Martin Luther King Jr, an American minister of religion and activist once remarked: “Moral principles have lost their distinctiveness. For modern man, absolute right and absolute wrong are a matter of what the majority is doing.” Romans 13:1-7 reminds us: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.
For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”
Ethics have been defined as fundamental beliefs and values that guide individuals' decisions and actions regarding what is considered right or wrong. It encompasses concepts like honesty, fairness, and respect. These circumscribe to a framework for understanding and navigating moral principle dilemmas, influencing how people interact with others and how they behave in society. Ideally, these should include a distinctive balance on the individual rulings of the heart and mind, as neither should be allowed to solely dominate. A free spirit however, may veer away from the accepted norm.
The general consensus of many may not be a unanimous affirmation, but is often considered as the acceptable belief or course of action. But is that always the correct approach? Should an alternative sometimes be considered? God repeatedly reminds us to love our neighbor, this should be regardless of race, class, color or creed. It includes all, those who might be deemed by some as the lowest of the low to the highest of the high.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is a strong example highlighting the diversity between staid moral principles and a free spirit, particularly the beneficial re-evaluation of ethical principles. The parable, as told in the Gospel of Luke, emphasizes that helping those in need through compassion, concern or the love of fellow man regardless of background or social status, is a fundamental moral duty. It challenges preconceived notions about who one's "neighbor" is and highlights the importance of empathy and practical actions in demonstrating love. It focuses on the importance of need, truth and self-discovery. Luke 10:25-37 reminds us: And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
A personal comfort zone for many is considered a staid and congenial way of life that may or may not conform to traditional practices or ethics. It envelops security with peace of mind and requires little effort. However, comfort zones can create barriers to progression and achievement. It is only when one applies himself and steps outside of this realm that personal growth, increased confidence and a greater understanding of the world can emerge. Jack Canfield, an American author and motivational speaker once remarked: “The biggest rewards of life are found outside your comfort zone. Live with it. Fear and risk are prerequisites if you want to enjoy a life of success and adventure.”
If one is able to successfully step outside a comfort zone, then a free spirit is often created. Situations often arise that afford new beginnings and allow for personal ethics to be effectively instigated. These can display the inner true worth of a person to be revealed. It may involve helping those in need, whether they be known, or complete strangers. It may encompass many other differing actions, but the end result will always be the same - reflecting God’s love and goodness often in the realm of compassion.
A free spirit reduces the personal inhibitions of life. It ignores the standard social rules and opens the doorway to prosperity and progression. It stands alone, but in its own way encourages freedom and life. Deviation from normal practices become commonplace and independence prevails. The thoughts of what others may think do not enter the equation. Just as the righteousness of Christ contrast the sins of Adam, death becomes diminished through the actions of the righteous. Death may have entered the world as a result of sin, but the teachings and sufferings of Jesus allow for possible redemption to prevail. Romans 5:12-21 reminds us: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned - for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
