those who embrace him because he's effeminate (pedophiles, abusers, others who have accepted the gay life as ok, even good). Looking for love and acceptance, where will he find it? Among those who will encourage him to embrace homosexuality.
During the formative years, when hormones rage, teens want to explore who they are physically. They want to experience intimacy. They want to be loved. Will they be allowed/encouraged/pushed to find love?
When sinful habits are ingrained, they become default behaviors, giving short-lived, counterfeit satisfaction, in which God-designed expressions and relationships are replaced by man-designed shortcuts. We've quit looking for significance and meaningful relationship with God and instead settle for the shortcuts.
How do we resist sin pressure? What if we rediscovered the Bible and the God of the Bible? What if we learned that He's really real and that He loves us so much that He has paid the dearest ransom to restore us to Himself? Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart."
And deep down, heart's desire isn't sex. Heart's desire is love.
