Beth-El Baptist Church

02/08/2009

Greg Tomlinson


What does it mean to be moral?


A recent article appeared in the local Gilroy Dispatch to evaluate the right of one person to impose their view of “morality”. In order to address the topic, the author referred to its existence (or lack thereof) in the nations founding documents, the state of California constitution, and Gilroy's City Charter documents. It seems reasonable then that in order to be able to address the issue of imposing morality on another person, the concept of morality must be defined.


  1. What is the dictionary definition?

According to the Websters Online Dictionary, Moral means: of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ethical <moral judgments> b: expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior <a moral poem> c: conforming to a standard of right behavior d: sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment <a moral obligation> e: capable of right and wrong action <a moral agent>


The definition of moral provides a clear guide on where to begin. Moral is “relating to principles of right and wrong behavior” as well as the “[conformance] to a standard of right behavior”. In order to understand what moral is, it is imperative to understand what “right and wrong behavior” are and what are the standards of “right behavior”.


  1. What are the results when there are no standards?

Judges 17:1-7; 18:17-20; 21:21-25 Proverbs 14:12; 16:25

2 Corinthians 10:12 Psalm 119:29-31

2 Peter 2:1-3


When there are no standards of behavior, then everything that a person does must be considered to be acceptable, for that person. Whether their actions involve stealing, murder, rape, lying, adultery, or anything else that comes into ones mind. Without standards, having laws against such things do not make any sense.


Romans 1:18-22; 2:14-15

The reality is that by necessity there must be laws. Pretty much every man knows some of what is in the law. They know that murder, stealing, and lying are wrong because of their actions and attitudes that are associated with being the “victim” of such actions. This is true whether they are the “victim” or someone they know and care about are such a “victim”. The question then is not whether or not there are standards but what are the standards and where can they be found.


  1. Where can the standards be found?

1 Kings 14:7-9; 15:5, 11 2 Kings 22:1-2

Job 33:26-28 Proverbs 21:1-4

Deuteronomy 32:4 Psalm 19:7-9

John 12:47-50; 17:17 Romans 3:18-20


The standards of right and wrong are found in the scriptures. It is in the scriptures where the nature and character of God are described. God has told man about himself and what holiness and godliness look like. Every man will be held accountable to the standards that God has defined. They will be judged by God to see how they align themselves to His law.


  1. Why are these the proper standards and not another set of standards?

Psalm 86:9-11 John 14:6

2 Peter 2:4-9 Isaiah 45:21-23

Romans 14:11-13 1 John 1:8-10

Genesis 1:26-27 cmp Genesis 9:5-6


Very simply put, the standards of the Bible are the proper standards because they are the very words of God who created us and formed us. He is the one who makes the rules and defines the punishment for disobeying them. Having been made in the image of God, according to His likeness, we are expected to be proper and respectful representatives of Him. A simplified way to describe what is moral, is that being moral is to agree with God concerning everything that He says. To confess sins, is to agree with God. To bow before God and call him Lord is to agree with God.