How Is The Sexual Revolution Affecting the Church And The Home?

by John Grubb

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

INTRODUCTION

In ancient Corinth, there was a pagan temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Worship was offered to Aphrodite by means of 1,000 “hieroduli” (sacred prostitutes). The theory was that through physical union with the “hieroduli” one was able to achieve spiritual union with Aphrodite. For all practical purposes, they worshipped sex in the name of religion.

It was not considered shameful for a Corinthian girl to dedicate her life to prostitution. In fact, some parents of noble families “consecrated” their daughters to such service from the time of birth. You are probably thinking how fortunate you are to live in more civilised times. More civilised times? In America, 2 out of 7 babies born will be “out of wedlock” babies. The divorce rate is unreliable, because we do not know how many times the people have already been divorced and remarried. Suicide is among the leaders in the cause of death, especially among young people. More than 30 million abortions have been performed in the last twenty years.

Please note this quote from William Bennett's “Index Of Leading Cultural Indicators,” p. ii.

"A disturbing and telling sign of the declining condition among the young is the result of an on-going teacher survey. Over the years teachers have been asked to identify the top problems in America's public schools. In 1940 teachers identified talking out of turn; chewing gum; making noise; running in halls; cutting in line; dress code infractions; and littering. When asked the same question in 1990, teachers identified drug abuse; alcohol abuse; pregnancy; suicide; rape; robbery; and assault."

With this background of the moral climate in our society, we will now note the attitudes toward modesty by those in the western world.

A few years ago, streaking was the in-thing among young Americans. In reality, some of these young people did not have much to take off, for scanty has been the name of the clothing fashion game for years. The latest fad was streaking nudity. What will be next? Walking nudity? Standing nudity? Truly some even now wear practically nothing, or “see-through” clothing.

Modesty in most movies has all but disappeared. PG, PG-13, R, and X rated movies are usually so because of the state of undress of the actors and actresses. Even Disney movies are guilty of this. Speaking of Disney, Disney World in Florida is host to over 10,000 homosexuals for their “coming out party.” “Gay Day at Disney” is set for June 1997 at the Magic Kingdom. Most Gay Day patrons want to be seen wearing bold shirts promoting homosexuality, as they kiss and hug and grope in very public places, dressed in drag, all in the midst of tens of thousands of young people visiting the park.

Then there is “respectable” pornography. This is evident on TV, billboards, and in magazines. Advertising agencies sell everything from patent medicine to cars by means of the “talent” of some woman who is hardly dressed.

This problem of immodesty and indecency in dress fashion would be serious enough if only those outside of Christ were guilty. However, the problem is deep-seated among members of the church. It is nothing to see daughters and even some mothers attired in what I call “run out of material” outfits. In a crowd of people, it is getting harder and harder to pick out the Christians by their modest apparel. This is the effect the world has on the church.

Some think a change of location transforms immodesty into modesty. So, people go on vacation several hundred miles from home and wear their abbreviated swimsuits and other indecent attire, with the feeling it is all right because we are far from home. Since when did crossing a state line change immodesty into modesty? A man will lust after a woman undressed whether he knows her or not. David and Bathsheba are a good example of this (II Samuel 12).

Some justify the wearing of swimsuits and other indecent attire if only done among the closest of friends, or only in the company of Christians. But friends and Christians are still subject to lustful desires, whether friends, Christians, or not! One congregation in Panama, Central America, looking for a preacher made it clear to inquiring preachers that mixed swimming was part of their congregational recreation.

How do we deal with the problems that face the church and society that have come about because of this sexual revolution? This will be the subject of our lesson.

WE MUST EMPHASISE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN REGARD TO SEXUAL PURITY

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works” (I Timothy 2:9,10).

In this passage, Paul sets forth teaching concerning modest apparel. Our Lord also sets forth a Biblical principle with regard to indecent dress (Matthew 5:27,28).

It is hard to believe this should be a problem in the church (Romans 12:1,2,9; I Thessalonians 5:22; I John 2:15-17). Yet we know that even preachers have been susceptible to the temptations of immorality. This is also true of missionaries. We need to learn the lessons from this problem.

WE NEED TO TEACH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GOOD MORALS

It is up to us as parents and teachers to guide our young people in the right ways (Deuteronomy 6:6,7; Proverbs 22:6). Many times in our day, we talk about “juvenile delinquents” when the real problem is “parental delinquency”.

The Practice Of The Crowd

The crowd wears low-cut blouses, hiked-up skirts, skin-tight outfits, shorts, halters, extra brief swimming attire, etc. The statement is made: “Everybody is doing it, why can't I?” (Exodus 23:2). This statement was not true in the days of: Joseph (Genesis 39); Daniel (Daniel 1:8); Christ (I Peter 2:21); or Timothy and Titus (II Timothy 2:22). Neither is it true today. The “New Morality” is still the “Old Immorality” to the decent and pure in heart in today's world (Matthew 5:8).

Others will say, “No one will ever know it!” (Hebrews 4:13). In every case, you and God will know it. Sin has a sure way of finding people out (Numbers 32:23). It is the responsibility of the home to provide “Christian” forms of recreation for our young people.

THINGS THAT HAVE CAUSED THE CHANGES IN OUR SOCIETY AND THE CHURCH

The Emphasis On Self-Gratification

Everybody wants to feel good. They do not want to worry about the consequences. It is basic selfishness. This explains a great deal of the behaviour in our society today.

Vulgar Literature (Proverbs 23:7)

J. Edgar Hoover, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has said that there has never been a sexual offence committed where pornographic literature was not found either on the person of the offender or in his personal belongings. Sometimes it is self-made and sometimes it is purchased. Pornography and obscene literature will prepare people for loose and permissive relationships in their dating habits -- especially young people.

Loose Marriage Standards (Matthew 19:3-12)

Many take lightly the teaching of the Scriptures on marriage. The number of divorces in America has increased nearly 200% in the last thirty years. Only about 50% of all marriages are first marriages today. Many in the church live in open adultery, yet it goes undisciplined. These standards of “immorality” are responsible for the epidemic of social diseases. Fornication is sin, and if we continue in fornication, we will be lost eternally.

Homosexuality

Recently I heard a homosexual Presbyterian preacher say the sin of Sodom was inhospitality! There is only one or two percent of the population who have followed this deviant lifestyle. But it is politically incorrect to tell people what the Bible has to say on this subject. It is not genetic, but even if it was, it is still not normal.

The reason we have problems with this and other moral problems is because people have forgotten God! Paul says we can stop living this kind of life (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

CONCLUSION

We have shown the effect of the sexual revolution on the church and society and how we can deal with this problem. Truly, it is a great challenge for the Christian to live modestly in an immodest world and to be an example of morality to an immoral world. Let us continue to teach the world what the Bible teaches in these areas (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

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