Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith Jehovah" (Jeremiah 6:15). Our nation has never sunk as low in sin as we have today. Technology allows a young girl or boy to take pornographic and risqué pictures of themselves (or have others take the pictures) and download them on the internet on sites such as YouTube and others. The vilest profanity is used without any thought that it might be wrong or offensive to others. Recently we read that about 50% of all first marriages would end in divorce, 60% of second marriages would also, and in third marriages the odds were three to one against it lasting. Nationally, 40% of all our children are in single parent homes! Children need both fathers and mothers in the home! Solomon wrote, "Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). Why is all this happening?

Our nation was founded upon the principles of the Bible, not Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism. When you read letters, documents and other official correspondence by the Fathers of our nation, there are many quotations from our Bible. We think that any fair-minded person can understand the correlation of banishing the Bible from the public place and the increase of sin and lawlessness. In addition to that, godless evolution, humanism, new-ageism, situation ethics, etc., have caused morality to deteriorate even further. In addition to all this, most homes, even those with both a husband and wife (particularly where both hold jobs outside the home), all are going at such a pace that there is no time for daily Bible readings and devotions, or even the family closeness that used to characterize the American family. We could also mention the lax attitude both in the schools and homes concerning the teaching of personal responsibility and discipline.

What do we do about this? First of all, God's Word, the Bible, must be once again enshrined in the hearts and homes of Americans. When a man and woman marry, they must understand that it is for life (Romans 7:1-3). When children arrive they must prioritize their lives, so that there is time to teach and mold their character according to the teachings of the Bible (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 2 Timothy 3:14-17). Discipline must also be applied consistently so that they will learn to obey. After all, discipline is a genuine mark of love. Even God said, "My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:5-6; see also Ephesians 6:1-4). Most of us who are older remember being punished when we misbehaved, and although it wasn't fun or pleasant, today we understand the importance of it (Hebrews 12:9). There is something drastically wrong when society gets to the point where they are unashamed and not embarrassed by the nudity, violence, vile language, and sexual promiscuity that is so prevalent today! Are you ever embarrassed? Do you still have the ability to blush, or have you become so hardened by the things that have bombarded you in recent years that you have lost those capabilities? If you cannot, shame on you!

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband." "So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man."

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:" "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;" "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."