by Jim Swanson

Since the year 2002, the movie Time Changer (Five by Two Productions) has been provoking Christians to consider the place of morality without theology. In other words, is it adequate to teach how to act without a basis from Scripture? In the story, seminary professor Russell Carlisle presents a manuscript for approval by the staff. But approval is not unanimous. Dr. Norris Anderson maintains that teaching Christ’s standard of living without Christ will never work.

The struggle between these two men intensifies until finally Carlisle accepts the invitation to visit his adversary at his home. There he is introduced to a time travel machine, invented by Dr. Anderson. Carlisle is transported through more than a 100 years of time to see the result of teaching morality without God in the very community where he lived. The few days’ experience motivated Carlisle to rewrite his manuscript.

When asked what is wrong with society, Alexander Solzhenitsyn answered, “It has forgotten God.” In other words, emphasis on kindness and love and morality is not enough. It only takes one generation to forget why they are acting that way at all. Daniel Boorstin stated, “Trying to plan for the future (conduct) without a sense of the past (foundation of conduct) is like trying to plant cut flowers.” George MacDonald put it another way. “No teacher (including story writers) should strive to make men think as he thinks, but to lead them to the living Truth, to the Master himself, of whom alone they can learn anything.”

Consider a model school in the south where character is in the forefront daily. In fact the key character qualities such as honesty and diligence are tiled in mosaic at the entrance. Of course, this is a public school so God cannot be mentioned. Will these students be better citizens for having these qualities drilled into them without giving them a basis for this conduct? One fifth grade teacher in another school required disrespectful students to write the following sentence: “I will treat the authority figure with respect in an effort to practice socially correct behavior which is a necessary attribute for me to acquire to obtain ultimate financial and personal success.” Read that again. First, what determines right behavior? Society does. So disrespect may be OK in the future but not now. Second, what is this teacher telling the students is the reason to be respectful? It is not because honor for authority is mandated by God. Rather it is because it will serve their own purposes. This is not character but hypocrisy.

Remember the story of the King’s Robe? Seven tailors claimed they could weave the most beautiful garments imaginable but only wise people could see them. Of course, no one wanted to admit they were not wise so everyone, including the king, claimed they saw them. Finally during the procession, one little lad revealed the deception by shouting, “The king is naked.”

So character without God is naked of the foundation on which it must stand. When that foundation is removed, it can do nothing but collapse for the next generation will say, “Why should we act that way?” There is no reason. Morality is naked. And indeed, apart from God, it is.

About the Author:

Character stories, when written with this perspective in mind, can help guide younger generations to the Source of true character. You can help by reading (or pointing out) these free character building stories to youth you love.

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