In the October 31st edition of Newsweek Magazine, Jacob Weisberg wrote an article entitled, Gay Marriage & Marijuana- You can't stop either. Why that's good. In it he writes that the failed attempt at prohibition in this country in the 1920s is now "a byword for futile attempts to legislate morality and remake human nature."
He writes that conservative laws are failing to keep pace with a liberalizing society. "These restrictions have become indefensible as well as impractical, and as a result are fading fast. Within ten years, it seems a reasonable guess that Americans will travel to Cuba, that all states will recognize gay unions, and that few will retain criminal penalties for marijuana use by individuals. These reforms are inevitable- not because politics has changed, but because society has."
Weisberg goes on to say, "popular demand for an individual right is simply too powerful to overcome."
What Weisberg describes and defends is moral chaos. His viewpoint clearly and accurately reflects that of a culture that is in large part rejecting moral absolutes and embracing moral relativism. The idea is, if it feels good to me, then I can do it to excess, regardless of the consequences in my own life or the lives of others. I wonder what Mr. Weisberg would say if someone did something heinous to one of his family members or someone he cared about? Would he think that was wrong and the person should suffer the consequences under a moral law code? I don't know, perhaps he would argue it would be a different circumstance, and that he is defending personal freedoms. What is the difference? What is our basis for right and wrong? There is such a thing as right and wrong the laws based on this protect us from harm and direct us to good.
When a culture loses its moorings, it is set adrift in an ocean of moral chaos. The greatest cultures that have existed in history all collapsed from within. Without a change of direction, the United States is headed in the same direction. When everyone does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25), a moral collapse is not far away.
By the way, the moral collapse is accelerated when the people of God who know better, sit back and say nothing and do nothing, as casual observers. We must be faithful and loving in proclaiming that there is a God who is righteous and just in all His ways and to whom every person will someday be accountable. The hope for all people is in His Son, Jesus Christ.
