Fantasy Romance
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
Two weeks ago the Orlando Sentinel must have burst somebody’s bubble with the data they reported. Even though it is only at the bottom of page B4, the headline of the news blurb reads: “Sexually Transmitted Diseases Rise in State.” This August 17, 2014 article reports: “infectious cases of syphilis have more than doubled during the past decade—and more than tripled in Hillsborough County….” This county includes Tampa. Cases of chlamydia have almost doubled throughout the state in the past ten years and more than doubled in the Tampa area. Instances of reported gonorrhea have risen more slowly and mostly in Hillsborough County.
This is disturbing news because these types of diseases are not supposed to exist. When was the last time a television show or movie featured a romance with any of these problems? A man and a woman meet: she’s “hot,” and he’s cool, and pretty soon they are committing fornication or adultery, but they never end up with such diseases—not even when they are promiscuous. Why, everyone knows that sex is for recreation, and there are rarely any bad side effects. Okay, occasionally an unexpected pregnancy occurs, but no one is supposed to end up with health problems.
Or so people are persuaded to believe. Perhaps a high school girl is dating a guy who convinces her to be intimate with him. He will tell her he loves her and that she should prove her love to him. As in the song, C’Mon, Eileen” (1983), he tells her: “At this moment, you mean everything.” The key phrase is at this moment. Who knows when all of those positive feelings may turn to negative ones, as was the case with Amnon’s treatment of Tamar? The Shirelles (the first all-female group to have a #1 single) asked the musical question back in 1961: “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” And the answer is frequently, “Probably not.” And how sure is she that the guy has not been with other women or even a prostitute?
Is it possible that a person contemplating one sin might be guilty of another—that is, lying? Fornication is a sin—something to flee from (1 Cor. 6:18). Anyone who is willing to violate God’s law in this regard would probably have no qualms about being less than truthful about other relationships. Why do men and women also assume that they are so attractive that a potential “lover” is only interested in them (and no one else)?
The same is true with adultery. If a married man is willing to have a “relationship” with one woman who is not his wife, how can she be sure he is not also seeing other women or will after a time be with someone other than her? If a man cheats on his wife with a single woman and even goes so far so to divorce his wife to marry her, what guarantee does she have he will not cheat on her, also? The answer may be rooted in ego: “That was her, but this is me.” Truly, pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
The news article affirmed that “most sexually transmitted diseases are fairly easily preventable.” This is so true—by abstaining from illicit relationships. Abstinence works every time it is tried. Single men and women who practice 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 do not have to worry about being lied to or making unscheduled trips to the doctor. Those who refrain from having extra-marital affairs likewise remain safe (if their mate shares the same philosophy).
In the fantasy world that Hollywood constructs, the young unmarried couple is always in love. The pair married to others should have really been with each other because they are “soul-mates.” Ah, nothing is so exhilarating as being in love again. Maybe that’s the reason that some have one affair after another. No matter how sordid, however, Hollywood can make it seem wonderful and necessary. With a fantasy, everything can work out beautifully–even if struggles must be overcome. In real life, people cope with diseases.