In this article I wish to emphasize four important principles which many, if we may judge from their conduct, do not consider of great value, though they contain timeless, biblically oriented truth. Please consider the following:
(1) Freedom of choice does not license irresponsible moral conduct. God, as a Being of love (1 John 4:8), created mankind in his own image (Gen. 1:26). He made man a rational creature endowed with free will. Joshua challenged the ancient Hebrews to “choose” whom they would serve, either Jehovah or pagan deities (Josh. 24:15). Isaiah spoke of the child that would mature and hence learn to “refuse the evil, and choose the good” (Isa. 7:15). Tragically, though, many of our day have adopted the antique philosophy of the Israelites in the days of the judges when “every man did that which is right in his own eyes” (Jud. 17:6). The secular world cuts the ties to the Creator and so declares that “man is the measure of all things” and that he “must manage his own destiny.” Some religionists (even professing Christians) have argued that the “grace” of God is a mantle for their wickedness. It is said that the ancient Nicolaitans, whose works the Lord so hated (Rev. 2:6), advocated the practice of idolatry and sexual looseness under the guise of Christian “liberty.” But Christian liberty is not that a man can do what he pleases; it is that he is free to do what God pleases. Love God and do as you like, do as you like, but one who truly loves God will be guided by His directives. As Paul warned, “Use not for an occasion to the flesh” (Gal. 5:13).
(2) Might does not make right. The prophet Habakkuk described the Chaldeans of his day as a “bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs.” He then characterized that force as “he whose might is his god” (see Hab. 1:6, 11). There are numerous spiritual descendants of that ancient power. With the popularization of the theory of evolution, the notion of the survival-of-the -fittest/strong-destroy-theweak has become increasingly acceptable in many areas of human thinking. Evolution has given man’s inclination to barbarism a “scientific” basis. Any student of history knows that Hitler’s fascism was a direct result of evolutionary philosophy, and the aggression of Communism is similarly motivated today.
Those who have been influenced by this philosophy of life believe it’s a dog-eat-dog world; it matters not who they step on in pursuit of their goals; Self is enthroned in their hearts. But those who seek an eternal relationship with God will repudiate the “iron rule” that might makes right, and replace the it with that “golden rule” which obligates us to treat others as we wish to be treated (Matt. 7:12).
(3) The majority way is not necessarily the way of truth. So many today seem to be persuaded by mob psychology. They follow the instinct of the herd. They are intimidated by numbers. “Everybody else is doing it,” is their theme song. Conduct is thus determined by the vogue of the moment. Such a life style is built upon a wrong foundation. It violates plain statements and examples of the Word of God. “Thos shalt not follow a multitude to do evil,” is the divine dictum (Ex. 23:2). Jeremiah spoke of those who had “grown strong in the land [i.e., large in number], but not for truth” (Jer. 9:3). And it is well known that Christ taught that the way of the majority is the broad way, which leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13:14). The religious motto of some is vox populi, vox Dei-”the voice of the people [is] the voice of God.” But the reverse should be true! The way of Noah, Lot, Elijah, Christ and his apostles, the faithful of the early church, was the way of quality, not quantity! Our language, our dress, our habits, our thinking -these things are to be measured by the heavenly standard, not the earthly. Let us never forget this.
(4) What is lawful is not necessarily what is ethical. There are those who rationalize their unholy conduct by the stale cliche, “Well, it’s legal.” They are obviously unmindful of the many biblical warnings to lawmakers that they pervert not the moral or ethical principles of the Lord. One must ever remind himself that human law is just that human! And it may be subversive to divine righteousness. In Nevada, gambling is legal, but it is not right. In 1973 the Supreme Court legalized abortion, but God did not legalize it! Drunkenness is legal, but not moral. In some places whoredom (legalized prostitution) is acceptable, but it will never be sanctioned by the Holy God. Promiscuous divorce and remarriage is allowed by law, but not by Christ (Matt. 19:9). And so, while the Christian is to respect the law and be submissive to its ethical demands (Rom. 13:1-7), bad law-illegal law-can never be a cloak for sinful conduct. This is why the child of God must ever keep himself informed of the responsibilities of Christ’s law (Gal. 6:2).
Let us remember these principles and strive to make our lives consistent with the Mind of God
-Wayne Jackson
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