WHY No CONVICTION of SIN ?

Shame has fled from our Western Civilization along with the Conviction of Sin.  

Why is this ? 

  Could it be that to some extent, 

even Cultural Christianity 
DOES have a function ?

  

Why Has Conviction of Sin Fled from Our Society ?

Lenten Meditations

. . .  Setting our Face Toward Jerusalem . . .

Preparing our Hearts in Remembrance of the Paschal Passion of The LAMB+ of GOD,

The LORD JESUS CHRIST

2018

" And now, O LORD, we present unto THEE+ our selves, our souls, and our bodies to be a holy and Living Sacrifice unto THEE+ . . . which is our reasonable service."

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It is becoming harder and harder to bring conviction of sin upon the people, in general.

There seems to be no Shame available anymore to bring conviction upon wrong-doers.

Now the SPIRIT speaketh expressly,

that in the latter times

some shall depart from the faith,

giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy;

having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Timothy 4: 1-2

Shame has fled from our Western Civilization along with our Cultural Christianity.  

Why is this ? 

Could it be that to some extent, 

even Cultural Christianity DOES 
have an effective function ?

For instance, if a culture by law ceases work and commerce on The LORD'S DAY simply because it is the LORD'S DAY,  The LORD blesses that day with a peculiar quietness and stillness in that culture.

Stores close down, banks are shut, and employees are free from labor that day. Restaurants are not open, either, so food is prepared the night before or a simple repast of bread and cheese is eaten.

In addition, fuel stations are closed to business and very few travel on that day unless they have a full tank of gasoline and a picnic basket full of food.

As a matter of historic fact, "Sunday Blue Laws" were enforced in some states in this culture in the life-time of many people in their 70's today.

Furthermore, there were no sporting events or ball practices held on the LORD'S DAY because those things distracted the populace from church attendance in the morning and Sunday evening. Even loud or raucous music was not allowed. Radios , if they were even allowed, only played hymns or country Gospel and preaching programs.

In the days when public school teachers would read from the Bible to their classes every morning, a CONSCIENCE was developed in that society,  a Biblical knowledge of what was right and what was wrong. 

No, it certainly did not make Christians out of the populace at large, but it did establish  a Biblically-based moral law across the land.

Children's innocency was protected from indecent language and pictures. "Facts of Life" about the procreation of the human race were not introduced until after puberty, and that, in the home.  

Adult terminology --- such as abortion, homosexual, lesbian, and transgender --- was never heard, much less mouthed, by even the older high school youths. Youth in general had no knowledge of these sinful behaviors, 50 years ago.  

Reading the Bible every morning in school did not bring Salvation to the nation at large, but it did form a Collective Conscience. People would do ungodly things, but they KNEW they were doing wrong because the standard of Biblical right vs wrong had been established.

For some wrong-doers, their consciences would smite them, they would feel guilty, and amend their ways to become more "socially" acceptable. They treasured a good reputation... that good reputation which was to be had for those who conformed to cultural Christianity.

Others who did wrong rejected their own conscience, but they KNEW society would not like their evil. Thus they at least hid their evil-doings, went to the "speak-easy" taverns behind closed doors, and generally did their evil in the dark corners of the earth.

If caught, they would feel intense Shame.

Of course, the shame would come because they would be "looked down upon" by the decent people, not because they had broken with GOD'S ways. Mothers would not allow their children to play with the youngsters of "indecent" households. Reputations would be ruined.

However, in a land or culture

without a Biblical conscience developed ,

evil is done openly and flagrantly.

This is what we are seeing running rampant and out-of-control in this country, and indeed, across the globe.

All manner of unclean sins are openly and arrogantly being promoted and paraded by nations which have forsaken the means to develop a Biblical conscience --- the only means available to them.  

Now, even the children are defiled. Like the children of Sodom and Gomorrah, the children no longer have their innocency guarded by the adults in charge of their society or their education.

 

Without Cultural Christianity,

evil reigns unchecked.

Again, many people in their 70's today remember how "clean" the language was in print, on the radio, in the movies, and later in the television shows. Not to mention the behavior of the actors !  

However, a Collective Conscience is lacking now, even among decent people, because Cultural Christianity has been forsaken. 

Are there benefits, then, of having a society built around "cultural" Christianity ? Yes. 

There ARE benefits simply because The LORD is faithful to His Word. 

Cultural Christianity does not make people "holy," but it DOES let them know that

THEY are NOT right before The LORD .

Because of the lack of even Cultural Christianity in this modern technological world, people's consciences are parched, withered, dried, and seared until the people become like brute beasts in spirit. . . only acknowledging what pleases their flesh.

Hearts are hardened 

to the intense wickedness of sin.

THUS, it is becoming harder and harder to bring conviction of sin upon the people, in general. Shame has fled a people who have no conscience based on GOD'S Holy Word.

Instead of their Conscience accusing them of wrong-doing, they hear many voices telling them their evil is "good" .

Thus, there is no Shame available to bring conviction upon wrong-doers. And, the whole of society is lost. Evil has over-taken the nation.

Psalm 9:17

The wicked shall be turned into hell,

and all the nations that forget GOD.

Psalm 9:20

Put them in fear, O LORD:

that the nations may know themselves

to be but men.

Selah.

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Hear the Word of The LORD from Hosea 4:6-9

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,

that thou shalt be no priest to me:

seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy GOD,

I will also forget thy children.

As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I

change their glory into shame.  They eat up the sin of my people, and

 they set their heart on their iniquity.

And there shall be, like people, like priest:

and I will punish them for their ways,

and reward them their doings.

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Hear the Word of The LORD from REVELATION 18:1-4

And after these things I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying,

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying,

Come out of her, My people,

that ye be not partakers of her sins,

and that ye receive not of her plagues.

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HEBREWS 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed with pure water.

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1 PETER 3:21-22

The like figure whereunto

even baptism doth also now save us

(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,

but the answer of a good conscience toward GOD,)

by the Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST:

WHO+ is gone into Heaven,

and is on the Right Hand of GOD;

angels and authorities and powers

being made subject unto HIM+.

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That at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, 

of things in Heaven, and things in earth, 

and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that

JESUS CHRIST is LORD,

to the glory of GOD The FATHER.

Philippians 2: 10-11