I was listening to the internet radio program I was on with my roommate and we were on the part where a caller called in talking about the Christian view of homosexuality. Now my first stance on this is that while I agree it’s sinful, this is not the central claim of Christianity. The central claim is that Jesus rose from the dead. Thus, the way you disprove Christianity is to deal with that. All other issues are secondary.
However, the caller was talking to the other guy who had called in for the program and was telling him that he had several homosexual friends (He said gay actually, but I say homosexual due to my stance that I won’t let proper terminology be changed in a euphemistic sort of way.) who were just as happy and several kids not raised in traditional homes that were just as happy.
Here’s the problem. The problem is the word “happy.”
Now, maybe he meant what I’m talking about. We can’t know for sure without talking to him again sometime. However, we make a mistake if we think that in the view most people take the word to mean, that the goal is to raise up children so that they will be happy.
Think of some kids. Think of Dudley from the Harry Potter series. Think of Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Think of that spoiled brat you see every time you go to the department store. Think of that snotty rich kid that you see at the mall who has everything he wants.
Are they happy? Could very well be! They have parents willing to bend Heaven and Earth just to make sure their children don’t suffer any in life.
Do you want any of them as your kids? (Other than to set them straight, I doubt it.)
So what’s the mistake then? Shouldn’t we all want children to be happy?
Indeed, we should. We should all want to be happy ourselves. Happiness to the ancients though had another dimension that we have lacked. That dimension is the dimension of virtue. To the ancient mindset, the good life consisted in, well, being good. It is quite a reversal. Today, we see morality as a hindrance to happiness. They saw it as a key to happiness.
So what kind of children are to be raised? Children with self-control. Children with wisdom and courage. Children that seek the betterment of the world around them. Truly if children have such, they will be capable of enjoying themselves and being happier in more situations than the Veruca Salts of the world will.
So what is to be said? Sure. Kids can be happy. That’s not the goal. The goal is, are they capable and functioning and well-contributing members of society? Frankly, looking at today’s kids, I’m quite concerned about that. I hope and pray when I start to have some that I will raise them in the right way and why not do so the Proverbial way, with the Fear of the Lord?
Maybe the good book can tell us how to live the good life after all.
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