The Decline Of A Society

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