Playlist:

playlist Go to the Decline, Moral (topic) playlist

Filter by Categories

A Sign of Moral Decline

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

As the week drew to a close, one of America's last strongholds of nominally Christian morality fell to the pressures of tolerance and liberalism. During the Boy Scouts of America's annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas, 61 percent of the approximately 1,400 voting council members approved a policy to admit openly homosexual boys into the organization, effective January 1, 2014. This decision, drafted by the National Council's Executive Committee, states that no youth may be denied membership based solely on sexual orientation or preference. However, this change exposes the hypocrisy of the national leadership, who are bound by an oath to God and to be morally straight, principles that are contradicted by this new policy.

Our Moral Bearings Lost

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

America's leaders have lost their moral compass. God has replaced wise adults with foolish children mocking and scoffing at wisdom and moral standards.

The Victim: Truth

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We have come to expect mudslinging and attack ads during presidential campaigns. Centuries of such campaigns have produced mean-spirited attacks on candidates.

A Culture in Freefall

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Not too long ago, Americans could sneer across the Atlantic at the abysmal state of European morals. A good moral gauge was what was shown on television.

Without a Clue

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Today, every large media organization is controlled by five corporations; each is guided by liberal standards, accepting adultery, homosexuality, and abortion.

The Nones, Atheism, and Immorality

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The 'Nones' have risen to prominence in society, ideologically committed to abortion, radical feminism, homosexuality, strict gun control, and socialism.

A Quick Survey of American Christianity

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

A nation's religions generally determine the moral standards of a nation. The United States is currently afflicted with biblical illiteracy.

The 'Gaying' of America

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Not only is homosexuality out of the closet in America, it is entirely out in the open and militantly demanding its recognition and acceptance.

Victims of Existentialism

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Existentialism, a philosophy of humanism, became a major force in America following World War II, ushering in a steep moral decline that has continued unabated.

Do Americans Really Care? (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The vast majority of the citizenry has been dumbed-down by a half-century of leftist, progressive education, eradicating God from the minds of most people.

The Sacredness of Marriage

Article by James Beaubelle

Scripture holds the divinely ordained institution of marriage in high regard. Here is why God considers marriage to be so important to us, society, and His purpose.

Do Americans Really Care? (Part Three)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Those who really care about what is happening to this country are too few to make any difference, and the youth have been schooled without reference to God.

Reality Narcolepsy

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

It is an exercise in futility to play king-of-the-hill in a world so universally sinful.

Countering the Culture

Article by Staff

There is no doubt that America's culture is plunging to depths many of us never imagined. Here are five steps to mitigate its influence on our lives.

Purifying the Heart

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus advises a repentant Christian to attack sexual sin at its starting point, making it less about sinful acts than about an immoral way of thinking.

Self-Government

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Submitting to a human government is a work that requires self-government. Paul thoroughly disciplined his body as he followed the example of Jesus Christ.

The Wilderness Trek and Judgment Begins

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's people must learn to trust Him for their survival, remembering that the eating of Unleavened Bread is a reminder that only God has the power to rescue.

Prepare to Meet Your God! (Part Seven): The Prophesied Blow Falls

Article by John W. Ritenbaugh and Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The moral decline of Israel, as depicted through Amos' prophecies, reveals a nation spiraling into destruction due to its persistent disobedience and rebellion against God's standards. Surrounded by luxury and prosperity, Israel should have produced God's personality and character, yet she failed miserably, turning instead to self-indulgence and spiritual adultery by trusting in other nations rather than God. The evidence of her demise is not mere fragments of physical loss but the remnants of opulence—couches and beds—symbolizing self-concern and indolence, with no trace of godly spirituality, righteousness, justice, or mercy. Israel's moral standards had degenerated, failing the test of the plumb line, a metaphor for God's standard of uprightness. The people's religious profession lacked the right works, showing they were not truly aligned with His grace and law. Their worship of foreign deities, setting up idols, and engaging in cultic fornication at religious shrines further marked their ethical and spiritual decline, abusing the free, unmerited gift of God's grace and rejecting His law. The consequences of this moral decay are evident in the societal instability and violence that mirror ancient Israel's path. Once peaceful towns now face murder, rape, and sexual deviancy, while wealth concentrates among the few, leaving the poor weaker. This instability stems from a lack of absolute standards of right and wrong, leading to confusion, violence, divorce, and mental illness as everyone pursues their own way. God squarely places the blame on Israel's pride, unimpressed by His holiness or sovereignty, and links human morality to natural disasters as acts of judgment in response to their immoral treatment of others and the environment. The land itself will suffer, with floods, fires, windstorms, and earthquakes mounting in intensity, reflecting the profound instability of a society rocked by crime, immorality, and injustice. Ultimately, Israel's failure to repent leads to a famine of God's Word, where truth becomes scarce during times of calamity, leaving the people in panic and unable to find the guidance they once disregarded. Their pride prevented them from humbling themselves to seek truth, and in their desperation, many will fall prey to false religions, further deepening their moral and spiritual decline.

Amos (Part One)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Amos gives a series of dire warnings, beginning with Israel's enemies, but concluding with a blistering indictment on Israel herself for her hypocrisy.

Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Many professing Christians have rejected major tenets of the Bible, fashioning their own religions, giving themselves license to sin in selected areas.

Hebrews as a Sermon (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Even as Hebrews prepared the first century church for persecution, so it is also relevant to today's church as it faces an increasing assault on God's law.

Learning the Right Things (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

If parents are not gatekeepers of their children's culture, other philosophies will capture their attention and warp their perception of reality.

Amos (Part Eight)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Amos severely chides Israel for exalting symbolism over substance, superstitiously trusting in locations where significant historical events occurred.

Amos (Part Four)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Amos, like a circling hawk, makes dire pronouncements on all of Israel's enemies but reserves the harshest judgment for Israel, who should have known better.