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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Surveys are showing that church attendance is up, yet immorality is running rampant. Do these really go together? So many people claim to be “people of faith,” but their lifestyles don’t reflect lives set apart from what used to be called worldliness, couched in public displays of humanitarianism. Is this a sign of the times, as the Bible says? – P.F.

A: Jesus indicated that there would be a permissive society right before He comes back. And the world seems to be on an immoral binge that has not been known since the days of ancient Rome.

People hire life coaches to help them get “in touch with self.” A popular life-coach site claims to successfully get clients grounded spiritually, yet there’s no sign of Biblical authority – just personal experience extracted from the idea that if you “do for others and yourself,” you will discover personal satisfaction. The Bible warns against such thinking.

Social awareness has replaced the Spirit-filled life. The truth is, people would rather put their energies into “working for God” than actively “obeying God.” There’s a difference. Busyness is the devil’s playground. If we don’t believe in Him and give Him the priority in our lives, working for Him is a futile exercise – because Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NKJV).

What some think is a new idea is as old as the Bible itself. People in ancient times worshiped many gods and built temples in high places in which to worship. The Bible says that “this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other” (1 Kings 12:30, NIV). This is what is taking place in the 21 st century – mixing claims of faith in God while worshiping other gods. But the Bible never changes. The first commandment still declares: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Deuteronomy 5:7, NKJV).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2026 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2026 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.