Moral Absolutes... What's That?

Mankind in general is floundering in the miry swamp of sin because they no longer accept that there are moral absolutes. This is true also in some of the Churches of Christianity. Tolerance toward sin, "live and let live", is the by-word of the day. Without moral absolutes there is no right from wrong. "I'm okay, your okay!" "If it feels good, do it!" These are two popular concepts of our day. Recent polls indicate that the majority of Americans no longer believe in absolute truth. These polls even revealed that some 62 percent who call themselves Evangelical Bible believers say that there is no such thing as absolute truth. What we have today is "morality by majority." Contingencies now invade Biblical absolutes. Permissiveness is the accepted attitude of the day in which we are living..

Listen to some excerpts from the words of Thomas C. Den, professor of theology and ethics at Drew University, that appeared in one of the editorials in the March 1996 issue of the Christianity Today magazine where he takes a stand against such permissiveness. "Old-line Protestantism at its tolerant and vulnerable zenith finally achieved what the inquisitors and crusaders could not; the eradication of heresy. No heresy of any kind any longer exists within its pliable, smiling ecclesiastical ethos- except perhaps, for offenses against inclusivism. Rather than separate itself from the sinful and heterodox, the church now simply excludes sin and heresy from consideration. To proclaim generously that anyone's truth is as valid as anyone's else truth is to deny the existence of truth. There is the fantasy abroad that the Christian community can have a center without a circumference." (Italics added for emphasis)

The absence of moral absolutes is especially visible today in one of the prominent Churches of our own country. There is a heresy trial that took place in February 1996 against a retired bishop who is accused of openly ordaining a practicing homosexual to the ministry. His sexual male partner of ten years is another minister of a different denominational Church. With these examples set by the clergy, many churchgoers are confused and being misled to accept non-Biblical standards.

Satan has been very busy along this line of seduction of the Churches. If there are no moral absolutes, then there is no boundary or circumference that would control and guide anyone in their belief and moral conduct. God's word, the Bible, sets down the principles of moral absolutes. A moral principle is still a principle whether it is found in the New or the Old Testament. What may be an accepted lifestyle for the world is not acceptable for the Christian if it violates these principles. The influence of the world has been a threat to the Christian Church since its inception. Men's traditions have always tried to infiltrate and modify or supersede the teachings of God's Word. Jesus told the disciples to beware of the traditions as well as the leaven of the Pharisees. This danger is still present with us today. Christian principles are still under attack from many external sources as well as from within the Christian community itself.

Many deceptions are abroad in the world in which we live and the Christian needs to be aware of them. In addition to the decay of moral absolutes, the Christian is bombarded with the philosophies of Humanism and New Age teachings which are equally deceptive and contrary to Biblical teachings. Our minds, consciences and decisions must be based on and regulated by the Scriptures.

"If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." - Isaiah 8:20.

In God's Word we find all the moral absolutes and guidance that man will ever need in all areas of living. If His Word was heeded, how different things would be in the secular world of mankind as well as in the Christian community. One day, in the not too far distant future, God will make things plain to all mankind. In Christ's coming Kingdom confusion will no longer reign. Prophetically, we read of this time in Isaiah 28:17;

"Judgments also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies...",

and again in Isaiah 11:9;

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."

What a glorious time that will be! Let us Praise God for His wonderful love to the children of men!

1 Corinthians 2:9 - "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

© 2006 Christian Millennial Fellowship

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