By Lewis Willis
CBS MORNING NEWS (4-2-92), conducted an inter-view based on the findings of a new report. The report found that 91% of Americans believe that religion is important. However, 63% reject moral absolutes for their lives. “Moral absolutes” are the statements in the Scriptures which say we must or must not do certain things.
What Americans want to do is make moral decisions about right or wrong, basing that decision on the situation or the circumstance which they encounter. This is what was called “situation ethics” in the 1960s. “Situation ethics” gave America that terrible time when everything seemed to come apart. All moral values were expelled, and people did anything they decided they wanted to do. Rebellion against every form of authority was rampant. Any established norm for human conduct was openly, and sometimes violently, opposed. Sexual freedoms were demanded and the world came to know American hippi-ism. Dirty, long-haired, idle youth roamed the country, making a nuisance of themselves. The drug scene was dumped on America by these rebels, and we still struggle with the burden. Every institution government, home and family, social, educational, economic came under the ridicule of people who wanted to do their own thing, without any rules governing or restricting their conduct.
I think it was hoped that, when these people grew up, they would abandon this approach to life. It is safe to say that most of them have cut their hair and started wearing decent clothes. However, the results of this study indicate that most of them held on to their rebellious spirit where moral rules are concerned. They still do not want some-body to tell them that it is wrong to lie, steal, cheat, commit fornication, etc. They refuse any system that tells them they must do certain things that are required of them by the Word of God, such as worshiping, serving, contributing to the betterment of society, etc. Joseph Fletcher, in his 1966 book, Situation Ethics, called these things “iron-clad do’s and don’ts” which people rejected. Anything that pre-vented people from doing whatever they wanted to do was totally unacceptable. It appears that that situation has not changed. Is it any wonder that our nation is in the mess it is in today?
The Bible tells us that there is a way to determine what we should do. It even tells us that there are “rules” by which we must all live. Obviously, the American people do not know this, or they do not accept it. Nonetheless, the Word of God still says, ” let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Phil. 3:16). We will never reach our potential, until we decide to live by the law of God!
Guardian of Truth XXXVII: No 19, p. 21
October 7, 1993