CRUMBLING STANDARDS

     Some years ago, probably with the birth and growth of modern

rationalism, there arose an attitude dedicated to the "DEBUNKING" of

most of the modes of human conduct. Patriotism; honesty; chastity;

honest toil; thrift; personal responsibility for aged parents; the

belief in the verbal inspiration of the scriptures basic to a

recognition of their absolute authority over human conduct; belief

in God; belief in the deity of Jesus of Nazareth, His virgin birth,

His resurrection from the dead, and is consequent ascension and

glorification at God's right hand; along with other standards of

human conduct which have been sacred through many weary centuries of

time have become the targets of the dedicated "debunkers." The fruit

of their efforts are seen on every hand. The standards which have

stood the test of centuries have crumbled and fallen ruins leaving a

great portion of the world dedicated to sensuality, to greed, and to

violence. The moral decadence of our country may be read in the cold

statistics of juvenile delinquency; divorce; crime; alcoholism;

socialism; pornographic literature and web sites; movies and

television; nudity and semi-nudity of respectable society; greed and

theft in highest governmental circles, etc.

     Even in the midst of those who claim to be religious people;

religious organizations who claim scriptural authority for existing;

we find this spirit at work. Social drinking, dancing, mixed

bathing, semi-nudity, gambling (football and baseball pools, betting

on golf, buying chances, bingo, etc.) are not only practiced by many

but defended as proper. We neither are prudes nor extremists

relative to Christian living, but we believe that there are certain

high, ethical principles to which every Christian must subscribe and

by which every child of God must order his life. These principles

are timeless; they are as eternal as God Himself.

     The religion of Jesus Christ demands more of mankind that the

satisfying of the fleshly body, it demands a spiritual life of

service and consecration. The Christian must live free from the

sinful things of the flesh to the very best of his or her ability.

        Jack Thompson, preacher for the White Park church of Christ

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