The ExpressRays: society

Values are set codes of conduct that govern human behaviour and actions. There are objective moral actions that are not subject to race or creed. From childhood, the family which is the smallest unit of the society inculcates these values into the child's system which becomes part of his life.  The child grows with these values such as respect for elders, decency, honesty, cleanliness and so on. These are generally called value system which shapes the social life of an individual within the society. And so value system is established and form the basis of character formation.  
Having established values as part of subconscious system of an individual, how long do they last within an individual? Growth and development of an individual is influenced by factors of socialization such as family, school, peer group, church and environment and these influence value system. 
Each of these factors are change agent in growth and development either positively or negatively. New values are formed and some old ones are lost or distorted by influence.  A decent child finally grows up to become wayward in campus and so on. That is what influence of peer group or environment does to one's value system. One with honesty and discipline gets into a work environment full of laxity and Corruption and turn out to be influenced by the trend. Hardship or circumstances can make one's values compromised . Thus value system can be distorted or lost.  
Since values can be lost, the need for value re-orientation is inevitable. There is the need to strengthen one's value system as often as possible. The social ills are evidences of this collapse in value system. 
First, value orientation is an awakening of the subconscious mind to the principle of good and evil.  
Value Orientation harmonizes order and peace, straightens adherence to the law and promotes justice. 
When there is a re-orientation of values it fosters sustainable development. This is because values are needed in every sector of human endeavor. 
Value orientation is an essential tool in interpersonal relationship and harmonious coexistence in the society. 
With values orientation, sustainable character is developed. Hence government should promote value orientation policies. 
The media has a role in sensitizing people on the need for upholding values in the society. 
Religious bodies can strengthen value system in individual lives through their teachings.  
The place of value cannot be overemphasized to ensure a stable society. 
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The Need for Value Orientation

Values are set codes of conduct that govern human behaviour and actions. There are objective moral actions that are not subject to race or c...

The identity of a people called out and sanctified with a divine mandate is not in the structural edifices that are symbols of their presence but in the unity of their faith. The church, the voice and conscience of the society, is faced with emerging trends and issues of a world at a fast pace with globalization and modernization flanked on both sides of the truth. One of these issues as it relates to individuals in the society which includes the church is sexuality. So the church is faced with two inevitable options; conform to the world's global trends or stand on the truth for which its known for. 
Etymologically, the term "church"  from the greek translated word "ecclesia" simply means "people called out". It implies people separated and united by their faith and belief, different and unique from the rest. Our Lord Jesus paraphrased this meaning in Matt  5:13-14, " You are the salt of the earth....the light of the world" refering to specific people. Irrespective of denomination or sect, the church is a group of people called out from the world, whose lifestyle are different and tasty like the salt and shows the light of the way to the Truth for the world to see. It goes beyond a physical building or structure as beautiful as it may look but a body of people called out. Thus, the church is the light and salt of the society. It is the moral guide and guard to the world, the voice and conscience of the contemporary society.
The contemporary society which is the society of today, has experienced impact of modernization and development at different spheres of life. With advanced science and technology, the society has become "customized", life made easier and more improved. With advanced telecommunication system, transportation, industrialization, banking system, to mention but a few, the contemporary society is such that one would love to enjoy twice. However, as numerous as the advantages are the problems that characterize the contemporary society. One these negative impacts of the contemporary society is moral decadence. 
Prior to the days of "Jet age", morality was a strong virtue and chastity used to be pride. Not until contemporary society evolved with promotion of nudity on t.v screens, campus, streets and even church with the invention of micro indecent wears. Morality began to lose its grip on the society, particularly among the younger generation, premarital sex became "fun" and "ok", chastity became scarce, traditional values and orientation on sexuality became forgotten. Seeing bum shots on the street became a trendy fashion, exposure of body became adorable than abominable to behold. Even among Christians, adjectives such as "You look hot, sexy, seductive" became a frequently used vocabulary, things fell apart, moral values became eroded by craze for "trendy and stylish". And so we found ourselves in such a picture of a contemporary society with the church in the middle. 
There are church values, these are principles which the church holds strongly as rooted in the scriptures which is the base of the Christian faith. One of these church values is morality. As it pertains to sexuality, sex before marriage is against the church values, that means contrary to the bible. No matter the name given to it by the society such as " making love, having fun" and various slangs, it does not change the stand of the church or the bible towards sex. Although the church, with respect to different denominations, seems to be silent over the issue of sex. Sex is rarely preached against and the society seems to be swallowing the voice of the church on this matter. And so in the contemporary society we see a contemporary church that manifests spiritual and charismatic gifts but sick with the sex-driven syndrome of the society. 
Sure, if this were to be a sermon, it does not sound too exciting but that is what the church is meant to be, a voice, a salt and a light to the changing world.

The Church and Sex in a Contemporary Society

The identity of a people called out and sanctified with a divine mandate is not in the structural edifices that are symbols of their presenc...