No One has the Right to Choose to Do What is Wrong!

by David Shannon

Our society denies sin. We change the name of sin to describe it in such a way that it does not sound wrong. One instructor corrected a colleague as he spoke of a prostitute by explaining, "You must never call someone a prostitute." She is a 'sex workers.'" Our kids call cheating "helping out." Our peers call fornication "a love affair" (the definition of love prohibits fornication - see Romans 13:9-10). Some neglect the study of the Bible by calling it "too busy." Others neglect their children, but describe it as "making a living." But the most unbelievable description of all is the horrific murder of an unborn child by calling it "a choice." Can you believe that? This is not new.

The Lincoln-Douglas debates in the 1850's discussed slavery. Douglas suffered form spineless morality just as many do today. He explained that he was personally opposed to owning slaves, but that it was a slaver owner's "right to choose" to own a slave. This is the same, weak argument today for abortion. Lincoln's answer changed our country. He said, "No one has the right to choose to do what is wrong!"

Just two months before Lincoln was nominated by his party's convention he questioned the fence riders with these words. "Let us apply a few tests. You say that you think slavery is wrong, but you denounce all attempts to restrain it. You will not let us do a single thing as if it was wrong; there is no place where you will allow [slavery] to be even called wrong! We must not call it wrong in the Free States, because it is not there, and we must no call it wrong in the Slave States because it is there; we must not call it wrong in politics because that is bringing morality into politics, and we must not call it wrong in the pulpit because that is bringing politics into religion; we must not bring it into the Tract Society or the other societies, because those are such unsuitable places and there is no single place, according to you, where this wrong thing can properly be called wrong!"

Much of this country denied sin during slavery! One man lead a successful fight with the heart of his persuasion being the simple plea, "it is wrong!" O' great America, how we need presidents, congressmen, governors, judges, elders, pulpits and fathers to identify sin! We must never give anyone the right to do wrong! We must be willing to pay the price for such a stand. They crucified Christ, stone Stephen, and shot Lincoln. Speaking against immorality and hypocrisy has always been dangerous, perhaps that is why most prefer the recliner.

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkens for light and light for darkness;" ( Isaiah 5:20)

• Think Eternal—Choose Wisely - Apr 15, 2007
• Making Choices - Jul 10, 2005
• The Dangers of Evil - Sep 14, 2003
• Driving the Getaway Car - Apr 27, 2003
• The Fields of Victory - Mar 09, 2003