I do not have a great deal of confidence in many polls, for they can be skewed to obtain a wanted result simply by the form of the questions asked in the poll. However, there are those pollsters who are recognized as being more objective than others. The Gallup poll has been around since 1935 and is seen by many as more accurate than others. In May of this year they reported on their poll of Americans and the views they hold on moral issues confronting our land.
There were two issues surveyed which give great insight into how most Americans feel about the moral decisions many face. They first asked if it is morally acceptable to have a baby outside of marriage. The second question asked if homosexual relationships are morally acceptable. The results of these recent polls were then compared to the results from a similar poll in 2001.
What percentage of Americans believed in 2001 that having children outside marriage was acceptable behavior? It might amaze you to learn that, at the beginning of this century, 45% of Americans saw nothing sinful about children being born out of wedlock. It might also startle you to learn that, according to the Gallup poll, 46% felt that homosexuality was morally acceptable.
The poll released on May 31, 2013, revealed just how rapidly Americans are redefining their moral views. The number of Americans who see nothing sinful about children being conceived outside of marriage has risen from 45% to 60%. The percentage of Americans who view homosexuals’ behavior as acceptable has risen from 43% to 59%. Who would have ever dreamed that such would happen in a nation whose currency proclaims, “In God We Trust,” and who pledges allegiance to being “one nation under God”!
What does this have to do with each of us? First, we must remember that morality is never determined by what the majority of the people decide is right or wrong. If polls determined that 100% of people in our land defined an action which God says is immoral as a moral action nothing would change! Sin is never decided by a social norm but by a holy God! It is always right to do right and the Bible is always right!
A second truth we must remember is that we must never move away from His holiness as the world continues to change around us. We must refuse to soften our spiritual commitment just to avoid conflict with others. Paul said, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:11).
So, “Welcome to the 21st century”! It presents so many challenges and opportunities for each of us! Do right!