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Several years ago, I came across this story that originally appeared in Bits and Pieces.

"Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Lincoln said, "Well, let's see how many legs has a cow?" "Four, of course," came the reply disgustedly. "That's right," agreed Lincoln. "Now suppose you call the cow's tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?" "Why, five, of course," was the confident reply. "Now, that's where you're wrong," said Lincoln. "Calling a cow's tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."

This is exactly what is happening around us every day. What was once considered immoral is now considered moral and vice versa.

Instead of homosexuals or sodomites, there are now "gays" and "alternative lifestyles." Instead of adultery, there is "having an affair." Humility, which was once considered a character strength, is now beginning to be seen as a weakness. There is no longer a standard for what is right, decent, or just. If we are not careful, both our kids and ourselves could gradually begin to think in similar terms. If you don't believe me, take a look at how the terminology has changed even in the church. The word "lost" or "sinner" has been replaced with "un-churched" or "non-Christian." True discipleship is seen as extraordinary rather than normative. Christians are often called "members of the church" rather than "disciples." Some see "ministry" as the job of professionals rather than a lifestyle for every believer. And the list goes on.

Biblical truth, not our culture, should form how we see God's world and our place in it (Rom 12:2). This takes effort, but it is necessary. A.W. Tozer once wrote, "The unattended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness."