Christian Living

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On a national well-respected television program, there was a study of genetic differences between men and women. It was more or less concluded that because of the higher testosterone level in males ("hunter-procreational role"), it was understandable that they can be considered "faithful" to their wives while at the same time having meaningless recreational sex outside their marriage. In other words, they were born with an urge too strong to control. This concept and this definition of faithfulness, I'm sure, are found in Satan's Unabridged International Dictionary: a little truth wrapped in a whole lot of error resulting in a conclusion dangerous to all who buy into it. It would seem to a casual observer that there was enough of a problem in this area without having every vestige of societal disapproval and personal responsibility lifted from it.

The truth of the matter is that fidelity is the bedrock of character without regard to gender. Faithfulness to God, mate, children, friends, country, employer--and to one's word--must be the understood (and striven for) foundation upon which strong lives (and families) are built. Breaking trust in any of those areas leads to lying, anguish and deceit to one or more persons besides one's self. That is a demonstrable truth and ought to be enough to deter us from such a course, let alone the consideration that one day we will be called into account for our foolishness before God Himself.

It is a pre-eminent and often-stated quality of God that He is faithful, and as His creation, we ought to assume that His way is best. Every chance at growing to maturity depends on controlling whatever would prevent fidelity. This is not to say that a person who breaks trust and is truly sorry for the action, whose heart is contrite (David comes to mind), ought not be forgiven. God is both faithful and forgiving--and we ought to be also. But even when forgiven, unfaithfulness takes a terrible human toll--which ought to serve as a strong deterrent for the future, both to the principal and to those who observe the behavior. Societal condoning and euphemistic naming of infidelity block spiritual growth and maturity. It makes it all right to refuse to take personal responsibility for one's choices because of some supposed genetic overload. Unfaithfulness accepted as the norm (on the part of men or women) is encouraging a sadly fatal character flaw that will take as its toll our happiness here and hereafter. May God help us to see clearly how we play into the devil's hand when we regard faithfulness as optional.

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