FBUser #1
Having a deep conversation with someone on this thing has lead me to a realization. Life truly does belong in black and white, not shades of gray. Gray is only what some think is white, and others think is black. Truly everything must lie on one side or the other.
Sunday, February 26 at 10:18pm
Andrew: If everything drops out into two choices sure. But what about things that lie on a continuum? Where do you draw the "middle" line on those? Then what happens if there's three choices?
FBUser #5: If things must lie on one side or the other, where is the line? And who gets to draw it? And why? And how can you be sure?
FBUser #5: That is why there is gray. And purple. And red and yellow and blue.
FBUser #2: God draws the line, because He's God and he knows everything and He made the world and He is holy, and you can be sure because it says so in His Word, and His Word is true.
I see what you're saying - God knows what the black and white is, even if we don't. For us, it can be gray, because we don't know (and we may never know), but the truth is, it IS one or the other.
Although, then you have things that aren't as important, like how short is okay for a girl's skirt? That's a gray area, and I don't know if there is a black and white for that. I think God thinks it's more important what your heart is; if a girl is trying to dress modestly, and her definition is shorter than a different girl's definition, are they both pleasing God?
FBUser #1: Very well said. The skirt example is interesting. It's one I never would have thought of. I think both would be acceptable based on that idea.
The idea is, It is not for us to draw the line. Everything falls in either black or white. We might not know which is which at times. And I think, certain things don't really matter. Which would have to say they are neither black nor white. So they are clear. Cause gray implies moral uncertainty or question-ability rather than moral neutrality.
Andrew: So, then, an area is "grey" when it can be black or white based on where a person's heart is. Additionally, God does let us make our own choices in which both are good, and God will bless us in either case.
FBUser #2: Ah. That's actually a great way of putting it! Very interesting. I will have to start saying, "That is a transparent area," or something like that! :P
FBUser #1: I had to think of something other than gray, and clear or transparent is an absence of color, Thus it is truly neither black or white. Exactly! Gray is a personal thing, not truly the answer.
Andrew - I like this conversation! Here's a thought for you on this analogy. A lot of Ethics tends to be is an action Right or Wrong (Black or White). This, particularly, is worldly ethics. In the above conversation, this would be the finding out where the hem of the skirt should be... Yet, as Christians, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (and others) have argued that this isn't actually the question for us. Rather, it has to do with faithfulness, and whether we are being responsible to God in our life & with others, and responsible to others in our life & with God. Responsibility isn't often black & white, but very circumstantial. Are we obedient or faithful to God , not compliant with a rule or guideline. This, I think, gets to the core of the faith. It doesn't mean that we get to do whatever we want, because of course that is not being faithful. Yet, it must remain relational - to the law-giver!
ReplyDeleteI also almost see things in this world (external to ourselves at least) are all shades of gray - because the Triune God is light (white) and the only true darkness (black) is the complete and utter exclusion of God from ones life. So our role is not so much to determine where the line is drawn between right and wrong, but to have our eyes fixed on the source and giver of the light, who will bring us out of the shadows and back into the fullness of the light!
Ooo, I like that perspective! It's not gray from an ambiguity between what's right and wrong, it's gray from a distance from God. The more we look for the light, the more we see the things around us as light and the more we surround ourselves with light.
ReplyDeleteIn a way, deciding where the line is drawn makes us judge things in this world. Judging things is always a slippery slope that often takes us farther than we mean. (I'd explore that a bit more but my brain is too tired at the moment)
First of all I really like the two concepts of moral neutrality finding a clearness. I think that is according to more cultural issues. I also loved the drawing closer to God bringing things into sharper black and white focus. That is very biblical and evident to those who have grown, either toward or away from God. Focus is like an aperture that has to be proximal to God to work.
ReplyDeleteI do also want to comment on the last statement about not drawing a line. Though the slippery slope of judgment is a very legitimate concern the line must exist. If you make a moral statement it must have a line attached to be moral, otherwise you are just stating a subjective opinion. That moral statement must line up with reality to have any validity. Judgment is for God, but there are lines. We need to stand firm by the precepts He declares and not let those lines be destroyed. It is a fickle balance between not judging and standing firm.