Delighting in the Law of the Lord – The Good Life: Found in Christianity or Postmodernism?
In Chapter 2 Barrs first considers how the past century witnessed a loss of biblical content to people’s views of God, truth, and moral convictions. Two views are considered: a Christian (traditional) view (morality and law are fixed and eternal) and a postmodern view (morality and law are constantly open to change). Questions for personal reflection and group discussion are at the end of the chapter.
Morality and a High View of God
How can we regain morality? Morality does not come through good works, but through faith in Christ. This article argues that it is a high view of God and Christ that leads to morality. It shows why moral relativism fails.
Conviction
Expressing one’s conviction in the area of morality, ethics and religion in public is becoming more difficult by the day. The gospel of tolerance has moved conviction to the private life of each individual. This article shows Christians how to live in times where expressing a conviction in public may result in personal attacks. The author looks at the nature of Christian convictions and areas where conviction is needed today.
Debate: Ethics Without Belief Is Not Only Implausible, It’s Impossible
This article shows that policies passed by government on human rights are also based on a belief system, since morality cannot exist without a belief system at its foundation.
Political Self-Defense: Some People Find Christianity Quite Offensive – It Just Isn’t So
The accusation against Christian political activism which says individuals force their morality on others is not true. In fact, it is the other way around. Christians involved in politics simply defend the old morality.
The Fruit of the Spirit (1): Walk by the Spirit
This article is about the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22 in relation to Christian morality.
Is Sandusky Really Such a Bad Guy After All?
This article looks at the relationship between sexual freedom, sexual violence, morality, and evolution. How do we decide what is right and wrong? The author shows that if we reject God's standards, we are left with only pragmatic arguments - the ethics of consequences. This article shows that true freedom is found by delighting in God's law and His gracious forgiveness.
A God-Centered Understanding of Sin
Challenging the modern trend of divorcing morality from God, this article shows that sin is primarily an attack on God. The author discusses this using the example of adultery and envy. The fact that God is the Creator causes sin to be against Him, and sin mars the character of God. The author highlights implications of this for pastoral care.
The Angry "New" Atheists
By looking at the theories of prominent atheists—Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens—this article evaluates the implications of atheism for society. The author discusses the differences between morality based on the Bible and morality based on atheism.
Christians, Censorship and Society
Sin
'Sin' has become an old-fashioned word. One reason for this is that sin is a religious word. It suggests that what one does wrong is wrong in the sight of God. Another reason is that the word 'sin' implies that there are some things that are absolutely wrong. It assumes some standard to which our lives ought to conform. Both of these reasons go against the modern trend in our culture which views morality as a matter of private opinion.