A voice of wisdom and “true truth”

By: American Decency Staff

“… Here is the reason why we have a moral breakdown in every area of life. The titanic freedoms which we once enjoyed have been cut loose from their Christian restraints and are becoming a force of destruction leading to chaos. And when this happens, there really are very few alternatives. All morality becomes relative, law becomes arbitrary, and society moves toward disintegration. In personal and social life, compassion is swallowed up by self-interest. …” Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer, The influence of Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer. Schaeffer’s influence was significant even as he was in his declining years. He was viewed as a scholar, a voice of reason and foresight. How powerful his words speak today! Quoting from 1984: “… In our own country, we have enjoyed enormous human freedom. But at the same time this freedom has been founded upon forms of government, law, culture and social morality which have given stability to individual and social life, and have kept our freedoms from leading to chaos. There is a balance here between form and freedom which we have come to take as natural in the world. But it is not natural. And we are utterly foolish if we do not recognize that this unique balance which we have inherited from the Reformation thought-forms is not automatic in a fallen world. This is clear when we look at the span of history. But it is equally clear when we read the daily newspaper and see half the world locked in totalitarian oppression. The Reformation not only brought forth a clear preaching of the gospel, it also gave shape to society as a whole — including government, how people viewed the world, and the full spectrum of culture. …. it is clear that through the Reformation many were brought to Christ and the absolutes of the Bible became widely disseminated in the culture as a whole. The freedoms which grew out of this were tremendous; and yet, with the forms grounded in a biblical consensus or ethos, the freedoms did not lead to chaos. But something has happened in the last sixty years [87 years now]. The freedom that once was founded on a biblical consensus and a Christian ethos has now become autonomous freedom, cut loose from all constraints. Here we have the world spirit of the age — autonomous Man setting himself up as God, in defiance of the knowledge and the moral and spiritual truth which God has given. Here is the reason why we have a moral breakdown in every area of life. The titanic freedoms which we once enjoyed have been cut loose from their Christian restraints and are becoming a force of destruction leading to chaos. And when this happens, there really are very few alternatives. All morality becomes relative, law becomes arbitrary, and society moves toward disintegration. In personal and social life, compassion is swallowed up by self-interest. …” [Taken from “The Great Evangelical Disaster” written by Francis A. Schaeffer] Recently, I have tried to draw your attention to a message delivered by Dr. John MacArthur speaking at a National Day of Prayer event in Colorado Springs. His words reinforce warnings spoken by Schaeffer in the 1980s. MacArthur, as he concluded his powerful message, stated that God has abandoned America consistent with Romans 1. http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/grace_to_you/20070527/ MacArthur (paraphrasing): “Oh that my people would listen – that Israel would walk in my ways.” The only hope for this or any society is to hear the word of the Lord and obey it – to hear the word of the Lord and obey it. MacArthur continues: “This is not a good time for weak men, preaching weak messages, in weak churches. This is a time for bold and powerful, strong, biblical ministry that calls people to hear the word of the Lord and respond. This is the only hope for any people – for any individual.” How are you doing in this regard? How am I doing? This is key in all areas of our lives and to the very future of our society. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 PH: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org

---