When many shades of gray become black and white

[Riverwalker]

I hear a lot of people say that there is no black and white, just many shades of gray.

I disagree.

I think we perceive things as gray because we are not looking at them closely enough.  We are not defining them

Below you will find a square of grey

Surely looks gray, hard to argue it. But when you look closer (Zoom In) you will find it is not the gray we perceive it to be, it is black and white being muddled by our casual view

By defining the individual pixels we can pick out the black and white

Example

If you ask a general question like "Is it ever okay to kill somebody" you will get a whole gambit of answers, that will turn it gray

But if you focus the question : Is it ever okay to kill somebody who has broken into your house and is threatening to kill your family? I think the answer would be quite different

(and before you go there, please remember that Jesus told His disciples to carry swords for protection Luke 22: 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be [e]accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” )

Good and evil are absolutes....if you can't find the black or white of an issue....refine your search...zoom in

Edited May 13, 2021 by Riverwalker

[missmuffet]

17 minutes ago, Riverwalker said:

I hear a lot of people say that there is no black and white, just many shades of gray.

I disagree.

I think we perceive things as gray because we are not looking at them closely enough.  We are not defining them

Below you will find a square of grey

Surely looks gray, hard to argue it. But when you look closer (Zoom In) you will find it is not the gray we perceive it to be, it is black and white being muddled by our casual view

By defining the individual pixels we can pick out the black and white

Example

If you ask a general question like "Is it ever okay to kill somebody" you will get a whole gambit of answers, that will turn it gray

But if you focus the question : Is it ever okay to kill somebody who has broken into your house and is threatening to kill your family? I think the answer would be quite different

(and before you go there, please remember that Jesus told His disciples to carry swords for protection Luke 22: 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be [e]accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” )

Good and evil are absolutes....if you can't find the black or white of an issue....refine your search...zoom in

We are seeing things in our own human perspective. God knows the whole picture. 

[BeyondET]

Interesting topic seems black causes the eye to not see colors and white causes the eye to see all colors.

Edited May 13, 2021 by BeyondET

[Sower]

4 hours ago, BeyondET said:

Interesting topic seems black causes the eye to not see colors and white causes the eye to see all colors.

Interesting color wheel.
I have used a similar one mixing dyes and stains for coating projects.
I have found, if you mix all the old unused house paint of various colors to use up the paint,
the color always turns out brown!

According to my wife, Riverwalker, I can only see black or white.
I may be the head of the family.
But, She's the heart.    (and the boss:)
 

 

[Willa]

I first heard this from a very liberal teacher back in the 50s.  He had graduated from Harvard, lived in New York, renounced his Catholic faith because it wasn't logical.  Not believing in black and white, only in shades of gray, is not believing in right and wrong.  Christians see things in black and white--satan is wrong and God is right,  satan is darkness and God is light.   There is no situational ethics.  

[Sower]

1 hour ago, Willa said:

I first heard this from a very liberal teacher back in the 50s.  He had graduated from Harvard, lived in New York, renounced his Catholic faith because it wasn't logical.  Not believing in black and white, only in shades of gray, is not believing in right and wrong.  Christians see things in black and white--satan is wrong and God is right,  satan is darkness and God is light.   There is no situational ethics.  

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 

[Sower]

7 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

I hear a lot of people say that there is no black and white, just many shades of gray.

Hope this may be relevant, from my teenage years, 1967.

 

Shades of Gray

The Monkees

When the world and I were young
Just yesterday
Life was such a simple game
A child could play
It was easy then to tell right from wrong
Easy then to tell weak from strong
When a man should stand and fight
Or just go along

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray

I remember when the answers seemed so clear
We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear
It was easy then to tell truth from lies
Selling out from compromise
Who to love and who to hate
The foolish from the wise

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white…

[missmuffet]

I think outside the box a lot. 

[Starise]

20 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

I hear a lot of people say that there is no black and white, just many shades of gray.

I disagree.

I think we perceive things as gray because we are not looking at them closely enough.  We are not defining them

Below you will find a square of grey

Surely looks gray, hard to argue it. But when you look closer (Zoom In) you will find it is not the gray we perceive it to be, it is black and white being muddled by our casual view

By defining the individual pixels we can pick out the black and white

Example

If you ask a general question like "Is it ever okay to kill somebody" you will get a whole gambit of answers, that will turn it gray

But if you focus the question : Is it ever okay to kill somebody who has broken into your house and is threatening to kill your family? I think the answer would be quite different

(and before you go there, please remember that Jesus told His disciples to carry swords for protection Luke 22: 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be [e]accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” )

Good and evil are absolutes....if you can't find the black or white of an issue....refine your search...zoom in

I totally agree that when this principle is applied to what God says in His word there are no situational ethics.

While ethics is not situational some actions are ok in one instance and not ok in another instance. We could say killing is murder yet that determination is made based on the situation. If I'm in the military fighting the enemy defending my wife and kids back home from an enemy killing is encouraged of the enemy. If a murderer is taken away for execution, that is justified based on the law of the land. In all situations a man is killed. In all situations a man is not murdered. God tested Abraham to see if he would be willing to kill his own son if God told him to do it. What if a country with corrupt laws executes a person based on evil unfair laws? Did they murder or execute the person? What made their laws unjust when held up against another country?

In 1 Timothy 3 we are told deacons should be the husband of one wife. Polygamy is illegal in most parts of the US. Adam had one wife not multiple "wives". Yet God allowed a few men in the OT to have multiple wives and it would appear they were not cursed as a result. So is it illegal to have more than one wife or not? In one instance it was allowed. In another it wasn't.

We are told it's unfair to be biased, yet God showed favor early on to the Jews. Joseph's father favored him over his brothers. So is favoritism wrong or isn't it? 

The next danger is in thinking we know what "black and white" are beyond a shadow of a doubt. You might think you know what white is when you really don't. Not knowing something and imposing it on others is worse than knowing it and not telling anyone.

 

 

 

[Riverwalker]

47 minutes ago, Starise said:

The next danger is in thinking we know what "black and white" are beyond a shadow of a doubt. You might think you know what white is when you really don't. Not knowing something and imposing it on others is worse than knowing it and not telling anyone.

Ah yes.  when the pendulum swings to far in the other direction.  I think we should admit when and what we do not know