Let’s call this a discussion on the meaning of life. My friend and debating partner led to this discussion with his skeptical questions regarding my biblical worldview. He also outlined his own value system, one that relies neither on God nor Marx, today’s favorite philosopher.
Standards
I cannot alter God’s standard to suit myself. It stands above me. His standard unchanging yet flexible enough to deal with the unique circumstances we face today. The ten commandments are as true and as applicable today as they were in the time of Moses, yet, as prideful creatures, we continually seek to re-define morality and follow a lesser standard. We, of course, will never be perfect ourselves, but we can continually seek to be perfected through his law and grace. God’ will highlight our imperfections and push us to do better. From a practical perspective, why should we accept anything less?
I want the best for myself, for my friend, and for everyone else, but do not demand allegiance and allow for differences in others. Nobody is advocating theocracy in America. I want to convince you not compel you. God Himself allows us the freedom to accept or reject Him. We have also seen throughout history what happens when there is little tolerance for opposing views.
On the other hand, I do have expectations of my fellow citizens. There should be overlap among our various standards of morality, goodness, and truth. The Venn diagram should not be an empty set. Otherwise, what is the point of being a nation? Without common beliefs, a common language, common goals and associations, we cannot find an American identity. However, diversity and celebration of our differences seems to be the current direction. Diversity makes life more interesting, but we cannot build a moral foundation strictly on diversity.
American values have, until recently, overlapped considerably with Judeo-Christian values. American values are not strictly Christian, Jewish, or other, but still we loosely shared common values (e.g. work ethic, national pride, common language, love of freedom, a belief in law and order, quality education, family, etc.)
Immigrants often maintain their customs, but also assimilate into an American a way of life. It should be expected. As a kid, my friends and I commonly repeated: “It is a free country.” We inherently recognized freedom as a value. It was fundamental to our understanding of America, and it was often the value drawing immigrants to America. We allowed others would be different. We didn’t expect you practice a certain religion or be just like us; in fact, we found it interesting everyone had different jobs, different backgrounds, unique qualities, etc. Yet, we were proud to be Americans and live in a country vastly different, vastly more successful, and providing vastly more opportunities to its citizens than all which had come before it. President Ronald Reagan defined America as a “shining city upon a hill”.
“[I]n my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.” Reagan Farewell address, January 11, 1989
He echoed Jesus words in the sermon on the mount:
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
The USA has indeed been a blessing to humanity precisely because we fought for freedom of religion and speech. We haven’t simply tolerated or advocated for these ideas; we have died for them. We believe all should be allowed to live in their own way. Americans must accept the standard of freedom. Otherwise, we are no longer America. I do not want us to lose that bond. We build a foundation on common values rather than diversity. The Venn diagram should highlight our commonalties while still allowing for our diversity.
The tolerance of others demonstrated by the American experiment is unique to world history. Even within our own history, America has failed to live up to its own standards (something today’s Marxists continually remind us of), yet we have corrected past errors. America is the best ever, better still than other countries.
I asked my friend how he determines right and wrong, good and evil, good and bad, etc. He doesn’t ascribe to a religious standard, yet he also doesn’t agree with the amoral Marxists who have rationalized all manner of immoral actions (for the revolution). These are two most prominent worldviews at odds in America today. In addition, like so many today, it seems he views America as just one more nation one among so many other. After all, who can be allowed to decide which is best? So what does he believe?
I use my internal compass to determine right and wrong. Does what I do adversely impact others? The basic ideas you mention are easy to navigate.
Using one’s own compass I have to own everything I do. I have no one to “blame”. Do I ever have inconsistencies? Certainly, but I either resolve them or own them. There are a few primitives that are constant, it is when you get into the complexities of the world that adjustments need to be made.
Another thing about God’s word is it was translated and interpreted. Many times words and phrases that meant one thing at the time it was written are translated again and again and like the game telephone, the meaning is changed. To paraphrase you for consistency that a compass needs to point true north without fail. Even true north changes. The basic tenants hold true, but even the church moves over time and even has different rules in different places.
His view is problematic. With only internal compasses, we can have no agreement on anything. We can manipulate our own internal standards with no accountability. The ten commandments, the Judeo-Christian standard, is on the walls of the US Supreme Court; it was a standard that sufficed for a long time. Our nation has not always lived up to the ideal, but not because the standard was inadequate, but because we ourselves are inadequate.
My arguments are totally unconvincing to my friend:
I see this as a bunny trail that I don’t want to go down and other than say as far as I can tell we have common standards and views. Being a country with over 300 million people we are likely to have at least 300 million of them and I have no idea where you are going with this. If there are specific standards or values to discuss then let’s do it, but the vagueness. I don’t suspect there is any rule in the theocracy handbook that says everyone has to practice the same religion, however advisable it would be. You can choose to be a second class citizen.
You say in Marxism the end justifies the means and I’m sure you can see people who rely on religion, or God could simply use the excuse that they are doing something because God we wills it. In the end, isn’t that the same thing? God says abortion is wrong, so blowing up an abortion clinic can be justified as moral and just and if a few people die they were murderers anyway and God willed it. The Crusades come to mind when Christian started killing in the name of God. Was this a misunderstanding, temporary misunderstanding of His word or part of this never changing code? How do you know your understanding is correct? To put it simply, your so-called never changing code is an interpretation and does change based on the trend of the day which may fit in your Marxist definition?
The Culture War
Is my argument for God and God’s standard unfeasible? Has that standard been altered continually and therefore really isn’t an unwavering standard to rely on? Is my friend’s own internal moral code just as good as any other?
Let’s compare our two viewpoints by comparing the progressive America of today, the nirvana in which our true selves are finally unleashed versus 1989 America when Ronald Reagan declared America a shining city on a hill. Indeed, it was a nation on the precipice of winning the cold war after revealing its rival of the prior forty years was nothing but a massive Potemkin village.
This is the culture war we face: 1989 vs 2024? Which America is best and why?
Previously, we had taboos, shame, standards, consequences, etc. We were indeed more restrictive and more circumspect, but today, anything goes. Today is an age of moral relativism which in a nutshell is: you don’t judge me and I won’t judge you. We are chastised for criticizing (i.e. judging) any behavior. In fact, you are the villain for introducing any standard whatsoever, much less a religious one. My friend believes Christianity teaches us to not judge at all, but Jesus’s dictate to “Judge Not” in his sermon on the mount is probably the most misunderstood passage in the Bible (more later). No, my friend. Standards are good. Judgments are needed.
Maybe you think “taboo” and “shame” are pejoratives, but they have their places. Today, calling someone fat is “fat shaming”. Sorry, if you’re fat, but there is shame in it and you ought not revel in your fatness; take steps to improve your situation. Fat is not healthy and not attractive. People want so much to avoid shame altogether, that they shame those who shame them. The culture today pretends all choices are equally good, as if you can’t help being fat or being fat is actually a good choice. Nonsense. I am doing you a favor to point out the obvious you wish to avoid.
Marriage rates have declined considerably and illegitimacy rates have climbed since even before 1989. Judeo-Christian values promote the family and without those values front and center, the family suffers. Without the family, kids suffer: higher crime rates, lack of education, lack of future financial success, among other problems are linked to the breakdown of family. https://seek-the-truth.com/2021/07/17/discussion-systemic-racism-and-education/. There are many “alternative” families today, but they are not as good as the traditional family. Every child needs a father and a mother for as long as possible.
In 1989 and before, if a boy got a girl pregnant, he might have been forced to marry her. Today, abortion is the preferred choice in these situations. Neither option is good, but is abortion, the deliberate murder of a child, better than a forced marriage? Have we actually “progressed” from shotgun weddings or have we solved one problem by introducing more moral hazard and confusion?
Today, America demands there be no shame in any sexual deviancy. Your unique expression, no matter how bizarre, is a source of pride instead. Being openly gay once had shame attached to it. Many felt compelled to hide their feelings (although many still came out of the closet), but can the explosion in the numbers of LGBTQ+ today be a good thing? Are all these people actually living the life they should or are most of them caught up in a fad? Even if they are expressing their true selves, are they living fulfilling lives or just suiting themselves (or perhaps suiting their parents, their friends, or others)?
There are fundamental errors with the LGBTQ principles. Rather than “finding your true self” in your own identity, we should seek our place among the larger community. “Pride” also is one of the seven deadly sins, not something to celebrate. Instead, our faith stresses self-denial, humility, serving others, and examination of conscience. We are nudged in this direction and asked to fast, to repent, to sacrifice our time, talent, and treasure, to confess our sins openly. The LGBTQ movement, on the other hand, demands others accept you rather than asking for your acceptance and service of others.
Examine the trends and tell me the LGBTQ explosion today is not a fad. Tell me why such lifestyles were known, but extremely rare in 1989 and yet are so popular among today’s youth. Tell me why so many Hollywood celebrities and their children along with progressive communities have found their true LGBTQ selves, but the rest of us lag behind?
Is our nation collectively better off because more choose this lifestyle? We are told our criticism is irrelevant because we are not impacted by another’s choice. Nonsense. We are all impacted by each other’s choices; our nation suffers and our own children are exposed to increasingly more toxic and bizarre ideas.
There are far too many choices today. To my debating partner, my Judeo-Christian, biblical worldview is just one of many valid choices. Children today are flooded with choices, most with no associated value judgments; all choices are deemed equally acceptable (this is moral relativism). This toxic potpourri is overwhelming for most and leads to the moral crisis and chaos of today. We need filters to help us choose wisely.
Right and wrong are more clearly defined by Judeo-Christian standards. We need the wisdom and hard earned experience of tradition. We need its advice before accepting new-fangled notions.
Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
We never heard of anything as crazy as transgenderism in 1989. Transgenderism was not suppressed; it was not even considered a lifestyle until someone determined there was money in surgeries.
We knew of drag queens in 1989, but they were not elevated by politicians. Again, nobody was ever prevented from engaging in such practices. It didn’t seem a good idea.
In my youth, we were molded by Judeo-Christian standards. Under that paradigm, we became a great nation and with the loss of these standards dominating influence, we are suffering.
Still, you were always allowed to object. Thomas Jefferson was a sometimes critic of religion, not a follower of any particular faith, although still a believer in God. He was viciously attacked by political opponents for his unconventional views of God and religion, but was elected president in any case.
In my youth, we understood anyone could follow any crazy passion. Americans were pioneers and individualists, after all. We constantly said: “It is a free country”. If you wanted to express yourself, others might choose not to associate with you; you knew when challenging the status quo, there were societal, but not legal, consequences. If it was important to you, you did it anyway. You found a way. So many today, can’t comprehend the word consequences: I should do what I want and everyone should like it.
Full body tattoos, a dozen nose rings, and urinating in the street are ignored (i.e. tolerated) these days. We are discouraged from noticing such odd appearance or lifestyle choices. If I owned a business, I wouldn’t hire someone adorned in such a fashion. Their appearance says they want to be set apart, not be part of our community. They draw attention to themselves, but are angry when anyone actually notices: I am who I am. I am not like you and FU for noticing. Go figure. Clean yourself up, conform to minimal standards (ones that don’t scream FU to those around you), and I might hire you.
Steph Curry stands out for his normality. He does not need to stand out in an outrageous fashion in order to be noticed. Fulfill your role and leave it at that.
Today’s culture wants no consequences for any expression, no matter how outlandish. Do as you please, but don’t demand we celebrate your lifestyle. We will criticize as we see fit.
Lil Nas X gets millions of views for a video in which he descends into hell, has sex with the devil, and becomes the devil himself. There is no subtlety whatsoever. The video is demonic and lacks any good.
First Lady Biden was present at the Grammy’s during which the song “Unholy” which celebrates adultery, was performed by a man in a Satanic costume surrounded by scantily clad women bowing to him. https://seek-the-truth.com/2023/02/17/lets-fight-the-culture-war-it-should-be-easy-against-these-folks/ Why sanction this?
Women openly declare themselves wiccans and America pretends it is just one more of the many equally good choices we have.
In December 2023, a Satanic display was placed in the Iowa State House for the holidays; its benefactors were making a political statement against Christians. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/us-man-charged-over-damage-to-satanic-temple-display/ar-AA1lzLe6
Alternate forms of LGBTQ+ lifestyles and anti-Judeo-Christian expressions are unending. Where is the good in any of it?
A Mississippi man destroyed the Iowa Satanic display. He put himself in legal jeopardy, but a 1989 jury would never convict him. They would thank him for having the courage to take a public stance against something so shameful. I am not sure what a 2024 jury would do, but we did hear from the Satanic spokes-dummy:
It is “sad and frightening” to see some “abandon” ideals of free expression and religious liberty “when only merely faced with benign imagery from a viewpoint that they assume they disagree with”,
Quit whining about abandoning your distorted ideals of freedom. You have the freedom to express your moronic vision, but we also have the freedom to discredit your moronic vision.
Hunter Biden refused to testify to Congress this past week and then whined about being a victim. Spare me. Hunter Biden is the epitome of the self-indulgence and lack of moral character. He portrays himself as a person to be pitied, but he is where he is because of his own poor choices, not our criticisms.
Again, my worst sin per 2024 America: not promoting the pride of sexual and anti-Christian deviants. I am considered a fascist and a theocrat for not jumping on the bandwagon.
However, I am not calling for hatred of anyone: not the LGBTQ, not Satanists, not Hunter Biden. I am not calling for removal of freedoms, not calling for punishment of sins (for their crimes, yes, but not their choices). I am hated for not condoning their choices, for daring to have a standard, and for daring to judge their actions.
This is the result of destroying Judeo-Christian values, opening all choices to all people, especially children, and labeling anyone who does not agree a bigot.
Judge Not?
My friend continues to be undeterred by my arguments. We finally address moral relativism, the resistance to judgment.
Seems you do have limits of what’s acceptable and not. You’ve declared the abandonment of God as a problem. Why is this so important to you? Is there a need to believe in God, Christ, or can it be something else?
Why would I as a Christian who believes Love, Truth, and all good come from God think this matter unimportant? I accept others can abandon God. God Himself allows us all to accept or reject Him, but still it matters. Life is not only about finding our own way in the world.
I said I have an internal compass and you said that was insufficient. Your religion teaches you not to judge and you clearly are doing just that. Is this part of the non-changing rules that only God can provide? How is this exception justified?
My religion teaches we should not judge individuals. I should not condemn (i.e. judge) you as an individual. I cannot know how you arrived at your current state, good or bad. I cannot know your motivations or how you formed your opinions (unless you explicitly share them with me).
I should also not walk away from those in trouble or need if I can help. If you are cheating on your wife or drinking to excess, I am obligated to warn you of the potential consequences, not to wash my hands. Moral relativism doesn’t care, but God does. There but for the grace of God goes I, my father told me often.
I oppose abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia because they are the ultimate form of judgment, the ultimate condemnation of a soul, and judgment of the soul is reserved strictly for God. I cannot rationalize blowing up an abortion clinic like you suggest because that act itself violates this principle. Were the Crusades good or bad, you also ask. War is sometimes be justified and sometimes not. The principle is simple: murder is not allowed unless in self-defense or protection of others.
God judges our souls. I am aware only of your actions, not your heart. I am allowed to judge your actions, albeit with mercy, understanding, and compassion. Your actions may promote evil, but your intent may still be good (albeit misguided). I should not unfairly impugn your character to others. I can, however make recommendations to you to help you to find the Truth for yourself. https://seek-the-truth.com/2022/05/03/judge-not/
We judge actions constantly. This is the purview of humanity. We punish the bad actions of our children. We judge guilt or innocence on a jury (and issue proportional penalties). I judge your actions, your words, and comments and you judge mine in these debates. Further, how can we improve ourselves without the (constructive) criticism of our parents, coaches, mentors, friends, colleagues, etc.?
Your belief that judgment is bad stems from the culture’s acceptance of moral relativism not from scripture. Moral relativism seeks immunity from judgment and shame. Do these passages indicate we are not to judge each other’s actions?
From the New Testament:
15If your brother sins against you,c go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’d 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matthew 12:15-17)
From the Old Testament:
15A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.b 16If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, 17both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. 18The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, 19you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.c 20Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you. (Dueteronomy 19:15-20)
We are to seek the lost sheep and bring them back to God if we can:
12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should. Matthew 18:12-14
We should not ignore the evil and wrong-doing we encounter. God expects us to help and love others, possibly correcting them.
There are so many lost sheep among us. If we have been given grace and talents by God, we are to use those gifts in service of others. We are not to leave our light under a bushel basket (Matthew 5:15). We are to use our minds, to “be as wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16) to reason with the lost sheep, to do what is necessary (within moral bounds) to bring them back to God.
Praise to Jesus Christ, now and forever.
Dave https://seek-the-truth.com/about/
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