WHAT'S THE STANDARD?

 We want to be our own god.  And, most people have it that way.  There is no higher authority than ourselves and our reasoning.  Nobody tells us how to think or what to do.  We pride ourselves in our independence.

 As a result, God, the Bible, and church have fallen on hard times in America.  The concept of an absolute standard of right and wrong for every generation is being rejected.  Therefore "community standards" are the ultimate criteria for deciding right from wrong.  In other words, "What is the majority willing to tolerate?"

 Therefore, we have one part of our society who accepts no moral absolutes and who feel it their obligation to influence society to accept as wide a variety of ideas and lifestyles as possible.  While another segment of our society believes that there are absolutes from God and that the Bible gives those absolutes.

 There is a war going on.  Every part of our society is involved in that war - television programs, movies, music, religion, education, politics, etc.  Everyone is trying to win your mind.  If they can't persuade you, they go after your children.  You tell me who is winning!

 The church and the home are the primary voices for the belief in absolute moral values.  What is happening in American churches today?  Do we still believe in the Bible as God's absolute authority?  Are we teaching and preaching the Bible or have we started teaching psychology?  Listen to who we quote as our authority.  Are we teaching what the Bible says on adultery, divorce, homosexuality, and other moral issues of our day?  Or have we sold out to "community standards”?  What about our homes?  What are America's children learning from Mom and Dad?  Are they learning commitment?  Are they learning discipline?  Are they learning honesty... work ethic?  Where are they learning these things?  From TV?  From school? From their peers?  I don't think so.

 Then when they end up in serious trouble, we hear, "Society has failed!"  Put the blame somewhere else... anywhere else. Now we're hearing, "It takes a community (village) to raise a child."  NO.  It takes a family to raise a child - a mom and a dad!

 Does it really even matter?  If there is a God, it matters.  If there is no God, it really doesn't matter much at all.  If there is a heaven and hell and judgment... it matters a lot.  There is a standard that is higher than "what people will tolerate."  Societies have been known to tolerate some pretty incredible atrocities, haven't they?

 There's a war going on in our society.  Everything you value is at stake.  The issue is - "Is there a standard of right and wrong to which everyone is accountable?"