It is not news that American society and western society, in general, are struggling with changing cultural norms. Traditional values are being challenged by new perspectives, and the contest between these competing forces is fierce.
Traditional values were not determined by popular vote at any one time in history. Rather, these values trace their roots back to the Bible and society’s efforts to incorporate biblical principles into everyday life. Confidence in the Bible provided a common base of teachings and values largely accepted by society as a whole.
When one does not believe in the Bible, a wholly different set of values emerges. Many of these values place humankind at the center, and from that hub go actions that are self-centered and self-serving.
A recent Barna Research study clearly illustrates that point. Barna looked at several activities related to human sexuality and compared responses of several groups. Comparing the answers of those who fit the profile of evangelicals and those who labeled themselves atheist/agnostic shows the polarity of society’s struggles over values.
Only 12 percent of evangelicals said it was morally acceptable to live with someone of the opposite sex without being married (cohabitation). Among atheists/agnostics, 87 percent said cohabitation was morally acceptable.
Having a sexual relationship with someone of the opposite sex to whom one is not married was morally acceptable to 69 percent of atheists/agnostics. Evangelicals gave such a relationship only a 7 percent morally acceptable rating.
Looking at pictures of explicit sexual behavior was morally acceptable to 5 percent of evangelicals and 70 percent of atheists/agnostics.
Seventy-eight percent of atheists/agnostics said abortion was a morally acceptable choice. Only 4 percent of evangelicals said abortion was morally acceptable.
Having a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex was morally acceptable to 55 percent of atheists/agnostics while only 5 percent of evangelicals rated it a morally acceptable choice.
Similar differences were noted in views toward gambling, profanity, getting drunk and use of illicit drugs.
The answers of evangelicals reflect the traditional values of American society: Marriage is the state in which man and woman are to live together; sexual intercourse is to take place within the bonds of marriage; personhood is to be respected, not treated as a “thing” for self-satisfaction; childbearing is to be done in marriage; God is the giver of life; marriage is heterosexual, not homosexual.
The answers of the atheists/agnostics demonstrate the challenging values. They are self-
serving and self-seeking. The biblical foundation of traditional values is rejected by such positions. Self becomes the standard against which all else is judged.
Obviously, the belief systems of the two groups are very different. Unfortunately, the behaviors of the two groups may not be as different as one might expect.
Barna reported that 25 percent of individuals who fit the category of born-again Christians have cohabited. For Christians other than “born-agains,” the percentage climbed to 37 percent. Atheists/agnostics reported 51 percent have cohabited.
Other studies found no statistically significant differences in the sexual behavior of young people who were born-again Christians and those who were not. Sexual activity, number of partners, pregnancies to unmarried women — all reported similar behavior of Christians and non-Christians.
In the area of divorce, Barna wrote, “Overall, 33 percent of all born-again individuals who have been married have gone through a divorce, which is statistically identical to the 34 percent incidence among non-born-again adults.”
For the South, the heart of the Bible Belt, that figure is 35 percent. In the Northeast where evangelicals are not as numerous, the percentage is 28 percent.
The disparity between belief and behavior of evangelical Christians is unmistakable. Perhaps the greatest behavioral difference between evangelicals and atheists/agnostics is that we recognize our behavior is sinful while atheists will not acknowledge such a thing as sin. Still, that is a discouraging commentary on evangelicals and on society.
Barna concludes that morality in this nation is likely to continue deteriorating. He points to the growing number of people who condone sexual activity with someone of the opposite gender other than a spouse, the growing approval of abortion and the jump in people’s acceptance of homosexuality, all up in the last two years.
The only way to reverse these trends is to recognize the moral absolutes set forth in God’s holy Word, the Bible, and attempt to live our lives in harmony with those absolutes. That process begins with each of us. After all, our beliefs and behavior should complement each other, not compete with each other.
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