GRIZ BEAR COMMENTS: Basis for morals has shifted to popular opinion

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The recent announcement by Ohio Sen. Rob Portman that he had changed his views regarding gay marriage because of his gay, college-age son, and the comments and statements of other “politically-conservative” voices on the matter have been an eye-opener to me.

What I’ve heard a good many people say is that opposition to same-sex marriage and gay lifestyles should be reconsidered.

One politically-conservative radio pundit who has strongly supported values held by the Republican Party said that, while many among the older generation still oppose same-sex marriage, the younger generation accepts it and sees nothing wrong with it. He then went on to argue that the Republican Party maybe ought to rethink its position on the matter. I’ve heard the same from others who have been a media voice for conservatism.

What these statements indicate is that many politically conservative individuals and groups are more pragmatic in their approach to moral issues than Biblical. In other words, they look at what is expedient for the times rather than what the Bible states is right or wrong.

And this is just one more example of the shift in thinking among members of modern-day society. While what is right and wrong used to be determined by moral absolutes founded in the teaching of the Bible, now what is right and wrong is determined by the views and opinions of society at any given moment in history. Thus, lifestyles which were considered morally wrong by one generation can be counted morally acceptable by another because morality is not determined by any unchangeable absolute - such as God and His words recorded in the Bible - but by popular opinion.

Therefore, even though no one could honestly disagree with the fact that the Bible calls the homosexual lifestyle (as well as other perversions of God’s purpose and design in creation) an abomination and condemns it (Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22; 20:13, Romans 1:18ff. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10), yet, because the Bible is no longer viewed as authoritative, its statements and teaching are viewed as outdated and not applicable to modern times.

The shift in thinking - though shocking to those raised on the Bible - is not surprising since our children are taught in public schools and colleges that the earth and life on it are a product of pure chance and that they are, in large part, the master of their own destinies here in this world. Without God and with no changeless moral absolutes, each individual and society as a whole are left to themselves to determine what is right and wrong and what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

That is likely why so much emphasis is placed on polls these days. We hear almost no mention of Bible teaching as a source for morality. But, instead, we hear that 51 percent of Americans (or whatever the percentage may be) think this or that lifestyle is okay.

I write about this to point out that there is a big difference between holding to moral views for pragmatic reasons and holding to those same moral views for reasons based on Biblical absolutes.

Though Bible-believing Christians and political conservatives may often stand together against moral aberrations of our day, they often do so for different reasons. The Biblebelieving Christian opposes such things as abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage because the Bible - which is regarded as the authoritative word of the almighty and infinite God - condemns them.

The politically pragmatic may oppose the same things, but not because they are morally wrong. Rather, they oppose them because they are regarded as bad (or at least not beneficial) for our nation and society. Exceptions are often allowed. And, sometimes, as popular opinion shifts, the politically pragmatic change their views entirely.

If there ever was any true bonding between the politically pragmatic and the Bible-believing Christian, the glue between them is fast deteriorating because the basis for their moral values is not the same.

What all this reveals is the sad truth that our modernday society is adrift with no chart or compass but the popular opinion of the day. If enough people believe west is east and north is south, we’ll set our course accordingly and wander aimlessly, lost on the waves of the sea.

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer and may be contacted by email at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 04/03/2013