What Is Your Moral Compass?
"Your moral compass is the most important characteristic that will speak to who you really are." - Huffington Post
The worldwide United Methodist Church believes God's love for the world is active and engaged, a love seeking hope, justice, and liberty. The beliefs are outlined in the social principles that encourage us all to take an active stance in our local and global communities. We use the Bible to speak to the issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation.
The moral compass of individuals and nations must zero in on God's universal word. The alternative is seen daily as nations and individuals battle each other, leaving destroyed families and hungry children. God's universal word calls us to love, peace, and justice.
We are challenged to live in a world that has a very casual relationship with morals. The term moral is a manner of living connected to right and wrong. It moves away from what is best for me and towards what is best for us. It challenges us to discover God's word and to apply it in the manner we live. This moves us toward Godly living and often away from the ever-changing norms of the world.
In Romans chapter 12:1-2 the Apostle Paul states the following. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are different. We resist being like others. We welcome the stranger. We believe we are stewards of God's creation and are responsible for our planet. We affirm all persons as equally valuable. Our manner of living is connected to Godly living and often may move us away from the norms of the world. We must stay connected to God's word as the world would like us to believe we are allowed to focus on ourselves and our needs. That is wrong. We are called to conform and align our morals and actions with God's word.
Matthew 14 tells of Jesus' miracles. He heard the masses were hungry. He challenged the morals of the disciples who wanted to send the masses away. Jesus prayed and fed the masses. In verse 16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Our Christian moral compass directs us to assist those who are hungry. Yes. We are feeding the hungry. Let's go further to support policies that protect the food supply and ensure the public's right to know the content of the foods they are eating. We question why food deserts exist. Our moral compass guides us to support policies that increase access to quality food, particularly for those with the fewest resources.
In Matthew 9:36, we read the following. "Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." What a lesson on morals. Jesus had compassion for the masses. He didn't segregate based on gender identification, country of origin, economic status, or experience with mental illness. Jesus demonstrated compassion for the masses and guided us away from a defective moral compass that directs us to focus on ourselves.
As followers of Christ, our moral compass directs us to assist those who are struggling with mental health issues. We are to have compassion for the distressed and dispirited. Today, access to mental health services eludes many in our global and local communities resulting in considerable distress, stigma, and isolation. Those who struggle with mental illness are likely to be victims of violence and have high rates of homelessness. They are our brothers and sisters as well as members of our community. As members of God's compassionate community, the United Methodist Church pledges to foster policies that promote compassion, advocate for access to care, and eradicate stigma within the church and in communities.
The United Methodist Church and all members ground our moral compass in Jesus Christ. He ate with sinners, healed the sick, welcomed women and children, and shared his love with us. John 3:16 exemplifies the inclusivity of the creator's moral compass. It states the following. "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."
Written by Gregory Harewood
The worldwide United Methodist Church believes God's love for the world is active and engaged, a love seeking hope, justice, and liberty. The beliefs are outlined in the social principles that encourage us all to take an active stance in our local and global communities. We use the Bible to speak to the issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation.
The moral compass of individuals and nations must zero in on God's universal word. The alternative is seen daily as nations and individuals battle each other, leaving destroyed families and hungry children. God's universal word calls us to love, peace, and justice.
We are challenged to live in a world that has a very casual relationship with morals. The term moral is a manner of living connected to right and wrong. It moves away from what is best for me and towards what is best for us. It challenges us to discover God's word and to apply it in the manner we live. This moves us toward Godly living and often away from the ever-changing norms of the world.
In Romans chapter 12:1-2 the Apostle Paul states the following. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are different. We resist being like others. We welcome the stranger. We believe we are stewards of God's creation and are responsible for our planet. We affirm all persons as equally valuable. Our manner of living is connected to Godly living and often may move us away from the norms of the world. We must stay connected to God's word as the world would like us to believe we are allowed to focus on ourselves and our needs. That is wrong. We are called to conform and align our morals and actions with God's word.
Matthew 14 tells of Jesus' miracles. He heard the masses were hungry. He challenged the morals of the disciples who wanted to send the masses away. Jesus prayed and fed the masses. In verse 16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Our Christian moral compass directs us to assist those who are hungry. Yes. We are feeding the hungry. Let's go further to support policies that protect the food supply and ensure the public's right to know the content of the foods they are eating. We question why food deserts exist. Our moral compass guides us to support policies that increase access to quality food, particularly for those with the fewest resources.
In Matthew 9:36, we read the following. "Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." What a lesson on morals. Jesus had compassion for the masses. He didn't segregate based on gender identification, country of origin, economic status, or experience with mental illness. Jesus demonstrated compassion for the masses and guided us away from a defective moral compass that directs us to focus on ourselves.
As followers of Christ, our moral compass directs us to assist those who are struggling with mental health issues. We are to have compassion for the distressed and dispirited. Today, access to mental health services eludes many in our global and local communities resulting in considerable distress, stigma, and isolation. Those who struggle with mental illness are likely to be victims of violence and have high rates of homelessness. They are our brothers and sisters as well as members of our community. As members of God's compassionate community, the United Methodist Church pledges to foster policies that promote compassion, advocate for access to care, and eradicate stigma within the church and in communities.
The United Methodist Church and all members ground our moral compass in Jesus Christ. He ate with sinners, healed the sick, welcomed women and children, and shared his love with us. John 3:16 exemplifies the inclusivity of the creator's moral compass. It states the following. "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."
Written by Gregory Harewood
Posted in Mid-Week Devotional
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