The book of Proverbs states, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).  Having defined sin as the transgression of God’s law or standard (1 John 3:4), let us look at one of the catalogs of sin mentioned in the Book of Books.

In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul gives us a list of sins that are, or at least should be, a reproach to any people.  This is especially applicable to a nation that considered itself righteous.  The United States, established and founded on Christianity, desperately needs to reacquaint itself with those sins that are the works of the flesh.

The works (sins) of the flesh, as listed in Galatians, are: 1. Adultery, 2. fornication, 3. uncleanness, 4. lasciviousness, 5. idolatry, 6. witchcraft, 7. hatred, 8. variance, 9. emulations, 10.  wrath, 11. strife, 12. seditions, 13. heresies, 14. envyings, 15. murders, 16. drunkenness, 17.  revellings, and such like. The "such like” effectively puts to bed (pun intended), the technically minded that claim, but that is not sex. 

It is interesting to note that at least four (Adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, and reveling) are connected with our "post modern” libertarian attitude toward casual sex.  The current attitude toward premarital sex was equated with "alley cat” morals in the not too distant past.  Although God gave man the wonderful gift of sex, He put a fence around it - and that fence is marriage.  We can ignore God’s fence but when we do so we do it to our own detriment. 

With (1) divorce, for any cause, seemingly accepted; (2) homosexualism striving to make its way into the mores of our culture; and (3) bestiality waiting in the wings - we as Christians and Americans need to take a serious look at ourselves, to see if we want to continue down this slippery slope to perdition.  Yes, we must turn to the righteousness of God and from those sins that are a reproach to this nation, that the God of Heaven will continue to exalt our nation, which He has given to us for our inheritance.

Hollywood and the mainstream media are doing their very best to undermine and destroy whatever vestiges of Christianity that remain.  They continue to be upset by the fact the some 85  percent of Americans believe in God, pray when in trouble, and thank their Creator when they are delivered from any catastrophe.  The God of Heaven, who guided the founding fathers in establishing this great nation must remain the Providence that guides us in the twenty first century.  

 

Our institutions of higher learning were established to exalt God and commit His Word to the minds of our young people.  They have sold their soul for a mess of pottage and are unworthy of  our respect or honor.  As Paul expressed it in 1 Corinthians 3:20 "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”  These are the false prophets of the Old Testament that cried, "Peace, peace,” when they were on the verge of going into captivity.

Dale I. Royal

Elk City, OK