The Permissive Society

Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Every human society is filled with sin, but not every society has necessarily given themselves over to permissiveness. In this sermon titled “The Permissive Society,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones confesses his own weariness while preaching on the subject of permissiveness as the world around him has devolved into a permissive society. Given the human condition, sin is natural. The person who sins feels wrong and apologetic about it, but he still does it. On the contrary, permissiveness is unnatural. The permissive society delights in what is contrary to nature, and exalts in doing what is wrong. The preacher laments the modern view of humanity: it is nothing but an animal controlled by impulses and desires. People are concerned about problems in the world, but oblivious to the problems in their own heart. Dr. Lloyd-Jones delivers a brief history of permissiveness in society and demonstrates that today’s culture is nothing new. The great tragedy, he explains, is not learning from the past. The Christian is not one who has given themselves to sin, but is a new creation. Desires and impulses do not govern them, but they govern their desires. Be encouraged, as Christ is put on display and a changed life is manifested in the believer.