A paradox is an apparent contradiction. Grace and truth aren’t really contradictory. Jesus didn’t switch on truth, then turn it off so He could switch on grace. Both are permanently switched on in Jesus. Both should be switched on in us… Truth without grace breeds a self-righteousness legalism that poisons the church and pushes the world from Christ. Grace without truth breeds moral indifference and keeps people from seeing their need for Christ.  Attempts to “soften” the gospel by minimizing truth keep people from Jesus. Attempts to 'toughen” the gospel by minimizing grace keep people from Jesus. It’s not enough for us to offer grace or truth. We must offer both.
Randy Alcorn

Let’s put an end to Morality

Let’s put an end to Morality

by Glen on 2001-02-10 00:10:21

…but before we do away with it, what is “morality”?

  1. The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct.
  2. A system of ideas of right and wrong conduct: religious morality; Christian morality.
  3. Virtuous conduct.
  4. A rule or lesson in moral conduct.

Read those definitions carefully. You’ll note that morality is defined by the ethics (belief systems) of people. Look at the wishy-washy descriptive words: quality, accord, standards, system, ideas, virtuous, lesson.

Face it – morality is for losers.

The world has a noose around morality, and it’s slowly tightening the rope by changing the laws and codes of conduct. By the time the world is done with its dance around the issues, the Moral Right will be totally powerless and disenchanted with “morality”. A mere concept really isn’t worth fighting for, is it?!

People hiding behind the word “morality” are either afraid of telling you about the ultimate Code for Conduct, which is God, or they are simply defending a concept.

The bottom line is that if you don’t believe in, or follow God’s guidance, you are amoral, and will become immoral.

The only anchor for a code of ethics (morality) comes from the unchanging laws of our loving, and just, God. A world that rejects God opposes morality, because morality is a shadow that reminds them of something real – and that is God.

So when you stand before a group of people who think you are unacceptable because you do not uphold their twisted code of ethics when they are contrary to God’s law, you have done well. But most importantly, know God and stay close to him!

People who know God will reflect his nature. Using the word “morality” to define behavior simply doesn’t hold a light to telling people how God expects us to behave. That expectation is written in the Bible, and provided for us by his Holy Spirit.