Moral Absolutes, Authority, and Truth
When is killing justified? If a robber enters your home, would you kill them to protect your family? What if the robber was breaking and entering to provide food for his own family? Would his actions be justified?
Should you ever lie? Suppose your boss told you to lie to a client about the performance of a product. If you tell the truth, you lose your job. Does that justify a falshood?
Is it ever okay to break your marriage vow? What about the couple that has grown apart? They have no intimacy, no emotional connection. A friendship develops for one of them. Is permissible to satisfy an emotional longing outside the marriage?
The answers to these questions come down to authority. Which authority has more power in your life? Does the authority of love for your family override your respect for human life? Does the authority of your own integrity override the authority of your boss? Does the authority of your vows override the authority of your emotional needs?
Authority is more than a boss or a moral guideline - it is the voice you listen to. There are many voices clamoring for your attention, wanting you to listen to them as the authority. What’s the listening pattern in your life?
People debate if there are moral absolutes, clear standards of right and wrong. Many believe that truth is relative - what is true for one era or one culture, is not true for another. Isn’t this the cause of such strife in Iran?
Sunday, I’m going to talking on “Time for Truth.” The reality everyone has a truth compass that guides them - but are you following the right one? If you don’t make time for truth, don’t be surprised if life goes in the wrong direction.
