Be moral without moralizing
I have recently noticed a tendency among many Christians. I would call it "moralizing". The Collins Essential English Dictionary defines this as "to discuss or consider something in the light of one's own moral beliefs, esp. with disapproval."
Certainly we, as followers of Christ, are called to be moral. But I wonder if we are called to "moralize". I think we fall into "moralizing" when we interpret almost everything in light of its moral meaning. Many things in life should be interpreted through a moral grid, but not everything. There is white, there is black, and there is gray. Not everything in life is either black or white. And just because I deem something as black, doesn't mean I necessarily need to speak out about it or criticize others for not seeing it my way.
Job's counselors could be described as moralizers. They could perceive all Job's faults, but could offer no real help. They could speak for human conduct and moral absolutes but could not effectively speak for God.
Job 38:1-2
1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?" (NIV)
Throughout the book of Job, our main character is asking for an audience with God. He finally gets one. God immediately sets things right by criticizing Job's so-called friends and their so-called counsel.
But when you look at it carefully, it's not totally obvious what exactly is wrong with their council. They understood God and his righteousness, man and his sinfulness, and the basic principles of cause and effect. They firmly believed that God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. Where they had the most trouble was understanding ambiguity, especially moral ambiguity. That's why they had so much trouble interpreting why man suffers and how God relates to suffering.
But what they hated the most was when Job pleaded his own innocence and rightness before God. Both Job and Elihu (the fourth counselors that seemed most on track) comprehended something the others missed. They recognized man's need for a redeemer, something that was lost on the three stooges.
God's rebuke of them is worded well in Job 42:7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." (NIV)
Even in his painful rants, God finds in Job a truer understanding of his nature than in the moralizers.
Job could find no comfort from his friends, and only wanted an answer from God. When he finally encounters God he finds resolution.
Job 42:1-6 1Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (NIV)
The biggest trouble with moralizing is not that it criticizes and condemns others, or that it over simplifies life and it's realities, but that in doing so, we dishonor God and misrepresent the true nature of God to those around us. Sure there is right and wrong, good and evil, but also mercy, grace, and forgiveness, things the moralizers seem to forget. And sure we are all sinners deserving of criticism, but also sinners in need of redemption. Sinners trusting and waiting on their redeemer- as was Job.
Certainly we, as followers of Christ, are called to be moral. But I wonder if we are called to "moralize". I think we fall into "moralizing" when we interpret almost everything in light of its moral meaning. Many things in life should be interpreted through a moral grid, but not everything. There is white, there is black, and there is gray. Not everything in life is either black or white. And just because I deem something as black, doesn't mean I necessarily need to speak out about it or criticize others for not seeing it my way.
Job's counselors could be described as moralizers. They could perceive all Job's faults, but could offer no real help. They could speak for human conduct and moral absolutes but could not effectively speak for God.
Job 38:1-2
1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?" (NIV)
Throughout the book of Job, our main character is asking for an audience with God. He finally gets one. God immediately sets things right by criticizing Job's so-called friends and their so-called counsel.
But when you look at it carefully, it's not totally obvious what exactly is wrong with their council. They understood God and his righteousness, man and his sinfulness, and the basic principles of cause and effect. They firmly believed that God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. Where they had the most trouble was understanding ambiguity, especially moral ambiguity. That's why they had so much trouble interpreting why man suffers and how God relates to suffering.
But what they hated the most was when Job pleaded his own innocence and rightness before God. Both Job and Elihu (the fourth counselors that seemed most on track) comprehended something the others missed. They recognized man's need for a redeemer, something that was lost on the three stooges.
God's rebuke of them is worded well in Job 42:7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." (NIV)
Even in his painful rants, God finds in Job a truer understanding of his nature than in the moralizers.
Job could find no comfort from his friends, and only wanted an answer from God. When he finally encounters God he finds resolution.
Job 42:1-6 1Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (NIV)
The biggest trouble with moralizing is not that it criticizes and condemns others, or that it over simplifies life and it's realities, but that in doing so, we dishonor God and misrepresent the true nature of God to those around us. Sure there is right and wrong, good and evil, but also mercy, grace, and forgiveness, things the moralizers seem to forget. And sure we are all sinners deserving of criticism, but also sinners in need of redemption. Sinners trusting and waiting on their redeemer- as was Job.
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