Oftentimes when I get into discussions about moral issues with folks who know of my zeal for the LORD, I get branded like I need scripture as a crutch - kinda’ like everything I believe has to come from the scriptures.  While the scriptures are indeed the foundation of Christianity - Jesus building His church on the Rock and that Rock being Christ and Christ being the WORD based on John 1, we Christians also have to be able to make judgments based on our reasoning.  There are some things that aren’t covered in the scriptures and then there are things that are, but we really don’t need the scriptures to discern which side of these issues that a Christian, or anyone for that matter, should be on. 

Take the Palestinian and Israeli issue for instance.  A whole lot of Christians turn to the scriptures to either base or support their support for Israel.  The idea is that the Jews are righteous because of their lineage.  While that piece of land over there may very well be Holy, and those who are blood children of Abraham may still retain their “set-apart” status (I’m not in that camp, though), we really don’t need a scripture to tell us who the good guys are in that conflict.  On one side, you have psychopathic murderous animals who will strap bombs on their sons or daughters and have them either blow themselves or be blown up remotely surrounded by innocent people in restaurants and on the other side you have a democratic country that has the military might to vaporize their enemies but shows mercy and restraint.  This is a no brainer.

Another area where we don’t really need scripture is in the area of sexual morality.  In fact, we even have scriptures that tell us we don’t need a scripture to tell us what stuff is bad.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Romans 1: 18-24

It sure looks to me like Paul is saying that Creation is enough for people to be able to discern what’s right and what’s wrong to a degree, but especially in the morality department.  There’s a famous quotation by Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart regarding obscenity.  The Justice “knew it when he saw it”.  The same holds true in our society today.  Sure, there are plenty of scriptures condemning adultery and other immoral behaviors, but do we really need scripture to determine these things?  Has homosexuality ever been a widely accepted practice among any of the civilizations in history, regardless of who/what they worshiped?  Hasn’t adultery been taboo and even against the law in even the most godless of nations in the history of our planet?  If the Soviets would not tolerate this behavior, why in the world should the United States?

Now, don’t get me wrong here.  I’m not saying that we should go back to stoning men and women who commit adultery.  Jesus himself did not even practice this.  But we need to make darn sure that we teach our kids properly about how they should conduct themselves in a civilized world.  We should also be a good example to our kids and our brothers and sisters in the faith, as well as being lights to those outside of Christianity.  Standing up for what’s right when you simply just know what’s right sometimes is much more valuable than being able to cite chapter and verse.  Can I get a witness?