It may seem very strange to many of us to know some folks believe there should not be a right and wrong standard. That is to say, there are neither rights nor wrongs. Would you believe that some have affirmed that atheistic morality is beneficial to the human race? We are currently witnessing great crimes against humanity by way of orthodox Islam coupled with other ungodly lawless elements. Many of us have lived long enough to witness World War II, the terrible loss of human lives and the destruction of large cities. Evil lawlessness drives the desire to control by killing whoever gets in the way of conquering landmasses. These wicked desires do not recognize righteousness and compassion.
Years ago, it was common to debate the differences of religious beliefs. Sometimes non-believers would debate religious people that there was no God. For the Christian, it is understood that the Word of God, the Bible, is our guide in understanding right and wrong. This ethical understanding is so clear for the Christian that we act in a very consistent manner. Now, that does not mean we carry out our Christian duties properly all of the time. It does mean, though, that we know right from wrong. Because we are free moral agents, we can choose to ignore our consciences and do wrong when we know what is right.
“From man’s creation, ethics and morals have been an important part of his personal and social life. One of the strongest evidences for God from within man is his ought factor, which causes man to ask thoughtful questions about what he should or should not do” (Waldron).
A most interesting public discussion was held at the Church of Christ meetinghouse, Shawnee, Oklahoma, August 15 and 16, 1929. The debaters were W.L. Oliphant, a Christian minister of the Oak Cliff Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas and Charles Smith, President, American Association for the Advancement of Atheism, New York City. One of the propositions, most unusual, was “Atheism is Beneficial to the Race, and is most conductive to Morality of any Theory Known to Man.” We know that people who do not believe in our Creator, God Almighty, the God of the Bible, do not believe in any fixed standard for doing right. Without much effort, Mr. Oliphant crushed Mr. Smith with logic and the Word of God.
Our King Jesus Christ “was dead…but he now is alive…for evermore” (Revelation 1:18). “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on me, though he die yet shall he live” (John 11:25) “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).
Will we accept and desire a society without God-given ethical principles? We are now seeing an element of the religion of Islam that has proven to be barbarous. We know that there are many Muslims who desire a peaceful life. However, it seems they have no influence over too many that heed the Koran along with Sharia Law as it is written. The holocaust and death camps of the Nazis during WW2 are undeniable history. We should shudder that non-believers desire an atheistic society. Give us biblical God-given ethics that will make for peace and contentment. Sadly, there will be no peace until evil is defeated and obedience to God Almighty is practiced.
Works Cited
Waldron, Jim E. Is There a Universal Code of Ethics? Jim E. Waldron, 1982.
