When the rules of engagement change in any situation, it will produce a new reaction, a new response and a new paradigm. Typically, clear boundaries are a necessity when dealing with any organization, movement and/or belief system. When the members of that organization begin to change their actions and engage in behavior contrary to the belief system, it results in division, confusion, and ultimately comprises the mission and goals of the total organization. In this instance, does it make more sense for an individual to distance themselves from the movement or continually identify themselves with the movement while further comprising the integrity of it? Organizations and belief systems often have clearly defined standards for membership and or association with such organizations. The church is no different, Christianity is no different..

Modern viewpoints on “Christianity” and what it means to be associated as such have changed dramatically over the years. The belief system and the basis of it have never changed, but people’s willingness to live up to it has. The modern “Christian” (I put the word in quotes because the definition these days changes based on the “Christian” you are talking to) on average engages in at least one pre-marital sexual relationship, drinks alcohol on a regular basis, utilizes profanity, and/or engages in some form of organized gambling. The varying degrees often depends on the ministry the individual is associated with. My goal with this series is not to tell you as a reader how to govern your life, it is however my goal to present the facts in such a way that you can process them in relation to your life. Each person must live according to their own convictions, but if your identity is based in the belief system of Christianity, the standards are clear. Your decision to follow them or not while yet identifying with the belief system is purely based on your convictions. The first major issue facing the modern church is sexual promiscuity among professed Christians.

A recent study evaluated views on 10 moral behaviors ranging from gambling to sex. The individuals they evaluated where self proclaimed Christians. I want to present the findings of this study in portions. The first portion explores views on sex. When asked what they viewed as acceptable behavior, 42% said having a sexual relationship with someone of the opposite sex other than their spouse (husband or wife) was acceptable, 38% of those polled gave the stamp of approval to pornography, and 30% said homosexual sex was acceptable. Almost one out of every ten evangelical Christians maintained that adultery, gay sex, pornography, and abortion are morally acceptable. What does this say about the modern church, or more specifically, the modern “Christian?” Churches and many spiritual leaders treat sexuality like the elephant in the room, they see it but chose to walk around it instead of address it. Polls always have an error factor of plus or minus 5%, but even with that the statistics are still interesting.

If this constitutes the sexual views of Christians…how is it effecting the perception of Christianity in America? Why has there been a sexual revolution of sorts among this body of believers? How do these statistics relate to your belief system whether you identify yourself as Christian or not? How are relaxed views on sexuality effecting society as a whole and Christianity specifically?