Ethics
Illustrations
At the
end of the Battle of Britain, British vice-marshal Alexander Adams
was driving to a meeting at his headquarters when he came upon a
sign: ROAD CLOSED -- UNEXPLODED BOMB. Adams called over the
policeman on duty, hoping he might be able to suggest an alternate
route. "Sorry, you can't go through," said the policeman
as he approached the car. "The bomb is likely to go off at
any minute now." Then he caught sight of Adams's uniform.
"I'm very sorry, sir," he said, "I didn't know you
were a wing commander. It is quite all right for you to go
through."
With
"advisors" like that, who needs enemies! Although that
policeman -- who was trained to respect rank -- momentarily
allowed his deference to a vice-marshal to overcome his good
sense, Adams had better sense than to follow his advice.
In the
survey taken in early 1991, interviewees were asked, "Do you
agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree
strongly with the following statement: There is no such thing as
absolute truth; different people can define truth in conflicting
ways and still be correct." Only 28% of the respondents
expressed strong belief in "absolute truth," and more
surprisingly, only 23 percent of born-again or evangelical
Christians accepted this idea! What a telling revelation! If more
than 75 percent of the followers of Christ say nothing can be
known for certain, does this indicate, as it seems, that they are
not convinced that Jesus existed, that He is who He claimed to be,
that His Word is authentic, that God created the heavens and
earth, or that eternal life awaits the believer? That's what the
findings appear to mean. If there is no absolute truth, then by
definition nothing can be said to be absolutely true. To the
majority, apparently, it's all relative. Nothing is certain. Might
be. Might not be. Who knows for sure? Take your guess and hope for
the best!
When
regard for truth has been broken down or even slightly weakened,
all things will remain doubtful. St. Augustine I would not tell
one lie to save the souls of all the world.
One
never errs more safely than when one errs by too much loving the
truth.
It's
out, and it's hot: a discussion guide on sexuality for Lutherans.
Released last month, it is sure to spark debate both in and out of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) between now and
the next ELCA assembly in 1993. "Human Sexuality and the
Christian Faith," a 55 page document produced by the
denomination's Division for Church and Society, was designed to
prompt dialogue and set the stage for a future ELCA social
statement on sex issues. The material urges readers to examine
with an open mind different views about marriage, promiscuity, and
homosexuality.
At
it's core the document questions biblical passages concerning
homosexuality and suggests that scriptural references to same-sex
relationships need to be re-interpreted in light of modern
theories about sexual orientation. "We must distinguish
between moral judgments regarding same-sex activity in biblical
times and in our own time," the report states. It
differentiates "exploitative" homosexual activity from
same-sex relationships" in which there is mutual love and
commitment." The document challenges ELCA members to evaluate
prejudices against homosexuals, insisting that "what we
personally find offensive is not necessarily sinful."
Members
of a 24 member United Methodist Church (UMC) panel could not agree
on whether homosexuality is a sin, so the committee's 14,000-word
report on the subject was referred to the denomination's national
policy-making body, which will convene in Louisville, Ky., in May.
The report contains a majority statement, signed by 17 committee
members, recommending the removal of an assertion in the church's
book of rules that homosexual practice and Christianity are
incompatible. A minority report, signed by four members, argues
for retaining the current language. The panel agreed that biblical
references to sexual practices should not be viewed as binding
"just because they are in the Bible." Fierce debate is
expected at this year's General Conference because at least 35 of
the UMC's 72 regional bodies have approved resolutions calling for
preserving the traditional stance.
To top of
page |
