As Long As It Doesn’t Harm Anyone

January 18, 2017

by Doy Moyer One of the most prominent moral justifications heard today is that as long as the practice doesn’t harm anyone, then it is right and should be allowed. The primary argument this is being used for today is gay marriage, to no one’s surprise. However, it carries broader applications, and those applications aren’t…

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Culture Wars

June 21, 2015

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CultureWars.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 1:3-11   I.         Some questions are hard to answer             A.        Not because the Bible is unclear on the subject             B.        But because there is a strong cultural bias against the correct answer             C.        Example of idolatry                         1.         We have no difficulties denouncing idol worship today                         2.         Even non-Christians understand that an idol is worthless…

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Rahab

April 12, 2015

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Rahab.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 2:1-24   I.         Rahab has given many Bible students difficulty over the years.             A.        James 2:14-26 – James tells us she was an example of a working faith when she took in the Israelite spies and sent them out secretly.             B.        Notice that her action was listed as an example similar…

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Standards

June 23, 2013

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Standards.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 17:7-23   I.         How do determine what is right or wrong?             A.        How does your neighbor decide? Or your co-workers?             B.        We all base our behavior on standards that we have accepted as authoritative, but those standards vary.             C.        What makes a good standard?                         1.         It needs to be fixed                                     a.         A standard…

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Emphasizing the Physical

August 9, 2010

Text: Matthew 12:1-14   I.         Schools have been placed in tough positions in the recent years             A.        They are told to keep religion out of schools. Almost every direct form of discipline has been forbidden to them.                         1.         The natural result is the steady decline in the moral standards of their students.                         2.         In response the community demands the…

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Is it wrong to deny service to someone who is obviously in sin?

October 9, 2009

Question: I want to start a small photography business but I’m worried about ‘clients’. What if a homosexual couple wants me to photograph a ‘couple’s shoot’ for them? I believe that I would have to decline. However, a photographer in New Mexico was sued for discrimination against a lesbian couple. They wanted the photographer to…

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Does religious ethics do more harm than good?

November 7, 2006

Question: I think that more often than not religious ethics in government do more harm than good, for example: not funding stem cell research, trying to ban abortion, and outlawing gay marriage. Stem cell research could further science and medicine so much, but because of religious ethics, it’s on hiatus right now in America. Abortion…

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Why can’t we be free like the wind?

July 2, 2006

Question: Last month I watched a movie, I just forgot if it’s Chinese or Japanese movie, basically, it tells a story about an orphan girl was adopted by an ex-swordman, who raised other nine little kids along with her to prepare for a mission when they grow up — wipe out three warlords to bring…

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