A spirit of violence and death pervades American entertainment media. Dysfunctional, violent and aggressive "lifestyles" bring to mind the decay of civilizations and the warnings of biblical prophets.

Although our youth may experience violence of epic proportions in the next century, this is nothing new. The Bible describes periods of pervasive violence. Ezekiel prophesied to a generation in Jerusalem that was later wiped out in one of the bloodiest periods of Old Testament history: "Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness ... The land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence". To many secular prophets, the gloomy trends of youthful violence are a harbinger of a crisis of biblical proportions.

A spirit of violence and death pervades American entertainment media. Dysfunctional, violent and aggressive "lifestyles" bring to mind the decay of civilizations and the warnings of biblical prophets.

Although our youth may experience violence of epic proportions in the next century, this is nothing new. The Bible describes periods of pervasive violence. Ezekiel prophesied to a generation in Jerusalem that was later wiped out in one of the bloodiest periods of Old Testament history: "Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness ... The land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence" (Ezekiel 7:11, 23-24).

The social illness underlying the violence then and now are the same. The American problem can be traced in large part to a breakdown of family structure and cohesion. The Bible pinpoints this breakdown as a fundamental cause of violence.

"... The Lord was a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did not one God make her? ... And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless" (Malachi 2:14-16, New Revised Standard Version). 7:11, 23-24).

The social illness underlying the violence then and now are the same. The American problem can be traced in large part to a breakdown of family structure and cohesion. The Bible pinpoints this breakdown as a fundamental cause of violence.

"... The Lord was a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did not one God make her? ... And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless" (Malachi 2:14-16, New Revised Standard Version). GN