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2 Big Questions

This week as we watch more conversations and debates, there are 2 big questions that ought to be asked. Despite which "position" you take, these are common themes that have arisen that are worthy of discussion. 

The Question of Value
What determines the value of a person's life? Here's a scenario: A man is on his way home and gets killed in a drive-by shooting. 
  • How much you make? Is more tragic if he is wealthy compared to if he was poor?
  • Life choices? Does it matter if he was a software engineer or if he was a drug addict? 
  • Sins? Would you feel bad for him if he was a transgender?
  • Time? Does it make a difference it he was a man on his way home, or if he was still just a fetus in the womb? 
Reflect on Genesis 1:26, "Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."
Based on that passage, every life is to be cherished and valued. The value doesn't come from any status that society gives us. That value comes straight from God Himself. Each person, despite their background or sin, is made in the image of God. Their lives more than "matter"... their lives are fundamentally valued, cherished, revered, worthy, and even divine. (This includes the lives of rogue/corrupt police officers.)

The Question of Morals 
There is a lot of guilt-tripping these days with many assumptions built in. Such as:
  • If you don't wear masks, you're endangering others. (Assumption: It is immoral not to wear masks.)
  • You cannot call 911 just because someone is black. (Assumption: Racism is immoral.)
  • The police officer should not be taking innocent lives. (Assumption: It is immoral to take an innocent life.)
  • Rioting and looting business owners hurt the community. (Assumption: It is immoral to destroy property without cause)
The discussion here isn't whether those statements are right or wrong. The discussion is that there is even such an argument that there is a right or wrong! (read that sentence again). In a society that believes morality is relative, it is quite shocking to see that there are very strong feelings about what is moral and what is immoral. Although each assumption should be examined, what is more important is that we are acknowledging that there is such a thing as moral law. It is fascinating that everyone believes that these laws ought to be universal!  

It is beautiful to see the whole world hold protests to give rights and justice to black lives. That tells me that a black life is valued (see section above). It is thus immoral to take that life. The question that no one wants to talk about is: Where does this moral law come from? If it is so "obvious" that everyone should hold to these laws, then there is an inherent moral law-- a moral code-- that is written in each and every one of us. It is a law that is to be kept. WHY? Where in the rest of the animal kingdom do we see such concepts? (Do fish protest that sharks need to stop eating them because fish lives matter?) 

In order for a lawless society to claim that "Black Lives Matter" and that transgender/homosexual/immigrants ought to receive fair treatment... they must argue for universal morality. 
If morality is relative, it is impossible to have social justice. 
It is then and only then that we can look at other cultures and say, "It is wrong for you to execute homosexuals." If morality is defined by their culture and their society, we lose the voice to speak up and say that every life is valued.

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