During the 60's and 70's many young people held the belief that, "God is dead." Mainly because if God is indeed dead, then you're free to "Do your own thing" as long as it won't put you behind bars.  Suddenly people's outlook was, "Who cares?" "Better him than me," "Tolerate others," "Make love, not war," "Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll" which led to "Create your own reality." The 60's spawned the "If it feels good, do it" generation.  When people are free to create their own reality, their own truth, pretty much anything goes - and there are no rules! 

"In two national surveys conducted by Barna Research, one among adults and one among teenagers, people were asked if they believe that there are moral absolutes that are unchanging or that moral truth is relative to the circumstances. By a 3-to-1 margin (64% vs. 22%) adults said truth is always relative to the person and their situation. The perspective was even more lopsided among teenagers, 83% of whom said moral truth depends on the circumstances, and only 6% of whom said moral truth is absolute." [2] 

Sadly, this includes Christians.

Jesus Christ was not a relativist.  Christianity and moral relativism are incompatible. Christianity believes it has the only truth! We believe this because Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life…" With these words Jesus conveyed to His followers that he was the personification of Truth.  Jesus also said, "These are the scriptures that testify about me" (John 5:39). 
  
Jesus taught that truth is rooted in the authority of the scriptures, which have been tested, reflected upon, and debated for over two thousand years.  Truth is not a personal preference. Truth is person.  And that person is Jesus Christ.  If you sincerely want to know more about Christ, read the Bible. 
 
If you balk at the idea, look at it this way.  To maintain your strength, good nutrition is essential.  That's a no brainer. To become a strong Christian your daily diet must include the reading of God's Word. Believers have an open invitation to join the King of kings and Lord of lords in His throne room.  How often do you visit with the King?  If your answer is, "Not very often," here's a word of advice: Change your priorities.  Most people find the time to talk on the phone, watch TV, surf the Internet, answer email, workout at the gym, read novels, etc. Wouldn't you rather be talking to the perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe instead of lounging in front of the TV?   
 
In Deuteronomy 111:18 God says, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads."  James tells us, "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like" (James 1:21-25).

During the 60's and 70's if sincere Christians had taken seriously the counsel of  James and obeyed what the Bible says about morality instead of joining the "Do your own thing" revolt, America would be a far different place today.  Youngsters would still have the same freedoms my sister and I enjoyed growing up.  Walking to school with my sister and friends was fun!  And it was safe.

Continued on next page...

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