America's Culture Cascades Downward - Learn to Swim Upstream
A commentary by Don Hooser
The cultural trends in America and much of the world range from trivial to tragic. Reflecting on culture can take us on a roller coaster of emotions - laughter, annoyance, disgust, anger and weeping. But we need not be cloned by the culture. We can cultivate our own personal culture.
Source: Photos.comCulture is a fascinating topic. I recently enjoyed reading, Of Thee I Zing—America's Cultural Decline . Author Laura Ingraham departed from politics to write a comedic commentary on culture.
The word "culture" has several definitions. This article is about two of them:
1. The totality of the beliefs, behaviors, traditions and products of any society.
2. High personal standards of morals, manners, enlightenment and aesthetics.
Hence we can correctly say: America's culture is becoming… uh, er… uncultured!
Another penetrating commentary on the decline of Western culture is the 1996 book by Judge Robert Bork, Slouching Toward Gomorrah . He asserts that the foundation of any culture is its morality and America's morality is spiraling downward. The emphasis on unrestrained individualism is leading to unabashed hedonism.
The person who has had the greatest positive impact on the Western world's culture is Jesus Christ. The book that has had the greatest positive impact is the Bible. Tragically, the world is drifting away from those influences.
Historically, the U.S. has had a "Judeo-Christian culture" but that is seldom mentioned any more. Most of America's founding fathers had a great respect for the Bible and the Ten Commandments, but that respect is becoming rare.
Most people are neither alert to notice degenerating trends nor determined to resist those trends.
What they are accustomed to seems acceptable and "normal," but what is " normal" keeps changing—in a downward direction. We tend to be like the proverbial frog in the pot of water being heated to a boil. We need to notice the gradual changes in our environment and take action before we are corrupted by it.
Evidence everywhere of cultural decline
Culture encompasses everything. Cultural decay is seen in countless alarming issues: crime, violence, disrespect for law and authority, dishonesty, breakdown of the family, divorces, children with no fathers, abortions, ever-growing government encroaching on our freedoms, dirty politics, dumbed down education, anti-Christian bias, environmental extremism, abuse (physical, mental, verbal and sexual), alcohol and drug abuse, addictions, tyranny of political correctness over biblical correctness, racial tensions, lack of a work ethic, lack of respect and courtesy and good manners, a crass and trashy pop culture, obscenities and vulgarities, materialism, decline of mature face-to-face communication, and general absence of noble values.
We live in a hyper-sexualized society, riddled with immorality, shameless immodesty, adultery, pornography, prostitution, promotion of the gay lifestyle agenda, radical feminism, sex and violence and profanity in media, confusion over gender identity, and all kinds of indecencies.
You can probably think of many other trends.
Cultural decay was prophesied
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days 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.
See All..., the apostle Paul gave us this prophecy: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power." This already largely describes our society!
In verse 5, Paul adds, "And from such people turn away!" Other scriptures help us to understand what Paul meant here. We must not "run with them" or be "yoked together with" them because "evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Peter 4:4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
See All...; 2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
See All...). At the same time, we are to love them, be kind to them, and look for opportunities to steer them in the right direction. Philippians 2:15 sums it up well: "Become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."
In Romans 1, Paul describes what happens to a culture when the people glorify the pagan theory of evolution rather than the Creator God—when they "worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (verse 25). The remainder of the chapter describes the consequences—the vices, evils and perversions that are increasingly prevalent today.
Paul's prescription is this: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
See All...).
The word "counterculture" usually refers to a rebellious subculture. But it can have a positive meaning. Each of us can choose to be part of God's counterculture—the people who are trying to "live… by every word of God (Luke 4:4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
See All...).
As society increasingly becomes like a polluted filthy river, it's no time to float. We must swim hard to swim upstream.
Coming: A wonderful cultural revolution!
Jesus Christ promised that He would "come again" to earth and set up His everlasting Kingdom. (John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
See All...; Matthew 6:10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
See All...). When Christ is ruling the whole world, all people will live in peace and joy. The best single word to describe the world's culture will be " righteousness" (Isaiah 11:4-5 [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
See All...; Isaiah 61:11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
See All...; Isaiah 62:1-2 [1] For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. [2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
See All...).
Imagine what the world will be like! The many regional cultures of the world will be united under the overall culture of God's Word and God's laws.
The world desperately needs that cultural revolution. It's coming soon! To learn more about this coming world-changing Kingdom, read our free booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom .
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