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The cause of moral degeneration continues be a subject of study. In the Bible, moral decline was always a result of spiritual declension, that of falling into idolatry (the worship of false, gods), which is evidenced in the Bible to be the ''mother of all sins''. In addition to the transitory and finite nature of such created gods, these are seen to be forbidden due to their being the product of man's corrupt nature, such as is expressed in [[Romans 1]] in the [[Christian]] [[New Testament]]. Man also tends to become more like the object of his highest devotion and allegiance. (Psalm 115) God, who is stated to need nothing, (Acts 17:25) and being omnipotent, omniscient and perfect, (Dt. 32:4) is seen to command man to worship Him as a matter of righteousness,<ref>[[Matthew Henry]]’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Rev. 4:11</ref> and for the good of man. (Dt. 6:1-13; 28:1-14; 30:16)  

The cause of moral degeneration continues be a subject of study. In the Bible, moral decline was always a result of spiritual declension, that of falling into idolatry (the worship of false, gods), which is evidenced in the Bible to be the ''mother of all sins''. In addition to the transitory and finite nature of such created gods, these are seen to be forbidden due to their being the product of man's corrupt nature, such as is expressed in [[Romans 1]] in the [[Christian]] [[New Testament]]. Man also tends to become more like the object of his highest devotion and allegiance. (Psalm 115) God, who is stated to need nothing, (Acts 17:25) and being omnipotent, omniscient and perfect, (Dt. 32:4) is seen to command man to worship Him as a matter of righteousness,<ref>[[Matthew Henry]]’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Rev. 4:11</ref> and for the good of man. (Dt. 6:1-13; 28:1-14; 30:16)  

Certain environmental conditions are also seen as being conducive to idolatry and its spiritual and moral decline, these conditions most primarily being that of an abundance of sensual and material satisfaction, as well as ego fulfillment (pleasures, possessions and power). The Bible states that these created things are what the world "lusts" after, (1 John 2:16) and exhorts believers to set their controlling affection upon God and holy things. (Dt. 6:5; Col. 3; Phil. 4:8) The book of [[Deuteronomy]] expresses that after [[Israel]] was blessed for its obedience, then the people "waxed fat" and then "forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation." (Dt. 32:15) [[Ezekiel]] 16:49,50  states that the overall sins of [[Sodom]] were "pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness", and indifference to the poor and needy, and who committed abomination, revealed to be fornication, and that of a most perverse manner, resulting in their utter destruction. ''See:'' [[Homosexuality and biblical interpretation]]  

Certain environmental conditions are also seen as being conducive to idolatry and its spiritual and moral decline, these conditions most primarily being that of an abundance of sensual and material satisfaction, as well as ego fulfillment (pleasures, possessions and power). The Bible states that these created things are what the world "lusts" after, (1 John 2:16) and exhorts believers to set their controlling affection upon God and holy things. (Dt. 6:5; Col. 3; Phil. 4:8) The book of [[Deuteronomy]] expresses that after [[Israel]] was blessed for its obedience, then the people "waxed fat" and then "forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation." (Dt. 32:15) [[Ezekiel]] 16:49,50  states that the overall sins of [[Sodom]] were "pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness", and indifference to the poor and needy, and who committed abomination (revealed to be fornication, and that of a most perverse manner) resulting in their utter destruction. ''See:'' [[Homosexuality and biblical interpretation]]  

2 Chronicles 26:16 records that when King Uzziah increased in power, then "his heart was lifted up to his destruction", after he presumed to priestly powers that were not his. Some of the greatest examples of Godly men in the Bible are those who maintained their faith and spiritual relationship with God in both adversity and abundance, in affliction and affluence, such as [[Job]], [[Daniel]] and the [[apostle Paul]], (Phil. 4:12) in addition to [[Jesus Christ]] Himself. (Heb. 4:15)

2 Chronicles 26:16 records that when King Uzziah increased in power, then "his heart was lifted up to his destruction", after he presumed priestly powers which were not his. In contrast, some of the greatest examples of Godly men in the Bible are those who maintained their faith and spiritual relationship with God in both adversity and abundance, in affliction and affluence, such as [[Job]], [[Daniel]] and the [[apostle Paul]], (Phil. 4:12) in addition to [[Jesus Christ]] Himself. (Heb. 4:15)

In America, the tendency to drift away from faith in times of prosperity was observed early by Puritan preacher Cotton Mather (1663-1728) who stated, "Religion begat prosperity, and the daughter devoured the mother".<ref>Magnalia Christi Americana (The Great Achievement of Christ in America, 1702)</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=M0_ktxTHhdkC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=cotton+mather+prosperity+is+the+daughter&source=bl&ots=ASEEaFcVMi&sig=-Vzy9Nnl6UcsbreMrpzRTDIOQzM&hl=en&ei=U7nMSvTjGcitlAf59tzNBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=cotton%20mather%20prosperity%20is%20the%20daughter&f=false Leland Ryken, ''Worldly saints: the Puritans as they really were'', p. 63]</ref>   

In early America, the tendency to drift away from faith in times of prosperity was observed early by Puritan preacher Cotton Mather (1663-1728) who stated, "Religion begat prosperity, and the daughter devoured the mother".<ref>Magnalia Christi Americana (The Great Achievement of Christ in America, 1702)</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=M0_ktxTHhdkC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=cotton+mather+prosperity+is+the+daughter&source=bl&ots=ASEEaFcVMi&sig=-Vzy9Nnl6UcsbreMrpzRTDIOQzM&hl=en&ei=U7nMSvTjGcitlAf59tzNBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=cotton%20mather%20prosperity%20is%20the%20daughter&f=false Leland Ryken, ''Worldly saints: the Puritans as they really were'', p. 63]</ref>   

A latter acknowledgment of this guilt and the need to place priorities where they should be was eloquently expressed by President Abraham Lincoln in his ''Proclamation for a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer'', issued in the midst (1863) of the [[American Civil War]], which reads (in part),

A latter acknowledgment of this guilt and the need to place priorities where they should be was eloquently expressed by President Abraham Lincoln in his ''Proclamation for a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer'', issued in the midst (1863) of the [[American Civil War]], which reads (in part),