THE POWER OF A MORAL STANCE

This blog is a companion blog to my previous blog which was titled "The Power of Personal Convictions." When personal convictions are based upon the objective truth of the Bible, they will lead to and be expressed in moral stances.

The first four words of the Bible are "In the beginning God..." What kind of God is He? This question is answered with complete clarity in the subsequent words of the Bible. He is a God of holiness and righteousness. Because of whom God is, morals and ethics are naturally connected to God. Because God is a moral God, He demands that His people take moral and ethical stances that correspond to His nature, to His person and name. "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).

The words of Proverbs 14:34 serve as warning to America and all nations. They should speak to leaders and citizens. Our morals matter. Because they matter, those of us who are professing Christians should be willing to take a moral stance.

Many of those who are occupying the political offices of the land want to focus on legality and constitutionality while ignoring the moral components of life. Because conduct or actions of leaders do not break any laws the moral components of their actions do not apply. The moral component always applies. The moral component of life is the reason why we have laws. There are standards to uphold, things that are lawful and things that are unlawful, and a rule of law that protects the rights and lives of citizens.

Because God is holy and righteousness, He gave the first laws and expected the people He created to honor and obey these laws. When they did not, there were consequences. All of us are law breakers. None of us have lived perfect lives. My failure does not change the importance of a moral stance.

The biblical story of David and Bathsheba is well-known. You can read it in 2 Samuel 11, 12. King David saw Bathsheba, a very beautiful woman, bathing one night. He committed adultery with her, and she became pregnant. In order to cover up the adultery, David tried to create the illusion that her husband Uriah was the father of the child she was carrying. When this scheme failed, David arranged for Uriah to be killed in a military battle. He was guilty of adultery and murder.

God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David. Nathan did not go to David and tell him, "You have sinned by committing adultery and murder." Rather, he told him a story. He told David about a rich man who had many flocks and herds. Another man who lived in the same city only had one ewe lamb who was like a family pet. It happened that the rich man had a visitor to come by and he wanted to prepare a meal for him. What did he do? Did he take a lamb from his many animals? No, in a grievous and wanton display of arrogance and power, he took the one ewe lamb from his poor neighbor.

As David listen to the story coming from the prophet Nathan lips, his anger towards this abusive rich man grew to a boiling point and he said, "...As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die..." At this point Nathan pointed the finger at David and said, "You are the man..." David had used his power as king in a selfish, immoral way. It's very interesting that Nathan told David this story rather than immediately pointing to the commandments he had violated. He appealed to David's moral consciousness. David could not say that he had broken no laws. More importantly, he did have a moral response. If our morals fail, eventually, our laws will fail.

There is power in taking a moral stance. If you read Psalm 51 and Psalm 32 you will see the picture of David confessing his sin in the matter of Bathsheba and seeking God's forgiveness. God is a gracious and forgiving God. May God help us to see the importance of a moral stance. If we take moral stances, it will strengthen the legal and constitutional fabric of our nation. If we ignore the moral and ethical component of life, in time our laws and constitution will lose their validity.

God give us the boldness and strength to have a moral stance!