Escaping The Ranks Of Moral Insanity

September 28th, 2022

Scott

Print or Email

TheDiscipleMd

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority,” Marcus Aurelius opined, “but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”

Sometimes I feel that the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to “escape” from the insanity of the immoral majority. It seems that everywhere we turn the messages that are being communicated by society and the cultural media, are messages that are in opposition to the commandments given to us by a loving and kind Father In Heaven.

This is not something new nor is it something unexpected for our times. From the beginning of time, the Lord has used prophets to warn the faithful and teach them how to escape the “insanity” of the immoral peddlers of our days. What is moral insanity? The evangelist, Charles G. Finney, (1792-1875) defined it as thus:

“Moral insanity…is will-madness. The man retains his intellectual powers unimpaired, but he sets his heart fully to evil. He refuses to yield to the demands of his conscience. He practically discards the obligations of moral responsibility. He has the powers of free moral agency, but persistently abuses them. He has a reason, which affirms obligation, but he refuses obedience to its affirmations. In this form of insanity, the reason remains unimpaired; but the heart deliberately disobeys.”

The ancient scriptures are replete with warnings of how things would be in our days; the last days. Paul wrote:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”(2 Tim 4:3)

Paul also wrote:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1Tim 4:1-2)

“Having itching ears”, “conscience’s seared with a hot iron” and “puffed up hearts” all seem to conjure up images of insanity to me!

Being found on the side of the majority doesn’t equate with being found on the side of the Lord. We can escape the moral insanity by following the commandments as revealed through prophets of old, and by obeying the guidance and direction given by prophets in our day. The concepts, precepts, and directions given to us by prophets can bring sanity to our lives and hope for our futures. May we read, ponder and pray over their words. Their words were given to us so that we might avoid the consequences of sin and gain the blessings of a Christ-centered life.

Posted in Messages

Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Comments are closed.

ROOTS OF INSPIRATION

In 2007 I began writing a daily inspirational thought to my children, now grown, with the intent to draw them closer to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The influence of the gospel of Jesus Christ is found in all aspects of our lives. The Savior was a great teacher because he taught parables that resonated with the common man. He could relate simple stories that could be understood by all. I have found the more simple the story, the more profound the message.All of our testimonies can have a powerful impact for good for centuries if we take the time to write them down. After all, the scriptures are simply the inspired thoughts and interaction of men with deity that have been written down for all to read. There is no reason that our influence for good has to go with us to the grave. I have hopes, as did Jacob whose final words were, “…to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu”