The Lasting Affects of Immorality
Sunday, July 27, 2008 Labels: morals, sin 5 commentsWe all know the story of God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19 describes Lot's escape from the sinful cities. However, it is rarely talked about what happened after the escape.
Lot dwelt in a cave in the mountains (v 30). His daughters were so corrupted with immorality that they contrived to be impregnated by their own father.
Genesis 19:31-36
"Now the firstborn said to the younger, 'Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him that we may preserve the lineage of our father.' So they made made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, 'Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him that we may preserve the lineage of our father.' Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father."
The two sons born of incest became the progenitors of Moab and Ammon, Israel's longstanding enemies.
Questions:
Does an immoral society always take a long time to turn around?
Do you see America's morality declining?
How amazing is God's plan that Ruth was a Moabite, yet played such an important role?
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
C.S. Lewis wrote about the cultural moulders who would be in places of influence corrupting a culture. Christians need to reclaim those high places and turn the tide of our nation, not by force, but by example.
Karla,
Thanks for the comment. I agree, Christians need to lead by example. There is a Christian comedian by the name of Brad Stine who said that Christians are obsessed with homosexual marriage (and rightfully so), but look at the divorce rate even among Christians. Is that not also a blemish on the sanctity of marriage?
I am not sure by what you define as force, but I would say that we need to confront wickedness. I believe this can be done in a loving manner and not being a sissy at the same time.
Morality declining? I'd say it's close to vanished. The problem is that what used to be "moral" issues aren't anymore. Everything is considered to be normal, and we're all supposed be be understanding and accepting of it.
I'm not so sure it's the government's job to enforce morality, though. Leading by example is one thing, but we can't legislate it.
The only things our society considers moral or immoral anymore is the most heinous of crimes. Murder, rape, etc. But aside from that, there is no morality issue to most people today.
I believe a big part of the problem is that we put value to sin.
Immorality doesn't just happen on its own. It builds slowly, and while we arent always looking. Look at TV for example. Swear words on TV?? I remember when that wasnt allowed, what made it okay? It became socially acceptable.
Once something has been accepted as "okay" with society, it is much harder to take that back and say it is wrong.
We idolize people without morals. When a celebrity does something, and millions watch it, and its appears "cool" or whatever you wanna call it, it spreads.
Immorality is a disease, it spreads slowly and impacts everyone. It dulls our senses and changes our daily life.
Christians, in the last days, will be the only ones showing love, and when the true believers leave, it will be obvious that love has left with them.
The problem with enforcing it goes further, McQ. A government that is dominated by wicked, immoral men will not pursue justice, but rather will be just as Godless in its prosecutions and punishments as the people it is hauling before the court. We already see many signs of that now.