U.S. Moral Authority

A mainland Chinese government official jokingly asked an American visitor whether the U.S. needed any help running Communist-style state-owned companies and building infrastructure. "We have experience at that," the Chinese official said.

Yeah.

Where is the U.S. headed?

Moral leadership is expressed not during the "good times," but when the chips are down.

The Scripture speaks of the righteous man fulfilling his oath "even when it hurts" (Psalm 15:4). That is righteousness. Not when you fulfill your word and it "costs you nothing."

********

I get the sense that "we" in the U.S. are not willing to do much unless it "costs us nothing."

--For more on U.S. Moral Authority--or lack thereof--see U.S. Moral Authority Takes Another Hit by Robyn Meredith.

Moral/Ethical Language

It has struck me in the past. I decided to remark upon it today. I get the sense our culture uses far less moral or ethical language than we find in the Bible . . . or, to be exact, Isaiah chapter 1.

I was reading Isaiah 1 this morning and look what I saw:

• iniquity--v. 13


• your hands are full of blood--v. 15


• the evil of your deeds--v. 16


• evil--v. 16


• good--v. 17


• justice--v. 17


• oppression--v. 17


• justice--v. 17


• plead the cause [of an oppressed class of people]--v. 17


• sins--v. 18


• obedien[ce]--v. 19


• rebel[lion]--v. 20


• faithful[ness]--v. 21


• whore[dom]--v. 21


• justice--v. 21


• righteousness--v. 21


• murder--v. 21


• rebel[liousness]--v. 22


• thieve[ry]--v. 22


• bribe[ry]--v. 22


• [lack of] justice--v. 22


• righteousness--v. 26


• faithful[ness]--v. 26


• justice--v. 27


• righteousness--v. 27


• be ashamed--v. 29


• blush--v. 29

Somehow, I find this kind of language bracing. It calls me to "take a stand," "speak out," act out . . . for justice, righteousness, good. . . .