Resolutions for 2009

In light of the past year, I am going to make simpler resolutions for this year. There were times last year when I had forgotten entirely that I had made resolutions. I will once again borrow some from Jonathan Edwards, including the introduction to them:

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

1. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be most to God’s glory.
2. Resolved, to do whatever I perceive to be my duty.
3. Resolved, to accept rebuke with thankfulness.
4. Resolved, to pray believing God is omnipotent and sovereign.
5. Resolved, not to be unnecessarily argumentative.
6. Resolved, never to do anything that I would see fit to despise in others.
7. Resolved, to remember at all times that anything I do well, anything I do that is commendable, any thought that I have that is pure, correct, and right is only by God’s grace and his good pleasure.
8. Resolved, to create, maintain, and preserve peace except when doing so violates another resolution.
9. Resolved, to study frequently and steadily God’s Word and so meditate upon it as to better fulfill these resolutions and to better my love and service to God.
10. Resolved, not to buy a book except if it is a gift, required of me by school or church, or on my reading list (only 5 of which I do not own, and perhaps could borrow).
11. Resolved, to read over these resolutions once a week.
12. Resolved, that when I should stumble or fall in the keeping any part of these resolutions, that I repent of all I remember and submit my will to Christ once more.

Although I have borrowed some from Edwards, there are certainly differences between my resolutions and his (besides the number of them). For instance, Edwards’ resolutions were for life, whereas mine are for 2009. I certainly do not intent to keep number 10 throughout my entire life.

God and Ethics

“These are absolutely wrong, not wrong based on religion.”

I recently read these words, written by a friend of mine. I disagreed with much of what he wrote, but I believe these words to be illustrative of the source of our disagreement. He makes a distinct separation between religion and ethics. More than that there is the implication that there is an absolute nature to what I’m going to call the secular ethics and a subjective nature to the religious ethics. I think this sentiment is fairly typical in the western world.

Can a Christian Separate God and Ethics?

Perhaps my friend did not use either ‘God’ or ‘ethics’ in this phrase; however, the context provides that the religion in question is Christianity and it could be rewritten “not wrong based on the Bible” or “not wrong based on the belief in the God of the Bible.” So, is there a way for the Christian to call something ‘absolutely wrong’ by appealing to something other than God?

I think the obvious answer is no. If we consider the purpose of man this becomes rather clear. The Westminster Larger Catechism defines it as thus: ”Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.”¹ This corresponds with 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV): “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” and Colossians 1:16 (ESV): “For by him² all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.” If man is created for God’s purposes and our chief purpose is to glorify him, then can we determine our success or failure without consideration of the God we are to glorify?

It is by God that we know right from wrong. Not that He simply informs us, but that he is the standard of goodness! God is held as the standard by which we are compared in Matthew 5:48³ and Romans 3:23⁴. If not God, by what standard are we then to call something absolutely wrong? What are we to make of Proverbs 3:5-7?⁵

Christians cannot separate God and ethics; they cannot appeal to an absolute right or wrong apart from acknowledging God. Man is always rebuked for merely doing what is right in his own eyes.⁶

Can a Non-Christian Separate God and Ethics?

The short answer is no. Given that Christianity is true, the unbeliever will have the same problem the believer has in this separation. Since God is the standard of good, appealing to anything else as the standard will only end in error. You might ask: why do many non-Christians seem to be such good, caring and moral people? It is not my intent to demonstrate that non-Christians cannot live up to human standards of morality. I contend that they cannot live up to correct standards of morality⁷, but even that is not my point. There is no basis for morality apart from God and all beliefs that are structured in attempt to build morality on top of another foundation will be incredibly arbitrary and inconsistent.

Conclusion

Ethics does not exist in a void. Ethics must have some sort of foundation and standard. Either God is the absolute standard of morality or he isn’t. Christians ought to remain Christian consistently throughout their thinking, which would mean acknowledging God as an absolutely necessity in determining right from wrong. Why would a Christian become secular in his thinking in this (or any) belief, when we are commanded to do the opposite by God’s mercy when presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice in Romans 12:2?⁸

1. Most people are likely more familiar with the Shorter Catechism, which reads “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” And, of coarse, there is John Piper’s assertion that it is better stated, “The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.” {John Piper, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. (Multnomah Books, 2003), 17-18.} [↩]
2. Jesus Christ [↩]
3. You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV) [↩]
4. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV) [↩]
5. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away fro evil. (ESV) [↩]
6. See Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6, 21:25; Proverbs 12:15, 21:2. [↩]
7. as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” [Ps. 14:1-3, 53:1-3] “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” [Ps. 5:9] “The venom of asps is under their lips.” [Ps. 140:3] “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” [Ps. 10:7] “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” [Prov. 1:16, 3:15-17; Isa. 59:7-8] “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” [Ps. 36:1] Romans 3:10-18 (ESV) [↩]
8. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable, and perfect. (ESV) [↩]