Relitive Moralisam
10:37 PMAs this has been a hard week, our house has been filled with some serious conversations. One of them got me to thinking a lot, mainly because it is something that God has been teaching me about this year: moral relativism. This sounds deep, no? What do I really mean by this phrase?
Most of us (if not all) are guilty of it in some form or fashion. When deciding weather or not to watch a movie we say: “Well, it is a lot better than most of the stuff out there.” Or when we pick up a book we think: “Maybe it isn’t the best, but it is better than that book over there.” We even base our standards on this relative moralism. We treat our siblings better than most of the world, we don’t date the really promiscuous people, we stay away from the worst habits.
While all of this looks good on the surface, we miss God’s greatest blessings. In essence, when our morals are relative, we are walking as close as we can to the edge of God’s plan, and are often surprised when we step outside. I know I am guilty of this, and have been many times. I have watched some movies and TV shows that were cleaner than most of the things my friends watch, but realized they were far outside what God has called me to. I have allowed my speech to my siblings to become harsh and sarcastic at times, while still patting myself on the back for being nicer to them than most of the world.
Jesus never taught moral relativism. He didn’t call us to be better than most of the world, he called us to live for him with an all-out passion. He invited us into a close relationship with himself and asked us to walk as closely to him as we could.
When we want to watch a movie, instead of asking is it okay to watch, what if we asked if it lined up with Philippians 4:8? What if, though we are treating people better than most, we lined it up with the principles found in the Sermon on the Mount? What if we stopped looking at being relatively better than those around us, and started passionately trying to follow our Heavenly Father?
It hurts, doesn’t it? I know right now I want to go and hide some of those movies I like (but aren’t great), defend my sarcastic and witty speech, and pat myself some more for how I generally treat people, but that would be more moral relativism. I know that if my morals are based on relative standards, I don’t truly have any morals at all, only an ever moving behavior target.
I don’t want relative moralism anymore. I want to follow Christ with a passion. I don’t want to pat myself on the back for being better than most, I want to ask God the areas I am failing in. I want to stop asking how far I can go, and instead ask how close I can stay, because I know the greatest blessings come not from living a relatively good life, but by living passionately sold out to God.
6 comments
This was great to read. Thank you, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Eliza!
DeleteLove this! So true!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you like it, Lindsey.
DeleteThank you for letting God speak through you in this post! You have encouraged and empowered me! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I am glad God was able to use my words to encourage and empower you.
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