I am about to begin preaching through
Matthew 5-7, better known as “The Sermon on the Mount.” This message was
presented by the Lord Jesus Himself and sets the bar extremely high for the
conduct of life. In my preparation I have confronted again and again the
issue of “ethical” standards as they relate to Jesus and His penetrating
Words. Nearly 3 years ago I wrote about my concern for people forgetting
about true biblical ethics as they slowly accepted the ever changing
morality of this world and the age.
Allen Raynor Weblog: Ethical Standards and Changing
Morality
(Nov. 6, 2014)
What or who determines standards? In times past in America, the obvious
answer was the Bible. This was true even for individuals, marginal in
their Christian commitment. But no such standard exists anymore – at
least not in the minds of a great number of people. Where there is no
standard, confusion will rise to fill the void left in its absence.
It is near political suicide for a candidate running for office to quote from
or refer to the Bible. The only exceptions might be vague, general
reference to a passage that is hardly controversial. The 1828 edition of Webster’s
Dictionary defined a great many terms by appealing to the Bible as the
absolute standard. Our American laws all are rooted deeply in the
standards found in the Word of God. Laws were not simply pulled out of
the air. Their basis was overwhelmingly in Scripture.
Over time morality and ethics have become largely lumped together and
essentially are now viewed as being one and the same. However, drawing a
clear distinction is valuable. Morality is a measure of what “is” taking
place; what people are doing; their attitudes toward certain issues and
standards of behavior. Therefore we can conclude that morality is forever
in a state of flux and change. The phrase “moral standards” is mostly an
oxymoron. A standard is set and unchanging, whereas morality is merely a
reflection of what “is” taking place. There is no guiding
principle. Ethics, on the other hand, speaks to the “ought.” Ethics
are grounded in a true and unchanging standard. Christians would appeal
to biblical ethics, in particular, and see Scripture as the standard of all ethical
conduct. In other words, “ethics” should determine “morality.” Even
if it is not perfectly followed, believers would claim that we “ought” to
follow the teachings and standards of the Bible.
In our present world, no such distinction is made between ethics and
morality. The absolutes of ethical standards have given way to the moral
norms of the ever-changing culture. To say someone is “moral” only means
they are consistent with what is generally seen by a society as being moral.
However, to say someone is “ethical,” means they are following standards that
may be outside normal behavior and might even be quite counter to the
culture. To say someone is “biblically ethical,” means someone is
ordering their life around the teachings of Scripture.
Many Bible-believing Christians lament that their adult son or daughter is, for
example, now living with their boyfriend or girlfriend out of wedlock, or are
engaging in other behaviors that are contrary to the standard taught by the
parents in the home. This standard was based in the Bible. What has
happened? Presumably, the parents taught an “ethical” standard to their
child, particularly a “biblical ethical standard.” However as the child
left home, went to college or joined the military, and got out into the world
their biblical ethics came into sharp conflict with the morality of the
culture. In the back of his/her mind the biblical ethic remained, but the
morality of those around them was such that they were made to feel
uncomfortable and felt tremendous pressure to conform. Typically this
does not happen overnight. It usually takes time. It is very hard
for those with ethical standards to consistently live up to the standards in
which they believe when their encouragement for doing so is minimal or
non-existent. And it is further difficult when their encouragement to
adopt the moral norms of those around them is strong. You see this, for
example, on a college campus. What is more common, to see incoming
Christian freshman influence the campus with Christian ethics and teachings or
to see the moral norms found on campus to influence the incoming Christian
freshman?
God knew of this dilemma long before human beings ever gave it a thought.
He knew believers needed to encourage one another, because “lone wolf”
Christianity was always destined for failure. “As iron sharpens iron, so
a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Prov. 27:17) Church
is the institution He gave, not only for that “sharpening” or “encouragement”
to take place but also a place for instruction. Many have sought answers
to why there is such a decline in morality today, when compared with previous
generations; but the answers are fairly simple. People attend church far
less frequently, and the Bible is read and studied more infrequently than
before. Add to this the fact that culture is imposing itself on all
people with far greater intensity. Christianity is under direct assault,
and the price to be paid for living by biblical ethical standards is much greater
than it has ever been for men, women, boys and girls.
There is more to life than living for the moment. Moments come and
moments go. According to James 4:14 our lives are a “vapor” that appear
for just a moment and then are gone. The “morality” of the moment is
here, and then it is gone. But biblical ethics are standards that come
down to us from God and they do not change. God declared in Malachi 3:6
“For I am the Lord, I do not change.” As mankind in every generation grapples
with trying to determine morality, God’s ethical and absolute standards remain
preserved in the Bible.
In Christ,
Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor
