What would you do if...
A friend’s wife has fallen into promiscuity, drunkenness, and using despicable language. In one drunken binge she actually pushed her 5 year old down some stairs causing a mild concussion. Divorce would be a welcomed deliverance to the family. What would you advise?
A robber breaks into your home not knowing that you are there and armed. What should you do?
To some readers, the resolve seems obvious. In the first situation they say, “Start the divorce proceedings and throw her out on the streets.” For the second scenario they would counsel, “Shoot first and ask questions later!” But for many of us, these thoughts only contribute to the problem.
In the diversity of opinion, the question becomes, “How does one determine right from wrong?” Over the course of several decades Christianity has fallen prey to an age old philosophy that has unashamedly been tagged “Situation Ethics.” This doctrine of demons has caused believers to depart from the moral absolutes of the Bible in preference to the “do what feels right” philosophy of situationism.
Those who promote “Situation Ethics” would boast of the system’s flexibility and adherence to the guiding principle of “love.” “If you perceive it as being the most loving thing to do, causing the least pain and the most pleasure for the most individuals, it must be right.”
Truth of the matter is, those who embrace this doctrine of subjectivity and relativity, don’t understand what love really is. First of all, to those of us who know Him, God should be the primary recipient of our love. (Matthew 22:37-40). Secondly, the primary result of love is obedience to the Lord’s commands. (John 14:15, 21, 23). This means, doing the “most loving thing” toward others is inseparable from loving God. (1John 5:2). Finally, love does not originate with us, it is the fruit of the indwelling Spirit of God. (Gal. 5:22)
If you are serious about making the right choices in hard situations, you’ll have to get into the “moral absolutes” found in the Word of God.
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