In fact, I was shocked to hear prominent people defending the whole concept of marital infidelity.  An article by Matt Bett begins:  “Thou shalt not commit adultery … unless you want a stronger marriage!   According to a new study,”, he writes, “husbands and wives who cheat on each other are more likely to stay together.”  

   Last November a New York Magazine published an article outlining ‘The New Monogamy.’  According to the new trend, you aren’t cheating in your marriage if, after your fling,  you wind up sleeping in your own bed.   Not far from the concept of an open marriage, ‘The New Monogamy’ redefines the sexual parameters for each partner according to their own standards. 

   Dr. Lucielle Ostertag from the Italian Institute of Social Sciences even had developed a set of guidelines to help married couples who want to try cheating as a way of making their marriages stronger.  Adopt the ‘Long Distance Rule’, she suggests.  Any time you are out of your own area code, it doesn’t count as cheating!  “Even better”, she says,  “is to be out of state.   The further you are away from home, the better off you are, as it increases the likelihood of not getting caught.”  Such an approach to marriage touts “guilt-free living”.  “As long as you and your spouse have an understanding that you can both cheat equally, neither of you has to feel any guilt about what you have done.” 

   If you have ever doubted the importance of the church and its teachings for your children and your family, all you need to do is to casually read almost any newspaper or magazine and you will see an all-out frontal assault on your Christian Values.  There is a very real War being waged against most everything you believe, and it’s not over the simple things such as displaying a manger scene or the ten commandments anymore.  What is being assaulted is the very core of our beliefs. 

   The only way our children will gather the Christian tools necessary to combat the alternative life-style theologies of our modern culture is by keeping them, with their family, close to their church and the Word.  It is spiritually naïve to assume that such assaults on our Christian code of ethics does not and will not have an impact on the lives and life-styles of our families.  It is becoming more imperative to exercise and grow our faith  -- and that is done through regular worship, involvement and activity within the fellowship of the church.

   The Sixth Commandment has not and will not change.  It simply says:  Thou shalt not commit adultery – PERIOD – end of sentence – no rebuttal.  There is no new or higher morality which has redefined what the Lord has given us.  Cheating is wrong --  any and every kind of cheating.  What we teach here at St. Paul has not and will not change, simply because society wants to experiment with their values once again.  The Word of God alone will be our guide.

   Be that part of our society which stands up for Christian Virtue.  Help your children to do the same by making weekly attendance both at church and Sunday School a part of your family routine.  In our changing and challenging world, they need all the help you can give them.

                                                                      Pastor Murawski