This series will be some of my analysis but mostly a series of useful resources from both scripture and elsewhere that help focus on the validity and importance of the Bible. We have the most powerful physical weapon in the world at our fingertips. It should be the basis of everything we do, talk about, think about, etc. Enjoy the links,videos, and scripture as we embark on this 9 or 10 week journey through the importance of the Bible together! Also check out renewingnehemiah.com
This is a section showing what the world and scripture says on the definition of morality. It will also give scriptural and Christian resources and worldly views on the issues of abortion, sexual morality, and homosexuality. For GREAT resources on other moral issues in the world and what the living, breathing word of God says about them, click the link here http://www.gospelway.com/morality/index.php
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
First, what is the world telling us of morality, what it is and how to measure it?
Youtube’s bitbutter’s video says this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGx8qHdxcpE
other resources used for video: http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/michael_martin/rape.html
Euthyphro’s dilemma can be expressed with the following question:
“Is what is moral commanded by God because it’s moral, or is it moral because it’s commanded by God?”
It’s a dilemma for the theist because which ever option turns out to be correct, the result seems unsatisfactory. If what is moral is commanded by God because it’s moral, then it means that there is an absolute standard of morality that exists independently of God. And that god is not necessary as a source of morality.
On the other hand if things are moral simply because they are commanded by god, then theistic morality has a completely arbitrary foundation. If he had happened to command that killing your mother was good, it would be good in an absolute sense to kill your mother.
The theist often tries to avoid the dilemma by claiming that God doesn’t simply make random commandments, but that morality and goodness are a part of God’s nature and his commandments are a reflection of that nature.
But the theist is mistaken in thinking that he’s avoided the dilemma by locating ‘goodness’ in gods nature instead of in his commandments. Euthyphro’s question, with a slight modification can be applied again:
“Is what is moral part of God’s nature because it’s moral, or is it moral because it’s part of God’s nature?”
Is it true that God’s nature is good by definition? in other words, whatever God’s nature had been, it would have been good–and the commandments he gave would reflect that. If this was the case then if gods nature had been different, a different set of actions would be morally good. Rape could be good for instance, or killing your mother. In other words , if God’s nature is good by definition, and this is where the absolute standard of morality comes from, then morality is totally arbitrary, it’s an accident.
It seems to me that most Christians would be uncomfortable to accept that the distinction between good and bad is ultimately arbitrary.
The alternative is that God’s nature _could never have been such_ that the moral principles following from it would include a sanction of things like rape and killing your mother. But if this is the case we are saying that God’s character is limited by an external standard of right and wrong; a standard that we apparently already have access to, and one that would exist whether or not God existed.
I don’t think most theists would accept that either of these cases is true, but one of them must be if it is true that God exists and that there is an absolute moral standard.
* ” It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” -George Washington
(my how the tide has turned)
Next, I want to give you guys an unbelievable set of resources regarding SEVERAL different moral and ethical issues facing the world today. How does Scripture address these? And if all Scripture is the basis of our worldview, should we not take its words to be true?
Pro-Choice or Pro-Life: I have done work with Justice For All http://www.jfaweb.org/ and have SEVERAL facts and resources concerning this issue that I will not put on here. If your want them just comment or contact me and I will send them to you or post them on the site.
*please excuse the language in this video…I will be putting resources of the world’s views on these issues just to let you know what you are up against. It is so key that we are prepared to battle these issues and have scriptural evidence of what and why we believe what we believe.
* We must also take into consideration our stances on abortion the case of rape, incest, and how the world would look if all the babies are born. Does this lead to overpopulation? What if the mother’s life is in danger? These are the arguments that come from the pro-choice and apathetic parties. I believe if the mother is going to die that an abortion should be allowed. But how do we respond to the rest of these arguments? We must create a backbone and something to believe in? What is our worldview? And how does the Bible address the issue of morality concerning life?
http://www.gospelway.com/morality/abortion.php
Sexual Morality and the Bible:
* People like this are the reason that we need to be fully prepared and knowledgeable of what the Bible says in creating our moral Biblical beliefs.
What is scripture saying. GREAT RESOURCES! : http://www.gospelway.com/morality/sexual_morality.php
http://www.gospelway.com/morality/homosexuality.php
http://www.gospelway.com/morality/homosexual_marriage.php
This is more of a link in reference to sexual immorality amongst the college generation of today:http://stevelutz.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/this-many-college-students-pay-for-sex/
I can only hope that some of these resources will be helpful either now or in the future as you look to solidify your moral standpoints and beliefs in accordance to the Bible. I hope that it is overwhelming and that it seems out of our grasp to fully understand and have a conviction about these moral issues. That way, we will crave the word of the Lord, and know that scripture is our rock and our weapon and that without the sword, we are powerless and without a backbone.
* I like to end with songs so here is a video with no relevance to the message, just worship. Amen.
