On A Culture of Decadence

We live in a society that is falling apart. Biblical morality has been tossed by the wayside in favor of loose lifestyles and "fun times." From promiscuous sex to abortion on demand to yes, even homosexuality, our society seems to steadily lose its way by the day, as we are assaulted by some new, un-Godly insanity. Worst of all, this behavior is not just tolerated by society; it is condoned.

There is something to be said for liberty, to be unconstrained by our leaders and rulers, mere men, in how we live our lives. It is another matter entirely when, as a free society, in our own personal lives, we allow for evil in our midst and call it good.

Let me tell you something about myself. I've hinted a couple of other articles I myself am not free of sin. And you know what that sin I keep hinting at is?

Pornography.

For years, it has been my a secret and a difficult one. Like the anchor of a ship, it has dragged me down. It leaves me ashamed and self-loathing, a hypocrite and a coward.

Yet our society says that loose sexual boundaries are a good thing. It tells us that exposure to porn and masturbation are a healthy. It tells us that we ought to "test drive" our partners in bed before making commitments, as though the ones we love are cars instead of people with feelings. That it's "self-righteous" to be proud of saving yourself for marriage.

Something advocates of a society with loose moral boundaries do not realize is that living in sin is not true freedom. As a friend on Twitter described it to me, sin is "like a baby rattle snake. Looks so cute at first, but grows into something venomous. Then another one bites the dust." It is fun in the beginning, for sure. New feelings, new sensations. It's all pleasant; we're naturally attracted to it.

Then the ugliness of sin rears its head as one realizes the truth. One becomes addicted to that thing that was once fun, realizing it has a hold over them. One's perspective on the world has been changed and not for the better. Everything is a bit more lewd, a bit more crude. It becomes a comfort zone of sorts, a place where we feel comfortable, even if it harms us. It becomes a crutch and a safety net protecting us from the risks of the real world.

And that is just pornography. What could it be like for so many others?

But worry not, for society says it is okay. It is healthy. Therefore we should do it as much as we're comfortable with.

But there's the catch.

There is never a place that stays comfortable for long. We are dragged down by these "anchors" because we always crave more.  The more we seek, the larger those anchors grow. We seek happiness and fulfillment in our sins and it leads us astray. Society tells us to seek happiness in things and other people.

Yet, true happiness only comes from God and salvation in Christ Jesus.

Consider that for a moment. For the longest time, western society believed there was a good, all-knowing, loving God in Heaven. Even the sinner knew on some level that he was doing wrong, doing evil, in the eyes of someone...something greater than mortal men. Now, that is no longer true. That which is good is called evil and that which is evil is called good. People live in their sin and are celebrated for it.

Did I not know the truth of Jesus, I would likely not be convicted and ashamed of my secret. I'd use the justifications of a corrupt society that it was healthy and good. It might seem wrong, but I would believe that it wasn't. I would convince and deceive myself into believing it wasn't.

It for this mentality that I weep for my nation. A nation that has no clue where it is headed: the ruin of many kingdoms and empires long before it.