Binmin Podcast Ep. 10: Ought | What Questions Should I Ask About My Faith?

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How do you know what is right vs. wrong or good vs. evil? What standard do you use to determine what you “ought” to do or what you ought to value? Morality is an integral part of your worldview. And every worldview must answer this and other important questions remembered by the mnemonic “GO HOME.” These correspond to God, Origins, Humanity, Ought (Morality), Meaning, and End (Destiny). 

This episode concentrates on Ought (or Morality). What standard do we base our moral decisions? Is it an absolute standard established in the character and nature of God revealed in the Bible? Or do we make ethical decisions based on ever-changing guidelines?

0:00 – Binmin introduction

0:14 – Welcome and introductions

1:23 – How do we determine right from wrong? How do you respond to people who disagree with you? 

2:18 – The definition of a worldview is how you perceive the world around you. It’s how you take in the data of life, interpret it, think about it, make decisions and then act.

2:41 – “GO HOME” mnemonic for remembering important worldview topics. 

G is for God: 

O is for Origin: 

H is for Humanity: 

O is for “Ought” (Morality)

M is for Meaning

E is for End (Destiny)

3:37 – Morality is how you decide between what is right vs. wrong or good vs. evil. The question is whether the standard for making moral choices is absolute or relative. 

4:03 – People who believe in relativism believe that morality depends on an ever-changing standard. Their moral decisions have no fixed basis. They base their moral actions on ever-changing standards based on culture or people, or situations. 

4:18 – Christians believe there is an absolute standard for what is right vs. wrong or good vs. evil (i.e., morality). An absolute standard means permanent values and duties built into the world that spans all places and all people.  

4:30 – God is the ultimate source of what is right vs. wrong or good vs. evil. The absolute standard for the moral law is grounded in God’s character and nature revealed in Scripture. An “absolute” moral law applies to all people at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances, whether we like it or not! And these laws are evidenced in the Bible. For example, in the Old Testament, we have the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20) and Christ’s teaching of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-12) 

5:51 – The Bible is sufficient for living out the Christian life and obedience to God (2 Pet. 1:3). And situations not covered in Scripture, taking time to study usually yields us the answer. 

7:26 – DISCLAIMER: WE LOVE TACO BELL, BUT TACO BELL DID NOT SPONSOR THIS EPISODE!

7:49 – How can we follow God’s absolute moral standard in our lives? By recognizing we come up short (Matt 22:37-40), and because we fail to keep God’s laws come up short. That is why Jesus took on our sins when he died for us. And now, if we place our faith in Christ, we are counted as having his obedience. 

9:03 – When you become a Jesus follower, you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live a more Christ-like life if we choose. 

10:24 – God has given us several tools to be able to follow his moral law. They include the Bible, prayer (Jas 1:5), and Godly counselors. 

12:49 – As Christians, we cannot check our morals at the door. Every action in public life reflects on God. 

14:21 – Our lives as Christians should be marked by real love, including those who can be challenging. 

15:16 – Thank you and wrap-up