America:  How do we stop the moral decline?

The answer to this question has and always will be the same. What are your thoughts about it? From what I hear people saying, there are many who seem to believe we just need more and better laws. Others might say we need better law enforcement. There are also those who would say we need stiffer punishment for criminals.  Exactly what is it that will break the downward spiral of morality in America or anywhere?

I’ve lived long enough to see for myself how things have changed.  Our law enforcement agencies seem to be overrun with cases to address.  There have been many who’ve gone before us who warned us of times like these.  But it seems to me that we’ll never find a solution if we don’t understand and address the root cause of the problem.  Is it social, political, or what? While it certainly involves things social and political, the problem is deeper, more fundamental.  But until people are willing to honestly address the cause, things aren’t going to get better.

As some read this article, they will recall that I’ve addressed this subject before with another article on this website.  In fact, here’s the link to that article in case you missed it—

America:  Do we have a coming doomsday?

There’s an old saying that relates to all this—“If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.”  Furthermore, as I hope you know, nothing’s going to change and get better in America as long as we’re only addressing symptoms.  Instead, we’ve got to get serious about addressing the real cause of our current situation.

Many years ago, I heard a quote about this that made a lot of sense to me.  It, too, doesn’t fully address this but it is a start in the right direction.  A man named Alexis de Tocqueville was the author—

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers—and it was not there. . . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests—and it was not there. . . . .in her rich mines and her vast world commerce—and it was not there. . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there.  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 she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”

For quite a while now there’s been a lot of talk about making America great again.  Can that happen? Can there be a comeback and, perhaps, things get even better than they ever were before? Of course! That could certainly happen.  But not as long as we’re only addressing symptoms.  What Americans must face up to is the fact that our greatest problem is primarily spiritual, not political, economic, social or anything else.  The American people have to get back to the biblical principles that made America great.  Until that happens not much of lasting value is going to happen.  Even just attending some church isn’t going to cause that to happen.  People have to get back to the Bible with a desire to learn the truth from it and live by it.  Until that happens not anything of major significance is going to get better.  Just being “religious” isn’t the solution.  To a great degree we already have that.  There are many “religious” people in America, but that can be said about a lot of other countries.  Even atheism is a “religious” belief system.  Atheists don’t like to think that about themselves, but that’s how things are.  Our apostle Paul warns us about this—

2 Timothy 3:1-5

¹ This know also, that in the last days [this period of time between the two advents of Christ] perilous times shall come.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [Emphasis added]

Don’t we have many places where you’ll find “a form of godliness” in America? Doesn’t it seem that we have churches on nearly every other corner?  America is a lot like Israel was before they were completely destroyed in 70 AD by the Roman legions of Titus.  Note what our Lord said about them—

Matthew 23:13-15

¹³ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

¹⁴ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

¹⁵ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. [Emphasis added]

One does not have to be brilliant to conclude that our country is suffering a serious moral and spiritual decline. Our rulers and law enforcement agencies seem powerless to cope with all the symptoms of our decline. But what most people fail to realize is that behind this moral decline there is a spiritual decline.  Many Americans still attend a local church.  But America has departed from God and His Word. Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome tells us how “the heathen” [speaking simply of unbelievers] got the way they are.

Rom. 1:21-22

²¹ 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.

²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [Emphasis added]

Paul also describes the problem in his letter to the Ephesian church.

Ephesians 4:17-19

¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

¹⁹ Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. [Emphasis added]

Perhaps you’ve already read my article about this “hardness of heart” problem—

Heart:  What does it mean to have a hardened one?

I see this everywhere I turn today.  You probably have too.  There’s a lot of resistance to or at least disinterest  in the teachings of the Bible.  Can all this destroy the free and prosperous way of life Americans have enjoyed for so long? I’m afraid we’re getting to see the process of that destruction every day.  More and more Americans are being desensitized to truth.  Are many given over to the moral uncleanness described in the above passage? Aren’t more and more people involved in this “uncleanness with greediness” that is simply the frantic search for happiness so many are engaged in every day?  Isn’t this a description of increasing numbers of people in America? They’re constantly throwing off all the restraints of the past that served to protect us and made us an outstanding great nation.  Aren’t we as a nation fast becoming God’s enemies, ones who are alienated from the life God intended for His people? People even speak of this nonsense as a form of “liberation.” The reality is that more and more people are becoming enslaved to a life that’s dominated by their sinful nature. This is not liberty, it is enslavement. It is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. It does not indicate superior intelligence, but grossest ignorance, and is the result of alienation from God. Note Paul’s rebuke of such people.  That rebuke is now directed toward us as Americans.  This is not at all what God wants for us anymore than He wanted it for the Colossians’ church in Paul’s day.  God’s purpose for us is the same as it was for them.

Colossians 1:21-22

²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: [Emphasis added]

Conclusion—

As I see it there are two simple steps to fully addressing our moral decline.  There are those who would try to make something complicated out of this but it truly is quite simple.

1—Personally, accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Savoir, believing the gospel message that has been given to us.

You’ll find numerous articles on this website that explain that.  Here are the names and links to some of those articles.

Bible:  What authority does it have?

Heaven:  How do you qualify?

Heaven:  Are there multiple ways to get there?

Bible:  How important is it to you?

2—Committing oneself to studying the Bible every day with a determination to apply the things you learn from it.

Matthew 4:4

⁴ But he [Jesus Christ] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [Emphasis added]

2 Timothy 2:15

¹⁵ Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]

For more information about the meaning of the last phrase of that verse, please see my article about it on this website—

4Us2Us:  What does this mean?

One’s “study” of the Bible is to be done with one’s acceptance of its teaching as the primary authority over one’s life.  Here are the names and links to other articles on this website that are related to this—

Bible:  How can one gain the truth?

Bible:  How should one study it?

God:  How do you know His will?

Growth:  How is this done spiritually?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Here we’re told exactly what will happen when this book is taken as one’s fundamental text for divine guidance for one’s life.

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect [ARTIOS = complete or mature], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [Emphasis added]

The material on this website will be a big help to you in accomplishing this.  The studying and application of God’s Word in your life will not only have temporal value but eternal value as well.  You’ll even be rewarded in Heaven for the things you’ve come to know and apply.  You can read all about this in this next article—

Rewards:  For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?

The solution to our moral decline is a personal one, not a collective one. Each of us need to decide to give the Word of God the attention it deserves.  We do that by learning it and applying it each day.