The New Moral (Dis)Order

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
–Matthew 24:12

We keep hearing that our culture is evolving, that we are getting better and better as a civilization. But the evidence suggests the contrary: we are devolving as a nation and as a world. This week we will look at what the Bible says about the moral deterioration of our world and how it is a precursor to the return of Jesus Christ.

First, consider the spiritual deterioration of our culture. Pew Research released a survey revealing that the number of Christians is declining in America. For the first time, the number of people who don’t identify with any faith has risen to almost one-fourth of our population. This decline in Christianity doesn’t just affect Christians; it affects our entire nation. For the first 200 years, our nation benefited from a Christian foundation. Although the beliefs of Christianity were not accepted by everyone, everyone benefited from that Christian foundation. It gave our nation a common understanding of right and wrong. But now that foundation is eroding, and we are seeing the cultural effects of a nation that has moved away from God.

Second, consider the spiritual and moral deterioration in the family. In 2014, we experienced the lowest rate of marriage in 93 years. That presents all kinds of instability in society, such as single parents. Also, since 1960, the divorce rate in our country has nearly doubled.

Third, consider the deterioration of our culture in violence. Every year there are over one million violent crimes in our country. In 1947 sociologist Dr. Carle Zimmerman wrote a book entitled “Family and Civilization.” In that book, he identified 11 symptoms of decay that caused the fall of the Roman and Greek civilizations: no-fault divorce; disrespect for parents; meaningless marriage ceremonies; defamation of past heroes; acceptance of alternative marriage forms; widespread attitudes of feminism, narcissism, and hedonism; anti-family sentiment; acceptance of adultery; rebellious children; increased juvenile delinquency; acceptance of sexual perversion. Do any of those sound familiar? We are seeing these symptoms more and more in our nation.

How do we reverse this downward trend? In a word: repentance. We need to have a change of mind that leads to a change of direction in our lives. Instead of rebelling against what God has said, we need to start obeying what God has said. We will never experience God’s blessing when we are rebelling against Him. No individual, no nation will be blessed that rebels against God.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “The New Moral (Dis)Order” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2015.

“America’s Changing Religious Landscape,” Pew Research Center, May 12, 2015, http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape; Paul Bedard, “Census: Marriage Rate at 93-Year Low, Even Including Same-Sex Couples,” Washington Examiner, September 28, 2014, http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/census-marriage-rate-at-93-year-low-even-including-same-sex-couples/article/2553600.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.