Letter: Morality not defined strictly by scripture

Friday, Feb. 24, 2006 | 7:38 a.m.

I am sorry that James J. Poupard, in his Feb. 20 letter headlined "Bible remains up for interpretation," finds the Bible confusing and contradictory.

While I certainly don't understand it fully, it is quite clear in its message - a message written over hundreds of years by dozens of human authors (inspired by God), yet remarkably consistent.

The Bible does address Poupard's confusion. It states, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) Poupard states that abortion is not specifically mentioned in the Commandments as a sin.

First, does something have to be specifically mentioned in scripture to be clearly morally wrong and thus sinful? It may not specifically say that arson is a sin, but isn't it clear that setting buildings on fire is morally wrong?

Where will we really be if the moral relativism that Poupard touts becomes the basis of our laws and moral ideals? In this view, arson may just be someone's "free expression" and while it may be wrong to us, it may not be wrong to the arsonist. There must be a set-in-stone standard of truth, of right and wrong. If there isn't, then it's anarchy. I have found that truth set in stone - He is the Rock, the King of kings, Christ Jesus.

As far as abortion not being mentioned in the Commandments, Mr. Poupard is wrong. The sixth commandment is "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13).

Dale Beasey, Henderson