We look back in history and do not think much about the fall of Rome, but to put it into perspective, you have to realize the nation of Rome was so big, no one ever thought such a thing could have happened, BUT IT DID!
Nations have COME and nations have GONE! For example, who would have ever thought that the super power, Russia, would cease to exist.
But America is the strongest, wealthiest, the most powerful nation that has ever existed, and there are those today who could never imagine that America might cease to exist one day.
Just as America is a powerful nation today, Rome was a powerful nation then. In it’s day of power, it’s influence was felt throughout the whole Mediterranean area. But strange as it may sound, this great empire collapsed, not because of attacks from without, but because of a complete moral decline.
Many Americans who have studied the fall of Rome are concerned today about America. They see those same moral declines that brought about the FALL OF ROME, present in America!
Look at the ....
I. CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR CULTURE
A. A DECLINE OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
WHERE DO WE SEE DISHONESTY AND A LACK OF INTEGRITY?
(1) WE SEE IT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Many of the young people cannot see the decline in our society, because during their life time all they have ever seen is a lack of HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. But some of the older people in this congregation can tell you that when they were growing up, things were different than they are now.
• They can tell you that when they were growing up, you did not have to lock all the windows and doors in their homes.
• They can tell you that during their day, a burglar alarm company could not sell a burglar alarm as we have in our homes today.
• They can tell you that during their day, it was unheard of to drive by a home and see iron bars across the windows.
• They can tell you that it was unheard of to have neighbors taking turns policing their own neighborhoods.
Our neighborhoods have become places where it is difficult to find HONESTY and INTEGRITY.
At nighttime people have to bring in bicycles and toys because they know the next morning those items will not be there. We see a lack of HONESTY and INTEGRITY in our neighborhoods, but also -
(2) WE SEE IT IN THE WORK FORCE
Many men can tell what it is like to go on a job and to lay down a drill, saw, or a drop cord, and come back in a few minutes and find that it has disappeared.
But it is not only the blue collar workers. The reason that most of us cannot afford health care insurance is because many doctors are sometimes double and triple billing their patients.
(3) WE SEE IT IN GOVERNMENT
These are probably the most dishonest of all. Thank God for the godly men and women that serve us in government, but only God knows the evil that is done behind closed doors.
And that is not only in this country, it is around the world.
Illus: When Russians were starving to death, America began to send billions to help them. However, it has been disclosed that Boris Yelsin was stealing millions from the Russian government from the money that was sent to help the Russian people.
But there is not a lot we can say about that in America, because it has been said, “We have the best politicians that money can buy!”
When there is a decline in HONESTY and INTEGRITY in a nation, that nation is in a DECLINE!
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
But look at something else we need to be concerned about:
B. A DECLINE OF PURITY IN SPEECH AND SIGHT
Illus: On a syndicated radio show, Michael Reagan, the son of former president Ronald Reagan, was discussing the Oscar Awards for the year of 2000 that would be awarded the following week.
A movie that was up for consideration was discussed. One lady called the show and said she went to see it and she was shocked that this movie was filled with vulgarity, perversion, and nudity.
Michael Reagan said “Did you ever think this country would get so low morally that Hollywood would make such movies, and if they made them, did you think society would pay to go see this trash on the big screens?”
Vulgarity, obscenity, and profanity are almost everywhere we go.
• Listen to the kids as they get off the school bus
• Listen to your auto mechanic as he works on your car
• Listen to the employees at the fast food restaurant
• Listen to the kids in the school classrooms
• Listen to the vulgarity in the lyrics of today songs
Nudity, violence, rape, incest, and pornography of all kinds, fill our nations media.
I want to remind you again, Proverbs 14:34 states clearly, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
All this stuff that we are seeing in our HOMES, and all this filth that we are HEARING today in public, on television, and radio, is only a warning that America is in a DECLINE.
We see something else we should be concerned about:
C. A DECLINE IN SPIRITUAL PRIORITIES
The living God has been replaced with many gods in the lives of most people. Church attendance has become only for those who have ABSOLUTELY nothing better to do.
Illus: The fact today that sports and concerts can pack our large stadiums and churches in most cases are only half full is a testimony to the gods of this world.
God’s day today is like any other day:
• People go to the lakes and beaches
• People go to the Mountains
• People go to sporting events
• People go shopping
God’s day is like any other day.
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
We need to also be concerned about:
D. A DECLINE OF SOUND MINDS
Illus: There is a reason today that we do not hear songs like “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”. It is because people are not leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
There are some here today who no longer have your trust in that little black book in your laps, your trust is in that bottle of pills that you depend on each day. Substance abuse is widespread.
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
But there is something else we should be concerned about today and that is:
E. A DECLINE IN THE FAMILY UNIT
Never have the families of this great country been in the sad condition they are in today. WE ARE SEEING THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE FAMILY.
We are seeing:
(1) People unashamedly living together
(2) Homosexuals wanting the legalization of same-sex marriage.
It is ironic that the heterosexuals do not want to get married and the homosexuals want to get married and have family benefits.
(3) Discipline is almost nonexistent
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
But we see something else we should be concerned about and that is:
F. A DECLINE IN JUSTICE
It is a proven fact in this country, that if you have money you can get away with murder. But if you do not have money, watch out! They will try-em and fry-em!
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Something else we need to be concerned about is:
G. A DECLINE IN SEXUAL PURITY
These are the things that brought the powerful nation of Rome down to defeat. There is so much illicit sex taking place today, it is assumed that everyone is doing it.
Illus: A girl on a TV program was asked this question: “If your husband is not being faithful to you, why are you still with him?” She answered, “Because I love him. Besides, who has a husband that isn’t cheating?”
Why did she make that statement? Because she has seen so much sexual sin in her life that she naturally assumes that all men are doing this.
Today we see:
• Premarital Sex
• Extramarital Sex
• Teen and even Preteen Sex
• Illegitimate Children
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
We looked at the CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR CULTURE, now look at...
II. CHRISTIANS LIVING IN OUR CULTURE
A. WHAT THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD UNDERSTAND
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND that the things we have just spoken about are not merely problems in society. These things are a transgression of the Law Of God, and will lead to a judgment upon our land by God.
• A great number of people in our society have rejected the authority of God in their lives, and failed to acknowledge and honor God. Our society is now paying the price of that rejection. We are reaping the consequences of our actions.
• When we reject God, we begin to practice situational ethics, the do what feels good ethic, and we become judges of what is right and what is wrong.
Look what the Word of God says about a wicked society.
• Isa. 5:21 “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”
• Judges 17:6 “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND what is happening and we ought not to be surprised at it.
• Rom. 1:21-22, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
• Rom. 1:24a “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness....”
THIS IS WHAT THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD UNDERSTAND.
But look at:
B. WHAT THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD DO
It would be wrong merely to ignore what is going on around us. We need to live separated lives.
• We are called upon to live in the world but not be part of the world system.
John 17:15-17, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Eph. 5:15-17, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Josh. 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
2 Tim. 3:13-14, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
We have seen WHAT THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD UNDERSTAND and WHAT THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD DO.
Conclusion:
The Lord said in Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Remember our text: Phil. 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
I. CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR CULTURE
II. CHRISTIANS LIVING IN OUR CULTURE
