Morals....

Morality has been a debate among people for quite some time. Not because what is morally right or acceptable should ever change, but because people want to justify what they allow into their lives. The book that morals were built on, and should be measured against, has not ever changed over time....just our ability to misconstrue it or justify things is what has changed. I know to some that going to sound harsh, and I really don't mean it to, but if you just pick up a magazine, turn on the TV or take a look around the city you can see that people's view of what is morally right and acceptable is constantly changing.
Subjective morals vs objective morals has been a topic for argument as well. Subjective moral being based on a person's subjective opinion, but not based on an ethics system or things being factually true. Where as objective morals are based on the idea that a system of ethics or a set of moral judgements is always factually true, not based on opinion.
I heard a message on this recently and the pastor told a story about the difference between subjective morals and objective morals. He said that a young adult was saying that he didn't see anything wrong with subjective morals. The pastor then asked the young man if he locked the door to his house at night. To which the boy replied "of course, why?". The pastor said that is what's wrong with subjective morals. You lock your door because if someone decides it is morally acceptable to break into your house tonight and rob you, or worse, cause harm to you or your family, then who is to say that what they thought was morally wrong, based on subjective morals? You see, we can't just go around saying this is now morally right and acceptable when we feel like it because when and where does that stop?
The bible set the standard for what is morally acceptable and right for a reason. Everything that God put into place for us, He did for our own good. If you think of all the things in the bible that are viewed as morally right and wrong there is one common factor. God loves us, and He was trying to prevent us from doing things that would hurt or destroy each other. Some of those are quite easy to see and accept, but others we want to try to put our own spin on them. For example, it is easy to say that murder and stealing from others will cause hurt to people. But then when you get into something like heterosexual vs homosexual, we tend to take the more selfish approach. And we think about what we "want" verses what may cause pain, problems or disfunction. And judgement is not the issue here, so please hear me when I say that. I am not here to judge someone for their moral beliefs. That's God's place, not mine. I don't have to be ok with them, but that does not mean I'm judging the person. And His word promises us that there will be a day for His judgement, and anything we have not repented to him and walked away from in the name of Jesus will be judged. However I will add this....how many friendships or families have been torn apart because someone got involved in a heterosexual relationship? How many have been because someone chose a homosexual lifestyle?
Unfortunately morals will be a debate until the day of Christ's return. Why, because sin was introduced into this world to cause separation between us and God. So why wouldn't the enemy want to keep morals a hot topic. He is causing the separation he desires as well as hurting people, destroying friendships and families and sadly enough getting people to fall into the traps of hell. The enemy wants us to not see eye to eye and he wants us to go against God's word. Those things are all he has to go on. But God's word is built on love. A love that compares to nothing else we can or will every experience. A love that offers forgiveness, grace and mercy for anything and everything you have ever done. Then living according to His word offers a path...a narrow one that not everyone will want to follow....but a path that will lead you to eternal life with Him.
God, please help us weigh our morals against the standard of Your word. Help us to know when and how to turn things around that we have gotten wrong...how to look to You for forgiveness when our moral decisions have gone against Your word. And how to live in your grace and mercy...not abusing it, but loving it and offering it others around us. Help our eyes to be opened so we can see things the way You see things! In Jesus name, Amen