On Being Moral…

Aristole, Plato, and Confucious: They are just a small handful of the world’s great philosophers who struggled with one of the greatest questions of life:

What is morality and how does one become moral?

Want to start a heated discussion? Simply talk about what is moral and immoral. Our nation is divided over what is considered immoral by some and amoral or moral by others. Even our churches are at odds as to what constitutes an action as being moral or immoral. Life is constantly being defined by the moral.

And that might exactly be the problem.

The Old Testament broke the “Law” into two basic areas: the moral code and the ceremonial code.  One was a moral way of living to keep people in “check.” The other was a series of rituals to appease God and/or to show devotion. Many people still follow that same pattern of trying to be moral through living right, and showing devotion by “going to church.”  It appears not much has changed in the last several thousand years. Even among many Christians, the question of morality continues to be hot topics in pulpits across the world.

We are not called to be moral. We are called to be spiritual.

The way of Christ, however, transcends the moral vs. immoral debate. Christ doesn’t spend much time teaching people to be moral.  Instead he warps into the spiritual realm at light speed and redefines the issue for all of humanity. His plea is for us to become spiritual, not moral. That’s because we can’t be moral through a system of moral law.

We are not called to be moral. We are called to be spiritual. In Galatians 5:16-18, Paul writes: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^c you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” 

His entire point is to show there is no law that can transform us into moral people. It is only through the life of the Spirit that we can overcome the desires of our flesh, or the immoral things in life.

This is a crucial principle in being a follower of Jesus. We are called to live holy and blameless lives. That means putting away the filth of the flesh and sin that so easily entangles us. The question is how do we do it? Many Christians live under the assumption that believing in Jesus Christ and trying to “be good” is our goal. This, however, is not true. Jesus calls us into a new realm of living; the spiritual realm. It is only in this realm where we can overcome sin and be blameless, holy, and victors over the sinful life. It isn’t found in 12-step programs or in any other method. It can only be achieved by a completely surrendered life to the Christ, and living a live in the Spirit.

Do you want to enjoy life the way God has intended us to enjoy it? Stop “trying” to be moral. Instead, be spiritual. Surrender your body, mind, and spirit to Christ. The surrendered life is the victorious life.