What Good Are Morals If They Have No Foundation?

A thought provoking film by the name of Time Change was released by Five by Two Productions in 2002. It told the story of Dr. Russell Carlisle, a professor at a Bible Seminary in 1890. In the story, seminary professor Russell Carlisle presents a manuscript for approval by the staff. But approval is not unanimous. One professor, Dr. Norris Anderson, states he will not endorse a document that teaches Christian morality without the person of Christ is still effective.

The struggle between these two men intensifies until finally Carlisle accepts the invitation to visit his adversary at his home. There he is introduced to a time travel machine, invented by Dr. Anderson. Carlisle is transported through more than a 100 years of time to see the result of teaching morality without God in the very community where he lived. The few days' experience motivated Carlisle to rewrite his manuscript.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was asked what is wrong with society. He answered, "It has forgotten God." In other words, emphasis on kindness and love and morality is not enough. It only takes a generation to forget why they are acting that way at all. Daniel Boorstin stated, "Trying to plan for the future (conduct) without a sense of the past (foundation of conduct) is like trying to plant cut flowers." George MacDonald said, "No teacher (including story writers) should strive to make men think as he thinks, but to lead them to the living Truth, to the Master himself, of whom alone they can learn anything."

Consider a model school in the south where character is in the forefront daily. In fact the key character qualities such as honesty and diligence are tiled in mosaic at the entrance. Of course, this is a public school so God cannot be mentioned. Will these students be better citizens for having these qualities drilled into them without giving them a basis for this conduct? One fifth grade teacher in another school required disrespectful students to write the following sentence: "I will treat the authority figure with respect in an effort to practice socially correct behavior which is a necessary attribute for me to acquire to obtain ultimate financial and personal success." Read that again. First, what determines right behavior? Society does. So disrespect may be OK in the future but not now. Second, what is this teacher telling the students is the reason to be respectful? It is not because honor for authority is mandated by God. Rather it is because it will serve their own purposes. This is not character but hypocrisy.

It is similar to the story of the King's Garments. Seven tailors claimed they could weave the most beautiful garments imaginable but only those wise enough could see them. No one in the palace wanted to admit they were not wise so they all praised the invisible clothes. Even on the day of the procession, all praised the magnificent creation until one little boy revealed the deception by shouting, "The king is naked."

So character without God is naked of the foundation on which it must stand. When that foundation is removed, it can do nothing but collapse for the next generation will say, "Why should we act that way?" There is no reason. Morality is naked. And indeed, apart from God, it is.

About the Author

Character stories, when read with this perspective in mind, can help guide younger generations to the Source of true character. Do your part by reading (or pointing out) these free character building stories to youth you love.

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