The New Morality

Western society in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has experienced major changes in prevailing moral standards. The Church has clearly felt the impact, and many of us seem uncertain how we should react to “the new morality”.

Sexual Standards and Non-Traditional Relationship Issues

Probably the highest profile changes have to do with our perception of sexual standards – and the highest profile of those may be the changing views regarding same sex relationships. Several well known leaders have publicly switched sides, and now say that two consenting adults, regardless of gender, should be allowed to marry if they wish to do so.

Although it has been clearly understood that (by scriptural standards) relationships between men and women are to be limited to those who are married to one another in monogamous heterosexual relationships, during recent years, some pastors and priests have encouraged couples to “try” marriage before actually “tying the knot”, and some have seen fit to “bless” non-traditional relationships.

Divorce Rates Are Getting Higher

Even though divorce has been strongly discouraged by Biblical faiths, today’s failure rate for marriage hovers around 50%, and isn’t noticeably different between “believers” and “unbelievers”. Relationships outside of marriage reflect the evolving standards, with church members behaving very much the same as their “unchurched” neighbors.

Unwed Pregnancy Is a Matter of Pride

A report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the percentage of live births to single mothers in the USA in 2007 (the last year for which complete data is available) was about 40%, and among certain ethnic and cultural groups was far above 50%. There seems to no longer be any discernible stigma attached to sexual activity or birth outside of marriage. In many cases, unwed pregnancy actually seems to be a matter of pride.

Religious Beliefs Affect Our Actions

It shouldn’t surprise us when people who profess no religious beliefs promote such choices, but since scripture is clear in rejecting sexual activity outside of traditional marriage, how is the church to justify its’ tendency to join the movement? Is sin less sinful when it is enjoyed by the people that we love?

Oh, that’s right – prevailing PC (politically correct) thought is that Christians should show compassion and understanding to all!

Treat the “Sinners” Just Like Jesus Did

We who call ourselves Christian should seek direction from the teachings and the practices of the Lord Jesus Christ, for whom our movement is named — He whom we profess to follow. The religious leaders of His day believed that a righteous person should completely shun any individual who was known to be “a sinner.” Yet, on numerous occasions, the Lord Jesus interacted gently, kindly and lovingly with people whom the Pharisees and Sadducees called “sinners”.

God Loves the Sinners BUT Hates Sin

In no case do we find Him condemning or mistreating sinners. He actually seemed to be sympathetic to their situations. BUT— Although the Lord was consistently loving and considerate toward sinners, He DID NOT EVER condone sin. He was kind and considerate, yet He specifically instructed people to “sin no more”. (See John 5:14, John 8:11)

The church should no more condone popular sins than it should accept those that are socially despised. Whether the sinner is a son or daughter, brother or sister, uncle or aunt, mother or father — or an unknown person of a different race and social class — we DO NOT have the authority to redefine behaviors as acceptable or unacceptable to match the preferences of our families or our peers.

If God hated an action or behavior thousands of years ago, He still hates it in our “enlightened” age. If He loved it then, He loves it now. Although our standards have evolved, His have not!

“For I am the LORD, I do not change;” - (Malachi 3:6a NKJV)

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!” - (Isaiah 5:20-21 NKJV)

How can the church properly relate to people who are living in ways that violate the clear commands of scripture? We should love them, we should understand them, we should help them, we should share our Christian testimony with them – and we should clearly and unapologetically encourage them to “sin no more”.