Does it
"feel good?" Does it feel "right?" If so, today's culture says, "go for
it!" Thus, we make "right" what our feelings say it is, rather than what
it really is. Somehow, we have reached the point in contemporary
reasoning that most say that one can pursue his individual dream without
having to confront the consequences of bad or wrong choices. Believe in
God, or not; accept Christ, or not; live morally, or not--to those
people, it is all the same. Do what you want to do, what you feel like
doing, what you think is right in doing, and God will just set aside HIS
rules to approve of you regardless. We confuse civic freedom with divine
approval, and so long as it is "legal" (and some are not too "picky"
about that), it is seen as acceptable.
The
question is, "Is our standing
with God determined by our feelings, or by the rule of divine
law?" Is it a matter of God's will, or ours? Serious consequences follow
the reasoning described above:
1) It
nullifies the Bible as a defining book. In fact, the Bible
becomes largely useless, since it can at any point be superseded by
one's personal feeling. No doubt we "feel" like it has some value, but
it can always be overridden by our feelings. There is no sense of
responsibility to conform to its message.
2) It
glorifies
human
wisdom and authority. The highest court of appeal becomes the
human mind and thought, rather than the mind of God. If what I feel is
right, even if it contradicts what God teaches in His word, then MY idea
is seen as better than His; my authority as greater than His. In so
doing we minimize the greater wisdom and power of an Almighty God.
3) It
results in anarchy and chaos. Rejecting a common source of
authority -- the written word of God -- each becomes his own source.
There are as many "rights" as there are people to think them up. No
wonder we live in troubled times. No wonder our children are so confused
as to morals and religion. Countless competing human ideas bombard them
(and us) with equally justifiable claims to what is "right".
4) It
ignores God's place in our universe. He has defined right from
wrong, sin from righteousness, truth from error. Any course conflicting
with His "law" exacts terrible penalties.
The
Truth? The solution to mankind's problems lie not in human minds, but in
the unsearchable mind of an all-wise God. As we have observed before in
this column, it is His world, we eat His bread, drink His water, and
breathe His air. In addition to being ill-equipped by nature and
inclination to determine "right", we belong to Him, and are obligated to
be obedient. Man's way never "fixes" anything important, nor moves us
one step toward fellowship with God. This may not be the popular line,
but we are interested in TRUTH, not compromise, and all human objections
aside, God's word is still TRUE, and His way is still the only way
(John 14:6).
Other Articles
Achan's
Sin
The Curse of Negligence
Three Men rebel against Hypocrisy