INSANITY AND IMMORALITY

It was something I said without really thinking it out, but, even after reflecting on it, I am convinced that it is true. Just a perusal of Drudge Report's headlines, had left me reeling with incredulity: I had read comments made by top political leaders and thought, "I cannot believe they said something so convoluted-and they are our chief leaders." Then, I read of reports of truly bizarre behavior and thought, "I can't believe anyone would do that." These weren't exceptions in the news; they were the rule. Thus, when preaching one past Sunday night, I said, "Our nation is being inundated with insanity and immorality, and the two are inseparable." Upon contemplation, I am more rather than less convinced that this statement is true. I believe that America has literally been driven insane by her immorality. (I do not use the word insane in anyway disparagingly of those who suffer true mental illness). It is an uncomfortable analogy, but historians have looked back on some major historical personalities, artists, rulers, leaders, etc., who began to act maniacally insane and have concluded that their insanity was caused by diseases brought on by their promiscuous, immoral lifestyles. I am not suggesting that those who contemporaneously are saying such insane things have such a disease that comes specifically from promiscuity. I am suggesting that, when one jettisons the moral absolutes given in God's Word and written on humanity's hearts, he will begin to think, reason, and believe with a skewed, awry craziness. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord also results in morality; thus, wisdom is linked with morality. Oh, no doubt, an immoral person can be very clever, very intelligent. Yet, without morality, he will begin to think off kilter to reality. Listen to or read the news this week. You will hear even some of our nation's top leaders say such insane things that bear no resemblance to reality, common sense, or, even, reason. Such remarks have risen from the pool of our culture's immorality. Too often Christians have been charged with being primitive, unthinking, saying and doing crazy things because of what they believe. Not so. If the principles that Christians believe, if the morality Christians espouse, if the absolutes to which Christians adhere were adopted and followed, wise, workable, winning things would be said and done. What the Word says and what conventional wisdom says are often diametrically opposed. One is insane. I know it isn't the Word. If you told the average television-raised non-believer today what you as a conservative Christian believe, he would look at you and say, "You're crazy. Insane." Really? Take a look at our world. Now, who is insane?