The Thinkable and the Unthinkable

by Ken Thomas

In 1979 Francis Schaeffer and Everett Koop published Whatever Happened to the Human Race? They were concerned with the erosion of moral absolutes in modem culture. Referring to many atrocities and cruel events of the past, they reminded their readers that both victims and perpetrators were HUMAN, just like you and I are. 'We seem to be in danger of forgetting our seemingly unlimited capacities for evil, once boundaries to certain behavior are removed."
"There is a 'thinkable' and an 'unthinkable' in every era. One era is quite certain intellectually and emotionally about what is acceptable. Yet another era decides that these 'certainties' are unacceptable On a humanistic base people drift along from generation to generation, and the morally unthinkable becomes the thinkable as the years move on."
We speak of a generation gap, but it may well be that due to the increase in humanistic ideas we are all lulled into thinking that the passing of time turns what was "unthinkable" into something that is not only "thinkable" but acceptable.
Pornography is somehow turned into "art" that must be studied and appreciated by the cultured person. Filthy language becomes "artistic expression." Abortion becomes a mother's right to control her own body. Parents arrested for child abuse may be confused at being condemned, when they could have legally killed the same child just a few months before when it was yet unborn! What has happened to natural affection ( Romans 1:31) ?

February 28, 1993

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The Thinkable and the Unthinkable by Ken Thomas In 1979 Francis Schaeffer and Everett Koop published Whatever Happened to the Human Race? They were concerned with the erosion of moral absolutes in modem culture. Referring to many atrocities and cruel events of the past, they reminded their readers that both victims and perpetrators were HUMAN, just like you and I are. 'We seem to be in danger of forgetting our seemingly unlimited capacities for evil, once boundaries to certain behavior are removed." "There is a 'thinkable' and an 'unthinkable' in every era. One era is quite certain intellectually and emotionally about what is acceptable. Yet another era decides that these 'certainties' are unacceptable On a humanistic base people drift along from generation to generation, and the morally unthinkable becomes the thinkable as the years move on." We speak of a generation gap, but it may well be that due to the increase in humanistic ideas we are all lulled into thinking that the passing of time turns what was "unthinkable" into something that is not only "thinkable" but acceptable. Pornography is somehow turned into "art" that must be studied and appreciated by the cultured person. Filthy language becomes "artistic expression." Abortion becomes a mother's right to control her own body. Parents arrested for child abuse may be confused at being condemned, when they could have legally killed the same child just a few months before when it was yet unborn! What has happened to natural affection ( Romans 1:31) ? February 28, 1993 Related Articles: Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM