Introduction

Jesus said that man does not live by bread alone. (Matthew 4:4.) Indeed, he does not. We have a spiritual existence as well. Just as we should be careful what we feed the physical body, we should be even the more cautious what we feed the inner man. This area deals with morality and spirituality.

We have witnessed a troubling decline in moral conduct over the past few decades. We are openly exposed to some of the most immoral actions of men ever committed. This exposure is from entertainment, reporting of the news, and from people we meet each day.

We have become de-sensitized. By repeated exposure to it, we are no longer shocked by it. Our senses have adjusted somewhat. We oppose it less and less. It is a truth that the further the boundaries are pushed the less we are shocked by the previous immoral things.

Rather than dealing with specific deeds, I want to discuss the foundations upon which men seek to justify immoral deeds. There are many moral myths. These are false foundations contrived to justify unethical and immoral behavior.

Reasons for immoral conduct. We need not search endlessly to find the reason why sinful conduct exists. The explanation lies deeply buried in human nature. Jeremiah said that the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9.) Many would not believe when they beheld the miracles of Jesus. John wrote, "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men. And needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man." (John 2:24-25.) Paul said, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwells no good thing." (Romans 7:18.)

The second explanation can be found in the human intellect. Sin affects the mind as well as the body. Sin can cause us to reason foolishly. In fact, man can only be wise if he seeks after the will of God. If we reject the righteousness of God, we can never be said to be wise. We will become as fools. (Rom. 1:22.) Man in sin has devised cunning ways to justify his conduct.

Here are some moral myths. Yet they are followed by many. Sometimes men follow these without consciously selecting one. The oldest and most central philosophical question is, How should we live? How ought I to live my life? We should consciously and carefully answer the question.

#1: The Myth of Neutrality

This myth consists in the belief that, in order to avoid indoctrination; it is best to take a value-neutral stance. Some parents will surprisingly avoid the responsibility and privilege of answering questions about religion. Some say that they will just allow their children to decide for themselves. This is the myth of neutrality.

Moral questions are dealt with directly in Christianity. The light in which we are called to walk is honesty in dealing with sin. Otherwise we walk in darkness. Many deeds are not named in Scripture. We determine their rightness by exercising our minds in righteousness. (Hebrews 5:14.)

It is true that each person must decide how he or she will live. But that does not mean that we (who are older and as parents) should shirk from stating what is right. We should in fact be teachers and promoters of what is good and right. Likewise, we should condemn what is wrong.

Admittedly, there are some issues that are difficult to determine with certainty. While we should be cautious or even neutral about these, the majority of moral questions are not difficult to ascertain with the guidance of Scripture. Even children can correctly answer basic questions about right and wrong.

Paul was not values-neutral when we gave his lists of works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:19-23.) God was not ambiguous when he gave the Ten Commandments stating, Thou shalt not, eight times. "For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment." (Genesis 18:19.) Neither should parents be neutral. We should seek to convince and persuade others, especially our own children, concerning right and wrong. If we are unsure ourselves, then we need to stop and consider what we should do. Some parents may be neutral because they do not know what the Bible says.

Neutrality as a moral stance is simply permissive in nature. It allows us to go ahead with the natural impulses of the flesh. Good things do not just naturally happen. A garden with vegetables does not grow on its own. The weeds must be cut; and the good plants must be nurtured. If we leave the garden to itself, the weeds will take over.

#2: The Myth of the Majority

Young people especially are more easily persuaded by the majority. It takes some experience living to know that the majority often go the way of the flesh. Do

not be overly moved by what the majority thinks about moral issues. Some just assume that what the majority say or believe is the standard of right and wrong.

Remember what Moses commanded, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment." (Exodus 23:2 KJV.) The NKJV clarifies the last phrase: "nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice." Jesus said that the many go the broad way to destruction. (Matthew 7:13-14.)

In any group or sub-group there are only a few leaders and the others follow. Many do not consider carefully how they should live without the influence of the crowd. Thus the leaders affect the masses to follow without thinking. Fads are often introduced by the few and control the masses.

Jesus never asked the multitudes what he should teach. Rather, He said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6.) Those who would follow Jesus must be determined to do what is right without first consulting or considering what others are doing. Paul said, "Let God be true but every man a liar." (Romans 3:4.)

#3: The Myth of Individual Freedom

Americans have so championed individual rights that people think that they can do whatever they wish, especially if it does not harm anyone else. This is a myth and very misleading. Can you really think of something that you can do that does not affect anyone else??

Think about alcoholism. This sin has destroyed entire families and even extended families. What about unbelief and disobedience to God, generally? It will affect many others, especially those in your own family. Suicide surely is a very personal thing that does not harm anyone else! The person thinking of committing suicide should talk to those in a family where that has occurred. They must live with the hurt of that the rest of their lives. Abortion is often defended by saying that a mother has the right to do what she wishes with her own body. But does this deed affect anyone else? Yes, it affects that unborn child directly and others in the family. Look down the list of the works of the flesh and think how each one affects others. Adultery, hatred, idolatry, jealousy, strife, revellings, etc. All these sins affect others; it is not just an individual matter.

Paul wrote, "For none of us lives unto himself, and no man dies unto himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we

die unto the Lord." (Romans 14:7-8.) Paul's argument was that there are some

things that we have a right to make a judgment about, but we should be careful how that decision affects others.

"Walk in wisdom toward those that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:5-6.) "See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise." (Eph. 5:15-16.) Circumspectly means to walk around yourself, seeing how others will see your deeds.

Our thoughts, deeds, moods, everything about our lives affect in some ways the lives of others. Even if what we did was so private and individual that others were not affected, yet that alone does not give us the right to do it. The action alone without its influence is moral or immoral, ethical or unethical, before God.

#4: The Myth of Morality and Law

We are aware that some immoral deeds are also against the laws of the land, but not all of them are. There is a line between morals and law. To say that something is wrong is not necessarily to demand that offenders be punished or treated as criminals. If so, everyone would spend some time in jail. Whether something is morally right or wrong is a separate question from the issue of legality or criminality.

The laws of the land will allow a person to contract a second, third, fourth marriage. This does not make it morally right. Our government deals with these questions all the time. Some examples are the question of legalizing liquor, gambling, drugs, and prostitution. Just because the government may legalize some activity does not mean that it is morally right to do it. The closer the laws of the land parallel morality the better the government. It also keeps people from assuming that there is nothing wrong with their immoral behavior.

#5: The Myth of Relativism

It is not an exaggeration to say that relativism is the prevailing ideology of our schools and colleges at the present time. Relativism simply means that there is no objective truth for all times and peoples. The theory holds that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing. This is a view that ethical truths depend upon the individuals and groups holding them. To take a specific example, the relativist may point out that shoplifting is considered wrong by the middle class, but that among some other sub-cultures of society it may be considered acceptable or even commendable.

The Bible never speaks in such language of the relativists. It commands all men everywhere to repent. The works of the flesh are the same around the world and in every generation. Men and circumstances are not the standard for morality, but rather the standard is God's holiness and His Word.

Since relativism teaches that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind, some would think that they have reached a higher state of understanding and therefore are not limited by what others regard as wrong. This exalts intellectualism and promotes a false sense of doing right while doing wrong! Isaiah warned years ago, Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil. (5:20.) Some think that they are above these petty limitations placed on people by those with lesser understanding!

Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics promotes a moral myth. His philosophy denies an absolute standard. It is a doctrine of relativism. Fletcher tries to build an ethical foundation based upon love for one another. He thinks that this is sufficient without having faith in God and obeying Him. Yet two persons may consent to some deed as mutually acceptable, yet the deed could be an abomination before God. Man can not be the foundation for our moral conduct. If so, it will fall far short of God's will.

Conclusion

The above theories are dangerous because they invariably leave God out of our thinking and behavior. The efforts to form an ethical footing without God are all doomed to fail. Man is a fallen creature and needs more than human help to live righteously. We need the power and wisdom that comes from God.