A few weeks ago, I was out in my garage organizing a bunch of unwanted items for a garage sale. To kill the silence, I turned on the radio. One of my favorite things to listen to is talk radio, usually on the AM dial. I also like listening to Crosstalk on CleanAirFM, which is what I tuned in to that day. The topic of the discussion that day entailed a photography company being tried in a discrimination case involving their refusal to provide services to a homosexual couple. The photography company clearly stated they reserved the right to withhold services at anytime if the event or business opportunity violated their religiously held beliefs. This is a stipulation many businesses, especially Christian businesses, adopt to protect themselves and their moral standards. The host of the show laid the groundwork for discussion by siding with the photography company saying that it was their right to withhold services and that it was wrong for the courts to proceed with discrimination charges. When the host was done with his monologue, he began to take calls from listeners. One caller, in particular, really caught my attention.
This young catholic man began arguing in favor of the discrimination charges, stating that it was his “opinion” that all businesses are public servants and that they should not use religious beliefs to discriminate. It was the response of the host that really captivated me. He said, “What do you base your opinion on, sir? What is your moral compass?”
The young man hesitated for a moment and the radio maintained an awkward silence for a few seconds. When he did speak, he tried to avoid the question by restating that it was his “feeling” that no company should discriminate based on sexual orientation. The conversation began to get heated as the host kept interrupting the young man to answer the question: “What is your moral compass?”
Finally, the young man admitted that his opinions and feelings had no solid backing. He was arguing a matter for which he had no concrete justification. The host kindly ended their conversation by prompting this young man to find the only moral compass that can be trusted – the Bible.
God’s word is true. This notion is not based on opinion. The Bible itself says that God’s word is true; therefore it is and no man has proof that it is not. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever (Ps. 119:160).” Every element of the faith begins with this concept.
One of the hardest things to do is convince lost people that the Word of God is true. No person can be saved until he understands and accepts the veracity of God’s Word. When an individual does accept the truth of God’s Word, the flood gates of understanding will open and a deluge of practical and moral discernment can be received. Salvation, spiritual growth, development of standards and morality, a desire for sanctification – these products of faith can be effected through the acceptance of God’s Word.
The moral compass of God’s Word is often improperly used by many Christians. They claim salvation and they accept the Bible as truth, but they fail to read and search it out and find the bearing points that will direct their path. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a familiar passage that many of us brush off, and great application can be lost. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” In all our decisions, the Word of God should be used to guide us in making proper decisions. We are to yield to the truth of His Word and not let our own understanding mislead us.
Here’s a simple example of how to use God’s Word as your moral compass. Most recently, my wife and I have made a resolution to “unfriend” any Facebook friend or family member who regularly posts or reposts profanity or vulgarity. We use II Timothy 2:16 as our moral compass on this issue. It says, “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Here is the thought process: We believe God’s Word. It says to shun profanity. Some Facebook posts are profane and vulgar. We obey God’s Word and shun the profanity. Ungodliness will not increase as a result.
It should be noted that this bearing point in II Timothy 2:16 tells us to shun the sin, not the sinner. We should always be careful to be loving to those from whom our moral compass directs us away. The process can be tough, and many of our “friends” and family whose comments we’ve shunned may feel like we’re being haughty or self-righteous, but using God’s Word is clear and we must communicate to them our decision to use God’s Word as our moral compass. Perhaps explaining this process will open more doors of opportunity for sharing the Gospel with them.
So many people who say they have standards and morals are using ineffective compasses. They trust in their hearts, intellect, other men’s ideas and philosophies, traditions, family precepts, religious mandates, relative thought and so much more. All these compass points have no bearing. They are misguiding and will all lead people astray.
If you want to find your moral bearings, you will have to use a truly accurate compass, and the only compass that works in “all thy ways” is God’s Word.□
This young catholic man began arguing in favor of the discrimination charges, stating that it was his “opinion” that all businesses are public servants and that they should not use religious beliefs to discriminate. It was the response of the host that really captivated me. He said, “What do you base your opinion on, sir? What is your moral compass?”
The young man hesitated for a moment and the radio maintained an awkward silence for a few seconds. When he did speak, he tried to avoid the question by restating that it was his “feeling” that no company should discriminate based on sexual orientation. The conversation began to get heated as the host kept interrupting the young man to answer the question: “What is your moral compass?”
Finally, the young man admitted that his opinions and feelings had no solid backing. He was arguing a matter for which he had no concrete justification. The host kindly ended their conversation by prompting this young man to find the only moral compass that can be trusted – the Bible.
God’s word is true. This notion is not based on opinion. The Bible itself says that God’s word is true; therefore it is and no man has proof that it is not. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever (Ps. 119:160).” Every element of the faith begins with this concept.
One of the hardest things to do is convince lost people that the Word of God is true. No person can be saved until he understands and accepts the veracity of God’s Word. When an individual does accept the truth of God’s Word, the flood gates of understanding will open and a deluge of practical and moral discernment can be received. Salvation, spiritual growth, development of standards and morality, a desire for sanctification – these products of faith can be effected through the acceptance of God’s Word.
The moral compass of God’s Word is often improperly used by many Christians. They claim salvation and they accept the Bible as truth, but they fail to read and search it out and find the bearing points that will direct their path. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a familiar passage that many of us brush off, and great application can be lost. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” In all our decisions, the Word of God should be used to guide us in making proper decisions. We are to yield to the truth of His Word and not let our own understanding mislead us.
Here’s a simple example of how to use God’s Word as your moral compass. Most recently, my wife and I have made a resolution to “unfriend” any Facebook friend or family member who regularly posts or reposts profanity or vulgarity. We use II Timothy 2:16 as our moral compass on this issue. It says, “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Here is the thought process: We believe God’s Word. It says to shun profanity. Some Facebook posts are profane and vulgar. We obey God’s Word and shun the profanity. Ungodliness will not increase as a result.
It should be noted that this bearing point in II Timothy 2:16 tells us to shun the sin, not the sinner. We should always be careful to be loving to those from whom our moral compass directs us away. The process can be tough, and many of our “friends” and family whose comments we’ve shunned may feel like we’re being haughty or self-righteous, but using God’s Word is clear and we must communicate to them our decision to use God’s Word as our moral compass. Perhaps explaining this process will open more doors of opportunity for sharing the Gospel with them.
So many people who say they have standards and morals are using ineffective compasses. They trust in their hearts, intellect, other men’s ideas and philosophies, traditions, family precepts, religious mandates, relative thought and so much more. All these compass points have no bearing. They are misguiding and will all lead people astray.
If you want to find your moral bearings, you will have to use a truly accurate compass, and the only compass that works in “all thy ways” is God’s Word.□
Great article, Jeremy.
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