There have been numerous accusations brought before the American people concerning the President of the United States.  We have learned, in lurid details, the alleged sexual misconduct of our Chief Executive.  There has been a "feeding frenzy" in the nation's capitol concerning this. Hundreds of reporters are combing through records, staking out apartments, and camped out at the White House pursuing this story. 

        It is not my intention to pass judgment on the guilt or innocence of our President.  He has a legal presumption of innocence.  When all the facts are made public, it may very well turn out to be just a bunch of slander, innuendo, and rumors.  But there is one thing that fascinates me through all of this.  It is the seeming indifference of many toward sexual
immorality itself.  It seems that we have reached a point in this country that many, though not all, believe that it doesn't matter what a person does and that we cannot say that any sexual conduct is wrong morally.

        Our country has been conditioned over a period of several decades to become indifferent to immorality.  We have evolved from a nation that wanted no public talk about sex to a nation that is drowning in a sea of sex.  We now have entertainers who make no secret of their homosexuality. We even know of their lovers.  Many who are heterosexuals have lovers without the "encumbrance" of marriage.  It is not unusual to hear of stars being interviewed about the birth of their children and know that they are unmarried.  Nudity, homosexuality, and profanity has recently surfaced on the major networks.  Can we expect that it will stop with that?  Abortion, once a taboo among an overwhelming majority of citizens, has become accepted as another birth control method. 

        Why has all of this take place in our society?  Books could be written on the causes but let me just mention a couple.
 

        1.      The theory of evolution bears a major responsibility for the breakdown in our nation's morals.  This is especially true when it comes to those in leadership positions in the entertainment industry, media, and government.  When one looks at himself as simply a link on the evolutionary chain, morality, at least Judeo-Christian morals, simply do
not make sense.  If we are just "intelligent apes" then what is the harm in homosexuality, sexual infidelity and uncleanness, alcohol and drug abuse, etc., as long as it doesn't harm someone else.  Evolution is clearly a denial of God as our creator and that we have any responsibility toward Him.  Evolution has permeated our society and caused many not to consider the consequences of their actions.  Thus, "they profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable,
disobedient, and disqualified for every good work" (Titus 1:16).

        2.      Humanism, evolution's twin sister, has also taken its' toll on our morals.  Humanism states that man is the center of the universe.  We are not answerable to anyone but ourselves.  This is the philosophy that you hear so often.  "What business is it of your's who I sleep with?"  Every man is his own judge on matters of right and wrong.  We are like the children of Israel of old.  "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6)  this led to disaster for Israel, and will led to disaster for our nation as well. 

        3.      Finally, Atheism, has to be cited as one of the root causes of our national problems.  There has been a concerted effort to remove God from our public life, all in the name of separation of church and state. There is a school in Alabama where the federal court has sent hall monitor (snitches) to make sure that non student prays anywhere in the
schools.  Our founding fathers enshrined the freedom of religion in our constitution, not the freedom from religion.The constitutional convention started each day with prayer.  Is it any surprise that since the baby boomers and after have been raised up without God that restraints have been removed from conduct?  Paul tells us, "because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:21-22).  Is it any wonder that many think that morality doesn't matter?
 
 

Part 2

        Last week we talked about how our country has changed its attitude toward morality.  This week we will look at how those changing attitudes have affected the Lord's church.

        We must never make the mistake of believing that the attitudes of the world do not influence the church.  There is a tendency for problems outside the body of Christ to eventually seep into the church.  For example, the problem we now have in the church with the desire for entertainment instead of worship has troubled the denominational world for years before it ever reared its head among us.

        We should not be surprised by problems in the church with immorality.  The church had a problem with it in the first century.  Paul tells us, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).  Paul urges Christians to not let themselves be shaped into the mold of the world.  The church at Corinth had a problem with a brother openly living with his father's wife  (1 Corinthians 5:1).
 

        Brethren, there is a growing tendency to accept such things as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, etc. in the body.  Many among us have been going through contortions trying to "prove" that those who are guilty of adultery have a right to remain with the person they have committed sin with.  Divorces go on in the church, with adultery often in the mix, and guilty ones are neither withdrawn from, or called on to repent. Congregations accept those living in immorality without any question. These are not cases where the sin has taken place twenty and thirty years ago, but cases where the divorce papers are still fresh.  Abortion is being defended by some among us.  And finally, there is the first stirring of
brethren calling for more "understanding" of homosexuals among us. 

        And there's more.  It is open knowledge that social drinking takes place among many Christians, and preachers never preach against it.  Many among us also dress immodestly, not just on the beach or at the pool, but at the assembly.   When preachers and elders bring up these things many members will say, "You have no business prying into our personal lives."

        To refresh our knowledge of the will of God let's look at these passages. 

        1 Corinthians 6:18-  "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."
 

        Matthew 19:9-  ""And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.""

        Matthew 5:27-28  ""You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

        1 Corinthians 7:2-  "Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband."

        Brethren, we must not allow ourselves to be influenced by the world.  God wants the sexual relationship to be an exclusive one.  The Bible is clear on this matter.  Sexual relationships outside  our relationship with our spouse is wrong.  It is a sin against our body, our mate, against the church, and against our Lord who redeemed us from the world.   "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20).