Morality comes from the word moral, which means “1 a: concerned with goodness or badness of human character or behavior, or with the distinction between right and wrong. b: concerned with accepted rules and standards of human behavior.”1 How does the individual and the nation determine the standard for moral behavior? For some there is no set standard of right and wrong, everything must be judged on the circumstances. Historically our nation looked to the word of God, the Bible, for its standard. George Washington stated in his farewell address,
Of all dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion, and Morality are indispensable supports... Whatever may be conceded to be the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure - reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.2
Washington well understood the problem of morality without religion; the absence of an objective standard for moral conduct.
Some have sought for many years to establish a set of moral standards without any biblical connection. One system is known as “situation ethics.” In this model of moral behavior, the situation one is in determines the right or wrong of a particular action. The Humanist Manifesto II describes this view under the heading of “Ethics,” thus: “We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing no theological or ideological sanction. Ethics stems from human need and interest.”3 We have seen this moral standard in action in the past few years as people debate whether engaging in sexual activities outside of marriage and telling lies about it to “protect innocent family members” is justified.
The Bible’s moral standard tells us marriage is for one man and one woman for one lifetime (Genesis 2:23-24; I Corinthians 7:2; Romans 7:2,3; Matthew 19:3-12). Sexual conduct apart from marriage is sinful, wrong. Truth, not lies, is what the Bible requires people to speak at all times. Circumstances do not determine whether a particular action is right or wrong. We encourage you to consider the need to emphasize the Bible standard of morality.
—Denton Landon, minister
1. The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus, page 969.
2.
George Washington, “Washington’s Farewell
Address,” Harvard
3. Paul Kurtz ed., Humanist Manifesto I and II, Prometheus Books, page 17.