Moral Idealism vs a Christian World-View

 

Moral idealism and Christianity are not the same. In fact, in most instances, moral idealism produces thinking that runs contradictory to a biblical worldview.

There are varying manifestations of moral idealism but there are some common characteristics. It tends to produce an “all or nothing” attitude regarding a given subject issue. Anything less than everything is compromise. Idealism also tends to focus on getting its “all or nothing” in a very few specific areas of personal concern.

A true biblical ethical system is much more nuanced.

At first, a biblical ethic seems pragmatic, but upon deeper examination, it is not.

It sees the world based upon a set of ethical priorities determined by scripture. Moral idealism tends to be based upon ethical priorities determined by the idealist.

Let’s take Paul’s treatment of the subject of Christians and slavery in 1 Timothy 6:1-2 as an example.

Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

New believers were flowing into the church—some of them were slaves and some of them were slave owners. Slavery was widespread in the Roman Empire. Some estimate that there were as many as 60 million slaves under Roman masters. Because of the vast number of slaves in the Empire and the damage a slave revolt could do, any slave rebellion was quashed violently and anyone encouraging was quickly executed

Even a basic understanding of our identity in Christ would forbid owning another human being. The slave trade was specifically condemned in the Old Testament and in this very letter (Exodus 21:16, 1 Timothy 1:10). The indentured servitude that the Old Testament describes as a result of debt (and the freedom that came in the Jubilee year) is not the same thing that the Roman believers were facing.

To our modern American sensibility, Paul seems to tiptoe around the subject of slavery. He commanded believing slaves to be good slaves for the sake of the Kingdom—even if bound to masters who claim to be Christians. He never commands Christian masters to release their slaves—at least directly. How can a Christian man own another Christian who by virtue of salvation is now owned by Christ?

While believing slaves were suffering great injustice, even at the hands of Christian masters, Paul did not treat the injustice of slavery as a priority issue.  He understood the ramifications of doing so. To resist slavery would be to lead a social movement, not a gospel movement. The inevitable result would be the loss of many lives and the decimation of the New Testament Church. In the Roman world, the identity of Christianity would be as an anti-slavery movement and not about the precious gospel of Christ.

Paul’s priority was the souls of people. To bring down the force of Rome over slavery would distract from the gospel, cost millions of lives, and because of the loss of evangelists plunge millions into a Christ-less eternity.

Christians will ALWAYS face injustice.

In fact, we sometimes CHOOSE to suffer injustice voluntarily for the greater good. In doing this, we follow the same path as our Lord. Jesus’ death on the cross was far from just humanly speaking (although it satisfied the justice of God). Paul instructs the Corinthians church to be willing to be defrauded rather than take a Christian brother before heathen courts (1 Corinthians 6:7).

This is the problem with moral idealism. It tends to prioritize the temporal over the eternal.

Idealism wants everything now or nothing at all. A Christian worldview sometimes sacrifices greatly for a higher good. Moral idealism focuses on a singular issue or small set of issues. Biblical Christianity focuses on individual decisions in the light of the big picture. Moral Idealism tends to make every issue the big issue. A biblical worldview sees varying priorities—the eternal over the temporal, souls over things, obedience to God over personal rights, the sacrifice of personal privileges out of love or for the good of another.

Moral idealism is often a slave to consistency or comparison and makes exaggerated comparisons.

“If we don’t do this now then we owe _______________ and apology.”

A biblical worldview understands that context matters. It sees the nuanced differences based upon individual persons and situations. Moral Idealism is legalistic-applying the same law the same way at all times.  A biblical worldview is principled. Idealism seeks to stamp out all injustice. A biblical worldview focuses more on acting justly than being treated justly.

Moral idealism demands action right now declaring “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”  A biblical worldview sees the role of divine sovereignty and providence in determining a solution and producing real change. Imposed change upon a culture often produces immediate results, but they are usually short-lived and the reprisals are severe. God changes hearts over time. We are more impatient than God is.

Joseph was the Old Testament example of the instructions Paul gives to Christian slaves. Joseph was sinfully sold by his brothers into slavery, but instead of acting out, running away, or committing some sort of violence, Joseph chose to do everything in his power to be profitable to his master—first Potiphar, then the prison steward, and finally Pharaoh himself. In the end, God used Joseph’s obedience and respect for his master to eventually save his own family from a famine.

Moral idealism wants to feed ALL the poor and when it can’t it gives up in disgust. Jesus said that we will always have to poor among us (Mark 14:7) and at the same time tells us to give the needy what is necessary for the body (Matthew 10:42) and by miracles fed the crowds.

A self-righteous sense of moral idealism will not serve us well in the decisions we presently face. We need to make those decisions based upon a principled biblical worldview.

What is it that God wants us to do?  What did Jesus do? What is best for the Kingdom and for eternity?