Morality: Relativism vs. Absolutes‏

Hello Friends!

The confusion about moral relativism and moral absolutes in our American culture is quite widespread. One hundred years ago there would have been no debate - even among the majority of the secularists. This is because our society had been raised to believe in absolute standards of morality. Sadly, this is certainly not the case today...

Morality: Relativism vs. Absolutes

Since the 1960's, the standard of morality in our culture has become increasingly standard-less. The hippie generation cried, "If it feels good, do it" and "Do your own thing" - and we certainly have. Today the educational community, made up of largely 45 to 65 year-old hippie generation thinkers, has consistently taught our children that right and wrong are in the mind of the beholder. In other words, what ever a person thinks is right and what ever a person thinks is wrong is their own business an there is no such thing as absolute or unchangeable standards for morality. Bible believers know much better. I contend that the shift away from absolutes to a relativistic moral view is primarily due to the widespread abandoning of Biblical principles held everywhere around us. It should be noted that this is the same value system employed by pagans, witches and New Age religious groups. Their mantra has been "since each person is a law unto himself, no one has the right to impose his ideas about morality on another." This is sad indeed.

History has shown that any society that rejects morality is destined for destruction. Regardless of America's great achievements, it will be no different for our nation - unless we decide to change. Our responsibility as Christian is to "Train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6). We may not be able to affect society in such a way that the culture would revert back to and embrace moral standards from a bygone era. In fact, we have gone too far down the relativistic path and that is just not going to happen. However, we are to try to influence every person possible, and pray that they might individually institute change. Above all, we are accountable to God for the moral, ethical and spiritual standards that we impart to our young - the next generation.

Hollywood and the entertainment industry in our society has become an absolute abomination to the Lord - anything goes and nothing is off limits. The occult is running roughshod throughout the American landscape. 

Our standards and rejection of immorality are very important to God, as is evident below in the study notes for Romans 1:32, which appear in The Full Life Study Bible. The following words written by its editor, the late Donald C. Stamps, powerfully remind us that, for both our benefit and that of those around us, there can be no silence concerning evil and no agreement with it in our midst.

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. - Romans 1:32 (KJV)

"'Have pleasure in them that do them.' Paul's last word on human sinfulness is God's condemnation of a condition even more damning than the practice itself, i.e., supporting and encouraging evil by taking pleasure in the immoral actions of others. This disposition is the ultimate in depravity - vicarious enjoyment of lust and evil. Sin becomes entertainment.

"Being entertained by watching other people sin and engage in ungodly actions, even while you yourself abstain, brings you under the same divine condemnation as those engaging in such evil practices. Sin is intensified in any society wherever it meets with no inhibition from the disapproval of others.

"Those (and especially those who profess faith in Christ) who use the immoral actions of others for entertainment and enjoyment are directly contributing to public opinion favorable to immorality and therefore to the corruption and eternal damnation of an indefinite number of people." - The Full Life Study Bible

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

 

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