7 Reasons for America’s Moral Mess

As I was making my way through the produce section at our local grocery store this week, I noticed a young boy, not 10 years old pick up an apple from the stocked shelves and bite into it. I waited to see his mother’s reaction, expecting him to be reprimanded. Instead, she advised him in his crime in a rapid and hushed voice, “Hurry up and eat that fast.” The boy’s little sister who sat snuggly in the shopping cart cried out, recognizing what she saw as the injustice, “How come Javier gets an apple?” The mother once again used her hushed voice, this time with frustration to shush the young girl.

Although, there are still many Americans who hold high moral standards, there is a growing portion of society whose philosophy of living can be summed as, “Take what you can,” and that is only the tip of the iceberg. It is no secret that from common cordiality to high crimes there has been a colossal transition in moral standards over the last century, America’s house is on fire! What has led to this massive transition in society? What is at the core of this worldview shift? What is creating America’s moral mess? To answer this question it is best to approach the issue from several different angles. There is one primary reason and at least six other contributing exasperators:

First, and most significantly there is a sin nature in mankind that is constantly advocating for the, “take what you can” way of living. As human beings we all have “gone astray” (Is 53:6), we are all slaves to sin in the flesh (Rom 6-7). We have this sin nature within us from the moment of birth (Ps 51:5; 58:3). This sin nature was born into the world “by one man’s disobedience.” (Rom 5:19). Adam led the way for all of us personally and federally. He was in no way a weak or of substandard caliber than any of us. Contrarily, he was the best hope for humanity, the best federal representative we could have elected at any time throughout our history apart from Christ; unexposed to cultural and personal sins of the past and walking regularly in intimate conversation with the creator of the universe, Adam was humanities greatest candidate.

The sin nature, regardless of race, culture, or personality runs deep in every one of us. To be human is to be a sinner, and to be a sinner means is to miss the mark of God’s holy standard. Although, the “take what you can” sin nature has manifested in different forms and been culturally and religiously manipulated throughout the ages – temporarily dampening the manifestations of external and visible sin, there has been only one authentic sin mortifier throughout the ages – the gospel of Jesus Christ! In John Owen’s famous work, The Mortification of Sin, he guides the believer reminding him that the mortification of sin is a daily gospel focused practice which comes only through the power of the Holy spirit. Peace with God comes only when the mortification of sin is practiced. Thus, the only remedy for transformation of a sinful heart is the turning to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and subsequently continuing on the path of sin mortification daily.

Second, the glorification of the victim. We live in a society whose heroes are less-and-less those who fight against evil, and now those who have been victims of oppression. In recent history past, victimhood is claimed by many who seek fame, justification, and equality. While there are certainly legitimate victims, lobbying groups and individuals from all classes, political parties, and segments of society have recognized that if they can portray their plight as that of a victim then they can cement their names in the ranks of American heroes, or at least gain empathy for a cause, circumstance, or particular battle. Victimhood has been claimed by high society, such as President Donald Trump (most notably in his insistence on an unfair election in 2020) and by lower classes, as seen by the names chanted and painted on posters held by Black Lives Matter protesters. Modern society has adopted victimization as a campaign tool, regardless of the cause.

Third, the diminishing of authority. This is a complex component to America’s ethical erosion problem, I would simply like to make a few simple observations in this regard. First, there has been a significant loss of reliability in authority and esteemed public figures. Whether it be church financial or sex scandals, public police abuse, the Epstein scandal, the sexual accusations made on most major political figures, or the polarization of political parties and the increased inability to pass agreeable legislation. In the internet age where transparency and modern means of communication are set to hyper-speed, figures of influence and authority have not fared well. Those of influence and power have consistently proven that they are just as susceptible to failure as anyone else. Therefore, arousing the conscious or unconscious question in us “commoners,” why should we imitate or obey the ideas, standards, or laws proposed by them?

One separate, yet related thought on a near category is that of “the experts.” The scientific experts have been a holdout on authority, “the priesthood” for a rapidly secularizing culture. For some time, they have held the final word. Yet, in the midst of consistent financial crisis, military conflict, and pandemic pandemonium throughout the last couple of decades the average observer has viewed failure after failure and regular contradictions from the “experts.” Instead of leading us out of financial crisis, guiding us clear of international and internal domestic conflict, and leading with consistent and cohesive medical advice, at the viewership of common citizens experts have contradicted each other and sometimes themselves eroding their authoritative platform. This will continue in the coming decades.

The diminishing of authority has been fueled by such influential thinkers as Darwin, Marx, and Nietzsche. These thinkers directly assaulted long held figures of authority in religion, history, economics, and nearly every part of the social structure. Pop culture has served to popularize this disregard for authority in the modern sitcom era. In song and screen, no topic is considered too holy for parody. There are few sensitive areas that cynicism has not encroached upon, from the Pope to the President constant and open criticism, mockery, and derision have left nearly no stone unturned. Pop culture has glorified the young and inexperienced and mocked the aged and their “wisdom.” The American assault on authority has been a shot to our own foot.

Fourth, there is a strong sense of justifiable offenses in the western world. In the growing polarization of American politics and social categories there is a sense on all sides that there is no one to bring “justice,” no one to right the wrongs being committed. If any change is to come, it is supposed that it will only take place if we the people “take what we can.” We must be the forces of change. For some this means loud protests (violent or non-violent), while for others this means aggressive campaigning for environmental justice. A sense of entitlement has pervaded younger generations, “we take what we can because you are not giving us what we deserve,” they say. There is a Robin Hood justification mentality. The basic necessities of life (food, clothing, clean water, and shelter) are more and more seen as a right and not a privilege which one must earn. When these basic necessities fail to be met, this is now seen as oppression by the privileged class. For some, the categories of “basic necessities” have blurred far beyond food, clothing, water, and shelter. It seems quite justifiable to take a car, money, or anything else from those who have unjustly “oppressed” the poor. “We are the victims,” they say, “justifiably righting wrongs and taking what we can because if we don’t, no one else will defend us.”

Fifth, there is a lost moral grounding in the West. The biblical foundations for morality which permeated much of American society have nearly lost all of their steam. Since the 1950’s and 60’s we have been running on fumes, and America’s moral tank shows we are nearing empty. Where it was once standard for school children to learn the ten commandments as a guide to living life, you would be hard pressed to find a child who could name even five of the big ten. Biblical illiteracy is now the norm. There have been some attempts to install foundationless “Sesame Street” morals – treat others as you would like to be treated. The highest moral values of America at least have been championed as freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity. Subliminally, through history, news, and pop culture students have been taught what to do when their freedoms, equality, justices, and opportunity are denied or offended – fight for them. Therefore, the flimsy “Sesame Street” morals last only as long as the first major offense against the victim of encroached freedom, equality, justice, or opportunity.

Sixth, the anonymity of everyone. There are two contributors to the anonymity of everyone. First, small town America naturally deterred offensive living. 150 years ago, when most of America lived in small rural communities dotting the American landscape it was quite difficult to steal from your neighbor or shoplift at the only market in town. Forget trouble with the police, most were more afraid of their mothers and fathers, because offending the community in such a way brought shame, guilt, dishonor, and disrespect to the family name. Today, most small towns and nearly all cities contain populations in the tens and hundreds of thousands, sometimes stretching into the millions; communities where it is virtually impossible to have any extensive knowledge of one’s neighbors. The static, stable country folk are fewer and fewer. Real Estate turns over like hot pancakes. Most families will own several houses in their lifetime and renters’ dwell in dozens of homes. Moving is comparatively inexpensive and convenient, and jobs are easily found throughout the whole country. When problems arise in one location Americans have often solved the problem with a relocation. The result is the anonymity of everyone. Fewer valuable and deep relationships are established. Instead of seeing friends and fellow citizens, we now see faces, numbers, and competition. Faces that are different and offer no accountability for one’s behavior. There are virtually no social consequences for flying into a fit of road-rage or other obnoxious social behaviors. After all, “how likely am I to see them again?” one might ponder. Where small town markets once had the power to refuse service to those who might have offended the store. Now, supersized Walmarts have no way of identifying repeat shoplifters and little means of bringing serious consequences for offenses.

The second contributor to the anonymity of everyone is the advent of the social media age. We now live in an age where a large part of our social interaction takes place on a screen as opposed to face-to-face meetings. Cordiality has become a novelty, much easier to disregard when speaking to someone you disagree with, have never met, and will likely never meet. With such an abundance of people there is innately a sense that the value of friendships has significantly depreciated. Social media “friends” lists often rank into the hundreds or thousands. Compare this to the historical experience of growing up in a small farming community a hundred or two hundred years ago. Everyone knew everyone and a disregarded relationship could have consequences for the rest of one’s life.

Seventh, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. Carl Trueman’s latest book titled, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self captures a key and maybe the whole of what I have tried to bring to light in this short article. Modern people are obsessed with their identity, and anything that threatens that identity is criminal. This identity is fluid, shifting according to one’s desires and needs, and nothing must obstruct those expressions. The external evidence that we recognize as moral shifts are only indicators of something that has shifted on a much deeper psychological level – the essence of who we are as individuals.

Is there any hope for the Christian in the midst of the dire prospects suggested here? I think so, keep tuned to a follow up blog post on the Christian response to America’s ethical and moral erosion.