It's a question of morals

When Jesus was being ‘tried’ by Pilate, Pilate asked Jesus an interesting question: “What is truth?” (John 18:38)

In the moral landscape that is present in our culture—truth and morals are becoming an increasingly difficult concept to process.  As a Biblical person, I believe there is a less complicated process of understanding this quagmire of opinions.

There are simply three questions that need to be asked:

1.  Is there such as thing as morals?

I am looking for a definite yes here.  But, perhaps you might find a more amoral culture.

Let’s define these terms (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com) 

# 1 Morals:  Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour.

# 2. Amoral:  Lacking a moral sense;  unconcerned with the rightness or wrongness of something

# 3.  Immoral:  Not conforming to accepted standards of morality, 'unseemly and immoral behaviour.'

Most people—I am suggesting—will side with the first definition: they are concerned with principles of right and wrong.

Some dimension of ‘moral’ keeps us from mass destruction and anarchy.  If this is true—that we are moral creatures…the second question needs to be investigated.

2.  If so, where do those morals comes from?  What is the source?

If people are concerned with morals—right and wrong behaviours— then who decides where those moral absolutes find a base?  I’m going to suggest a few sources: 

• Culture?
• Government?
• Personal Opinion?
• Personal experience?
• Democracy?

The point is simply this:  truth/ morals have to be based on something or someone.  This is quickly learned in school.  The mathematics teacher isn’t all that interested in any other source than the text book.  Student’s opinions, parent’s opinions—or for that matter—even their happiness is irrelevant—the square root of 9 is 3.  The text tells us that!  The text is the source.

In our search of where or what is the source of morality—most questions or difficulties are answered.  If for instance morality is based on democracy—then all that is needed is a polling station.

3.  The source of morality for a follower of Christ:

There are three concerns here:

# 1. The first issue of all issues is simply this:  Christians (followers of Christ) see the Bible as the source of morality.  Personal opinions, experiences, likes or dislikes—are set aside.  This however is a process—and often not without significant pain and fighting.  

Christians need to be able to say simply this: All moral standards and understandings, are based upon Biblical truth.  Now again, this does not happen instantly nor immediately and is not without a significant amount of prayer, reading, studying, and pain.  But to move on in discussions of morality and truth the source must be delineated.

# 2.  Learning to apply truths into where there is no specific chapter and verse. It’s easy to declare this moral stance: Don’t kill anyone!  The Bible tells us so: “Don’t commit murder.” However the church must learn to apply Biblical truths on issues and situations that are not necessarily defined in the Bible.  Principles may be present—illustrations are not.

# 3. Manifestation of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.  Christians are bad, sinning people who have been both saved and changed (over time) by God’s grace, love, and mercy. In a culture that is—leaning towards, if not totally immoral or amoral, Christians are swimming against the tide. But, Christians must realize that —so was Jesus! 

In the next series of blogs I will answer these question:  

2.  How to live and teach morality in an immoral/amoral culture

3.  Biblical morality—how’s and why’s

4.  Discussions on the ‘source’ for Christians