Courtship and Marriage: Evil Beginnings

The world is very much gratified to see that the Church is becoming conformed to it more and more. Church, awake! Congregations and pastors, awake and be not mute dogs, but speak out!

1924 Hans Manthey Zorn The Lutheran Witness

The following article is the second in a series titled Courtship and Marriage from the 1924 volume of The Lutheran Witness, the official publication of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, by Rev. Hans Manthey Zorn.

The present situation reminds us of that other time, mentioned in Genesis 6, when the fear of God disappeared from the homes of men. The Bible tells of it in these words: "The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they chose." Even the God-fearing, the "children of God," had become altogether carnal, "flesh-minded," and refused to be corrected. So God said: "My Spirit shall not always strive with man," and He destroyed the earth in the great Flood. Woe unto the world when God takes His Holy Spirit from man! There may follow a season of prosperity, just as it did then, — for the sacred record says that there were mighty men then and men of renown; — but the judgment of God is sure to come.

The evil beginnings of the godless homes of our day doubtless must be traced to the loose sexual relations that obtain. Absolute shamelessness and sexual abandon is preached to the people in the show-houses, which are also frequented by church people, it is flashed at them from the bill-boards, it is unblushingly paraded in street-cars, on the street corners, and in automobiles. In schools where the Word of God does not prevail, especially in the secondary schools, as well as in house parties, there often becomes evident a shocking lack of restraint. Witness the dances carried on there. At high school functions and perhaps in many a "Christian" home one may see dances that certainly can no longer make any pretense to being expressions of art or healthful exercises; for they are vulgar and excite to beastly Just. "Beastly" is really not the proper word, for beasts do not artificially stimulate lust. Is it possible that at any time of the world there was more immoral dancing than today?

St. Peter wrote to Christians of those days: "They [the heathen] think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot." Are there not many young people in our churches today of whom the unbelieving world would not hold such an opinion ? And is it not true that in some places just such young people as are adept in the ways of the world are the leaders of the young people of their respective congregations and are setting the pace for our young people's activities? The world is very much gratified to see that the Church is becoming conformed to it more and more. Church, awake! Congregations and pastors, awake and be not mute dogs, but speak out!

At the same time our young people must work hard to earn their salary; which is all the more reason why they should not, merely from the viewpoint of good sense, "burn the candle at both ends" by spending their spare time, and more, in a storm of gaiety. No wonder, therefore, that nervous disorders are increasing most alarmingly.

Very few of those who are throwing themselves into a whirl of fun — we are speaking of those within the church — still have a desire to hear the Word of God. Parents are generally kept entirely in the dark as to any possible engagement for marriage. There still may be a case here or there where the parents will go too far and compel an engagement of their own choice regardless of the free will of their children, but in the great majority of cases parents seem to be entirely disregarded. As a result it is not often known whether a proper engagement has been entered into. A young man and a young woman who "went together" for quite a while suddenly no longer do so. One party may be heart-broken and ruined, while the other will say there was no engagement.

This "going together," in most cases, is rather a modern arrangement of questionable value. There is a sort of unwritten agreement, but no obligation, and a far more intimate relation than is warranted. Let us have a finer sense of honor! Let us have a proper regard for one anothers' souls!

Parents should open the eyes of their children in due time to the perils that surround them, to the stormy passions that are so easily aroused, and to the evil consequences. That young man of the world who so freely spends his money and lavishes flattering attentions upon a young woman is but a wolf who seeks to devour. What misery results if his desires are gratified! And that coquettish girl of the world, — how sadly that young man will be deceived who is captivated by her smiles, her mode of dressing, and her outward charms! Do not let your children walk blindfolded into the traps set for them!

Indianapolis, Ind.
H.M. Zorn