The New Morality

Perhaps you have heard the recent news that New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg wants to ban the Big Gulp along with large milk shakes and movie popcorn. He’s concerned about obesity (And yet, the day after announcing his desire for a ban on large sugary drinks the mayor proclaimed New York’s Donut Day. Then announced he was in favor of legalizing marijuana). Obesity is a problem. More than a third of people in the United States are obese and experts see the number rising. And an obese person tends to develop other health issues.

 It seems that too many people like their snacks supersized. So the mayor wants to make sure the drinks and snacks are smaller and healthier. Certain government leaders believe it is a moral imperative for those in government to do whatever they can to trim the fat (in your diets not their budgets). In fact, First Lady Michele Obama’s noble cause is fighting against childhood obesity—it’s a good cause, seriously. And Mrs. Obama has done a good job at encouraging families to be more active and make better food choices.

 But there is a problem with the new morality. Both Mrs. Obama and Bloomberg have taken a firm stand on the issue of nutrition. In their estimation consuming a Big Gulp is bad for you and the government is morally justified in using the power it has to remove bad food choices from the public. Fat people should not have the right to eat or drink something that will make them fatter. Having the right to choose what you want to eat isn’t always good. However, both the mayor and the First Lady fervently support a woman’s right to choose to abort her baby for any reason.

 The First Lady and the mayor believe that any action taken by the government to restrict the rights of woman to choose an abortion is morally wrong. This brings me to another recent news story. The US congress just recently voted against a law that would prohibit gender based abortions. It seems the Democrats are fearful of appearing judgmental about the morality of ending a baby’s life. But they boldly proposed a bill that would ban Styrofoam cups in the House’s cafeteria.

 We live in a world where our elected leaders see absolutely nothing wrong with using the power of government to impose a morality that tells you to put down the Big Gulp and step away from the Styrofoam cup, but they won’t protect the lives of unborn children. The prophets of this new morality will devote time, money and energy to warn you about the danger of high fructose corn syrup, while ignoring the weightier issues of life and death. The new morality will not allow you to enjoy a hot dog and 64 ounce soda, but it will let you choose to end the life of a baby because you wanted a boy instead of a girl.

 What kind of mindset can embrace this distorted morality? I humbly suggest that it is a person who has no sense of true biblical morality. We should worry about a government and a morality like this. When those in power take it upon themselves to decide what is morally right depending on the prevailing cultural trends, when they look to their own sinful hearts and the crumbling culture around them for guidance, they will eventually leave little room for your own conscience.

Scripture says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).” It also states “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).” We need to learn to fear God and not man if we are ever going to regain a true and good morality.