{"id":226,"date":"2010-10-01T17:13:42","date_gmt":"2010-10-01T21:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.fbclafayette.org\/?p=226"},"modified":"2011-12-12T09:29:02","modified_gmt":"2011-12-12T14:29:02","slug":"how-do-you-distinguish-between-right-and-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/how-do-you-distinguish-between-right-and-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"How do you distinguish between right and wrong?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ConfusedA couple of weeks ago, I was asked to respond to a young lady who was looking for some biblical advice about her dating relationship.\u00a0 (One of the questions that came out of that discussion is answered in a previous post<\/a>.) At the heart of her concerns was a rather significant question to which we all really need an answer:\u00a0 How do you distinguish between that which is morally right and that which is morally wrong?<\/strong> What follow is my attempt to address that question…<\/p>\n

The Dilemma<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/strong>There are a lot of different things that could influence the way you think about questions of morality.\u00a0 Some examples include your upbringing, your culture, your peers, your traditions, your religion, the law, etc.\u00a0 The challenging thing about making moral decisions is that the various sources of influence that might guide your thinking on a particular issue often conflict with one another.<\/p>\n

What do you do when your peers tell you it’s okay to do something and your parents tell you it’s not?\u00a0 How do you choose between the advice your culture gives you and the advice your religion gives you?\u00a0 Which one is right?\u00a0 Are any of them right?<\/p>\n

There are two vital questions each of us needs to answer.<\/p>\n

Question 1<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Is there anyone or anything that legitimately possesses the right to instruct me about the way I ought to function?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is really an issue of responsibility.\u00a0 Automobile manufacturers have the right to instruct buyers about the proper function of the cars and trucks they purchase because those companies are responsible for the design of their vehicles.\u00a0 Animal owners have the right to instruct their dogs and cats because they are ultimately responsible for the behavior of their pets.\u00a0 Parents have the right to set expectations for their sons and daughters because they are responsible their children\u2019s upbringing.\u00a0 Likewise, God has the right to instruct us in the way we ought to live because He is responsible for our existence.<\/p>\n

God made us.\u00a0 He knit us together body and soul (Psalm 139:19).\u00a0 He knows us better than we know ourselves.\u00a0 He knows the things that are good for us as well as the things that are not.\u00a0 As our Designer and Creator, He possesses the authority instruct us and command our obedience.<\/p>\n

And the medium through which God has chosen to communicate His instructions for our lives is the Bible.\u00a0 Through the inspiration of the sixty-six books that comprise the Old and New Testaments, God has provided the teachings He intends to guide and govern the way we live.\u00a0 By studying His Word, we gain insight that helps us distinguish between those things that are morally right and morally wrong.\u00a0 We learn about the kinds of choices that God does and doesn\u2019t want us to make, and we obtain perspective on types of behavior that help us fulfill our design.<\/p>\n

Question 2<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Am I going to follow those instructions? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Will I choose to function in a way that is consistent with the directives provided by\u00a0my Maker, or will\u00a0I choose to function in a way that runs contrary to my design?\u00a0 God promises not only proper function but also blessing and reward for those who choose to obey Him.\u00a0 Conversely, He promises strife and hardship for those who choose to ignore His instructions.\u00a0 But He leaves the choice to us.<\/p>\n

I would strongly encourage you to use God\u2019s Word\u2014rather than the opinions of peers or the accepted practices of your culture\u2014to guide the way you think about questions of morality.\u00a0 The Bible, and the Bible alone, possesses the legitimate authority to instruct the way you live.\u00a0 Listen to its teachings, be warned by its examples, and follow its commands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What do you do when your peers tell you it’s okay to do something and your parents tell you it’s not? How do you choose between the advice your culture gives you and the advice your religion gives you? Which one is right? 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