The roots of moral authority
Cover via AmazonWe seldom challenge another’s basis for saying something is “right” or “wrong”. How many times, in conversation, do we hear someone say, “that’s right” or “that’s not right”. But, we never ask, “how do you know that is right or not right?”
There are several things that people base their ethical beliefs upon. Here are a few of them:
1. The law.
Not too many years ago, a physician was working in a Chinese hospital when she was called in to handle a botched abortion. She was in charge that night and couldn’t find the clinician who would have normally handled these kinds of difficult circumstances. Due to China’s one child policy, the abortion had been ordered and so giving the child to the parents wasn’t an option; neither was keeping it alive. She wrestled with what to do as she looked down into the face of this little baby, who was healthy and brimming with life. After searching again for a staff member to do this for her, she struggled internally with her own conscience for a long time. But, in the end, she muttered these words and carried out her duty. She said: “It must be right. It’s the law.”
Not too many years ago, a physician was working in a Chinese hospital when she was called in to handle a botched abortion. She was in charge that night and couldn’t find the clinician who would have normally handled these kinds of difficult circumstances. Due to China’s one child policy, the abortion had been ordered and so giving the child to the parents wasn’t an option; neither was keeping it alive. She wrestled with what to do as she looked down into the face of this little baby, who was healthy and brimming with life. After searching again for a staff member to do this for her, she struggled internally with her own conscience for a long time. But, in the end, she muttered these words and carried out her duty. She said: “It must be right. It’s the law.”
Here the “law” is viewed as the foundation of ethics.
2. Societal norms.
Don Richardson, in his wonderful book “Peace Child” tells of he and his wife’s missionary call to work among the Sawi tribe in the western half of what used to be called New Guinea, now West Papua. The Sawi tribe had developed a societal ethic in which treachery was the highest form of virtue and honor. Many of the legends and heroes that are revered among the people and are taught to their children are men who formed friendships with the express purpose of betraying their new friend. Don relates how one Sawi tribe member came across someone from another tribe while hunting in the jungle. He befriended him and they continued to meet until eventually they became close. The Sawi tribesman then invited his new friend to join him for dinner at his tree house. During the dinner the newly befriended tribesman e
Don Richardson, in his wonderful book “Peace Child” tells of he and his wife’s missionary call to work among the Sawi tribe in the western half of what used to be called New Guinea, now West Papua. The Sawi tribe had developed a societal ethic in which treachery was the highest form of virtue and honor. Many of the legends and heroes that are revered among the people and are taught to their children are men who formed friendships with the express purpose of betraying their new friend. Don relates how one Sawi tribe member came across someone from another tribe while hunting in the jungle. He befriended him and they continued to meet until eventually they became close. The Sawi tribesman then invited his new friend to join him for dinner at his tree house. During the dinner the newly befriended tribesman e
Image via Wikipediaxpressed his great affection to the Sawi man. As they continued to eat, the Sawi tribesman arose and walked around the back of his new friend, grabbed his spear and ran his new friend through. At this sign, the family members joined him in the attack and then as the speared man fell through the central hole in the tree house, the other Sawi tribe members joined in the kill with great joy and admiration for this immense show of treachery.
If society is the source of moral authority, then deceit and treachery, murder and canabalism, all become good.
3. A human authority.
In the Nuremberg trials, we heard justifications like this: “I was just doing what I was told to do”. We hear the same thing in criminal and civil courts as well. “I was just doing my job.”
In the Nuremberg trials, we heard justifications like this: “I was just doing what I was told to do”. We hear the same thing in criminal and civil courts as well. “I was just doing my job.”
Here “authority” is viewed as the foundation of ethics.
4. The heart or personal preferences.
I see this increasingly in our Christian university students. The “heart” is becoming the source of truth and ethical judgments. Several semesters ago, I had a student not show up for class one day. Upon questioning her, she said that her “heart told her that she should be doing Taekwondo that morning and she must, of course, follow her heart.”
I see this increasingly in our Christian university students. The “heart” is becoming the source of truth and ethical judgments. Several semesters ago, I had a student not show up for class one day. Upon questioning her, she said that her “heart told her that she should be doing Taekwondo that morning and she must, of course, follow her heart.”
I call this Christian relativism. It goes like this: I want to be authentic…I want to be true to my heart…Jesus is in my heart…I want to follow my heart…I want to be authentic.” Ergo: “In my heart, I know this is right”.
Here the “heart” is the foundation for ethics.
But each one of these is very temporary. The law can change. One day abortion can be wrong and the next day it can be right. Societies can change. One day homosexual behavior is considered wrong, the next day it is to be ce
Image via Wikipedialebrated. Human authorities can change and the heart can change. Jeremiah declared that the heart was desperately wicked. If the heart can be wicked, then how can one use it to determine right from wrong? If the heart is the foundation of ethics, then each man can basically do what is right in his own eyes.
The only real basis for ethical standards must reside in that which is transcendent.
Here is a statement from Jesus that may be a little troubling, but it is essential for our discussion:
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” John 5:39-40
Here is a statement from Jesus that may be a little troubling, but it is essential for our discussion:
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” John 5:39-40
The ultimate basis for moral authority is found in the very nature and character of God. Jesus is not dissing the Scriptures, but He is rightly pointing out that the Scriptures point to Him.
I love to read the Founder’s writings and one of my favorite is Noah Webster. This is from his “Advice to the Young, 1834”:
“In every condition of life, and in forming your opinions on every subject, let it be an established principle in regulating your conduct, that nothing can be honorable which is morally wrong. Men who disregard or disbelieve revelation often err from the true standard of honor, by substituting public opinion or false maxims for the divine laws. The character of God, his holy attributes, and perfect law, constitute the only models and rules of excellence and true honor. Whatever deviates from these models and rules must be wrong, and dishonorable.”
“In every condition of life, and in forming your opinions on every subject, let it be an established principle in regulating your conduct, that nothing can be honorable which is morally wrong. Men who disregard or disbelieve revelation often err from the true standard of honor, by substituting public opinion or false maxims for the divine laws. The character of God, his holy attributes, and perfect law, constitute the only models and rules of excellence and true honor. Whatever deviates from these models and rules must be wrong, and dishonorable.”
Without God, there is no real ethic—only temporary, selfish ones, based on lust for getting our own way and power.
When we undermine absolute truth and absolute moral values, then we undermine the purpose of the law. If there is no absolute moral law, then there is no lesson to be learned from that law—that we
Image via Wikipedia are guilty before it and in need of a Savior. The issue of ethics and relativism isn’t just a philosophical exercise that university professors engage in while lounging in a stuffy old study on campus. It fingers the essence of the Gospel, the good news. If there is no absolute moral authority, then there is no good news…only bad…only social and moral chaos as every man seeks to play out his own little script based upon his own personal, selfish desires.
Jesus said: “He who loves me, keeps my commandments” John 14:21
The foundation of ethics isn’t power, it’s love. We act ethically not because we fear retribution, but because we love Him.
It’s all about Him.
“Be holy, for I am holy”
