Transcript WHO DETERMINES MORALS - Harrodsburg Church of Christ

• Introduction
1.
God not man sets the
standard: we are not capable or qualified
23 “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in
himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his
own steps.”
• Introduction
2. When man determines morals: rationalize,
justify, enable, accommodate, & excuse sin
Selfishness, self-deception
reverse right and wrong
20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good
evil; who put darkness for light, and light for
darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!”
• Introduction
2. When man determines morals: rationalize,
justify, enable, accommodate, & excuse sin
Evolution denies God and the Bible,
leaving man himself as the highest
standard
Existentialism: each person
“experiences” “truth” in his own way—
no absolutes
Situation ethics: moral right and wrong
are relative and situational, not absolute
• Introduction
3. Popular slogans for relative situational morality:
Each man’s conscience is a safe guide
Man is free to do his own thing
If it feels right, do it
No one can legislate morality
Fornication, adultery & homosexuality are
optional “lifestyle” choices, not moral issues
• Introduction
3. Popular slogans for relative situational morality:
Women should be “free to choose” abortion
• Introduction
4. Who determines morals: God or man?
Joseph Fletcher vs God on morality
Fallacies of man setting his own
standard
Situation ethics produces no ethics
God not man must determine morals
I. Joseph Fletcher vs God on Morality
A. Situation Ethics Replaces Bible Morality
Joseph Fletcher (1905-91), Situation Ethics:
The New Morality
Episcopal priest, ethics professor, then
atheist
Abortion, infanticide (1971 Euthanasia
Conf.: let State kill defective children),
euthanasia (kill people with low life
quality), eugenics (improve humanity’s
gene pool)
I. Joseph Fletcher vs God on Morality
A. Situation Ethics Replaces Bible Morality
“Love” guides moral decisions:
allow woman in German P.O.W. camp
to commit adultery with guard
(pregnant women released)
 Is this true love for God, husband,
guard, child conceived & other P.O.W.’s?
I. Joseph Fletcher vs God on Morality
A. Situation Ethics Replaces Bible
Morality
“Love” guides moral decisions:
allow woman in German P.O.W. camp
to commit adultery with guard
(pregnant women released)
 Germans jailed her in “love” of
humanity (genetic engineering)
 Germans jailed her in “love” of
humanity (genetic engineering)
I. Joseph Fletcher VS God on Morality
A. Situation Ethics Replaces Bible
Morality
“Love” guides moral decisions:
allow woman in German P.O.W. camp
to commit adultery with guard
(pregnant women released)

God denies this false love:
the end justifies the means
I. Joseph Fletcher vs God on Morality
B. Joseph: God’s Morality, Not Situation
Ethics
Joseph’s faith in God
was tested by a woman’s “love”
Joseph’s faith in
God was tested by a woman’s “love”
7 And it came to pass after these things that his
master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph and she
said, "Lie with me."
8 But he refused and said to his master's wife,
"Look, my master does not know what is with me
in the house, and he has committed all that he has
to my hand.”
9 "There is no one greater in this house than I,
nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
because you are his wife. How then can I do this
great wickedness and sin against God?"
Joseph’s faith
in God was tested by a woman’s
“love”
10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day,
that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be
with her.
11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph
went into the house to do his work, and none of
the men of the house was inside,
12 that she caught him by his garment, saying,
"Lie with me." But he left his garment in her
hand, and fled and ran outside.
Joseph’s faith
in God was tested by a woman’s
“love”
13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left
his garment in her hand and fled outside,
14 that she called to the men of her house and
spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in to
us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie
with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.
15 "And it happened, when he heard that I lifted
my voice and cried out, that he left his garment
with me, and fled and went outside."
Joseph’s faith
in God was tested by a woman’s
“love”
16 So she kept his garment with her until his
master came home.
17 Then she spoke to him with words like these,
saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought
to us came in to me to mock me;
18 "so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried
out, that he left his garment with me and fled
outside."
Joseph’s faith
in God was tested by a woman’s
“love”
19 So it was, when his master heard the words
which his wife spoke to him, saying, "Your servant
did to me after this manner," that his anger was
aroused.
20 Then Joseph's master took him and put him
into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners
were confined. And he was there in the prison.
I. Joseph Fletcher vs God on Morality
C. David Justified God, Not Himself
David confessed his sin
and affirmed God is right
David confessed
his sin and affirmed God is right
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to
Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude
of Your tender mercies, blot out my
transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my
sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, and
done this evil in Your sight-That You may be
found just when You speak, and blameless when
You judge.
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own Standard
A. Man Attempts to take God’s Role to
Himself
God created and sustains all
things
3 “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who
has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His
people and the sheep of His pasture.”
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own Standard
A. Man Attempts to take God’s Role to
Himself
God is the origin of light and
truth
5 “This is the message which we have heard
from Him and declare to you, that God is light
and in Him is no darkness at all.”
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own Standard
A. Man Attempts to take God’s Role to
Himself
God is the revealer of
truth
16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own Standard
A. Man Attempts to take God’s Role to
Himself
Man in God’s role:
“the man of sin.”
Man
in God’s role: “the man of sin”
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that
Day will not come unless the falling away comes
first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of
perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that
is called God or that is worshiped, so that he
sits as God in the temple of God, showing
himself that he is God.
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own Standard
B. False Premise: Man Can Know Without
God What is Right, Wrong, Loving or Best
Man not created with
inherent ability to know right and wrong.
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own Standard
B. False Premise: Man Can Know Without
God What is Right, Wrong, Loving or Best
Man is easily deceived and
deceives himself.
12 “There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.”
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own Standard
B. False Premise: Man Can Know Without
God What is Right, Wrong, Loving or Best
God must reveal “the
things” in His mind—that is the purpose of
the Bible.
9 “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor
ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of
man the things which God has prepared for
those who love Him.”
II. Fallacies of Man Setting Own
Standard
C. When Man Sets His Own Standard,
He Contradicts Both God and Himself!
He contradicts God’s word.
20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and
good evil; who put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!.”
• II. Fallacies of Man Setting His Own
Standard
C. When Man Sets Own Standard, He
contradicts Both God and Himself!
He contradicts himself:
Existentialism: truth is relative not
absolute—that is the absolute truth!
Situation ethics: morals are relative not
absolute—that is the absolute moral truth!
III. Situation Ethics Produces No Ethics
A. When Man Is His Own God, Moral Chaos
Follows
every man is his own law=no law
Romans 1:18-32 All forms of sin appear right,
good, and desirable when God is not the standard.
18 For the wrath ofAll
God
is revealed
from heaven
forms
of sin appear
right, good,
against
all ungodliness
unrighteousness
& desirable
when Godand
is not
the standard of men,
who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest
in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even His eternal power and
Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not
glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became
futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were
darkened.
All forms of sin
appear right, good and desirable when God
is not the standard
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible
God into an image made like corruptible man-and birds and four-footed animals and creeping
things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to
dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie,
and worshiped and served the creature rather
than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
All forms of sin
appear right, good and desirable when God
is not the standard
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile
passions. For even their women exchanged the
natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural
use of the woman, burned in their lust for one
another, men with men committing what is
shameful, and receiving in themselves the
penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as theyAll
didforms
not like
to retain
God
in their
of sin
appear
right,
good,
knowledge,
God
gave God
themisover
& desirable
when
not to
thea debased
standardmind, to do
those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual
immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they
are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,
unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that
those who practice such things are deserving of death,
not only do the same but also approve of those who
practice them.
III. Situation Ethics Produces No Ethics
A. When Man Becomes His Own God,
Moral Chaos Follows
Our selfishness, greed,
and ambition justify all forms of sin
10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil, for which some have strayed from the
faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows.”
III. Situation Ethics Produces No Ethics
A. When Man Becomes His Own God,
Moral Chaos Follows
Our selfishness, greed,
and ambition justify all forms of sin
Cheat, steal: for school grades, later for
money; feed family, improve business, solve
debt; gamble, bribe, embezzle, kidnap, extort
Mafia: gambling, prostitution, drugs-business
III. Situation Ethics Produces No Ethics
B. Modern Man’s Moral Chaos: Advancing
Agenda
Fornication rationalized: “live-in,” “love child”
Adultery legalized: easy divorce & remarriage
Homosexual practices rationalized: inborn,
lifestyle choice, marriage, etc.
Abortion on demand legalized (U.S. 1973)
Government sponsored gambling
Euthanasia, infanticide openly advocated
IV. God Not Man Must Determine Morals
A. God Sees What Man Does Not:
Terrible Destructiveness of Sin!
Sin enslaves,
disappoints
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
15 Good understanding gains favor, but
the way of the unfaithful is hard.
IV. God Not Man Must Determine Morals
A. God Sees What Man Does Not:
Terrible Destructiveness of Sin!
Sin harms other people—
no sin meets the ethical test of true love
Sin harms other
people—no sin meets the ethical test of
true love
9 For the commandments, "You shall not
commit adultery," "You shall not murder,"
"You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false
witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is
any other commandment, are all summed up
in this saying, namely, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
IV. God Not Man Must Determine Morals
A. God Sees What Man Does Not: Terrible
Destructiveness of Sin!
Sin harms other people—
no sin meets the ethical test of true love
Situation ethics claims “love” justifies sin:
adultery (P.O.W. camp, abusive mate)
murder (abortion, infanticide, euthanasia)
stealing, etc.,etc.
IV. God Not Man Must Determine
Morals
A. God Sees What Man Does Not:
Terrible Destructiveness of Sin!
Sin harms other
people—no sin meets the ethical test of
true love
A rationale allowing the murder of anyone
endangers everyone!
 A rationale allowing the murder of
anyone endangers everyone!
12 Weeks: 3 Inches, 1 Oz.
16 Weeks:
4.5 Inches, 2.8 Oz.
 A rationale allowing the murder of
anyone endangers everyone!
IV. God Not Man Must Determine
Morals
B. Sin Destroys Man’s Fellowship with God
Sin separates us from God
1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it
cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your
God; and your sins have hidden His face from you,
so that He will not hear.
IV. God Not Man Must Determine Morals
C. God Sets the Standard: We Must Choose
Selfish sinful life vs
truth and right
Selfish sinful life
vs. truth and right
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which
are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told
you in time past, that those who practice such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no
law.
IV. God Not Man Must Determine Morals
D. God Says Right Can Become Sin in Some
Cases, But Sin Never Becomes Right
Love self, but not more
than God or others
Use money, but not love it
Not force innocent optional
things on someone who has scruples
• Conclusion
1.
God not man sets the
standard: we are not capable or qualified
23 “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in
himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his
own steps.”
• Conclusion
2. When man determines morals: rationalize,
justify, enable, accommodate & excuse sin
Evolution denies God and the Bible,
leaving man himself as the highest
standard
Existentialism: each person
“experiences” “truth” in his own way—
no absolutes
Situation ethics: moral right and wrong
are relative and situational, not absolute
• Conclusion
3. Who determines morals: God or man?
Joseph Fletcher vs God on morality
Fallacies of man setting his own
standard
Situation ethics produces no ethics
God not man must determine morals
• Conclusion
4. God calls sinners to submit to Christ
for salvation and moral instruction
Matthew 28:18-20 Christ will save
us and help guide us to heaven
Christ will
save us and help guide us to heaven
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them,
saying, "All authority has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth.
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 "teaching them to observe all things
that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.