“The current coronavirus outbreak is the biggest challenge for the world since World War II, UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned.”
The public reaction to the current pandemic spreads across a wide spectrum. Apart from the handling of the disease itself, many moral issues are being raised. For a long time now, morality has been underpinned by relativity. The relativity of moral standards is producing a variety of opinions on what is right and wrong. Unsurprisingly, many college students on spring break continued to party on without concern. “If I get corona, I get corona”, as one 22-year-old student in Florida was quoted as saying. Social distancing was not a matter of right or wrong.
This could be contrasted with an approach put forth by the lieutenant governor of Texas that those over 70 should sacrifice themselves for the sake of saving younger generations. I am not sure how that plays out, but I have not personally warmed to that idea just yet. But it is certainly not clear to a lot of people just what is right and what is wrong.
Perhaps the seriousness of the moral issue is tempered by the fact that most people can still get what they need. Of course, there are shortages, mostly created by the selfishness of some, even as suppliers declare there is enough and warn us not to panic. In terms of morality, it begs the question of what happens when there is not enough? There are plenty of acts of kindness and outgoing concern that are heartwarming to counter the raw selfishness of some. So it seems the question of what is right or what is wrong is more academic at the moment.
A section of scripture in the book of Jeremiah raises some interesting things that will play out in the future. Each of us is being tested. In short, the moral fiber of society in general will be exposed. Jeremiah spoke directly to the moral climate of the day. “… they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, saying ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course …” (Jeremiah 8:6). He continued by pointing out in chapter 9 that they proceeded from evil to evil. And that they did not know God (Jeremiah 9:3). In other words, the moral base of the house of Judah was weak. Everyone was doing what they wanted to do without regard to the standards set by God in their covenant relationship.
Jeremiah foretold of God’s judgment – “…Behold I will refine them and try them …” (Jeremiah 9:7) and knowing what was coming, he lamented for the people. But what we see here is the human reaction. (See verses 4-6). The people demonstrated increased selfishness and broken relationships as they turned more inward. The cohesion of their society broke down and people turned on each other.
Relative morality places self at the center of life. Self can be benevolent. It is capable of acts of kindness and outgoing concern because the self feels good and there is no overwhelming personal depravation. Self-isolation and quarantine are inconvenient, but there is still enough food. So I can complain about the restrictions, but the self is still at the center and doing OK. Bigger challenges lie ahead if God allows a greater refining. Take away food and essential services such as electricity and water and we will see what human nature can produce in abundance – self-preservation above outgoing concern for others. “Everyone take heed to his neighbor and do not trust any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant … Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit” (Jeremiah 9:4, 6).
Clearly the fragile fabric of a society without a moral foundation can quickly break down into social chaos. It will be every man for himself. “Me first. I will party if I want to. Let the old folks die as they are a draw on society anyway!” The concluding statement to these verses is supplied by God. “Through deceit they refuse to know Me, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:6).
So in response to the testing that is upon us, are we shoring up our moral foundations? Are we looking to God and His word for the strength and faith we need? The moral underpinnings of our society will expose the false foundation that relativity produces when tested. Our foundation of loving God with all our heart and mind and loving each other as ourselves will allow us to stand firm.
Let us be sure to be practicing godly morality by reaching out to each other as we isolate in our homes. Think of the widows and single people who are alone. One area in the US has organized a meeting with each other (using the Zoom communications app) after streaming services so they have some fellowship. We need each other and godly morality has God and our neighbor in view.
Brian Orchard
