September 16
September 16
When a culture turns from God, it always descends into some kind of moral decay.
It’s not hard to argue that the four most important words in the Bible are the first four: “In the beginning, God” (Gen. 1:1). These words place God where he is meant to be: at the beginning and in the center of all that is. Human beings were designed to live Godward lives. Everything we think, desire, say, and do was meant to bow to his existence, his glory, and his plan. The purpose and direction of every cultural institution were to be shaped by God’s presence and will. People were never meant to be at the center. Human will was never meant to be the final decider of what is good, right, or true. Human pleasure was never meant to be the driver of human motivation. Human rationality was never meant to function outside of divine revelation. Human creativity was never meant to express itself outside of the Creator’s will. Humans were never designed to have self-sufficient power or autonomy. Everything in a human being’s life was meant to exist inside of a recognition of the presence, power, wisdom, and authority of God.
So, when a culture turns its back on God, denies his authority, and follows personal pleasure, good things do not result. In fact, a progressive descent into various kinds of moral decay and corruption always follows. The corruption works its way into every aspect of culture: the family, education, the arts, government and politics, medicine, and all kinds of other cultural structures. Moral decay doesn’t happen all at once, but eventually society devolves into moral chaos.
Sadly, you see this progressive moral decay in the people of God in the Old Testament. Though sad to read, this account has been preserved for us as a warning by a God who loves his children dearly. This moral chaos is graphically portrayed for us in the book of Amos:
Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals—
those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
a man and his father go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
the wine of those who have been fined.” (Amos 2:6–8)
Think about what Amos is describing. A sure sign of moral decay is social injustice. Social injustice here is described as justice sold like a commodity while the desperate condition of the poor is denied or ignored. Remember: Amos isn’t describing pagan nations. He is describing the people of God.
Decay always happens when God isn’t central. Pray for keeping and preserving grace, that God would stay central in everything you desire and do.