Believers and those who have yet to give their lives to Christ bemoan the current situation for the loss of ethics and morals. It is displayed in our television programs and movies. It is flaunted in society by those who have no shame for their lifestyle.
There is the Greek word “aselgeia” in the Bible that depicts utter shamelessness. We might call it the ugliest word in the New Testament. It varies in translations between lasciviousness and wantonness. Rarely do we hear the word licentiousness that is often translated sensuality.
The reason we need to pay attention to this word is that it depicts the world where we live now. The standards of social norm have degenerated to a place where people claim freedom to embrace all types of sinful pleasures and behavior publicly. Inadvertently those who call themselves Christians may absorb and tolerate what is happening around us. They might say there is nothing they can do about it. In truth, they have no spiritual motivation to stand up strong against sin.
Such an unregenerate person lacks public decency and is gripped by sin and its domination in his life for how he talks or thinks for whatever would gratify his desires. Shame is the last word on anyone’s mind today. Many people are guilty of outrageous conduct but also directly or indirectly support it. A good example is a recent surge of drag programs where parents bring their children. One such thing yesteryear was never considered for adults let alone allowing children to be present.
In various Scriptures this word is connected with unabridged longing for what is forbidden and should not be desired by a spiritually healthy person. In other Scriptures this Greek word is connected with adultery and lust and sexual sin. It depicts humans who are involved with a type of animal lust. Such a person seeks only to gratify his physical desires. Another set of scriptures describes people who have degenerated themselves to their lower state of self-indulgence.
The historian Josephus helps us best know what the situation is. He connects this with a type of madness such as the sin of Jezebel who erected a shrine to Baal in Jerusalem. This sin defies all decency. It is a bold insolence that reflects the degeneration of human nature mastered by sin.
Our issue is to pay attention to what’s happening around us. In particular, it is a challenge to basic Christian principles. It rejects the Bible as a basis for common decency. This word is not obsolete as some would want it to be considered. The behavior of the worldlings is an echo from centuries ago when the apostle Paul warned us of social degeneracy when Christ is rejected as Savior. This depicts the catastrophe under which our children live. Christians must be strong in their spiritual lives. They must be a witness, even if a silent witness, against the world’s behavior. Believers in Christ must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them around the swamp of sinfulness. The only alternative to this word is to be sure we have an active relationship with God.
Christian Writer 