Romans 12:1-2
“And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind…”
Renewed View of Morals
No place in America is so obviously in
need of a renewal – note change in our lifetime!
 Morality has changed all around us, as though we
were sleeping and now suddenly awakened.
 Contrast: “The gradual conforming of the man
more and more to that new spiritual world into
which he has been introduced, and in which he
now lives and moves; the restoration of the Divine
image; and in all this, so far from being passive,
he must be a fellow-worker with God”
(Trench, Syn of NT, 65-66)

NT Christians Had to Learn It
Early Christians came from pagan lives
 1 Pet 4:1-4 “wasted enough time”
 Idolatry, social customs and national leaders
promoted licentious and wicked behavior

Living in wicked environment made it seem
natural – “everybody is doing it.”
 Example: family in Corinth on “holy day”
 But Christians must see life differently
Acts 3:19; 2 Pet 2:9; 19; 3:11

Without God, There is No Moral Standard
• Debate among sociologists as to existence of
moral standard apart from revelation
• Without divine standard, whose rules do we
follow? Yours, Mine, Atheists, Societies?
• Obviously, man has capability of great good,
great evil (Hitler), but who is to say what
is good or evil for all time for all people?
• Giving up knowledge of God allows man to
descend into gutter Rom 1:20-32
Identifiable Change Agents of Morality
• Journalists and mass media (biased, liberal)
• Supreme Court (unable to define pornography,
limits religion)
• Television (vast wasteland of immorality)
• Churches (liberal, tolerant, accept all sin)
• Political parties (cater to blocs for votes)
• Social Mores – such as easy divorce, alternate life
styles, acceptance of perversions
• Inability of most to stand against pressures: prom,
high school dances, customs, peer pressure.
“Slouching Toward Gomorrah” (Bork)
“Thirty years ago, Clinton’s behavior
would have been absolutely disqualifying.
Since the 1992 election, the public has learned
far more about what is known…as the
‘character issue’. Yet none of this appears to
affect Clinton’s popularity. It is difficult not
to conclude that something about our moral
perceptions and reactions has changed
profoundly.”
(Modern Liberalism and the American Decline, Robert H. Bork)
Needed: A Renewal of Bible Teaching of Purity
• “Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these: adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness” Gal 5:19
• “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among
you, as becometh saints” Eph 5:3
• “For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that ye should abstain from
fornication” 1 Thes 4:3; Col 3:1-9
Needed: A Renewal of Bible Teaching of Purity
• “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth
with a woman, both of them have committed
an abomination: they shall surely be put to
death, their blood shall be upon them” Lev
20:13
• For this cause God gave them up unto vile
affections: for even their woman did change
the natural use into that which is against
nature; and likewise also the men” Rom 1:26f
We Are in a Culture War
• Liberal thinkers have made a conscious
assault on morality, substituting secularism
Rejecting the Bible and ancient rules of
conduct, a “new morality” is substituted.
•Humanism invaded every level of schools
and tossed out God and morality
• Supreme Court has changed “freedom of
religion” to “freedom from religion.”
• Illegal to teach “Intelligent Design”
Culture War - Continued
Rock and Roll music spelled out rebellion
and immorality – Result, “Aids” Rom 1:26-7
 The 60’s were known for domestic upheaval,
drug use, promiscuous sex, abortions, etc.
 2004 election introduced candidate who was
from that generation of “flower children”
that fought authority and discarded medals
 This characterizes our culture today
 Immorality has gone “uptown”

Where Are These “Flower Children” Today?
“They went into politics, print and electronic
journalism, church bureaucracies, foundation staffs,
Hollywood careers, public interest organizations,
anywhere attitudes and opinions could be
influenced. And they are exerting influence.” (Ibid,
51).
 Consider Jane Fonda, Howard Stern, Britney
Spears, Janet Jackson, The Beastie Boys, Gangsta
Rap, homosexuality, out of wedlock babies, rampant
divorce, etc.
There will be Consequences to this Immorality
Isa 1:10-16 “I have had enough”
 Jer. 3:20-21 “they have perverted their way”
 Ezek. 23:35 “bear the consequences”


Ezek 18:4 “the soul that sins shall die”
 Even pagan nations see us as flagrantly
sinful; America is at a crossroads!
 We are in a spiritual and moral crisis and
many are not even aware!
“New Freedom” is Enslavement – 2 Pt 2:19
“Freedom from religion” insures atheism
 Humanism fights revealed religion
“Education is thus a most powerful ally of
humanism, and every American school is a
school of humanism. What can a theistic
Sunday school’s meeting for an hour once a
week and teaching only a fraction of the
children do to stem the tide of the five-day
program of humanistic teaching?”
(Humanism, a New Religion, C. F. Potter)

Even How We Mark Time Is Changing
• The Birth of Jesus Christ changed the dating
system of our calendars
 B.C. = “Before Christ”
 A. D. = “Anno Domini” (in the year of
our Lord
• Now, publications are ignoring Jesus and
using
 B. C. E. = “Before common era”
 C. E. = “common era”
George Washington’s Farewell Address - 1796
“ It is impossible to govern the world without
God and the Bible. Of all the dispositions and
habits that lead to political prosperity, our
religion and morality are the indispensable
supporters. Let us with caution indulge the
supposition that morality can be sustained
without religion. Reason and experience both
forbid us to expect that our national morality
cannot prevail in exclusion of the religious
experience.”
What Can We Do?
Remember that God still rules Hab. 2:20
 There is a seasoning influence to
righteousness Matt 5:13-16
 Pray fervently 1 Thes 5:17; Jas 5:16
 God will not ignore sin Amos 2:4-5
 Remember the Judgment 2 Pet 3:5-13
 “Be Not Conformed”
 “Be ye Transformed”
