Morality is defined as "right behaviour" based upon one's beliefs. If someone has no beliefs or faith, they can still be a morally upright person. Basically if they keep the law and show respect, they are moral. Morals are in place by God and man to protect us from terrible things. Where there are no morals people get hurt.
Obviously we want to be good. We want and expect our children to be good and go through a lot of effort to teach them right from wrong. We want others to be good too.
The problem with morality is that we can become too focused on our behaviour and how we perform. We can easily become perfectionists and obsess about always doing the right thing and feeling like an utter failure, or loser whenever we mess up. And quite frankly, we all mess up.
When we are focused on our behaviour, we tend to transfer those same expectations on to others. As a result we become judgemental, critical, intense, uptight and uncaring. Who am I to decide how someone else should or shouldn't behave? If someone is rude, reckless, self-absorbed or unconcerned , who am I to judge?
As soon as we begin to obsess about our behaviour and the behaviour of others, we become a "believer in moralism and not the gospel." (c.d. baker) . For the Jesus follower, this is unwise and even an insult to the redemptive work of Christ. Focusing on our behaviour is focusing on ourselves instead of on our Saviour.
The Good News of Jesus teaches us that morality (goodness) is the natural fruit produced when we are in a right relationship with God. When we truly love him and allow his Holy Spirit to change us (thoughts, attitudes, beliefs), then the actions flow from that. Sound moral living happens.
Jesus, thank you for offering freedom from the law and replacing it with incredible grace. Thank you for knowing that I am not good on my own and for taking care of that burden for me. Amen.
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