On January 2nd, 2018, a BBC News headline read, “Why a booze-free month may be the perfect start to 2018.” In the BBC News article, the writer wrote, “According to Alcohol Concern, five million Britons took part in Dry January last year.” Some of the benefits of abstaining from alcohol according to the BBC Health article were, Weight loss, sleep better, snore less, more energy, better skin, save money, and a sense of achievement. That is all well and good, but without the Word of God we are caring for the body and leaving out the soul. We need food for both the body and the soul.

We all need rules and guidance in life. Parents’ guide their children in the way they ought to go. Children are commanded by God to obey the rule of their parents because they have the role of caring and bringing them up. As adults we would be forgiven for thinking that we ought to look to those who rule over us for guidance such as the Government. However, before we look to those who rule over us we ought to check if they have our best interests at heart. Does the Government look to God, who rules over all mankind, for instruction? Let us hear from the Creator of mankind. God has given us His guidance and rules to live by for our own good. He has given us the Holy Bible so we can know the way we ought to go. Let us learn from God, the One who knows us much better than we know ourselves.

1) Drugs

The damage that illegal drugs have caused in Britain is colossal. People’s lives have literally been torn apart due to drug abuse. We are taught in the Bible that our lives are a gift from God. We ought to look after our bodies. The damage that illegal drugs have on society and people is very long lasting. It is estimated that over 50,000 people in the UK have committed crimes under the influence of drugs or for drugs. The Government does not actively encourage people to take or get involved in drugs. However, the Government does very little to combat the problem of drugs in society and the causes of drugs.

2) Alcohol and drunkenness

The effects that alcohol has on the body is vast. Alcohol is a poison. The only drinkable alcohol is Ethanol also known as Ethyl Alcohol. When consumed alcohol affects the higher functions of the brain and it is a depressant drug. Alcohol will slow down the vital functions of the body and cause unsteady movement, inability to react quickly and damage organs such as the liver. Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” The Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 6:10 that drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God. This tells us that God views drunkenness in a very negative light. Drunkenness leads to alcohol dependence and the breakdown of the family. Many people commit crimes under the influence of alcohol and do things they would not usually do when sober.

In the United Kingdom over the Christmas period of 2017 the emergency services were stretched so much that elderly people needing help were being put second to drunk people in A&E Departments. What an indictment, that elderly people who may need urgent medical care were not being treated due to the selfish and destructive behaviour of a few. Alcohol was given to people in the Old Testament who were terminally ill. Proverbs 31:6-7 says, “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to him whose life is bitter. Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more.” As Christians we are called to be sober minded and of good report among non-believers. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 2:12 says, “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” Alcohol drank in small amounts is neither addictive nor harmful. Many doctors advocate drinking red wine for its health benefits such as for the heart. It is wise for a Christian to abstain from drinking a large amount of alcohol. Remember the Scriptures condemn drunkenness, and not moderate drinking of alcohol. Many will support being teetotal, which of course is good. However, many who do so believe that Scripture supports their position. There is no portion of Scripture that does so. There are many passages of Scripture that support eating, but condemn gluttony. It is not sinful to eat good food, but it is a sin to overeat and be a glutton. The same applies to alcohol. It is not a sin to drink alcohol in small doses, but it is a sin to get drunk.

3) Gambling and the love of money

The Word of God has this to say regarding the love of money. ” For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:10). Gambling is driven by greed, which God hates. Gambling, even in small amounts, can arouse a love of money. Gambling can arouse an unhealthy competitive spirit, which God disapproves of. Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” Rather than promoting a desire to get something for nothing or to get rich quick the Bible encourages hard work. The money we have is provided for us by God’s grace. We should not squander what God has provided on meaningless things or in a way that does not honour Him. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” We are taught to be content with what God has provided.

The chances of winning the lottery in the United Kingdom is approximately 1 in 14 million. The odds are stacked against you. Many people spend money they do not have in the hope to get rich quick. Many people go to casinos in the hope to strike gold. Casinos which are rigged to make you poorer are the places people seek riches. We ought to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Proverbs 13:11 says, “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.” We cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve God correctly when we are guilty of the sin of the love of money. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, ““No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

4) Sexual Immorality

We have a problem in modern-day Britain that runs right through the heart of British society. The problem I mention is the promiscuous lives of many of Britain’s citizens. Sexual immorality is rife in every part of British life. Moral sexual relations ought to be with a wife or husband. God created mankind to engage in sex only within the arrangement of marriage between a male and a female. This society promotes “free sex” and does not encourage God’s way of relationships which is confined to the marriage bed. So why is free sex wrong? Sexual immorality causes STDs and unwanted children, which leads to abortion and the breakdown of the family unit. Another issue is pornography. In the New Testament, the word most often translated as sexual immorality is “porneia”. This word is also translated as whoredom, fornication, and idolatry. The Greek word is very close to the English word for pornography, which encourages sexual relations based on lust rather than a loving marriage between men and women.

The effects of sexual immorality is crippling the National Health Service in the UK. The NHS spends millions on treating people with STDs. If people kept to God’s design of sexual relations then STDs would not be the epidemic that it currently is. In this day and age married couples do not try to sort out their marriage problems. Far too many people give up on their spouse or have an affair. It is believed that 70% of people in prison are from broken homes. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” The Bible says, “But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:2). The Bible teaches us that God will judge the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4 says, ” Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

The Bible condemns every sexual relationship that is outside of God’s design for human relationships. Not just acts but even looking with lust is sinfulness. The Bible condemns mental immorality. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus said, “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Sexual immorality is the breaking of sexual purity and involves any type of sexual expression outside the boundaries of a biblically defined relationship (Matthew 19:4-5).

5) Violence

When God judged the world with a flood in Genesis the earth was filled with violence. Genesis 6:11 says, “Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.” The Word of God is against violence and the Lord hates the one who loves violence. Psalm 11:5 says, “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.” Many video games that young people play are filled with violence. This is teaching our children to be violent and that violence is acceptable. Christian parents, do you willingly allow your child to play video games that promotes a message of violence? Parents have a duty to bring up children to observe godly morals and principles. J. C. Ryle offers some words of wisdom on this subject in his book, The Duties of Parents. Proverbs 3:31 says, “Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.” The oppressor is violent and will use violent methods to control people.

6) Lack of good parenting

The family is the bedrock of society. If a nation destroys the family then the fabric of society will collapse. Britain once had a strong family unit, but now the family structure has broken down. There is almost no discipline in many homes and schools in the United Kingdom. Many parents care more about going to a club than looking after their own children. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” There is only one way to bring up children that is pleasing to God. That way is by teaching them the things of God and enforcing loving godly discipline in the home. Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” This verse in Proverbs teaches that if children are not punished when they do wrong their personal development will suffer. Children are a blessing from the Lord. Parents ought to bring up their children to observe biblical standards. This is so children are well prepared for adulthood and so they are equipped to love God rightly, love their parents honourably and love their country correctly.

Conclusion

It is very important that we address the purpose of Human Government. People who do not follow the teachings of the Bible look to the Government to guide them in morality and how to live a good life. Look at these six points above that are damaging our society. Ask yourself does the Government of this land encourage or discourage them? I am sure like myself you will come to the conclusion that the Government are promoting these things. The Government are meant to protect you. As they are not doing that, so we need to look to a higher authority than any earthly government.

It does not matter who is Prime Minister, Jesus Christ is King. It does not matter which political party holds the office of power in Parliament. All the main parties in the United Kingdom are led by ungodly people and promote unrighteous laws and policies. Look not to the earthly leaders of the nation to guide you. Look to God who promotes a good lifestyle in His Word, the Holy Bible.

We are told as Christians we ought to obey the government and the earthly authorities. Romans 13:1 says, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” The main functions of human government as instituted by God is to protect the citizens of the land that they rule over and to punish evildoers. Romans 13:2 says, “Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”

However, when the government are not protecting the citizens of their land from the evils of society the role then falls to God’s people to warn of the dangers. Sadly, due to the action of earthly rulers many people in British society are suffering greatly. Our minds are being corrupted by the agenda of sinful men to get rich quick. In every part of society people are looking to make money by unrighteous methods. That is why we ought to be careful of the movies we watch, the books we read, the websites we view and the people we spend time around. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” God’s Word teaches us that children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. As God’s people we should be the light that shines in the world.

We must remember that the world cannot live the life of a Christian. The only way a person can live the Christian life is if they have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The Holy Spirit enables a man or woman to live a godly life. It is our job as Christians to warn the world of the dangers of society. If a Christian person is living like the world, ask yourself what standard does that set to unsaved people. Believers ought to be different from the rest of the world not the same.

May the LORD help us all to do so.