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ABSOLUTE RIGHT AND WRONG? #109 - July 29, 2007
We live in a day of moral relativism. We don't believe in absolutes. We define what's good in terms of what works. If it's good for me, it's good. But such a position is just plain foolish. The very concept of goodness begs for definition. If there is good, there is also bad. But in comparison to what? There must be an absolute standard somewhere. How so? Even our insistence there are no absolutes is absolute.
According to the Bible, the Ten Commandments are good. They are absolutely good. "The Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good"(Romans 7:12). First of all, we know these absolutes are real from personal experience. When we violate them, we feel guilt. Even people who reject the Ten Commandments and have nothing to do with them "show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" (Romans 2:15). When our consciences hurt, we know we are wrong. When we do what is right, we feel good.
Second, the existence of conscience and the sense of guilt are universal. True, not all people feel guilt for the same things. But, guilt exists when we do wrong. We cannot avoid this. It's how we are made. It's also evidence the Ten Commandments are absolutely good.
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]. Read more at Word for the Week and hear sermons at SermonAudio.com - Ref. Pres. Theological Seminary
We live in a day of moral relativism. We don't believe in absolutes. We define what's good in terms of what works. If it's good for me, it's good. But such a position is just plain foolish. The very concept of goodness begs for definition. If there is good, there is also bad. But in comparison to what? There must be an absolute standard somewhere. How so? Even our insistence there are no absolutes is absolute.
According to the Bible, the Ten Commandments are good. They are absolutely good. "The Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good"(Romans 7:12). First of all, we know these absolutes are real from personal experience. When we violate them, we feel guilt. Even people who reject the Ten Commandments and have nothing to do with them "show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" (Romans 2:15). When our consciences hurt, we know we are wrong. When we do what is right, we feel good.
Second, the existence of conscience and the sense of guilt are universal. True, not all people feel guilt for the same things. But, guilt exists when we do wrong. We cannot avoid this. It's how we are made. It's also evidence the Ten Commandments are absolutely good.
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]. Read more at Word for the Week and hear sermons at SermonAudio.com - Ref. Pres. Theological Seminary
