The following is a paper I, Bryan D. Stallings, personally wrote. I am sharing it with you that it might further aid in your studies. To copy/paste this paper and submit as your own is PROHIBITED!
Christians live in a society that endorses moral relativism and post-modern thought which means that no standards exist distinguishing right and wrong leaving “everyone [to do] what was right in his own eyes”[1]. Even though no one denies the presence of a Law of Nature, people remain unable in the ability to put together a system of ethics around it. In an article, Norman L. Geisler states this...
“What God wills is rooted in His moral nature and since His moral nature does not change, it follows that moral obligations flowing from His nature are absolute (they are binding everywhere on everyone). When two or more absolutes come into conflict, the Christian is responsible for obeying the greater commandment. The Christian is not held guilty for not following the lesser of two (or more) conflicting commandments.” [2]
Even though moral obligations come from the very nature of God and they do remain absolute, which is the greater commandment? Are we to decide on our own the lesser of two evils or the one commandment that is greater than the other is? When it comes to graded absolutism, it seems that there remains a decision in figuring out which of God’s moral laws are higher and which is lower. Regardless, God will hold the Christian guilty for breaking any of His moral laws, whether higher or lower.
Since we live in a fallen world, the existence of conflicting absolutes, or conflicting morality, occurs on a regular basis. Conflicting absolutism simply states, “one must do the lesser evil, confess that sin, and ask for God’s forgiveness”. [3] This maybe true, the problem still exists that a moral law, or absolute, of God’s is being broken and they are not to be broken. However, a little bit of digging reveals the temptation for the person in deciphering for himself that is the lesser of the two sins.
The Apostle Paul says that,
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” [4]
When faced such dilemmas, conflicting absolutism reveals the absolutes of God at times conflicting and should direct us to Him for the way of escape remains in the reliance on Him and not be tempted to decide which one is the lesser of two evils. If we rely on Him, we do not sin.
However, what exactly is morality? The study of morality brings particular value concepts into mind like right versus wrong...what is good and what is bad...what we ought to be doing...and so on. Four sufficient conditions[5], presented by philosophers, have been placed in a way to define morality:
1.) A [decision] is moral only if it is accepted as a supremely authoritative and over-riding guide...
2.) A [decision] is moral only if it is a prescriptive imperative that recommends actions, attitudes, and motives...
3.) A [decision] is moral only if it is universalizable...
4.) A [decision] is moral only if it makes reference to proper human flourishingly, human dignity, the welfare of others, the prevention of human harm, and the provision of benefit.
Prime explains of this exist in The Bible when the midwives lied to protect the children or Rahab lying in protecting the spies. Both these instances of lying remain the lesser of two evils for they protected the life of their neighbor. In these types of situations, one must admit having done wrong, repent, and ask God for forgiveness. However, God praised these women, but not for lying, but for their faith in doing what was best in such a tough situation. The very conflicting of two or more of these moral absolutes brings upon the Christian the responsibility for obeying the greater of the two commands while seeking forgiveness for the other.
When it comes to this, conflict absolutism affirms this is in many ways. This position remains removed from the graded absolutist that states that under particular circumstances lying exits as not a sin. However, and to his credit, the conflicting absolutist says it always remains wrong in breaking the absolute moral law of God. Even though Gods’ Law should remain unbroken but when two duties of morality conflict, there exist responsibilities that one has to face in both duties. The very strength of conflicting absolutism remains in the realistic view that certain conflicting morals do exist. Nevertheless, how can The Lord hold the person accountable for the sin that is being committed when there seems no other option?
Case in point, a little over four years ago, my oldest daughter, who was 15 at the time, was raped. I thank The Lord she did not become pregnant nor any sexually transmitted diseases occurred...but what if she did become pregnant? My daughter being of this young age, she may or may not been able to go full term so would it be right to abort the unborn child to save my daughter’s life or let her have the child and chance psychological / emotional / mental scars or even death? Or even my wife, advanced in years, becomes pregnant, she may or may not been able to go full term so would it be right to abort the unborn child to save my wife’s life or let her have the child and chance possible death? Even though both these cases fall into the category of abortion / human rights, it plainly shows that two duties, the attempt to spare one life for another, will come into conflict at one time or another. With the rape of my daughter and attempting to decipher on the decision to either abort the unborn child to protect my daughter or vice a versa remains a hard decision to comprehend. According to pro-choice advocates, “no woman should be forced to have a baby fathered by a rapist.”[6] However, two wrongs do not make a right. Aborting the child will in by no means cancel out the rape. These types of situations reveal a time when a total and complete reliance on God comes into play for there will always be a time when morality conflicts with itself.
Here is yet another case, a family friend, and do to this economic downturn, lost his job. He has a wife and three-year-old son and they have been living out of their truck for most of the year. They park the truck in abandoned parking lots and sleep there with the hopes of no one messing with them. They contacted my wife and asked whether they could stay with us. We live in a 2-bedroom apartment with our two children. I had a choice. Do I say no because we would be violating our lease agreement due to being over-occupied and possibly being evicted or due I risk everything and say yes? What is more important at this time, our personal needs or the need of a down and out family? The answer was simply, I said sure and they stayed with us for about three months right under the noses of the management office (we live right next door them). They eventually got on their feet and got a place of their own. As was stated before, this type of situation revealed yet another time when a total and complete reliance on God comes into play for there will always be a time when morality conflicts with itself.
These two cases prove not all decisions remain neat and clean for moral conflicts exist due to mans’ fallen condition. However, it remains wrong in breaking any absolute moral law of God. There will never be any exceptions, exemptions or divine immunity. Even Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48 that we are to “...be perfect...as your heavenly Father is perfect”. This particular verse seems to be beyond our human abilities. In other words, God holds us responsible for the sin of no choice.
Then what should a person do in such situations as these? This is exactly where I believe God places us, as believers, in order for us to rely totally and completely on His motives and to grow stronger spiritually as He has intended from the beginning. David said in Proverbs 3:5 – 7 to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”[7] David also stated in Psalm 118:8 that “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man”[8] when faced with adversity. Jeremiah appeals in 17:7 that “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.”[9] In addition, Jesus boils all the commandments down into to statement in Luke 10:27, “And He answered, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”[10]
When faced with such dilemmas, it would remain so much easier if we would simply rely on Him and not attempt to decide which direction to go for if we chose the lesser of two evils, we sin, if we rely on Him, we do not sin. The cases that where mentioned earlier in this paper where dilemmas (or moral conflicts) that I had personally faced myself during my walk with Christ. My oldest daughter, now 20, was raped at 15 when I had only accepted Christ into my life a year prior. It was a painful experience to endure, but The Lord saw us through.
This past Thanksgiving, I had a close friend contact us looking for a place to live for him, his wife, and three-year-old son. They stayed with us until mid-January and now he has a job, a place of their own, and they rededicated their lives to Christ. In a situation such as this, I am not sure what choice you would make; however, I know what choice you should make. A helping hand should be offered out and not because of feeling the inclination of being nice or by having the natural disposition in aiding the less fortunate; it should be done because He demands and nothing less would be satisfying to Him.
Sometimes, these decisions have a positive outcome at the start, sometimes they do not. How they start and end should not dictate how we, as Christians, should react. The beginning and the ending remains in Gods care. The facing of these dilemmas as well as others remain an everyday occurrence due the fallen world for which we live, conflicting absolutism puts a spotlight on them and guides one towards the waiting arms of Jesus, and leaning on His ways and not our own, we do not sin.
[1] New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (La Habra: The Lockman Foundation), Judges 21:25.
[2] Norman Geisler, “Any Absolutes? Absolutely!” A New Age for Nursing, 1995, 18-01.
[3] Geisler, Norman, Christian Ethics Second Edition, (Michigan: Baker Academic, 1989), pg. 83.
[4] New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (La Habra: The Lockman Foundation), 1 Corinthians 10:13.
[5] Moreland, J. P., and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2003), pgs. 394 – 95. [Brackets are added for emphasis]
[6] Geisler, Norman L., and Ryan P. Snuffer, Love Your Neighbor (Illinois: Crossway Books, 2007), pg. 117.
[7] New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (La Habra: The Lockman Foundation), Proverbs 3:5 – 7.
[8] Ibid, Psalm 118:8.
[9] Ibid, Jeremiah 17:7.
[10]Ibid, Luke 10:27.
Christians live in a society that endorses moral relativism and post-modern thought which means that no standards exist distinguishing right and wrong leaving “everyone [to do] what was right in his own eyes”[1]. Even though no one denies the presence of a Law of Nature, people remain unable in the ability to put together a system of ethics around it. In an article, Norman L. Geisler states this...
“What God wills is rooted in His moral nature and since His moral nature does not change, it follows that moral obligations flowing from His nature are absolute (they are binding everywhere on everyone). When two or more absolutes come into conflict, the Christian is responsible for obeying the greater commandment. The Christian is not held guilty for not following the lesser of two (or more) conflicting commandments.” [2]
Even though moral obligations come from the very nature of God and they do remain absolute, which is the greater commandment? Are we to decide on our own the lesser of two evils or the one commandment that is greater than the other is? When it comes to graded absolutism, it seems that there remains a decision in figuring out which of God’s moral laws are higher and which is lower. Regardless, God will hold the Christian guilty for breaking any of His moral laws, whether higher or lower.
Since we live in a fallen world, the existence of conflicting absolutes, or conflicting morality, occurs on a regular basis. Conflicting absolutism simply states, “one must do the lesser evil, confess that sin, and ask for God’s forgiveness”. [3] This maybe true, the problem still exists that a moral law, or absolute, of God’s is being broken and they are not to be broken. However, a little bit of digging reveals the temptation for the person in deciphering for himself that is the lesser of the two sins.
The Apostle Paul says that,
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” [4]
When faced such dilemmas, conflicting absolutism reveals the absolutes of God at times conflicting and should direct us to Him for the way of escape remains in the reliance on Him and not be tempted to decide which one is the lesser of two evils. If we rely on Him, we do not sin.
However, what exactly is morality? The study of morality brings particular value concepts into mind like right versus wrong...what is good and what is bad...what we ought to be doing...and so on. Four sufficient conditions[5], presented by philosophers, have been placed in a way to define morality:
1.) A [decision] is moral only if it is accepted as a supremely authoritative and over-riding guide...
2.) A [decision] is moral only if it is a prescriptive imperative that recommends actions, attitudes, and motives...
3.) A [decision] is moral only if it is universalizable...
4.) A [decision] is moral only if it makes reference to proper human flourishingly, human dignity, the welfare of others, the prevention of human harm, and the provision of benefit.
Prime explains of this exist in The Bible when the midwives lied to protect the children or Rahab lying in protecting the spies. Both these instances of lying remain the lesser of two evils for they protected the life of their neighbor. In these types of situations, one must admit having done wrong, repent, and ask God for forgiveness. However, God praised these women, but not for lying, but for their faith in doing what was best in such a tough situation. The very conflicting of two or more of these moral absolutes brings upon the Christian the responsibility for obeying the greater of the two commands while seeking forgiveness for the other.
When it comes to this, conflict absolutism affirms this is in many ways. This position remains removed from the graded absolutist that states that under particular circumstances lying exits as not a sin. However, and to his credit, the conflicting absolutist says it always remains wrong in breaking the absolute moral law of God. Even though Gods’ Law should remain unbroken but when two duties of morality conflict, there exist responsibilities that one has to face in both duties. The very strength of conflicting absolutism remains in the realistic view that certain conflicting morals do exist. Nevertheless, how can The Lord hold the person accountable for the sin that is being committed when there seems no other option?
Case in point, a little over four years ago, my oldest daughter, who was 15 at the time, was raped. I thank The Lord she did not become pregnant nor any sexually transmitted diseases occurred...but what if she did become pregnant? My daughter being of this young age, she may or may not been able to go full term so would it be right to abort the unborn child to save my daughter’s life or let her have the child and chance psychological / emotional / mental scars or even death? Or even my wife, advanced in years, becomes pregnant, she may or may not been able to go full term so would it be right to abort the unborn child to save my wife’s life or let her have the child and chance possible death? Even though both these cases fall into the category of abortion / human rights, it plainly shows that two duties, the attempt to spare one life for another, will come into conflict at one time or another. With the rape of my daughter and attempting to decipher on the decision to either abort the unborn child to protect my daughter or vice a versa remains a hard decision to comprehend. According to pro-choice advocates, “no woman should be forced to have a baby fathered by a rapist.”[6] However, two wrongs do not make a right. Aborting the child will in by no means cancel out the rape. These types of situations reveal a time when a total and complete reliance on God comes into play for there will always be a time when morality conflicts with itself.
Here is yet another case, a family friend, and do to this economic downturn, lost his job. He has a wife and three-year-old son and they have been living out of their truck for most of the year. They park the truck in abandoned parking lots and sleep there with the hopes of no one messing with them. They contacted my wife and asked whether they could stay with us. We live in a 2-bedroom apartment with our two children. I had a choice. Do I say no because we would be violating our lease agreement due to being over-occupied and possibly being evicted or due I risk everything and say yes? What is more important at this time, our personal needs or the need of a down and out family? The answer was simply, I said sure and they stayed with us for about three months right under the noses of the management office (we live right next door them). They eventually got on their feet and got a place of their own. As was stated before, this type of situation revealed yet another time when a total and complete reliance on God comes into play for there will always be a time when morality conflicts with itself.
These two cases prove not all decisions remain neat and clean for moral conflicts exist due to mans’ fallen condition. However, it remains wrong in breaking any absolute moral law of God. There will never be any exceptions, exemptions or divine immunity. Even Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48 that we are to “...be perfect...as your heavenly Father is perfect”. This particular verse seems to be beyond our human abilities. In other words, God holds us responsible for the sin of no choice.
Then what should a person do in such situations as these? This is exactly where I believe God places us, as believers, in order for us to rely totally and completely on His motives and to grow stronger spiritually as He has intended from the beginning. David said in Proverbs 3:5 – 7 to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”[7] David also stated in Psalm 118:8 that “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man”[8] when faced with adversity. Jeremiah appeals in 17:7 that “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.”[9] In addition, Jesus boils all the commandments down into to statement in Luke 10:27, “And He answered, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”[10]
When faced with such dilemmas, it would remain so much easier if we would simply rely on Him and not attempt to decide which direction to go for if we chose the lesser of two evils, we sin, if we rely on Him, we do not sin. The cases that where mentioned earlier in this paper where dilemmas (or moral conflicts) that I had personally faced myself during my walk with Christ. My oldest daughter, now 20, was raped at 15 when I had only accepted Christ into my life a year prior. It was a painful experience to endure, but The Lord saw us through.
This past Thanksgiving, I had a close friend contact us looking for a place to live for him, his wife, and three-year-old son. They stayed with us until mid-January and now he has a job, a place of their own, and they rededicated their lives to Christ. In a situation such as this, I am not sure what choice you would make; however, I know what choice you should make. A helping hand should be offered out and not because of feeling the inclination of being nice or by having the natural disposition in aiding the less fortunate; it should be done because He demands and nothing less would be satisfying to Him.
Sometimes, these decisions have a positive outcome at the start, sometimes they do not. How they start and end should not dictate how we, as Christians, should react. The beginning and the ending remains in Gods care. The facing of these dilemmas as well as others remain an everyday occurrence due the fallen world for which we live, conflicting absolutism puts a spotlight on them and guides one towards the waiting arms of Jesus, and leaning on His ways and not our own, we do not sin.
[1] New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (La Habra: The Lockman Foundation), Judges 21:25.
[2] Norman Geisler, “Any Absolutes? Absolutely!” A New Age for Nursing, 1995, 18-01.
[3] Geisler, Norman, Christian Ethics Second Edition, (Michigan: Baker Academic, 1989), pg. 83.
[4] New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (La Habra: The Lockman Foundation), 1 Corinthians 10:13.
[5] Moreland, J. P., and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2003), pgs. 394 – 95. [Brackets are added for emphasis]
[6] Geisler, Norman L., and Ryan P. Snuffer, Love Your Neighbor (Illinois: Crossway Books, 2007), pg. 117.
[7] New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (La Habra: The Lockman Foundation), Proverbs 3:5 – 7.
[8] Ibid, Psalm 118:8.
[9] Ibid, Jeremiah 17:7.
[10]Ibid, Luke 10:27.