“Good government generally begins in the family, and if the moral character of a people once degenerate, their political character must soon follow.”
~ Elias Boudinot
In honor of Elias Boudinot, a New Jersey lawyer and President of the Continental Congress, who died on this day in 1821.
Resources:
This Day in History for 24th October
Elias Boudinot Quotes (Author of Cherokee Editor)
“I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom.” ~ Alexis de Tocqueville
In honor of Alexis de Tocqueville, French political thinker and historian, who died on this day in 1859. Tocqueville traveled the United States and wrote one of the earliest works of sociology and political science in his Democracy in America.
Resources:
This Day in History for 16th April
Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes on America as a Christian Nation
“We will not give our daughters to the people of the land or take their daughters for our sons. And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day…” Nehemiah 10:30-31
The general moral decline of Western Society seems to be a favorite topic among Christians. It does not take long before the topic is raised in some context when Christians gather. I have heard it preached from the pulpit in various forms. I have discussed it after violent tragedies. I have read about it in research studies.
This decline tends to be present in an abstract, third party manner. Like it is something that is being imposed upon us Christians, the last bastions of moral piety in our society. I have heard some folks attribute statistics of immorality as evidence that the end of the age is upon us. It might be, but then again it might not.
Consider the premise of the lament; our society should be moral.
True morality is a fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, a truly moral society is a society that is made up of individuals who are saved in Christ and filled with the Spirit. Why would we expect a society made up of people who are not in Christ to act like they were?
What should concern those who are in Christ is not the society as a whole. What should concern us is the body of Christ – the Church. Our lament should be associated with all the indicators that suggest the Church is not statistically that much different than the society in which we are imbedded. The implication is that there are a lot of unsaved people in the Church and in our society.
I know the overwhelming feeling of this lament. What can one person do about a world that seems to be changing so quickly in the wrong direction?
God did not make changing the world our responsibility.
God did not appoint any of us with the charge of transforming our society.
God called us, as individuals, to follow Him; to love Him and to love our neighbors.
He has called us to be holy as He is holy.
He has has called us to be imitators of Him.
A moral society comes from the agglomeration of individual hearts that are seeking the Lord. True holiness comes only from walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit comes when we are settling our minds on the things of the Spirit rather the the things of the flesh. It comes from individuals wanting to follow Christ when they roll out of bed in the morning. It comes from friends who want to please God more than the crowd. It comes from parents who love their kids enough to teach them about Jesus rather than being their buddies.
I have talked with a brother who could quote the statistics of declining church attendance in Europe; yet, he was an irregular attendee here in the US.
I heard a Christian mother complain about the violent video games her sons played; games that she bought for them.
I have seen Christian girls walking through the mall wearing the “short shorts” and skin-tight tank tops; clothing their parents bought for them.
I have known parents concerned about their kid’s friends; friends that they pick-up and haul around town.
The general decry against the sexual agendas presented on television has been stated in so many ways; yet, we still are watching – we know characters and who they are sleeping with; we know every scantily cladded dancer on Dancing with the Stars.
The number of murders a child sees on TV is staggering but that has not gotten us to turn away.
We put our money down for movies and music containing images, language and beliefs that are directly contrary to that which we claim.
Basset Hound at Sesimbra, Portugal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The sad reality is that we Christians, in general, are not that distinct from the society in which we live. I realize that I am more like the lazy basset hound, who loudly barks at those who don’t belong but wags his tail in hopes that they will bring a tasty treat, then I should be. That speaks more to my heart condition than anything else. I delight in the things of this world more than I should. I like to momentarily allow my mind to rest on the things of the world. I support the immoral through my indifference, familiarity, and occasional sampling. My heart condition is what I present before my Lord. I have a portion of responsibility in the general moral decline of my society. I have no power or influence of the world. I will let God handle the grand plan. I am responsible for what He has called me to do – follow him with all of my heart, mind, and soul.
If we all just do that, it will be amazing to see what the Lord will do with our society. Let’s live what we believe, lead our families in the way of the Lord, and let God take care of the rest.
PRAYER: Lord, give me a desire to be like you. Create in me a longing for personal holiness. Lord, I want to be a pleasing fragrance to you. I want to walk in your Spirit continually. Forgive me for allowing my mind to drift away from you. Forgive me for sampling the offerings of the flesh. Forgive me for pointing out all that is wrong with the world around me and ignoring the unrighteous desires of my own heart. Help me to walk every step of my life in your Spirit, to produce abundant fruit. I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A DEVOTED LIFE 