Even the Depraved

Scripture References: Deuteronomy 1:17; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

While working undercover for the FBI, Joseph Pistone found that even Mafia soldiers have strong moral feelings. What did they feel about Iran, while it held our embassy? Bomb Teheran. About rapists? Burn them. About females? Never swear in front of them. About another soldier’s girl? Never mess with her.

Everyone has moral principles, even the sexually promiscuous. A heterosexual couple engaging in weekend swinging sex parties, contracted the AIDS virus. However, they were not going to tell anyone in their sexual, community because they didn’t want to lose their friends. Robert McGinley, President of the North American Swing Club, couldn’t countenance such irresponsibility. “The best thing they can do is stop going to swing clubs. Where is their morality?” he asked.

In each case morality was defined outside the particular perversion practiced. To the Mafia soldier, stealing silver plate is business but messing with a boss’s girl is heinous. To the swinger, morality is in spreading AIDS, not in having multiple sex partners. Morality is important to them only as it transgresses their customs. In their view, immorality is not a debasing act in itself; it must threaten traditions or health. What effect it has on the soul remains unimportant and irrelevant.

With such freedom of choice, can’t we see the absolute need of an outside Authority to determine what is true or false, good or bad, moral or immoral? Left to the decision ourselves, we will argue, debate, and fight without ever reaching a decision—unless diseases and bullets get us first.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.