What has happened to our world in the last 75 years? I am overwhelmed by the crowds of individuals all concerned about how we should live. If I may I think it is a concern for morality without a concern for godliness. They seem to say life is having a social conscience; it is doing the right thing, it is doing what is good for the country. Evil is bad and therefore let us condemn it whenever we see it. We hear of those who do things to “raise awareness” about some injustice or inequity. This world seems more concerned with how others live and not the reasons why they live that way. All good and intelligent people should be alarmed by these revelations and awareness of the bad in life, but awareness is not enough.
One of the most foolish things which I see, is standing at the sideline denouncing evil. That is the easiest thing to do. As we become aware of the dark side of life, we have a sense of disgust. We turn away and say to ourselves, “how terrible!” But awareness does not help anybody. It is not enough to denounce bad. That is simple morality. It is not enough for me not to be cruel to animals and condemn those to do. That is simple morality. It is not enough to see a hungry person on the street corner, and feel badly.
All good, thinking, decent people must be alarmed at what is happening in this country… But here is the great and inevitable question: Why is this happening, and what can be done about it? What has happened is a divorcement godliness. You cannot have morality without a base of godliness. Without godliness, morality is simply brass trumpets and sweet violins. It is a sweet and strong music signifying nothing.
The business of the gospel is not simply to denounce; it is not simply to restrain. The business of the gospel is to deal with the situation in the only way in which it can be dealt with radically. There must be a foundation of godliness behind our morality. And the only way to do that is a regeneration of our morality with godliness. It is the regeneration of God in our lives. It is the gospel of regeneration, this power of God unto salvation, that can deal even with this seemingly hopeless situation and insoluble problem. That is the whole story of the New Testament… This is the only hope for society. And let men do what they will, let them multiply their educational and moral and social organizations, they will not touch the problem. You can have your awareness organizations, your morality crusades, and your moral councils, and a thousand other things, and you will not touch the situation. The evil involved is in the heart of men, and it is only a message that can deal with the heart of men that is adequate to meet the problem is the Gospel. The Good news.
The whole gospel of evangelism is opening eyes; not that they should be entertained, or made to laugh and weep; but to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and to knowledge… We are only Christians because the Spirit of God has opened our blind eyes, and has taken away the darkness.