The Moral Cliff

The Moral Cliff

Life is connected. Each aspect of your life impacts every other. This is true within our physical body, with our relationships, and with society.  Recent national conversation about going over the fiscal cliff had many anxiously awaiting the “fix”.  However, I understand the fiscal cliff as one consequence of another cliff we went over decades ago: the Moral Cliff. Life is connected.

Like a boxcar following the rest of the train, changes in morals, values, and virtues have derailed our exceptionally blessed nation. There is not one person, one political party, or one congress to blame. There has been a slow moral decay at work that has gone without correction.  It is hard to say exactly where or when we left the tracks, but one thing is clear – we have derailed.

The connected cars could only follow.  The 1960’s redefined personal freedom and dislodged our nation from its Judeo-Christian norms. Three years after President Nixon disconnected our nation’s currency from gold/silver reserve (despite warnings from economists like Alan Greenspan), our highest court ruled personal choice over human life. The 1980s and 1990s saw personal moral boundaries fall in religious and political leaders while denying absolute truth. As a predictable result, our core societal institutions are portrayed as irrelevant and archaic: the family and the Church.

Buckle up, Christians. Those who hold to traditional values are coming under greater criticism and exclusion.  However, in such a climate, the character and beauty of the Christian life shines brightly. We can stand out by personal disdain for the world system while allowing Jesus Christ to demonstrate faith, hope and love though us. Listen to the words of Jude:

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

And on some, have compassion, making a distinction; but others, save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.(20-23)