"The Culture Has Shifted"

So, what's new? "The culture" has shifted in every generation...in fact...within every generation.

It is within the minds and consciences of each succeeding groups, families, clans, etc. to do away with the old, and welcome the new. This is called progress, and a cardinal, universal, clearly spoken rule about progress is "not to stand in its way". Traditional has ever been the enemy of progressive. Wisdom dictates that change is not only inevitable, but wise as it relates to methods, working and living conditions.

But God's laws historically comes heavily against moral and behavioral changes! God's laws were originally given to His people to bear directly upon each generation's codes of morality and ethics, and were clearly purposed to be passed on - and applicable to - each new generation.

But listen to, and read, what was just approved by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America at its most recent National Assembly: (by Eric Gorski, ASSOCIATED PRESS, August 23, 2009)

" 'We're going to be living in tension and ambiguity for a longer time, partly because the culture has shifted,' said David Steinmetz, a Duke Divinity School professor of Christian history. "The question is whether the mainline church will shift alongside, or if it will decide that the more welcoming attitude toward homosexuality is wrong, he said. "The ELCA - the nation's seventh largest Christian church - reached its conclusion after eight years of study and deliberation. That culminated Friday when the church's national assembly in Minneapolis struck down a policy that required any gay and lesbian clergy to remain celibate."

I would agree that there is "tension" - as seen by David Steinmetz - but I disagree that there is any "ambiguity" in God's Word about the matter!

I instantly concur with The Living Bible's interpretation of Jude 3b - so strongly that I have it written in my King James Bible, and I quote:

"...you should stoutly defend the truth which God gave, once for all, to His people, to keep without change, through the years".

Certainly "the culture has shifted". Every culture "has shifted", but God insists that His followers stand firmly by His commandments however strongly the fierce gales of change blow!