Pathology of the Problem... glory into shame...
Jeremiah 4
“1If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, [then] return unto Me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of My Sight, then shalt thou not [be] remove[d].” ....
“4Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest My Fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” ....
[Circumcision represents SEPARATION and HOLINESS—separation from all other people, and holiness of life; men being circumspect and not just "sticking it anywhere" (excuse the crudeness). Circumcision of the heart did not replace circumcision of the flesh in the New Testament or the Old. It is a symbolic reminder... just like water baptism, just like communion.]
BUT...
“22For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”
II Timothy 4
“3For 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; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
[Ears that want to be tickled so there will be a reason to itch them. It reminds me of the old Wizard of Id comic strip, in which the town drunk / jester Bung declares before everyone, “I swear I will never touch another drop of alcohol except for medicinal purposes”. Then later that night he has a torch or a flashlight, and is going through the tall weeds calling, “Here, snake, snake, snake...!”]
Jeremiah 5:31
“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”
II Timothy 3
“1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
[What...? Turn away...? How intolerant and unloving and excluding...!]
Ephesians 5:11
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [rebuke] them.”
Because...
Hosea 4
“6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 7As they were increased [multiplied, prospered], so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. 8They eat up the sin of My people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. 9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. 10For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.”
James 4:4
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Morality never changes—not one jot or tittle. Morality was forever established each and every time that God declared, “Thou shalt NOT!” and “THIS shalt thou DO!”. The Word of the Lord shall endure forever.
The CITY SET ON A HILL has become a DUNG HILL. That is the inevitable result of giving that which is holy to the dogs, and casting pearls before swine—which Christ forbade...!
Ilse de Mont St. Michel, Normandie, France
—by the way...
africans built that...