A Standard of Right and Wrong?

Every individual believes that certain things are wrong.  Even some of the most evil criminals have had “standards” or “ethics”.  They may not have applied to anyone that was a victim of their crime, but they did recognize some things as wrong, usually when done to them.

In our society today, one of the things that most would agree is wrong is “bullying”.  Only a few bullies themselves would recognize their actions as wrong yet  all of the 99% around them do.  But what really makes bullying wrong?  Is it what the majority thinks?  Is it what culture says?  Are we simply left to decide for ourselves?  If that is the case, then the standard of what is right and wrong will be in flux or constant change.

This standard of right that our culture once used is the Scriptures or Holy Bible.  (No, man will never perfectly interpret and follow every aspect of Scripture, but that should not keep us from trying.)  God gives us his standard of right and wrong within the pages of the Bible.  

If we use this standard for addressing what is wrong – i.e. “sin”,  then we must apply it to those who are bullies, those being bullied, and those observing.  If we use the standard of scripture, we move from human authority of others, parents, grandparents, schools, and government, to God’s authority.  Then, when an individual is violating God’s standards, he is not only disobeying the earthly authority, but the heavenly authority as well.

When we use the scriptures to deal with an issue, we can get to the heart of the issue.  Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) ¹²For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

We, as individuals and a society, must return again to bringing people back to the standard of the Scriptures to expose their “sin,” and to reveal their accountability once again to God’s authority.

In future articles, we will look at how this sin must be dealt with before God, and how to practically address various issues with appropriate Scripture.