Tag: Grace

Morality

I want to start this post off with a true story that explains why I stress and talk about morality so much. Years ago, I volunteered for a California police department. During my time there, I rode in about 20 ride-alongs. One day in the briefing room, the officer I was going to ride with grabbed a dictionary for the word of the day.

They held it while I closed my eyes. I opened it and, still having my eyes closed, put my finger on the page. It landed straight on the word “moral.” Even before that instance, I remember watching “Walker, Texas Ranger” and being inspired to pursue justice, morality, and righteousness by the theme song. 

So why do I talk about it so much? Because I believe I’m called to talk about it. I truly believe the world in this day and age is sorely lacking in and starving for it. I also believe the church corporately and individually is failing miserably in preaching on the subject and living it out. Because of this, America and the world are suffering spiritually.

What Is Morality?

One definition of morality by Merriam-Webster is, “conformity to ideals of right human conduct.” Another definition by The Oxford English Dictionary is, “of or pertaining to the distinction between right and wrong, or good and evil, in relation to the actions, volitions, or character of responsible beings.” The Apostle Paul gives examples of these definitions in 1 Timothy 3.

While those are good definitions, the one I’ve always remembered (and have strived to live by) is The Golden Rule: “Treat others as you want to be treated,” which is also echoed by Jesus in Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…”

What Morality Is Not.

Morality is not legalism. I once attended a Christian church for a few weeks to see what it was like and if I would be a good fit there. I agreed with most of their messages and all of their beliefs until I had one question. I went to the pastor and asked him if the church would ever talk about morality, to which he responded, “No, we will never talk about legalism.” With that, I knew that church wasn’t for me.

While that church did emphasize God’s grace, I can only guess what the pastor defined as morality. But if it’s at all like Merriam-Webster’s definition, they probably thought that “right human conduct” meant abandoning God’s grace for the Law of God only. But I see this as flawed reasoning. God’s grace gives us the power to adhere to His Law when we can’t on our own. He wants us to love Him and obey His commandments without forgetting His Throne of Grace lest we become legalists like the Pharisees.

In chapter four of his book, The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters, Sinclair B. Ferguson cites Geerhardus Vos, author of The Self-Disclosure of Jesus and The Kingdom and the Church, who says, “Legalism is a peculiar kind of submission to God’s law, something that no longer feels the personal divine touch in the rule it submits to” (page 82). I think that exactly describes the Pharisees’ conduct (John 9:26–28, John 18:19–24), but what Jesus has freed us from!

It is truly a shame that the Church avoids talking about morality and its companion traits (e.g., character, integrity, honesty, etc.) because the key to understanding the Laws of the Old Testament and Messages of the Prophets (and much of the New Testament) is to first understand morality.

How is this the key? Because the latter part of that verse from Matthew above is, “…for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” And most of the laws of the Bible revolve around the morality of relationships (e.g., our relationship with God, husband/wife, family, workers, neighbors (Luke 10:25–37, Exodus 20:16–17), foreigners, etc.) and practicing the aforementioned companion traits.

Why Is Morality So Important?

It helps us understand the ways of God. What do I mean by that? God is moral. He defines in His Word morality, immorality, and their consequences. Moses saw God perform all kinds of miracles in Exodus but still didn’t know God, so He asked to know Him through His ways. Scripture, and thus God’s ways and thus God Himself, is actually easier for me to understand because I’m seeing His Word through the eyes of morality.

(Warning: Explicit) Porn Addiction and God’s Amazing Grace

Many years ago when I was in middle school, I was introduced to pornography and masturbation by a friend I went to school with. I had no idea what the latter word or act was until he asked if I did it. I was also taught in sex education in high school that this act was a good way to get to know myself. I had no idea how enslaving it would become.

My porn and masturbation addiction continued after high school and many years after. I became a believer of God around 2011, but just believing doesn’t mean I was instantly freed from this addiction. I still liked doing it and wanted to have sex (which to this day I have only done once and regret it). I knew each time I did it that it was wrong—but I couldn’t stop, and I repented many times. I kept pleading with God to make it stop, but it just wouldn’t.

Despite this, God has always had His hand heavily on me, keeping me safe. These sinful acts continued until summer 2016 when I returned from Kansas City after a mission trip with my church. I asked one of my church friends who also went on the mission to be my accountability partner. God’s grace was instantaneous!

What do I mean by grace? God wants us to be free from sin and shame. He freely gives His power (His grace) to overcome sin and temptation to those wanting to take sin seriously and make a real change for our lives. I went from having (and succumbing to) temptations and urges once or twice per week to zero of these in three weeks!

While this was a fantastic start, I still had a lot of work to do. Eventually the temptations and urges came back, and I would have slip-ups, as we called them. When they became more and more frequent, I thought, how can I keep myself away from this material when I’m weak on my computer? The answer was a porn blocking app for my iPhone and an explicit material filter for my computer. And what do you know, God empowered me with more of His grace. For many more weeks, I continued without temptation or urges.

As time went on, my slip-ups happened less and less frequently. I was being tapered off. I still have porn filters and blocking apps on my devices, and I still get unclean thoughts here and there, but I am so much stronger in resisting these temptations and urges even in my previously weakest of places. Years ago, I would consider being porn-free for two months impressive.

Now, a year and longer looks doable, but it’s not possible without God’s grace! I am now a firm believer that God helps those who can and do help themselves, and who take their sin and its destructive components seriously.