“… they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7)

For a variety of reasons, in the last half of the 20^th century, the idea grew that there is neither anything that is always right nor anything that is always wrong. Instead, in this mindset, all ethical decisions are based on the culture you are in and whatever that culture has defined as acceptable or unacceptable behavior. But now many are unwilling to let even the prevailing culture put any limits on their behavior. So instead of the cumulative culture determining my morality and ethics, I can define acceptable behavior for myself in terms of what I perceive to be best for myself and my situation.

This has led to an unprecedented breakdown in the structure of our society. People are killed for making mistakes in filling a fast-food order. Road rage leads to brutal attacks or even killing. Gangs loot stores with no consequences. Children kill their parents. Teens kill other teens. Riots result in the destruction of property. Schools have metal detectors and locked doors in hopes of preventing mass shootings. Lying has become acceptable and is the expected political dialogue in keeping with the concept of “alternative facts.” Millions of developing babies have been aborted.  In our major cities, crime is rampant. Personal choices in behavior are often based totally on what the individual wants to do in that moment with no recognition of a prevailing system of binding cultural norms. Daily news headlines show that we are nowhere near the end of this moral morass.

Hosea was right. We planted and cultivated the seed, but we don’t like the harvest. People are crying out for better protection from the government. But new laws will have a minimal effect now that many have decided that laws don’t matter. Hiring more police and developing judicial systems with more teeth may be necessary, but those solutions don’t address the real problem.

The real problem is the nature of sin. Satan makes sin appear to be both acceptable and best. When he is unleashed in my heart, I become self-centered. Unless I’m willing to acknowledge a power that’s higher than myself and bow before that power, my behavior will never be what it needs to be. The God who created us also gave us the guidelines for successful living and the development of beneficial societies. Ignoring those guidelines and treating humanity as the highest being that exists has not worked out well.

Handwringing and calling for national change are a waste of time and will not make much difference in these societal problems. You and I must start the process by making certain that we personally adhere to all of God’s standards. Then we must use whatever opportunities we have to urge others to do the same. Changes in the nation will not happen until the individuals who make up the nation change.