A textbook for those entering the hospitality industry states: "Today, people have few moral absolutes; they decide situationally whether it is acceptable to steal, lie,or drink and drive. They seem to think that whatever is right is what works best for the individual. " This text was published in 2014.
The only source of hope for a world consumed with conflicting personal values, the author argues, is that everyone will agree that "all people's rights are important and should not be violated. This belief is central to all civilized societies; without it, chaos would reign". However, he offers no foundation for what is a "right" or for what he terms "basic moral values [namely] integrity, respect for human life, self-control, honesty, and courage", other than they are part of the human make-up. Others have explored further what they see as a troubling cultural decline in Western life.
What the textbook author (John R Walker/Pearson) fears is the lack of trust in business, the failure of those who consider themselves professionals to provide a consistently high level of service, and, within the industry a race to the bottom - in a word, chaos.
However, there is a light in the darkness, not a moral teacher of the ilk of Buddha, Confucius, Aristotle or Shakespeare, but the supreme being who made us, but whom we can come to know as a personal friend and father. This is where those who believe that Jesus is our saviour from evil can be thankful for the insight and gift of spiritual support (grace) that enable them to live a life that has a higher quality even when it is attracts ridicule, rejection, and physical harm.
When Paul says in Romans 6:23 says that the result of sin is death he means that a lack of moral behaviour leads to the death of relationships, death of our dreams, of opportunities, peace of mind, self-respect, and of the possibility of joy. This is the chaos rapidly making its presence felt in countries whose higher standard of living has allowed each individual within society to reject the restraint required when a nation is still struggling to provide better health care, education, and career opportunities. This year, there has been much comment about the surge in suicides in the United States because of the frustrations with what life has offered in a misdirected society and as a result of the individualistic mentality, toxic sexuality, and rampant consumerism that controls the lives of so many Americans.
This is not to say be a follower of Jesus because you will have a happy life in the way one might practise yoga or get involved in Transcendental Mediation to relieve stress. Rather, learn to know Jesus as a person who loves us and who guides us, and as someone we must give our thanks to for defeating the power of evil by dying on our behalf. As one piece describes it in golden terms:
The only source of hope for a world consumed with conflicting personal values, the author argues, is that everyone will agree that "all people's rights are important and should not be violated. This belief is central to all civilized societies; without it, chaos would reign". However, he offers no foundation for what is a "right" or for what he terms "basic moral values [namely] integrity, respect for human life, self-control, honesty, and courage", other than they are part of the human make-up. Others have explored further what they see as a troubling cultural decline in Western life.
What the textbook author (John R Walker/Pearson) fears is the lack of trust in business, the failure of those who consider themselves professionals to provide a consistently high level of service, and, within the industry a race to the bottom - in a word, chaos.
However, there is a light in the darkness, not a moral teacher of the ilk of Buddha, Confucius, Aristotle or Shakespeare, but the supreme being who made us, but whom we can come to know as a personal friend and father. This is where those who believe that Jesus is our saviour from evil can be thankful for the insight and gift of spiritual support (grace) that enable them to live a life that has a higher quality even when it is attracts ridicule, rejection, and physical harm.
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| Our choice: Into the light or a life of darkness |
This is not to say be a follower of Jesus because you will have a happy life in the way one might practise yoga or get involved in Transcendental Mediation to relieve stress. Rather, learn to know Jesus as a person who loves us and who guides us, and as someone we must give our thanks to for defeating the power of evil by dying on our behalf. As one piece describes it in golden terms:
"[Christians] should be the most thankful people on earth. Reflecting on the great salvation, eternal security and destiny Jesus purchased with his own blood produces humble gratitude. The living God will dwell face-to-face with his children. Believers will reign with him in the fullness of his kingdom [heaven]. We will live with God as the centre of our existence. There will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more sin and no more darkness.
"Who else has what has been freely given us? Who else can face life with confidence, and the end of life anticipating God's smile? Who else can endure suffering and hardship in life with inner peace and contentment? [...] We need not wait for everything to go our way, for goals to be met, bills to be paid or happiness achieved before we whisper our thanks to God."
