Throughout my life, I have witnessed the degradation of morality of our society. While it may not be evident in your particular home, it is evident in the world; we live in. The Bible has a lot to say about mankind and morality. In fact, separate and apart from the scriptures, there is no absolute morality. Thus, we see the problem. Many today, like God’s children of old, are suffering from a lack of biblical morals because we have taken away the Word of God from everyday life. Hosea reminds us in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” In that same verse, we learn that God sees this rejection of His word is a rejection of Him. The Proverbs writer states that there is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof is death (Proverbs 14:22). Even so, many today fail to seek after God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). Rather than seek God, they live by the ideology that if it feels right, then do it, regardless of who it may hurt. I recently read an article submitted by an anonymous writer. Within the article, it was made evident that the writer had also witnessed that America’s morality had greatly changed over the past few decades. Consider the following: 

I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home; Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army, And sisters got married “before” having children! A time when crime did not pay; Hard work did; And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave. Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive, And children were polite. Women wore the jewelry, And Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen, And children looked decent.

People loved the truth and hated a lie; They came to church to get “in” – Not to get “out”! Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal, And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked; Drinking was evil, and divorce was unthinkable. The flag was honored; America was beautiful, And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school; And preached from house to house; To be called an American was worth dying for; To be called a Christian was worth living for; To be called a traitor was a shame!

Sex was a personal word. Homosexual was an unheard-of word, And abortion was an illegal word.

Preachers preached because they had a message, And Christians rejoiced because they had the victory! Preachers preached from the Bible; Singers sang from the heart, And sinners turned to the Lord’s teachings to be saved from their sins!

A new birth meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life; And following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God; Being an Elder meant you respected God’s law and led others by it; Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord; Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus; And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible, And churches taught the Bible. Preachers were more interested in new converts than new clothes and new cars. God was worshipped; Christ was exalted, and the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians on the Lord’s Day, rather than in the garden, on the creek bank, on the golf course, or being entertained somewhere else.

There is no doubt that the moral fiber of our nation has changed in the past few decades. For this reason, it is imperative that Christians walk in the “old paths” of God’s morality (Jeremiah 6:16; Col 2:6), rather than in “their ways.” We should always remember that God’s moral teachings will never change, and are ever-enduring (1 Peter 1:25).

(Tony Hoss is minister of Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)