Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

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  In the early days of the United States there was a general consensus
about what was right and what was wrong.  No one would publicly question
whether adultery was wrong.  The consensus came about because there was a
common reference point for morality, the Bible.  This is emphasized in the Supreme Court chambers where Moses is seen  holding the ten commandments of Exodus 20. 

Not all of the founding fathers were devout Christians but all agreed that the Bible had good moral instruction. Today the Muslims are united in belief by the Koran.  They all appeal to it for moral guidance.

    But today the courts,  and the country as a whole,  no longer have a common ethical code to which all can appeal.  The Bible has been excluded from our class rooms; teachers can be fired for writing the ten commandments on the black board.  A judge was deposed for having the ten commandments near his courtroom.  A decision by a jury was recently overturned because one of the jurors carried a Bible into the room.  The nation is like a ship on the high seas without a compass, uncertain of its direction.  Because of this there is much bickering and strong feeling about moral issues today.  How can one know what is right?

    The prevailing virtue of today is tolerance.    This translates into autonomy for the individual.  Each is free to pick and choose his moral convictions.  If it makes you happy, do it!  Do not judge another and do not lay your moral convictions on others.  Be tolerant! 

    Homosexuality was once viewed as aberrant behavior that needed counseling by psychiatrists.  Now it is viewed as normal for some people by the psychiatric profession..   Divorce was once viewed as wrong.  Now it is viewed as a good thing, giving one more choice.  To take the life of the unborn was once a criminal offense, subject to prosecution.  Now it is viewed as liberating for women, their right to choose.  Now liberal courts make decisions based on what most of the people seem to tolerate rather than on objective truth that applies to all in every age.  More people use drugs and alcohol to excess than ever before..  Be tolerant; many would say.  Do not be judgmental.

    An ancient proverb states: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).  The proverb affirms that what makes a nation great is righteous living.  To be righteous means one is conforming to a righteous standard.  A builder constructing a house has a building code to which he must conform.  Man desperately needs a moral standard outside of himself by which he can measure his conduct.  But one may say, “Is not conscience enough?”  No, history attests to the fact that mankind has been very adept at rationalizing and twisting the message of conscience.  Hitler could rationalize that it was good for the German people to weed out the disabled, the retarded, and even the whole Jewish race, all to maintain racial purity. 

    The Bible is realistic.  Man is terribly flawed and prone to sin.  “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.  Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).  The Law of God gives man an absolute standard to warn him of wrong doing.  God states that these are for “our good always” (Deuteronomy 6:24).  America was once viewed by the world as a good nation, moral and compassionate.  Today Muslim nations warn their peoples against the immorality and pornography that spews out of American media.  Shame on us!  It is time for the nation to repent and to return to God and the moral standards of our forefathers based on the Word of God.

                    Donald L. Norbie

                    April 1, 2005