Morality

What is morality? From the Oxford Dictionary: “Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour.”

Is morality universal?  No.  Different cultures have different standards.

Who, then, defines what is right or wrong?  A Christian would argue that God does, as described in the Bible.  The Ten Commandments were the basis of laws and the boundaries of morality for many nations.  However, in a post-Christian age, some tenets are being rejected in these nations, followed in time by more. It is not unreasonable to expect that in the end, all will fall away.

Morality then becomes subjective, based on what I want, regardless of how it affects you.  This trend leads to normalizing selfishness, self-comfort superseding care for others, rule by might (or wealth), and the abuse of power.

This is observable in the USA with worship of retirement funds and cars, fear and persecution of people who are different, loss of generosity, and denigration of those with differing opinions, even among Christians.  The gap between rich and poor is widening. The next stage in the progression is observable in southern Africa where there is loss of the rule of law (e.g. traffic chaos and theft), runaway corruption, and a lack of infrastructure spending. The gap between rich and poor is enormous.

If these trends continue then anarchy and dystopia are inevitable.

The next tricky question then, is, “Should anyone impose their morality on others by force?”  Christians may support this action because God’s requirements are indeed absolute, but the Crusades and the Inquisition have not gone down well in history.  Should God be enforcing them, or me?  Current day USA is pushing back on Christian morality because of what they perceive to be discriminatory laws loosely based on an authority they do not acknowledge enforced by corrupt officials.  They are also seeing hypocrisy among Christians who lay down rules but do not obey them.  Works appear to supersede grace, which indicates that something is seriously wrong.

Indeed, can morality be enforced by law? People, by nature, manipulate, push the boundaries of, and break laws.  True morality stems from convictions within about what is right and wrong, guiding actions from conscience, rather than fear of enforcement.

So where do we go?

·       “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13;35)

·       Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Col 3:23)

 

Our Father

 I recently listened to a sermon about the amazing privileges associated with being able to call almighty God “Our Father”.  It was reassuring and encouraging. 

But…

Our culture tempts us to focus on the privileges and skip the first word; “Our.”  This is important because He is not just “My Father.”  I am not an only child.  I am not more privileged than others, including those who are different (race, nationality, intelligence, college, eye color, political opinion, age, gender, economic status, whatever.)

This precludes me from being proud or arrogant about my status, because “… to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1: 12).”  The status is a gift, and has nothing to do with my race, nationality, intelligence, college, eye color, political opinion, age, gender, economic status, whatever.  The status is given to all who believe.  The status is not a license to be narcissistic.  Rather we are to act like we believe that “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:27).”

We should be defending, loving, helping, and sacrificing for all our (God) siblings.  This is regardless of their race, nationality, intelligence, college, eye color, political opinion, age, gender, economic status, whatever.

God is not impressed with my position as an upper-middle-class, middle-aged (OK, old), white, male, suburbanite professor; he gave all of that to me.  What he is watching is what I do with it.  Do not say “God, I thank you that I am not like other men… (Luke 18:11),” but pray like this “Our Father… (Matt 6:9)” and all it implies.