WILLIAM J. FINNIGAN Society likes to create own rules

A little boy came running into the house one day shouting, "Mom, guess what, I'm 10 feet tall!"
With a skeptical look, his mother responded, "Jimmy, that can't be."
"Oh, yes it can, 'cause I just made a ruler in the back yard and measured myself!" Obviously he determined his own standard of measurement -- something other than 12 inches to the foot.
That's a stupid thing to do, isn't it? How dare this lad defy the age-old standard in order to be something he's not? Yes, 2 plus 2 is still 4, yet how many corporation accountants don't count that way?
Our beloved country was based on the moral and ethical precepts of the Ten Commandments, but they've been all but excluded from our society; consequently, judges are making their own laws rather than following the established interpretation of said laws. We seem to be making the rules as we go, so who's to say what's right and wrong?
Moral law
The judicial, political and economic systems of a country can only be as strong as its moral character. Our forefathers were not perfect by a long shot, but they had moral and spiritual convictions. The Judeo-Christian foundation brought stability and productivity to this land. The family was strong; dad was the breadwinner and mom was the queen of the household. Children were trained and educated to be respectful to their elders and to take responsibility for their actions. Did everything always go well? Certainly not, but those who fell could always return to their roots.
See what's happened to other European countries, such as the Netherlands and France, that have abandoned moral law. Marriage and families are rapidly declining, while perverted sexuality runs rampant.
America is moving in the same direction. We are reaping what we have sown. Children, for instance, cannot be fed a steady diet of garbage via TV, movies, etc., and expected not to be morally jaded. In computer terms: "Garbage in, garbage out."
Earlier generations in America were "programmed" with a different set of values based on biblical tradition. It worked despite the failure of those who didn't follow the rules.
Significantly, NASA still calculates every space flight with utter precision. No one is making the rules as they go. Set laws of the universe are considered to the letter. As we have seen, one minor oversight can spell disaster!
Likewise, the same God who made the universe gave standard instructions to those on the planet. But throwing them to the wind can lead only to tragic results in every part of our society.
The most contemptible segment of our country is the so-called clergy. Remember, it was the religious leaders who called for the Crucifixion of Jesus.
Today's beliefs
So it is today. It's frightening to discover how few clergymen believe the Bible is God's infallible word. Without the standard of truth, we are lost and confused. Yet these "professionals" continue to reject the precepts they were ordained to preach. Indeed, they are blind leading the blind.
Marriage, for instance, is a biblical institution, ordained for establishment of homes and procreation of children. That's what clergy should teach and cherish personally.
Homosexuality is not only unbiblical, but unnatural, evidenced even in the animal kingdom. But what can we expect when a gay bishop defies his church's teaching and flaunts his perverted lifestyle? It doesn't say much for his integrity, nor that of his church which tolerates such. It would be better for him to leave the ministry and get a job flipping hamburgers! He's making his own rules and influencing those who follow him to do the same.
I guess it comes down to "whatever makes you happy" or "if it feels good, do it." So if I decide to steal from my neighbor or cheat the system, who's to say that's wrong? Therefore, right is only what I decide is right. That attitude can only lead to anarchy and chaos -- and that's where we are headed in America! Fasten your seat belt -- there's a bumpy ride ahead!
XWilliam J. Finnigan is the director of biblical instruction for the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.