Simple enough, under your above definition and authority for morality, what do or should those Christians do?
So, I answered that. You have no response?
Also, I ask again, just what was it about the scenario you presented that made you think that I'd have any difficulty answering? I'm genuinely baffled by that. I state that life is the good and you ask me, in so many words, "Well what about mass murder?" as if I'd have a hard time declaring that to be wrong. I truly do not understand the point you were trying to make and would appreciate further explanation.
Now this seems to be headed toward New Age and secular thinking, the idea that one's moral code is his own and not a universal absolute applied to everyone but dependent on how the individual sees it, being righteous in your own mind above being righteous before God.
I invite you to make every effort to avoid attempts to read my mind. I said NOTHING that could have reasonably been interpreted in such a hideous manner.
Note the ontological certitude of my statement...
"Life is the standard of morality."
Notice that there is no caveat, nor qualification. That isn't a statement of personal opinion, it is stated as an absolute because that's what it is. It is my own code only in the sense that I not only believe it but understand it and consciously choose it as my own standard. That does not imply that it isn't an absolute. If it implies anything it implies that there are other standards (i.e. false ones) that others have adopted for themselves. Those that have will reap the consequences of their choice.
A person's mind is given to them, it's content is not. A person is free to think or to evade thinking, but he is not free to avoid the consequences of that decision. Understanding the standard of morality and developing a code of ethics is a rational process and as such must be engaged by choice. There is an objective standard of morality but it must be discovered - by choice. Understood - by choice. Accepted - by choice. And it must also be integrated into one's daily life - by choice. It is in this sense, the sense of being willingly, knowingly and intentionally chosen that one's standard of morality is "their own".
This is not Christian thought, so explain further how you propose it, presumably, as founded in the Bible.
I already did that. Did you read my post?
Life is the standard of morality. That which is proper to life; that which promotes and protects life is the good. That which hinders and destroys life is the evil.
Proverbs 11:19 As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
Notice the direct correlation that God Himself states in the Deuteronomy passage... "life and good, death and evil,". The passage from Proverbs makes the same direct correlation and these are not the only such passages that exist (see partial list below). Indeed, it wouldn't be incorrect to say that such is the theme of the entire bible.
It is only to living things that morality pertains and God, being both Life itself and the Creator and source of all life is therefore THE standard of morality.
If this is not a Christian thought, just what would it be? Where is there ANYONE in the New Age movement that has ever said anything remotely similar?
Also, and perhaps more importantly, what would be a proper Christian thought in such a context? Just what is it that you think the bible teaches is the standard of morality if not life? Please support your answer biblically.
Genesis 2:17 – “For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Leviticus 18:5 – “If a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 30:15 – “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 – “Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
Deuteronomy 32:47 – “It is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days.”
Psalm 34:12 – “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?”
Psalm 34:14 – “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 36:9 – “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”
Psalm 119:93 – “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.”
Proverbs 10:16 – “The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.”
Proverbs 11:19 – “As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.”
Proverbs 12:28 – “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.”
Proverbs 21:21 – “He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.”
Isaiah 55:3 – “Hear, and your soul shall live.”
Ezekiel 18:21 – “If a wicked man turns from all his sins… he shall surely live; he shall not die.”
Ezekiel 18:23 – “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die… and not that he should turn from his ways and live?”
Matthew 19:17 – “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
John 1:4 – “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Acts 17:28 – “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”
Romans 6:21 – “For the end of those things is death.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:6 – “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Galatians 6:8 – “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
James 1:15 – “Sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
