We are currently being made aware of one sexual scandal after another. We learn of new scandals among legislative leaders and entertainment icons. Should we be surprised at mass of revelations of sexual impropriety? Not really.
The prophet Hosea said a long time ago, "They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” Mankind sows the wind when sin becomes a way of life. Sin may not be punished immediately so man continues to sin. If sin is punished, it is not that bad of a punishment, so man continues in sin. Eventually, a tipping point is reached and a harvest is reaped that comes in like a whirlwind.
What is unfolding before our eyes with the downfall of large numbers of men in power is the byproduct of the sexual revolution which began in the 1960’s.
In the 1960’s an all-out assault on sexual mores was undertaken. The sexual revolution was sold in our society as a good thing. Sexual freedom would allow people to remove the shackles of repressive, puritanical morality and experience freedom. People are sexual beings, and they need to explore their sexuality when they feel ready, without fear of guilt or shame.
This theme has been drummed into our heads continually, especially in movies and on television. Think of shows like Friends or Sex in the City, which casually promote the idea that you can have sex with multiple partners with no effect on a future marriage relationship.
A culture was built as a consequence of the sexual revolution. The revolution has been in progress for more than 40 years. Now that the whirlwind is hitting, people in favor of that revolution are shocked that there are casualties.
The reality is that when you remove the moral fences around human nature, human nature runs wild. The revolutionaries told men and women it was perfectly acceptable to pursue sexual fulfillment with abandon. With no limits, what is coming out, in our time, regarding sexual immorality should not be a surprise.
We as a society used to have standards of behavior in regard to sexual morality. However, the societal revolutionaries destroyed decent behavior among men.
Once you have torn down the wall of sexual boundaries, can that moral wall be re-established? It can be re-established if men and women are willing to turn back to the biblical standards that guided our nation throughout most American history.
Imagine if we turned back to a one sentence guideline: You shall not commit adultery. Putting this one boundary back in place limits sexual interactions between men and women to marriage only. If this limit were heeded, there would be no sexual harassment since men and women would be dedicated to their spouse or the one who will become their spouse.
It would be wonderful to see a return to the morality God revealed in His word.
The good news is there is coming a time when that will be a reality. As Christians our hope is that day will come soon.
Enjoy God’s Sabbath day,
Gary Smith
Showing posts with label Morality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morality. Show all posts
Friday, December 1, 2017
Friday, August 5, 2016
Fake Culture Wars and True Prosperity
I did not watch any of the Republican National Convention, but I did make note of news reports and commentary. I thought a few comments from a speech as recorded in a July 22, 2016 staff article at CNSNews.com were significant enough to note them in this week’s Sabbath Thought.
In that article, it was noted by Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal that “fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline.”
“When I was a kid the great debate was about how to defeat the Soviet Union and we won. Now we are told that the great debate is about who gets to use which bathroom,” said Thiel. “This is a distraction from our real problems. Who cares? Of course, every American has a unique identity. I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American.
“I don’t pretend to agree with every plank in our party’s platform,” he said, “but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump.”
The supposed “fake culture war” involves the decades long battle over abortion, the elimination of the Bible and prayer from our schools, the battle over public school curricula that is growing ever more perverse, and the ongoing abandonment of values that have been fundamental to America’s Judeo-Christian ethic.
In essence, Peter Thiel assesses that the battle over traditional values is a waste of time and all that matters is the economy. Our economic decline, in his opinion, has nothing to do with morality.
The theme “It’s the economy stupid!” was fundamental to the Bill Clinton presidential era. For the people of that time, the morality standards of the leader of the country were irrelevant as long as he got the job done. People saw that the nation prospered during the time of his presidency and concluded that good governance did not hinge on morality.
We are quite a few years down the road from the Clinton era and the Republicans have come to the same conclusion, “It’s the economy stupid!” The problem with this conclusion is that it is completely wrong.
Morality and prosperity go hand in hand.
We only have to look at Leviticus 26 to understand how a nation prospers. We are told in Leviticus 26:3-13, 'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then:
Additionally, Leviticus 26 tells us what happens to a nation that becomes immoral. We are told in Leviticus 26:14-16, “'But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you.” Moses then recorded a long list of terrible outcomes that follow the abandonment of morality. None of the outcomes support the notion that it is meaningless to fight a cultural war for right values.
The sad reality is that both the Republican and Democratic conventions display the complete abandonment of the Christian ethic. Our leaders are blind to what truly matters. In their mind all that matters is economics—jobs and prosperity. Without morality long-term prosperity is a pipedream.
Thankfully, God has opened our minds to see that if we want to truly prosper, we must apply the principles found in the Bible. Will we be rich as a result? Probably not. But we can be sure that we will be blessed in this life, in what truly matters, and in the end we will be part of God’s family forever.
Have a happy Sabbath,
Gary Smith
In that article, it was noted by Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal that “fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline.”
“When I was a kid the great debate was about how to defeat the Soviet Union and we won. Now we are told that the great debate is about who gets to use which bathroom,” said Thiel. “This is a distraction from our real problems. Who cares? Of course, every American has a unique identity. I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American.
“I don’t pretend to agree with every plank in our party’s platform,” he said, “but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump.”
The supposed “fake culture war” involves the decades long battle over abortion, the elimination of the Bible and prayer from our schools, the battle over public school curricula that is growing ever more perverse, and the ongoing abandonment of values that have been fundamental to America’s Judeo-Christian ethic.
In essence, Peter Thiel assesses that the battle over traditional values is a waste of time and all that matters is the economy. Our economic decline, in his opinion, has nothing to do with morality.
The theme “It’s the economy stupid!” was fundamental to the Bill Clinton presidential era. For the people of that time, the morality standards of the leader of the country were irrelevant as long as he got the job done. People saw that the nation prospered during the time of his presidency and concluded that good governance did not hinge on morality.
We are quite a few years down the road from the Clinton era and the Republicans have come to the same conclusion, “It’s the economy stupid!” The problem with this conclusion is that it is completely wrong.
Morality and prosperity go hand in hand.
We only have to look at Leviticus 26 to understand how a nation prospers. We are told in Leviticus 26:3-13, 'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then:
- We will have rain at the right time
- Bountiful harvests and plenty to eat
- Peace in the land and none will make you afraid
- You will overcome your enemies
- Abundant livestock
- And many children
Additionally, Leviticus 26 tells us what happens to a nation that becomes immoral. We are told in Leviticus 26:14-16, “'But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you.” Moses then recorded a long list of terrible outcomes that follow the abandonment of morality. None of the outcomes support the notion that it is meaningless to fight a cultural war for right values.
The sad reality is that both the Republican and Democratic conventions display the complete abandonment of the Christian ethic. Our leaders are blind to what truly matters. In their mind all that matters is economics—jobs and prosperity. Without morality long-term prosperity is a pipedream.
Thankfully, God has opened our minds to see that if we want to truly prosper, we must apply the principles found in the Bible. Will we be rich as a result? Probably not. But we can be sure that we will be blessed in this life, in what truly matters, and in the end we will be part of God’s family forever.
Have a happy Sabbath,
Gary Smith
Friday, October 30, 2015
God's Unchanging Standard
As promised in last week’s Sabbath thought, I want continue the discussion about the benefits of standardization. This week we will look at this subject from a more spiritual perspective.
At one time in America, Protestant Christianity was the standard. Judeo-Christian morality was commonly accepted. Christianity was a routine part of American society.
However, our world has dramatically changed what is now standard. An assistant football coach helps to illustrate our changing standards in regard to what is religiously accepted.
Joe Kennedy was a coach at Bremerton High School in the state of Washington. Since 2008, the coach has offered on-field prayers at the 50-yard line after each game. While he typically goes on the field to pray alone, students and players often voluntarily join Kennedy — and that is what has sparked controversy and concerns over the separation of church and state.
Because of the school district’s concern over separation of church and state, the coach was told to cease these public prayers.
The coach felt that this restriction placed on him by the school district was an infringement on his religious liberty as an American. He continued to pray after a game and ended up being suspended as an assistant football coach.
There was a time in America when praying before or after a football game would not have been controversial but standards have changed.
How will this religious freedom issue work out in 21st century America? Time will give the answer to that question.
As Christians, we know that there is an unchanging standard in which we can have unwavering confidence. We know that God and His spiritual standard does not change. Let’s consider a few scriptural passages that illustrate this point:
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” God does not change in His nature, His purposes and His promises. If God were changeable He would have consumed the Jews for their sins.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James tells us that good and perfect gifts come down from heaven, “from the Father of lights.” God is the creator of these heavenly lights; He himself is nothing but light. Therefore, darkness cannot exist in the presence of God. In this light, God displays his holiness, goodness, love, integrity, and unchangeableness.
In the New Testament Commentary by Hendrikson and Kistemaker, they “Note that James calls God the “Father” of lights and uses this figure of speech to illustrate God's absolute stability. God “does not change like shifting shadows.” The being, nature, and characteristics of God are unchangeable (Mal. 3:6). As the earth, sun, moon, and stars move in their ordained courses, we observe the interplay of light and darkness, day and night, the longest and the shortest day of the year, the waning and the waxing of the moon, eclipses, and the movements of the planets. Nature is subject to variation and change. Not so with God! He is the Father of the heavenly lights, who is always light and does not change. He has an abiding interest in his children.”
Finally consider Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ embodies the same standard at all time as does the heavenly Father.
As we consider the world of men, standards change over time. God never changes in His character or in His truth. God’s unchanging standard gives us confidence as we go about our lives.
As we observe the weekly Sabbath, rejoice in God’s unchanging standard.
Gary Smith
At one time in America, Protestant Christianity was the standard. Judeo-Christian morality was commonly accepted. Christianity was a routine part of American society.
However, our world has dramatically changed what is now standard. An assistant football coach helps to illustrate our changing standards in regard to what is religiously accepted.
Joe Kennedy was a coach at Bremerton High School in the state of Washington. Since 2008, the coach has offered on-field prayers at the 50-yard line after each game. While he typically goes on the field to pray alone, students and players often voluntarily join Kennedy — and that is what has sparked controversy and concerns over the separation of church and state.
Because of the school district’s concern over separation of church and state, the coach was told to cease these public prayers.
The coach felt that this restriction placed on him by the school district was an infringement on his religious liberty as an American. He continued to pray after a game and ended up being suspended as an assistant football coach.
There was a time in America when praying before or after a football game would not have been controversial but standards have changed.
How will this religious freedom issue work out in 21st century America? Time will give the answer to that question.
As Christians, we know that there is an unchanging standard in which we can have unwavering confidence. We know that God and His spiritual standard does not change. Let’s consider a few scriptural passages that illustrate this point:
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” God does not change in His nature, His purposes and His promises. If God were changeable He would have consumed the Jews for their sins.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James tells us that good and perfect gifts come down from heaven, “from the Father of lights.” God is the creator of these heavenly lights; He himself is nothing but light. Therefore, darkness cannot exist in the presence of God. In this light, God displays his holiness, goodness, love, integrity, and unchangeableness.
In the New Testament Commentary by Hendrikson and Kistemaker, they “Note that James calls God the “Father” of lights and uses this figure of speech to illustrate God's absolute stability. God “does not change like shifting shadows.” The being, nature, and characteristics of God are unchangeable (Mal. 3:6). As the earth, sun, moon, and stars move in their ordained courses, we observe the interplay of light and darkness, day and night, the longest and the shortest day of the year, the waning and the waxing of the moon, eclipses, and the movements of the planets. Nature is subject to variation and change. Not so with God! He is the Father of the heavenly lights, who is always light and does not change. He has an abiding interest in his children.”
Finally consider Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ embodies the same standard at all time as does the heavenly Father.
As we consider the world of men, standards change over time. God never changes in His character or in His truth. God’s unchanging standard gives us confidence as we go about our lives.
As we observe the weekly Sabbath, rejoice in God’s unchanging standard.
Gary Smith
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