BUILDING A STRONG MORALITY

By Bill Pierson

As parents and grand parents, we worry about our children and grandchildren and the world they are inheriting from us. We are concerned about the lack of morality that surrounds us and which worsens from generation to generation. Where do we turn for reassurance that they will survive in an environment beset with drugs, promiscuity, homosexuality, pornography, and the addictions and diseases that accompany these evils? We cannot isolate our children in a vacuum for they are of this world and must develop the strong self-control necessary to live and prosper as responsible adults.

Most of us today, believers and unbelievers, live under a moral code that can be defined as obedience to conscience. This "morality of conscience" is being eroded by the media under a campaign of "what was good is bad and what was bad is good". Self-serving special interest groups are promoting life styles that degrade and corrupt the unwary person who does not have a basis for proper judgement.

In the Judo-Christian tradition the Ten Commandments (Ex.20) are often thought of as the basic moral code. However, Christianity is not morality, but it is a faith that produces a relationship with God. Morality is only a by-product of Christianity. The operating power of Christianity is spirituality, i.e. a Spirit filled life. (Eph.5:18) We know that a strong morality can be developed under the power of the Holy Spirit. Before we can begin to teach our children a stronger morality that is Spirit filled, we must first look to our own spirituality. The greatest influence on children is the behavior and actions of the parents and grand parents as role models. We must turn to a life that upholds the faith and integrity of the Christian church by developing our own sense of righteousness as given to us by God's word.

In this regard it is imperative that the father and grandfather be leaders in their family to develop a spirit filled family. It is only with their personal participation and leadership that the Holy Spirit can provide obedience to the Word of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal.5:23)