Is Biblical morality kind of like speed limits?

Question

A posted speed limit carries the threat of enforcement by the police. If it didn't, it wouldn't qualify as a law.

You see, if the speed limits were more like beneficial suggestions & were not enforced, one would follow the speed limit ONLY IF one desired traffic safety. One would follow the suggestions as a means to avoid an increased number of accidents, but the speed limit would not carry a sanction (a physical or psychological means of coercion or intimidation used for the purpose of motivating obedience to a principle of action).

If one observes the speed limit because one wishes to avoid getting a ticket, one is responding to the speed limit as a RULE. Regardless of whether one desires the goal of traffic safety, one will still obey the limit from fear of the sanction placed upon it.

Is following Biblical "morality" kind of the same? Do people follow the rules more because they fear being punished for disobedience rather than out of a genuine desire to actually be moral?

Walker, just answer the question, K?

Answer 1

You're right - Religion is amoral, because it consists of following orders (virtue) or not following them ('sin'). True morality (the judgment of good and bad behaviour according to conscience) can only be part of an atheistic worldview.

Answer 2

I am an old fashioned Pentecostal. I follow Biblical "laws" as well as church rules out of love for God and also a fear of God. Even before I was a Christian, I didn't want to smoke, drink alcohol, or commit immoral acts.

I do however speed about 5 to 10 MPH over the limit when off-duty. When on duty and there is no virtually no other traffic, I'll drive faster.

Answer 3

For the most part, probably yes. Which is why a mature Christian will put forth the effort to reason on God's principles and be guided by them. Some folks fancy the comfort of a bunch of rules but that is not really advantageous. As you pointed out, it is possible to obey a law only out of fear of punishment. Thus, the driver who puts on his seatbelt when he sees the police cruiser in his rear view mirror. But responding to a principle precludes such behavior because it is in the very nature of a principle that to respond to it is to respond from the heart.

That is why principles can be superior to law. A principle is a comprehensive or fundamental law, assumption or doctrine upon which others are based or from which they are derived. Laws come and go and are very specific but principles are broader and can last forever.

Thus the principle to love your neighbor as yourself is comprehensive and covers quite a bit. You don't need laws telling you don't dump your garbage in your neighbor's yard; don't throw eggs on your neighbor's car, don't cut down your neighbor's hedges and so on. The one principle covers all of it, yes?

We are everywhere in scripture encouraged to live our lives according to God's principles instead of looking for laws and rules on every little thing.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 4

Both of these reasons - fear of punishment, and hope for blessings are probably often the reason for the obedience to God.

But to a mature Christian, I think it's more like we become Opie Taylor with a drivers license. He obeys the law, because he knows how much it would hurt Andy to have to arrest or lock up his child. I should love God and not want to cause Him the hurt of disciplining me (his child).

Answer 5

Personally, I'd love to change all traffic control signs to read THINK, but I suppose that would be expecting a bit too much from the common citizen.

Answer 6

The question assumes that morality is subjective. There is not one society in the world that thinks murder or theft is okay. Aside from the odd aboriginl tribes here and there, adultry is forbidden. The rules are there to tell you how to live personally, but they are really there to show how society should (heck, has to) operate in order to be civilized.

Answer 7

I genuinely desire to be moral and to live my life by Jehovah's standards thus bringing honor to his Great and Holy Name.

Answer 8

Christianity in general is like training wheels for life.

At first it might seem like it makes life better but the reality is that all it does is slow you down and get in the way.

Answer 9

I think you are describing moral relativism....not a good thing.