The Decay of Morality

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Sunday Evening Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

November 16, 2003
The Decay of Morality

1. We would expect little argument against the claim that America (and much of the world) is experiencing a state of moral decay. All of us can cite instances of people accepting behavior that once would have been called wrong and sinful.

2. A recent Barna survey provides definite evidence of what our observations have told us is true. 1,024 adults were questions about whether or not they believed certain behaviors were morally acceptable. The chart shows the overall answers as well as replies from those who described themselves as evangelicals (who would be more likely to be guided in their thinking by Bible teaching) and atheists/agnostics (who, of course, would be less likely to be guided by Bible teaching than others).

Is this activity morally acceptable?

Behavior All Evangelicals Atheists/Agnostics

Using illegal drugs 17% 6% 38%

Homosexuality 30% 5% 55%

Getting drunk 35% 8% 61%

Using profanity 36% 7% 68%

Looking at pornography 38% 5% 70%

Abortion 45% 4% 71%

Heterosexual sex 42% 7% 69%
outside marriage

Gambling 61% 27% 75%

Another way of looking at the same issue is comparing responses from people of different ages. The survey results are revealing. Again the question -- Is this activity morally acceptable?

Behavior All 18-19 yrs old 58+ yrs old

Using illegal drugs 17% 20% 12%

Homosexuality 30% 40% 14%

Getting drunk 35% 50% 15%

Using profanity 36% 60% 20%

Looking at pornography 38% 50% 23%

Abortion 45% 55% 36%

Heterosexual sex 42% 54% 24%
outside marriage

Gambling 61% 75% 51%

3. Many conclusions can be drawn from all this information. One outstanding fact which should be evident to all of us is that the church has plenty of work to do. It is the role of Christians to let our light shine in the world [Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.]

I. LET THE LIGHT SHINE AT HOME

A. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. The training and admonition of the Lord certainly involves helping our young people equip themselves with the knowledge and wisdom to make moral decisions.

B. It isn't just children and teenagers who need grounding in moral truth. We hear of 65 year old men and women living together out of wedlock so their Social Security or retirement income from deceased spouses won't be affected. A 90 something year old woman recently appeared on the Tonight show. The only entertainment value in her appearance apparently was trying to see how many curse words she could fit into the shortest amount of time. While as a general rule, seniors are more likely than young adults to hold moral positions, it doesn't take with everybody. Everyone in the church needs teaching and grounding on fundamental questions of right and wrong. We need to deal with these issues in sermons and Bible classes. Through our private conversations and by the power of example, we need to show one another the right way.

B. Not all moral choices are clearly obvious to an untrained mind. People can be deceived.

1. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

2. Satan can transform himself into an angel of light [2 Corinthians 11:14]. False brethren can "by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple" [Romans 16:18]. They are simple not because they are mentally incompetent or unable to know the difference between right and wrong. Rather the word means "innocent" or "unsuspecting." Naive might be the word we'd use today. People can be led astray because they haven't been taught better.

3. Strong emotional appeals can be made on behalf of immoral activities. Take abortion as an example. "Surely a woman should be able to determine for herself what happens to her own body." This sounds good when most people have accepted at least certain tenets of feminism. This appeals to women's sense of independence. We would all agree that no woman should be forced to have sex against her will. We call that rape and send people to prison for forcing women to have sex. However, when women do have sex and when a child is conceived, the situation changes. It is no longer solely the woman's body. Another living person (with a body of his or her own) is growing inside the mother's body. What kind of moral standard justifies killing that innocent baby simply because the mother prefers not to have a child?

4. We've not heard the heart-rending defense yet. "Imagine a poor 15 year old girl who gets pregnant. . . . perhaps by rape. . . and faces the reality that she is totally unprepared and incompetent to be a mother. Teenage mothers often drop out of school. Her future will be ruined. Surely it is better for her to end the pregnancy, put this unfortunate experience behind her, and get on with her life." When hearing such an emotional appeal, it always a good idea to ask, "What's not being said? What are they leaving out?" In this case, what they are NOT saying is that "ending the pregnancy" means killing the baby growing in that girl's uterus.

5. We need to teach people to listen carefully. While we don't want to be cynical, we do want to have a healthy dose of skepticism. Don't be taken in. Examine the arguments people use to defend questionable moral activities. A clear-thinking mature person can almost always see the flaws in the reasoning which attempts to convince you that "It's okay to __________."

6. Compare what you hear with scripture. Search the Scriptures to see whether these things are so [Acts 17:11]. I'm old enough to remember when a lot of people thought it was wrong to play cards when no gambling was taking place. Some people thought it was a sin to have a pool table in your house because some bad things went on in pool halls. I even had someone tell me one time that it was wrong to listen to the radio. They weren't saying it is wrong to listen to some of the music you can hear on the radio -- I might agree with that. They were saying simply that just listening to anything being broadcast over the airwaves was sinful. So we end up at the same point when we approach this question from either direction. Nothing is wrong just because someone says it is wrong. Likewise, nothing is right just because someone says it's okay. The standard of Bible revelation must be used to answer our right or wrong questions. As we mature in our faith and knowledge of Bible truth, we're better able to discern the difference between good and evil [Hebrews 5:14 (NKJV) But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. ]

II. LET THE LIGHT SHINE IN THE WORLD AROUND US.

A. Return to Matthew 5:16. Jesus said "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." As important as teaching in our homes and in our classes and sermons is, we need to do more than "preach to the choir." We're the light of the world and the salt of the earth [Matthew 5:13-14]. Our influence has to extend beyond the borders of the kingdom. We need to make a difference in the conduct of people outside the church. We need to cause them to glorify God in their conduct. The big question is how do we accomplish such a task?

B. We can't force moral behavior on people who don't want to do right.

1. I am going to oppose legalized gambling, legalized alcohol, or legalized marijuana any time I get the opportunity. If something is illegal that serves to discourage some people from the conduct. So anti-drug, anti-alcohol, and anti-gambling laws serve a useful purpose as a deterrent -- to a certain extent.

2. However, Prohibition didn't stop people who really wanted to drink alcohol from drinking. They found a way to get illegal booze! Laws haven't stopped everyone from smoking pot or betting on football games.

C. We're smart enough to know that if we can change hearts and attitudes, we'll be able to change behavior. If you can truly convert your neighbor to Christ, he now has the power to conqueror his moral problems [Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.] We might get a certain sense of satisfaction by picketing outside an abortion clinic or street preaching at people who are headed into bars or strip clubs. But that's tilting with windmills . . . about the only good it does is build up our pride.

D. It's more demanding of us . . . but also more effective . . . to build relationships with neighbors and co-workers who are sinners . . . even those who are guilty of some real immoral behaviors . . . and find ways to impress those people with the power of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

1. While He was on earth, Jesus was recognized as "a friend of tax collectors and sinners" [Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34]. His approach worked. He was pretty successful in reaching a couple of tax collectors named Matthew and Zaccheus.

2. Every soul won is a victory. Our struggle is for the eternal kingdom. In this life, we're going to lose more of these battles than we win because Jesus taught that many will be lost and few will be saved [Matthew 7:13-14]. However, we do make a big difference in the world around us every time we turn one soul from Satan's side to Christ.

CONCLUSION

1. We must not compromise with the world [James 4:4 (KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.] Do not accommodate yourself to the world's values and standards. You know better . . . and you're accountable for what you know.

2. Don't give up the struggle against immorality everywhere around us. We know going in that we're going to lose more than we win. There are pleasures of sin and a great many people will choose those pleasures over behaving responsibly and righteously. But every soul we can convert to Christ . . . and keep faithful in the Lord's service . . . is one more soul in heaven and one fewer in hell. That is a victory worth celebrating!

3. Invitation

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