Characteristics of A Culture in Rebellion Against God
by Dr. Phil Stringer (Florida)
"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk
not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind" (Ephesians 4:17).
* * *
Homosexuality is the ultimate form of rebellion against God. It involves not
only rebelling against the principles of God but against the very body that God
created. Homosexual acts involve using the body in ways for which it was never
designed by the Creator God. Romans 1:26-27 says:
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women
did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise
also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one
toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
This passage makes several points clear about homosexuality:
• Homosexuality is a "vile affection" (not a genetic trait but an
evil desire).
• Homosexual desires occur after God has abandoned a rebellious
person to the evil imaginations of the sinful nature.
• Homosexuality is "against nature."
• Homosexuality is based upon lust which "burns" out of control
(hence, homosexuals have many sex partners).
• Since the body was never designed for homosexual acts, there is
punishment for homosexual behavior in what the behavior itself does to
the human body.
In summary, homosexual behavior is the ultimate form of rebellion against God
and is destructive to those who participate in homosexual acts.
Rebellious humans do not want to remember the truth of the Creator God. It
stirs up painful feelings of guilt. Because of this, God allows them to try and
live as if there was no God. Romans 1:28, "And even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do
those things which are not convenient." Ephesians 4:17-19 covers the same
ground:
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not
as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding
darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is
in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have
given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness.
The Bible makes it clear that the result of this attitude towards life is not
"convenient." This approach to life simply does not work. It leads
people to catastrophe instead of joy. There is pleasure in sin for a season; the
price tag is always too great. The problems that plague modern American life
come about precisely because of the new paganism and rebellion against God.
Romans 1:29-31 lists activities which are sin and are not convenient. These
activities bring sorrow upon the individuals who engage in them. They bring
destruction upon the culture that is characterized by them. They accurately
describe much of American culture today.
Being filled with Unrighteousness: Americans have been told
for a generation that there are no absolutes of right and wrong. Unfortunately,
too many Americans got the message, and they are starting to live as if there
were no absolutes. Unrighteousness has become the rule rather than the
exception.
Fornication (referring to sexual sins): Such sins are no
longer relegated to the red light districts and back alleys of society but have
become more and more open, tolerated, and even promoted. Everyone is asked to
pay for the consequences of immoral living. In a society where we are told that
it is none of our business what our neighbor does, we are told that it is our
responsibility to help pay for the consequences.
Wickedness (referring to any sin that extends from the
selfishness of the human nature): In a society where restraint and morality were
once the highest appeal of society, rights (regardless of the consequences to
others) have now become the most important focus of society.
Covetousness (refers to the insatiable desire of the old
nature for more; to focus on self): A casual glance at modern advertising or a
study of statistics about personal debt shows how clearly covetousness has
replaced thrift, saving, and responsible living in America.
Maliciousness (refers to the attitude of enjoying seeing
pain in the lives of others): The rise of vandalism and random violence extends
from the growth of maliciousness in American society.
Full of Envy: "Class warfare" and the
"politics of envy" have become such a part of the American political
scene that articles and whole books have been written on these topics.
Murder: The United States has the highest murder rate of any
industrialized nation in the world. (This is without even counting abortion.) In
some American cities, murder has become a daily occurrence.
Debate: America has always been famous for having a wide
variety of public spirited debates on an endless number of subjects. However,
public debate in the U.S. has never been so "mean-spirited." Never
have there been so many calls for limiting free speech by the political and
religious left.
Deceit: Old-timers in America often long for the time when a
man’s handshake was his bond. This is not true anymore. Con artists, cheats,
and phony companies are things for which everyone must watch out. The lack of
public trust for politicians indicates the American public realizes how many
elections have been won by deceiving the American people.
Malignity (refers to bad character): The state of
politicians in America indicates how much the American attitude towards
character has changed. Formerly, politicians were expected to be examples of
morality and integrity. Now, people who bring up character issues in politics
are attacked as being part of the "lunatic fringe."
Whisperers and Backbiters (both refer to gossips, busy-body
people who enjoy saying sensational things about people, even if they are not
true): National Enquirer-type tabloids have become a multi-billion dollar
industry in the United States. The spirit of "back-biting" has
resulted in many sensational interviews in magazines and on TV and radio. The
American public eats it up. "Gossip rags" play a more important role
in American life than serious journals.
Haters of God: Public displays of hatred toward God by
homosexual activists and Satanists have never been more prominent in America.
Attacks on churches and preachers (the visible representatives of God) have
increased at an incredible rate. Blaming the Christian concept of God for all of
America’s social ills has never been more fashionable among politicians and
the news media than it is now.
Despiteful (refers to attitudes of anger and bitterness that
cause people to direct anger and malicious actions toward those against whom
they are bitter): Commentators from all political persuasions have mentioned the
mean-spiritedness of current American life.
Proud, Boasters (refer to the attitude of lifting yourself,
in your own opinion, above those around you): In politics, sports, and everyday
life, humility is an almost unheard-of-trait.
Inventors of Evil Things (refers to the ability of human
nature to create situations that promote and spread evil among people): The
pornography industry, the use of popular music to promote Satanism, suicide,
moral impurity, and the endless attempt to introduce nudity and pornography into
mainstream television illustrates the attention being given to "inventing
evil things" in American life.
(refers to the attack on the Biblical and traditional role of parents in
guiding their children): From Hillary Clinton’s famous quotes comparing
parental control over children to slavery and concentration camps, to the modern
psychological counseling models that reject parental authority, parental
authority in America is being challenged. For many parents of teenagers, the
biggest challenge they face is trying to deal with their teens. Nevertheless, if
God has no authority how can mere parents have any authority? The natural
teenage impulse toward rebellion has been magnified by the spirit of the day.
Without Understanding (refers to inability to even
understand basic moral questions): I Timothy 4:2 refers to people whose
conscience has been seared with a hot iron (in other words, their conscience is
incapable of feeling). Moral principles that were once taken for granted in
America now seem foreign to many Americans. This is illustrated by the legal and
political controversy over teaching abstinence (more purity) in public schools.
Covenant Breakers (refers to breaking official agreements
and contractual obligations): America’s courts are full of court cases over
real and alleged covenant breaking. However, the form of covenant breaking that
influences American life most is divorce. Marriage is a legal contract before
man and should be a sacred covenant before God. Yet almost 48% of American
marriages end in divorce. This break up of such a high percentage of American
homes has more influence on day-to-day life in America than any political or
government program.
Without Natural Affection (refers to the lack of the natural
human bonds that develop in a society or individual life indulgence by the
concept of the Creator God): Several examples are obvious in American life. An
expectant mother should naturally be filled with love and excitement about the
new life sheltered within her womb. Yet, every year in America, over one million
mothers choose to have that life destroyed. As previously mentioned, the natural
love between husband and wife is lacking in so many homes that almost one-half
of all marriages end in divorce. Children should have a natural love and
affection for their parents, yet parent-child relations are often strained in
the United States. The job of taking care of elderly parents is more and more
being passed over from children to government.
Implacable (refers to being incapable of being persuaded):
The number of repeat offenders in the prison system gives testimony to the
number of hardened hearts that cannot be influenced. It might also be noted that
no matter how much evidence there is that the policies of the new paganism are
destructive, some leaders still insist that the problem is that America is not
pagan enough.
Unmerciful (refers to lacking the ability to feel mercy for
others): Again, the abortion crisis illustrates this problem, as does random
violence, and the growing menace of child abuse in our country.
The depth of this corruption in the lives of individuals is illustrated by
their attitude toward the most evil members of society. It seems that the pain
and sting of guilt are lessened when you can point to someone who is worse than
you. Capitalizing on this, many rock music stars have purposely presented
themselves as horribly perverted and corrupt (sometimes they really are,
sometimes it is just an act to promote sales). The attention paid to such people
as Madonna, Michael Jackson, bizarre music groups, etc., show how this principle
works. The honor and respect given to violent criminals illustrates the depth of
rebellion against God in our society.
As Senator William L. Armstrong asks in the forward to Winning the New Civil
War:
What is the profit to America if we have endless economic prosperity,
computers, and a hundred channels of television in every home, new cars,
boats, glamorous vacations, and more . . . if our families are shattered, our
children are corrupted; if we forget to throw away the values and traditions
that are the soul of America; or worst of all, if we Christians fail to honor
Jesus Christ?
It is time for Americans to face how serious the problems in our society are
and where they really originate. America’s challenge is a spiritual one,
though it has social, moral, and political ramifications. The solutions are
spiritual, though they have social, moral, and political significance
A civil war of values, of ideals, and of moral principles is occurring in
America today. A Culture War for the future of American civilization is taking
place. This war will be won or lost (depending upon your perspective) in the
next few years -- in your lifetime! The results of this war will be as
significant as the results of the War for Independence. What an exciting an
challenging time to live!
Dr. Phil Stringer is Executive Vice President of Landmark
Baptist College, Haines City, Florida
