What makes right RIGHT - and wrong WRONG? What makes a certain act ‘right’ vs. ‘wrong',’ moral instead of immoral, ethical as opposed to unethical? Is it just because a ‘god’ says so? Or does GOD have a reason behind behavior that He allows & encourages - versus that which He outlaws?
Plato, in his book ‘Dialogues,’ asks the question through one of his characters, “Is what is morally good commanded by the gods because it is morally good - or is it morally good because it is commanded by the gods?” In other words, are certain behaviors inherently ‘good’ and therefore get GOD’s stamp of approval, or are those behaviors simply ‘made’ good because they are commanded by GOD?
The god of the Quran tells Muslims to “kill the unbeliever wherever you find him, unless he repents, or pays the tax.” (Surah 9:5) The Bible tells Christians to “love your enemies.” (MATT. 5:44) The Humanist Manifesto (Version 3) tells mankind: “Ethical values are derived from Human need and interest as tested by experience.” So how do Human beings sort through these conflicting ‘Code of Ethics’ that they are confronted with from both religion & philosophy?
Is there a logical process, and a universal principle, behind the moral code called ‘The 10 Commandments’? You’ll probably be pleased to know that there is!
If you think deeply about it, you’ll find that ‘values,’ form the basis of ‘ethics.’ For instance, if you ‘value’ your job, you’ll embrace punctuality (the ethic of showing up to work on time) and industriousness (the ethic of working hard) - if you want to keep your employment. If you value longevity, you’ll engage in the ethics of eating healthy, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. If you value eternity, and only GOD can give it (PS.36:9), you’ll repent of your sins (ACTS 11:18), and live by the 10 commandments (MATTHEW 19:16-19)
There is a fate worse than death, it’s called solitary confinement. Man is a social being, and without Human interaction, people wither away and die. The first Biblical moral pronouncement by GOD addresses this: “It is not good that Man should be alone.” (GENESIS 2:18) God further cements this truth in a statement He inspired Solomon to write: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold chord is not easily broken.” (ECCLESIASTES 4: 9-12) This is why Human beings group themselves with others: “Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he dwells by you for safety’s sake.” (PROVERBS 3:29)
The value Human beings put on both individual and group relationships, demands a moral code to keep such relationships cohesive. The first 4 of the 10 commandments were given by GOD to us, who are made in His image and likeness, to keep us in sync with our Creator. The last 6 of the 10 commandments are given by GOD to keep us living in harmony with one another. Jesus tied this together when He was asked the question, ‘What is the greatest commandment in the Law?”: “Love the Lord your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the 2nd is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the commandments hang on these 2 commandments.” (MATTHEW 22:36-40) All 613 laws of the Torah, and all the 1050 commands given in the N.T. - were given to show Mankind the details of how to have ‘right relationships’ with GOD first and foremost, as well as with our neighbors and ourselves.
The one universal principle behind MORALITY is found in the following text of your Bible: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (ROMANS 15:2) The word ‘edification’ means to ‘build up,’ to be ‘constructive’ in how you relate to GOD, your neighbor, and yourself. This is the principle behind ‘goodness,’ and the principle behind ‘evil’ is just the opposite: ‘destructiveness.’ The child’s version is ‘helping’ rather than ‘hurting.’ God’s Law teaches us how to move our minds, mouths, eyes, hands and feet constructively, in relation to GOD, others, and ourselves.
So where did ‘evil’ (destructiveness) come from? Your Bible tells us: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning. How you are cut to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like THE MOST HIGH.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (the grave), to the lowest depths of the pit.” (ISAIAH 14:12-15)
Satan tried to ‘destroy’ GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY over the angels and all creation, in the first ‘coup attempt’ in history! He was lifted up with pride and covetousness for power, something he has persuaded all Human beings to do since, by moving us to also take away GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY over our lives, and getting us to move ‘destructively’ in relation to GOD, neighbor and self. Satan’s name in the Greek is ‘Apollyon,’ meaning ‘Destroyer.’ (REVELATION 9:11) The only time GOD moves ‘destructively’ - is against ‘the destructive!’
Mankind had become so destructive against GOD, their fellow man, and themselves in the pre-flood world, that GOD destroyed our species from off the earth, except one man (Noah), and his family - because he was moving ‘constructively’ in relation to others (GENESIS 6:9). The Biblical narrative tells us: “So GOD looked upon the earth and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” (GENESIS 6:11) That word ‘corrupt’ means to ‘destroy’ by altering the original state of something. SIN (destructive movement), altered the original state of mankind (living under the sovereignty of GOD -GEN.2), altered the original state of peaceful co-existence of Mankind through murder (GEN.4:8), and altered the original state of marriage between one man and one woman (GEN.2:24; 4:19).
Jesus said: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (MATTHEW 24:37). And so today we see the corruption (destroying by altering the original state of something), of the Judeo-Christian ethics that elevated the Western world to global dominance in the 19th and 20th centuries.
GOD says: “Woe to those who call EVIL good, and GOOD evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (ISAIAH 5:20) What used to be almost universally agreed upon as ‘constructive’ behavior - is now considered ‘destructive’ behavior - and vice-versa! Who moved? Not GOD - He changes not! (MALACHI 3:6)
When the last trumpet sounds, and the announcement is made that will be heard round the world, that the kingdoms of men are now back under the sovereignty of GOD, and His Christ will rule all nations (REV.11:15), the Law (God’s code of ethics) will go forth to all nations (ISAIAH 2:1-4), and Mankind “will not hurt nor destroy in all My (GOD’S) holy mountain (kingdom)” (ISAIAH 11:9). For the sake of all who are being hurt by oppressive government, wars, addictions, and crime - THY KINGDOM COME!