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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Are moral values established by a government or by God? – M.R.

A: News headlines are filled with stories of immorality. In fact, immorality is glorified today. The Scripture teaches that God hates immorality and there are numerous warnings from God.

For centuries, our civilization has often been caught in the crosscurrents of a number of different secular philosophies. Often these have gained popular acceptance for a time and have had a great impact on our institutions, ideas, and values. Some, for example, have taught that there are no firm or absolute moral values by which we are to guide our lives; that morals are relative, and people can do what is right in their own eyes without worrying about God and His moral law.

Such views, however, only lead to moral chaos. An attorney once said that vast majorities of his clients are not concerned about the fact they’ve done wrong – all they are interested in is not getting caught!

Many have been convinced that morality is not absolute. We may as well say the rules of the road are relative and not absolute. How would we like to land at an airport where the laws of aviation were relative?

The practical results of this intellectual acceptance of humanism have been a degeneration of morals and the abandonment of religious ideals. The wave of behavioristic psychology that swept our college campuses and permeated the high school classrooms in years past is now ingrained in the way society lives. The ideal of purity is scorned, immorality is laughed at in school, and “God is old fashioned” is applauded. The Bible warns time after time that no immoral nation can survive, and no immoral individual shall enter the kingdom of God. We cannot live pure lives without the help of God.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2024 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2024 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.