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A
writer for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Bradley Gitz, said morality
has no force unless there is a law to back it up, or words to that
effect. The statement presupposes that there isn’t any force other than
law to keep societal behavior in general, and individuals in particular,
on the right track. If the above is true, then the behaviors in both
categories derailed a long time ago and are still bumping along on the
ties. It also implies that an individual can’t behave morally unless
there is a law which will give negative consequences for the wrong
doing. It also contradicts the old adage that is paraded by certain ones
that morals can’t be legislated. The perfect example of such thinking is
the statement made by Al Gore when he was Vice-President that “there was
no (legal) controlling authority” to keep him from raising money from
his official office. The conclusion then is that an individual
conscience isn’t sufficient, and that God isn’t a controlling force in
any way shape or form, never minding the fact that the conscience is
based on God’s teaching of right and wrong and has been so based
beginning with Adam and Eve.
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The
Catholic Church is in debate about giving communion to politicians who
disregard the teachings of their church.
From a World Net Daily news article
(10-15-2005)
Rev. John
Walsh, (a) priest ... in Montreal,
(said of a politician who disregarded the moral influence of the church)
that he would always be welcome to receive the Sacrament. A CanWest News
Service report quoted his explanation: "We can't use the Eucharist as a
time … to judge a person's conscience by refusing them communion."
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http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46839
(Link valid at the time of posting article on this web site.)
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Now
let us examine the Bible for the truth on the above matters. Paul said
of Christians (when speaking of the need to obey the law) in Romans 13,
verse 5, Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but
also for conscience sake. Does it not also stand to reason that if
the Christian is to obey the law for conscience sake that an officer
holder should honor his belief in God and his attendant moral teachings?
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Jesus warned his followers not to do things for show as did the
Pharisees because it would be hypocritical. He said [Mat 6:5]
And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the
streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have
their reward. He also said quoting the Old Testament [Mark 7:6]
He
answered and said unto them,
Well hath Esaias prophesied of you
hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
Have we not seen politicians do that
very thing in this day and age, pretending piety and doing the exact
opposite?
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However, the issue of morality goes deeper than the appearance of piety
for politicians. Paul wrote in verse one of Romans 13 the following:
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power
but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Three truths
are expressed in the verse that every office holder should and must
follow. First, let every soul means all, including the politician and
office holder alike, with no exceptions allowed or excuses tolerated
from them for not following God’s teachings for government. Second, all
earthly power is ordained by God and flows from Him, and third, God
gives men the authority to establish a government to keep society
orderly. The politicians and office holders so chosen are duty bound to
honor God and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with God’s moral
teachings since their power is God given.
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In
absence of laws (which aren’t workable) to force compliance with ethical
moral conduct, the individual must have a conscience attuned to God’s
ways. That is the teaching of Paul’s entreaty in Romans 13.
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© 10-23-2005 DEC
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Next Lesson WHO’S MORALITY? Part 2 |
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