HOW THE GOSPEL REDEFINES (3 OF 5)
Scripture: Philemon 8, Philemon 9, Philemon 10, Philemon 11, Philemon 12
This content is part of a series.
How the Gospel Redefines (3 of 5)
Series: A Most Subversive Gospel
Wyman Richardson
Philemon 8-12
Read Philemon 8-12
''What is the right thing to do?'' It is a question that everybody has had to ask themselves and it is a question, collectively, that we ask of nations and institutions and even churches in given situations. ''What is the right thing to do?'' The question assumes, of course, that there is such a thing as ''the right thing to do.'' In our day such an assumption is no longer automatic. In our day we are as likely to view actions as ''one right thing among other right things'' or even in terms of actions being ethically neutral. We are even tempted to believe that there is no ''right'' or ''wrong'' by which we can judge actions at all.
For instance, the late John Stott critiqued Abraham Edel in 2010. Edel argued that there was no ultimate right or wrong.
This viewpoint was critically evaluated by the distinguished American moral and social philosopher Abraham Edel (1908-2007), whose first major book was titled Ethical Judgment, and subtitled The Use of Science in Ethics. ''Morality is ultimately arbitrary,'' he wrote, and went on with a piece of popular doggerel:
It all depends on where you are,
It all depends on when you are,
It all depends on what you feel.
It all depends on how you feel.
It all depends on how you're raised
It all depends on what is praised,
What's right today is wrong tomorrow,
Joy in France, in England sorrow.
It all depends on point of view,
Australia or Timbuctoo,
In Rome do as the Romans do.
If tastes just happen to agree
Then you have morality.
But when there are conflicting trends,
It all depends, it all depends.
Maybe we could view that concluding statement as the mantra of this confused age in which we live: ''It all depends, it all depends!''
Paul believed that there was a right and wrong thing to do. More than that, he believed that right and wrong were defined by the mores and values ...
Series: A Most Subversive Gospel
Wyman Richardson
Philemon 8-12
Read Philemon 8-12
''What is the right thing to do?'' It is a question that everybody has had to ask themselves and it is a question, collectively, that we ask of nations and institutions and even churches in given situations. ''What is the right thing to do?'' The question assumes, of course, that there is such a thing as ''the right thing to do.'' In our day such an assumption is no longer automatic. In our day we are as likely to view actions as ''one right thing among other right things'' or even in terms of actions being ethically neutral. We are even tempted to believe that there is no ''right'' or ''wrong'' by which we can judge actions at all.
For instance, the late John Stott critiqued Abraham Edel in 2010. Edel argued that there was no ultimate right or wrong.
This viewpoint was critically evaluated by the distinguished American moral and social philosopher Abraham Edel (1908-2007), whose first major book was titled Ethical Judgment, and subtitled The Use of Science in Ethics. ''Morality is ultimately arbitrary,'' he wrote, and went on with a piece of popular doggerel:
It all depends on where you are,
It all depends on when you are,
It all depends on what you feel.
It all depends on how you feel.
It all depends on how you're raised
It all depends on what is praised,
What's right today is wrong tomorrow,
Joy in France, in England sorrow.
It all depends on point of view,
Australia or Timbuctoo,
In Rome do as the Romans do.
If tastes just happen to agree
Then you have morality.
But when there are conflicting trends,
It all depends, it all depends.
Maybe we could view that concluding statement as the mantra of this confused age in which we live: ''It all depends, it all depends!''
Paul believed that there was a right and wrong thing to do. More than that, he believed that right and wrong were defined by the mores and values ...
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