Antioch Baptist Church

We Have Lost Our Way!

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.


Since the inception of our great country, God has always been the One whom the country’s citizens relied on and whom they followed. Most knew, and many followed His written commandments in the Bible.  His standards enabled people to dwell together and build this great country even across cultural, racial, and denominational boundaries. There was always a clear understanding of what was right and what was wrong among our collective society because the majority of Americans were conscious of the teachings of God’s word and were convicted by its principles. At one time, crimes were quickly recognized and quickly dealt with. Many of our laws were derived from the scripture and our society expected compliance to that law. It was understood that if one broke the law, there were consequences that followed.

The butchering of unborn babies would not have been even considered 75 years ago. The murder of the unborn and children was the work of barbarians and the heathen, not a Christian nation. Work was something that people were proud to do and expected to do. At one time it was a shame not to have a job, or to even take someone else’s aid when one was not employed. There were clear understandings of the differences in sexes and their abilities and responsibilities. Marriage was honorable, and most decent folks would not even consider pre-marital sex as they knew it could lead to social ruin, lack of respect, and other shameful situations. Young boys were taught how to become respectable, hard-working men and to have the character traits of manhood. Young girls were taught how to be chaste and prudent keepers of the home that exemplified the characteristics of a godly lady. Teachers were known for their outstanding, moral examples and their decisions and discipline were rarely questioned. Police were honored and respected keepers of our law and society. Church members were better examples of behavior and greater examples of how to face life's difficulties, because they followed biblical principles.

After having clearly defined social standards for centuries, something changed. One by one the standards were slowly eroded. Soon convicting consciences no longer had control of people’s characters, and people did what changing standards allowed. Moral boundaries were moved further to the left or obliterated completely. It was not long until unprincipled people gained positions of political and governmental power. Once in these positions, They began to legalize and legislate what was once recognized as sin and immorality. These leaders passed unbiblical laws to cater to certain groups or to fulfill their own wicked agendas. Perhaps it was just a means to get more votes, but it pushed overall mortality further down the slope of decline.The public allowed these changes to occur and often did not even blush about such legislation.

Since the standard of moral measurements have been lowered, many immoral philosophies crept into public platforms such as schools, radio, and television. Thoughts that were once taboo are now the center of television programs, movies, and even commercials. Away from parental control and knowledge, public education has now become a means of the indoctrination of unbiblical philosophies. The saturation of social input has continued to corrupt and confuse morality among our population. About 50 years ago, Forbidden ideas and lifestyles practices were being introduced in comedy and situational family television programs. Soon to follow were more unmentionable activities that were now giggled and laughed at. This in turn brought more acceptance of what once was considered to be immoral and sin because exposure brings gradual acceptance. Homosexuality, drunkenness, adultery, law-breaking, and other sins gained acceptance by constant brainwashing on television, movies, and even video games. Those once forbidden practices were now no longer “bad”; they were “entertainment”.

After decades of watered-down morality and social engineering, a nation emerged that did not know right from wrong, left from right, and black from white. Men, women, and children now do what is right in their own eyes, as the moral compass God left for man to live by was discarded. “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6.  Also: Job 32:1, Prov.12:15, Prov. 16:2, Prov. 21:2.  This is why our country and the world are in the situation they are in today. Murder is not the fault of guns, nor is our spiritual condition the fault of society. One cannot blame the government for not having enough laws to stop or curb out-of-control crime. The fault for man’s decline falls rightly on each man, woman, and child for not knowing and obeying (in many cases, not even caring about)God’s preserved truths. Society will always fail when God’s roadmap through life is ignored! Only if His Word is believed, followed, and practiced will mankind find His way again!

                                                                                              Rev. J.R. Childers