WHEN SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT ARE IMMORAL

The following is a study in which the reader is asked to look up each reference in their bibles.

What is the Christian to do in a Society that is accepting Homosexuality and other immoral acts as moral? The question implies that Society was once moral. This is misleading for there has never been a time when Societies have been completely moral. Solomon said in Eccl 1:9-10 that there is nothing new happening that was not done before. What is happening in America has happened repeatedly in the histories of the world.

Relatively speaking a society goes through stages beginning with higher levels of morality and decaying toward greater immorality. So that things, which Society once correctly recognized as evil, are seen as good and things once known as good are seen as evil. Much of Society sees nothing wrong with homosexuality, fornication, drunkenness (as long as you don't drive), foul language and a host of other things. Government and society demand that the people of this country become completely tolerant of such practices. This places the Christian in a dilemma. The Christian who is opposed to such things is seen as hateful, judgmental, ignorant and evil by growing numbers of our Society. Those seeking to justify the changing moral standards of society do so by slandering Christians because of their stand for right (Isaiah 5:20; 1 Peter 2:12; 3:16; 4:4). It is conceivable that in the future Christians may suffer judicial persecutions for simply teaching biblical moral standards. Long ago, Rome and others used this tactic in an effort to silence Christians. "There is nothing new under the sun!"

What is the Christian to do in this situation? A Christian must remain faithful to God. We cannot shirk our duty by being silent as if we are ashamed of the moral standards laid down in the New Testament (Mark 8:38)? To be a Christian is to be at war against all the teachings and ideas that are contrary to Christ and his word (2Corinthians 10:4-5). This is not a carnal war fought with guns, knives, fists and so on. It is a war of ideas and principles in which the Christian is to declare the word of God to a spiritually lost and dying people (2Timothy 4:1-5). For a Christian to be silent would be an act of indifference toward those who's disobedience to Gods gospel, will result in their eternal destruction (2Thessalonians 1:7-9). They must be warned of the coming judgment. Silence would be similar to watching a child crawl onto a busy roadway and do nothing to try to save it. There is no love in silence. The child of God will be held accountable for silence (Ezekiel 3:17-21; Ephesians 5:11-13).

It may be politically incorrect to speak out against homosexuality and a host of other sins. But it is spiritually and morally correct to do so. It is in the best interest of love to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:14-15). It may not be received as an act of love but then this too is not new. The Apostle Paul, after saying some very difficult things to the Galatians, asked: Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? Gal 4:16 While exposing sin, Christians are to be kind, gentle and humble remembering that we have sin in our past, which God has forgiven (Romans 3:23; Titus 3:1-3). It is to be in our prayers that others would come to know the truth and that they would repent of their sins and turn away from them. Every moment of life is a gift of time from God to the sinner, in hopes that they will turn to God and be saved from judgment to come (1Timothy 2:1-4; 2Peter 3:9; Acts 26:18; Acts 17:30-31).

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32

By Nick A. Nelson

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