Transcript WHO DETERMINES MORALS

[By Ron Halbrook, adapted from Evidences for God and His Creation]
• Introduction
1.
God not man sets the standard:
we are not capable or qualified
23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself:
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
3
• Introduction
2. When man determines morals: rationalize,
justify, enable, accommodate, & excuse sin
Selfishness, self-deception reverse
right & wrong
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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• Introduction
2. When man determines morals: rationalize,
justify, enable, accommodate, & excuse sin
Evolution denies God & the Bible,
leaving man himself as the highest standard
Existentialism: each person “experiences”
“truth” in his own way—no absolutes
Situation ethics: moral right & wrong are
relative & situational, not absolute
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• 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 issues6
3. Popular slogans for relative situational morality:
Women should be “free to choose” abortion
on demand
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• 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
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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)
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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?
10
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:
create superior race by genetic engineering
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 Germans jailed her in “love” of humanity:
create superior race by genetic engineering
12
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
13
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”
14
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 her eyes upon Joseph;
and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife,
Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me
in the house,
and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I;
neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee,
because thou art his wife:
how then can I do this great wickedness,
15
and sin against God?
Joseph’s faith in God
was tested by a woman’s “love”
10 And it came to pass,
as she spake to Joseph day by day,
that he hearkened not unto her,
to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time,
that Joseph went into the house to do his business;
and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying,
Lie with me:
and he left his garment in her hand,
and fled, and got him out.
16
Joseph’s faith in God
was tested by a woman’s “love”
13 And it came to pass,
when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand,
and was fled forth,
14 That she called unto the men of her house,
and spake unto them, saying,
See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us;
he came in unto me to lie with me,
and I cried with a loud voice:
15 And it came to pass,
when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried,
that he left his garment with me,
17
and fled, and got him out.
Joseph’s faith in God
was tested by a woman’s “love”
16 And she laid up his garment by her,
until his lord came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words,
saying, The Hebrew servant,
which thou hast brought unto us,
came in unto me to mock me:
18 And it came to pass,
as I lifted up my voice and cried,
that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
18
Joseph’s faith in God
was tested by a woman’s “love”
19 And it came to pass,
when his master heard the words of his wife,
which she spake unto him, saying,
After this manner did thy servant to me;
that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him,
and put him into the prison,
a place where the king's prisoners were bound:
and he was there in the prison.
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I. Joseph Fletcher VS God on Morality
C. David Justified God, Not Himself
David confessed his sin
& affirmed God is right
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David confessed his sin
& affirmed God is right
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
and done this evil in thy sight:
that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,
and be clear when thou judgest.
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II. Fallacies of Man Setting His Own Standard
A. Man Attempts to Take God’s Role to Himself
God created & sustains all things
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
22
II. Fallacies of Man Setting His Own Standard
A. Man Attempts to Take God’s Role to Himself
God is the origin of light & truth
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him,
and declare unto you, that God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all.
23
II. Fallacies of Man Setting His 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 perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.
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II. Fallacies of Man Setting His Own Standard
A. Man Attempts to Take God’s Role to Himself
Man in God’s role:
“the man of sin”
25
Man in God’s role:
“the man of sin”
3 Let no man deceive you by any means:
for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;
so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God.
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II. Fallacies of Man Setting His 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 & wrong
23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself:
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
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II. Fallacies of Man Setting His Own Standard
B. False Premise: Man Can Know Without God
What is Right, Wrong, Loving, or Best
Man is easily deceived
& deceives himself
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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II. Fallacies of Man Setting His 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 hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him.
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II. Fallacies of Man Setting His Own Standard
C. When Man Sets His Own Standard,
He Contradicts Both God & Himself!
He contradicts God’s Word
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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II. Fallacies of Man Setting His Own Standard
C. When Man Sets His Own Standard,
He Contradicts Both God & 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!
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III. Situation Ethics Produces No Ethics
A. When Man Becomes His Own God,
Moral Chaos Follows
Every man is his own law = no law
All forms of sin appear right,
good, & desirable when God is not the standard
32
18 For the wrath of God
is revealed
heaven
All forms
of sinfrom
appear
right, good,
against
all ungodliness
andisunrighteousness
of men,
& desirable
when God
not the standard
who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest
in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world 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 that, when they knew God,
they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened.
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All forms of sin appear right, good,
& desirable when God is not the standard
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God
into an image made like to corruptible man,
and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts,
to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie,
and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
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All forms of sin appear right, good,
& desirable when God is not the standard
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:
for even their women did change the natural use
into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men,
leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another;
men with men working that which is unseemly,
and receiving in themselves that recompence
of their error which was meet.
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28 And even as they All
didforms
not like
Godright, good,
oftosinretain
appear
in &
their
knowledge,
desirable
when God is not the standard
God gave them over to a reprobate mind,
to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers,
without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God,
that they which commit such things are worthy of death,
not only do the same,
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but have pleasure in them that do them.
III. Situation Ethics Produces No Ethics
A. When Man Becomes His Own God,
Moral Chaos Follows
Our selfishness, greed, & ambition
justify all forms of sin
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith,
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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, & ambition
justify all forms of sin
 Cheat, steal: for school grade, later for money;
feed family, improve business, solve debt;
gamble, bribe, embezzle, kidnap, extort
 Mafia: gambling, prostitution, drugs—business!38
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 (lottery)
Euthanasia, infanticide openly advocated
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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 shall take the wicked himself,
and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
15 Good understanding giveth favour:
but the way of transgressors is hard.
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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
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Sin harms other people—
no sin meets the ethical test of true love
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not kill,
Thou shalt not steal,
Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Thou shalt not covet;
and if there be any other commandment,
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour:
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
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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.
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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!
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 A rationale allowing the murder of anyone
endangers everyone!
12 Weeks: 3 Inches, 1 Oz.
16 Weeks:
4.5 Inches, 2.8 Oz.
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 A rationale allowing the murder of anyone
endangers everyone!
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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; neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated
between you and your God,
and your sins have hid his face from you,
that he will not hear.
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IV. God Not Man Must Determine Morals
C. God Sets the Standard: We Must Choose
Selfish sinful life VS truth & right
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Selfish sinful life VS truth & right
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before,
as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
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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
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• Conclusion
1.
God not man sets the standard:
we are not capable or qualified
23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself:
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
51
• Conclusion
2. When man determines morals: rationalize,
justify, enable, accommodate, & excuse sin
Evolution denies God & the Bible,
leaving man himself as the highest standard
Existentialism: each person “experiences”
“truth” in his own way—no absolutes
Situation ethics: moral right & wrong are
relative & situational, not absolute
52
• 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
53
• Conclusion
4. God calls sinners to submit to Christ
for salvation & moral instruction
Christ will save us
& guide us to heaven
54
Christ will save us
& guide us to heaven
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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