Posts Tagged wrongness
What is Right?
Posted by Unapologetically Right in Bible, Current Events, Politics, social issues, Uncategorized on May 7, 2012
Right is, certainly, more than a mere directional reference. Right is more than a side of the monstrous political swing. Even politically, the condition of rightness still insinuates a concept of direction. In the campaigns, we hear much about the direction of our country. However, it is my quest, and purpose in this blog, to pursue what is right, not so much as an actual navigational tool, but more of a moral one. I look at things more through the lens of right and wrong rather than right and left. When dealing with either political party, each believes they are right while chastising the other for being wrong. Logic says that one is either right or wrong, but both cannot be right. Our world today is sick with a cancer of political correctness which tells us we cannot tell someone they are wrong. We are riddled with relativistic thinking that says everything is right for each individual. How, then, is anything wrong? Why do we have such a concept in our language if nothing is wrong?
Right and wrong are both real. Right and wrong are divisive by nature. To be caught on the wrong side of something should make one uncomfortable enough to change and get on the right side. It doesn’t always work out that way, though. It seems there is a growing acceptance of living in immorality and depravity. Yet, those of us that notice such things get labeled “wrong” for declaring a wrong thing “wrong” because everyone is “right” to do what they choose according to their personal sense of rightness. This relativistic mindset is part of what is destroying our society. While it attempts to label things, in its all inclusiveness of rightness, it has eliminated the idea of wrong. How is it remotely possible that all things are right, yet nothing is wrong? How is it possible to determine if something is right?
What does it mean to be right? Is something inherently right, or is its “rightness” only so in relation to a mirrored wrong? Are there degrees of rightness or is it all or nothing – right or wrong? Is something’s rightness absolute, or does it change with people and times? If an action is deemed right, does that mandate an “oughtness” in how one lives? Are we born with some form of internal mechanism that allows us to know right and wrong, naturally? Or is it only learned through teaching? If the concept of wrong is eradicated, does right still exist? If not how do we do good? Does right equal good? Is it possible to be right and not be good? If a sense of rightness is not known apart from a teaching, or conditioning, who teaches it? From where do the definitions and parameters come? Who decides the assignment of definitions to specific acts, ideas, or things? How and why are they the ones making that call? What is their decision based on? Is something’s rightness provable through facts?
My intention is not to answer all of these, but to encourage you to think because a foundational block that we need to correct in our society is how we view right and wrong. Let’s begin with the dictionary definition of “right”
“Right”: righteous, upright; being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper; conforming to facts or truth
How is rightness dictated in an ever-changing world? When the mindset, priorities and beliefs of the populace seems to change constantly, who decides what is right? If someone does choose what is right for society, how does that hold any water and remain right 10 years down the road? The first word in the dictionary definition is “righteous”. Romans 3:10 states, “There is none righteous, no not one.” If no human is righteous on his/her own, then there is no chance that an actual “right” thing can be defined by them for the rest of us. If it is, then the next generation will have the same moral debates and the standard is in constant flux. Someone will have to rise to the top and force an idea of how right is defined for a society. This brings up another issue. If the moral compass of a society sways and changes with the times and different people define what is right for the society, is that not one person, or group of people, forcing their beliefs on others? And why on earth would a human being want that much responsibility as dictating right and wrong to a people? Does it not make more sense to find a system that is proven and is beyond man’s finite understanding and futile attempts at self-righteousness?
It seems to me that right has to be absolute in order to be defined as right. If it’s not absolute, then declaring it right is merely circumstantial and that rightness will change upon the setting sun. If it changes, it can’t be right. Does that equate absolute wrong? I believe it does. For if wrongness is on a sliding scale for each individual, it would be necessary for rightness to be on the same scale in order to offset the wavering wrong. So, if it is necessary for a true right and a true wrong to be absolute, and if such things should be determined by some force or system beyond man, where does that leave us? Is it impossible to know true right and wrong?
Absolutely not! Right and wrong have been given to us, spelled out, and defined meticulously in the Bible. If we return to that which we were founded upon, I guarantee our problems will begin to dissipate. It won’t happen all at once, but we will begin going in the right direction. Right is still right, just as it was 100 years ago. Wrong is still wrong just the same. The rightness of something never changes, but mankind’s understanding and acceptance of it changes based on one’s proximity to God. It seems, to me, that to go on a deviant lifestyle, or to do something blatantly wrong (as the Bible dictates), and declare oneself right in doing so is an ultimate sign of arrogance – not only arrogance but defiance toward God. This is what America has been witness to in its post-modern existence.
I am of the belief that relativism, multiculturalism, and political correctness are the things killing us. No country survives when they allow those things to run rampant (look at Europe). We MUST return to God, His Word, and everything our founders laid out for us. They were wise men. It’s time we get back to the basics and fundamentals of right and wrong if we expect there to be any hope for America.
pb:dv