Page 14 - Christ and Culture Textbook

Thus, objective moralists view morality as transcendent reality which applies to all individuals and
cultures. While different tribes and cultures hold different outlooks on peripheral matters of morality,
the core morals are the same especially among those of their own tribe. It is wrong to murder. It is
wrong to steal. It is wrong to commit adultery. And so on. Even so, we can conclude that objective
morality is the correct viewpoint.

Moral absolutes are unavoidable:
* Morality consists of prescriptions for behavior and motives—not descriptions of the
world.
* Morality consists of commands, not suggestions. Morality says, “do this” and “don’t
do that,” not “it would be nice if you did this or refrained from doing that.”
* Morality is universal in scope. Morality applies to all people in all places at all times.
* Morality is objective. Right and wrong exist outside of, and regardless of, our
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beliefs.

#Thus, morals come from God who has the power and authority to impose a moral law on us.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but
through Me.”

John 18:37–38 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that
I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said
this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

Psalm. 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Prov. 23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Isaiah .59:14–15 Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the
street, And uprightness cannot enter. Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes
himself a prey. Now the LORD saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.

Rom. 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR
WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM
AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Remember that our greatest intimacy with the Lord will be those times when our Lord’s thoughts
supplant ours and our behavior will then model that of Christ.

4 Doug Powell, Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2006), 87.

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