Our Moral Compass

“If we do not believe in decent behavior, why should we be so anxious to make excuses for not having behaved decently? The truth is, we believe in decency so much – we feel the Rule of Law pressing on us so – that we cannot bear to face the fact that we are breaking it and consequently we try to shift the responsibility.”

“These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it.” (p.21, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis)

Within the human is what many old time scholars used to call The Law of Nature. This term was updated to The Law of Human Nature to reflect a moral compass that directs humanity’s decisions on right and wrong. If anyone studied the world civilizations of history, the shared common moral compass; an agreed upon standard of decent behavior for all humans – would be noticeable.

This Moral Compass is hard to be passed off as mere human instinct. If someone came upon another person drowning in a turbulent whirlpool, the right thing to do would be to attempt to save this person. But there is another voice that would speak to the rescuer of self-preservation, observing the danger of the whirlpool. The voice that judges between leaving the scene and trying to assist in a cautious way is The Moral Compass or The Law of Human Nature.

Since human instinct or impulse is not a viable answer to the origin of humanity’s moral standards, do we derive it from social convention? I recognize humans learn the rule of decent behavior from sources like – parents, friends, teachers and books – but where do they receive it? If humans think or believe they receive their moral center from the social collective then humanity is truly doomed.

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity said, “Progress means not just changing, but changing for the better.” (p.25) Has society’s moral character changed for the better over the eons?

When humans call a thing or place good or bad, right or wrong, they are speaking through experience or preference. For example, a tree gives the right amount of shade, therefore it is a good tree or the opposite if the tree does not. When humans call a person good or bad, right or wrong the parameters are within that of human behavior, specifically the rule or rules of decent behavior.

So, we certainly compare and make judgments on people, places and things. The target I am aiming at here is in comparing two things or one thing over any number of things, you have to have Something to act as judge on or for each of them. In having the possibility of Right and the possibility of Wrong, this Real Morality, this Real Standard, this Law of Human Nature, this Moral Compass is the testing fire and life-guide.

Even with a birth somewhere in its past, this Moral Compass and its help in our daily, decision-making process, the act to follow the direction of that Compass is still our choice.

“The Law of Human Nature, or Right and Wrong, must be something above and beyond the actual facts of human behavior. In this case, besides the actual facts, you have something else – a real law which we did not invent and which we know we ought to obey.” (p.31, Mere Christianity, Lewis)

Therefore, in order for progress to be made and moral progress at that – an outside, higher source must be considered as the Standard to which we apply or judge things.

I concur with Mr. Lewis that in many circles, if not most, humanity deems themselves the originator of their moral compass because otherwise accountability goes to a higher, creative mind, power and being – known too many as God. The issue is not God’s existence anymore – creation and the devil himself, who is worshipped, witnesses that God exists. The problem is what do you do with God and His blessings and gifts?

God’s involvement in the good things of life, the helpful things is proclaimed in James 1:17 - “For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” However, even with His perfect gift, Christ Jesus, God grants the freedom of decision. There are No robots in Heaven.

Free will or choice means that some will ignore God. Some will acknowledge God and say, “No thanks.” Some will pretend to accept God’s gifts and blessings but not truly accept and believe God. Some will take God’s offerings and promises wholeheartedly.

The Law of Human Nature or Moral Compass at face value is cold and leaves no wiggle room for sentiment. In the beginning, God was the originator of humanity’s Moral Compass, whether anytime later we decided to reject that notion or keep it – this is the truth. The other options for consideration fail. If you deem this governance of humanity’s life to have begun as an installation of God, then on the outset you declare God unswerving also.

This strict, legalism can be displayed as God singled out a people unto Himself – the Hebrews, with not only The Law of Human Nature active in their lives but some three hundred additional laws for living contained in The Law of Moses.

However, the Lawgiver and Moral Compass Himself, Christ Jesus, came to earth and instructed His people and those who would later be called Christians on what was believed, the Old Covenant and what is to be believed, the New Covenant, going forward. Many in the day of Jesus would often hear Him say – “You have heard it said, now I say….” Christ Jesus came and fulfilled every letter of The Law of Moses and lived the perfect moral life none of us could so that by His sacrificial death and His resurrection humanity’s fallen relationship to Father God would be restored.

He is the God of Justice. But fear not, there is an absolute good and gracious God.

C.S. Lewis states it this way – “we know that if there does exist an absolute goodness it must hate most of what we do. That is the terrible fix we are in. If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all our efforts are in the long run hopeless.” (p.38, Mere Christianity)

Jesus set the rules, became His human creation, played by His rules to perfection and through Himself and those rules redeemed humanity to Father God. Now, this Good News becomes the Christian’s charge to share with those who would hear, listen and act on this truth.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Not only is Father God, Christ Jesus the Son and The Holy Spirit, the God who set the rules and instilled The Moral Compass, but He is the Savior who loved the most and displayed generosity the most. This is a message worth spreading.

Again, Mr. Lewis helps out here by saying –

“Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness. It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law and a Power behind the law and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power – it is after all this and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk. When you know you are sick, you will listen to the doctor.” (pp. 38-39, Mere Christianity)

What a challenge for the Christ follower! However, you have to know the “good” and “peace” and any other fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 in order to recognize it. There is a saying about Jesus and Peace that goes – “Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace.” The spiritually sick must be convinced they are so before going or listening to The Great Physician.

But for the believer in Christ James adds to The Great Commission – “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17). Therefore, I believe the Christian has an even greater responsibility to uphold the Moral Compass, witness to Christ Jesus as the originator of it and the actual Standard itself, then convince unbelievers they are spiritually, mentally and physically sick for eternity, BUT there is a solution – faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ Jesus for everyone’s redemption. No pressure.

This calls for an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus as one’s Savior and Lord. Jesus was absolutely clear about who and what He is. John 14:6 records Jesus declaring Himself not “a” way, not “a” truth, not “a” life – but “The way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The choice is still there to make for the unbeliever or not fully committed. Jesus is waiting – Our Moral Compass.