Morality as the name implies, depicts an expectation to do
good, exhibit right behavior, or show morals of some sort. This expectation is
born out of certain precepts, laws, norms, statutes or commands governing the
given area or group of people, with the area or group, varying size, from the
basic unit; the family to the society as a whole.
Morality therefore is hinged on the society’s norms and that
which is perceived as right or wrong within their boundaries or jurisdiction.
From the above, it is clear that morality is a societal
expectation, not a personal one.
Therefore, before a person can be pronounced moral, He or
She must have been pronounced so based on his obedience to both the written and
unwritten laws of the society in which he lives.
Let us go back in time to the early days.
The first example of structured commandments or laws being
given was the Ten Commandments GOD gave Moses for HIS people (the Israelites)
to follow.
Now, not only did GOD give them laws concerning conduct, HE
also included rites, values and norms that were to be strictly observed.
But men wouldn’t allow it to end there; they added their own
interpretation and additional rules.
Total obedience to such was what constituted morality.
But how easy is that? You and I know how lengthy those laws
and precepts are!
It’s hard enough trying to remember them, let alone obeying
them.
Remember, what we said earlier -‘Morality is a societal
expectation’.
So to be tagged morally
upright, one must be seen to adhere strictly to the laws of the land.
This presented a problem, Hypocrisy; ‘The act or state of
pretending to be better than one is’. Since morality was only ‘skin deep’,
there was no telling what was underneath.
There was an emergence of different sects like the Pharisees
and Sadducees, professing steps and guidelines to total morality.
These sects provided a morality
model and expected the whole society to follow it.
But that was way too difficult for the masses! Hence,these
laws became a burden for them and some even gave up.
But GOD was watching and in HIS omnisciency, HE realized
that man’s heart was not with HIM. Yes, he may portray perfect morality on the
outside, but what about the inside? If a cup is sparkling clean on the outside,
we more likely than not would have pronounced it clean before checking what
lies on the inside. This is where morality leads to. What if the inside of the
cup is utterly disgusting? Wouldn’t it have been better if the cup was totally
dirty for all to see?
GOD saw this, and decided to send HIS only begotten SON to
reconcile man and most importantly man’s heart to HIMSELF. HE decided to input
those laws into the heart of man, and with the help of the HOLY SPIRIT, offer
guidance to him. This way, the inside of the cup will be laundered, so much
that it’ll sparkle on the outside too.
The laws were place in man’s heart instead of in books or
scrolls, meaning that the expectation had been put inside his heart to dwell
within him.
Hence, it was no longer a societal expectation, but a
personal one.
How could he go wrong!
The ‘Morality model’ was replaced with a ‘Christ-like
model’.
Meaning that, our behavior now, was to be fashioned after
JESUS’ while on earth, and we didn’t need the society or some group of people
to pronounce us moral.
We were pronounced children of GOD on accepting HIS SON and
deciding to adopt the ‘Christ like model’.
This was the greatest show of love ever…. GOD’s love
We now walk in GOD’s love, the Christ-like model is fueled
by the Love of GOD which now flows in us.
This is what we now know as CHRISTIANITY
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Copyright. Olayinka Agbaje-Williams, 2015
All Rights Reserved
Image courtesy vineyardchurches.org.uk
