Three Causes of the Moral Decline in the Church
By: Ivie Powell
The moral climate of this country is at a record ebb. Adultery and fornication
is now socially accepted in many circles. The push for accepting homosexuality
and same-sex “marriages,” as an alternative life-style is being heavily pursued
by the media and liberal politicians. Everything that has been considered moral
behavior is now being aggressively challenged through the media of television,
the printed page and the internet. As we take a “bird’s eye” view of the moral
climate of the church, it too is in danger of allowing the world to set its
standards of behavior! Dancing, drinking, immodest apparel, premarital sex,
fornication, adultery, lying, deceit, pornography, gambling, filthy language,
hatred, vengeance, etc. have become a way of life with far too many members of
the church. Christians are not to allow the world to determine their moral
standards. Paul said, “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God.”
(Rom. 12:1-2). Brethren need to be reminded frequently of John’s admonition,
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth
away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever”
(1 John 2:15-17). James informs us of the seriousness of worldliness,
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend
of the world is the enemy of God” James 4:4! What has brought about
this moral decline in the church?
First, and foremost, a lack of biblical teaching in the home. Parents are given the grave responsibility of bringing up their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). The spiritual training of children should not, and must not, be left up to the mother! Both mom and dad are to work as a team in setting the proper example; this includes what is watched on television, language in the home, magazines read, friends, apparel, and of course in studying the Bible. What parents instill in the hearts of their children will determine to a great extent their moral standards!
Second, a lack of biblical teaching from the pulpit and classroom. Pulpits of the Lord’s church, in many places, have completely removed any biblical condemnation of worldliness. The world has so invaded our homes and the church that those who are living a godly life are often made fun of and looked down upon by worldly members of the church! If a preacher is going to be true to the mandate of 2 Timothy 4:1-2, he will faithfully and fully discharge the truth! There must be cohesiveness between what is preached from the pulpit and what is taught in the classroom. Teachers need to be reminded that they too shall be judged for what they teach (James 3:1)!
Third, a lack of backing biblical teaching from elders. Elders are to tend and guard the flock (Acts 20:28). The leadership of the congregation will, to a large extent, determine the philosophy and direction a congregation takes. Every innovation that has entered the Lord’s church could have been stopped if preachers and elders had stood “toe-to-toe” in defense of the old Jerusalem gospel (Jude 3! Whenever truth is preached, and elders refuse to stand behind that preaching, they become an enemy of truth; not “fellowhelpers to the truth” (Titus 1:9; 3 John 8)!
Pause, and reflect over these three points, and you will quickly be able to trace the downfall of moral standards in the home and the church!!! Whenever someone shouts, “You can’t legislate morals!” I know they want to do whatever pleases them. Furthermore, such a statement betrays a lack of spirituality on their part. The truth is, God has set forth in His word absolute standards of morality, and when one violates those standards, he sins (1 John 3:4; 5:17)! Brethren need to be reminded that those who live after the works of the flesh will not enter heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21)! As a matter of fact, they become an enemy of God according to James 4:4! In far too many places, congregations of the Lord’s church have become so worldly that the nomenclature, “The Worldly Church” is very fitting! Listen, whenever a congregation of the church of Christ lowers God’s moral standards, they are no longer the “light” and “salt” that brings glory to God (Mt. 5:16). Furthermore, once a congregation becomes worldly, it will soon change the worship, mission, and work of the church from that which is biblical to that which pleases men. And when they do that, they are no longer serving Christ (Gal. 1:10), and unless they repent, the Lord will remove their candlestick (Rev. 2:5)!