Page 7 - 2015 On The Path

By Steve Pelz Special to the News-Times
Thank you for allowing the reli- gious community to
tance of seeking God and are willing to take a stand and not back down to outside pressures. What our City Council has begun, we need to build upon. We must earnestly seek God and His direction.
Secondly, we need to support and encourage faith-oriented activities.
Thirdly, we as a city and city orga- nizers need to set the right environ- ment and example for our younger generation. With that in mind, it is my personal opinion that alcohol should be discouraged from our city- and county-sponsored events. We must be careful of the message
We as a city and city organizers need to
virtue improves persons, communities
and nations, necessarily including the
practice of justice, which is itself a
he lack the virtue of justice when with ease, promptitude and joy. It he did not do anything wrong? wasn’t easy for him to decide not Because virtue is more than one to steal.
act, it is a disposition to do the good The virtues are part of a natural
Improving morality involves focusing on youth
El Dorado NEWS-TIMES – Sunday, October 25, 2015 – 7
A story might illustrate virtue bet- ter. Two men come across an unat- tended $20 bill on their co-worker’s desk. The first man sees it and is strongly tempted to take the money but after hesitating he decides not to pocket it. The second man sees it too but the thought of stealing is never even considered. He con- tinues on his way. Which man is virtuous?
Neither man did anything wrong but only one exhibited virtue. The first man took time and effort to turn away from the temptation. He lacked the virtue of justice. How did
An extreme focus on rights can make
morality that can be practiced by all people regardless of religion. We all seek the good, even if we don’t acknowledge God to be the source and end of all that is good.
As a Catholic priest of course I would urge all to look to Jesus Christ as the supreme exam- ple of a virtuous man and the only one who can perfect our human nature. But if we return to practicing the virtues, which are fundamental and essential to a natural morality common to all people, then we will regain a personal, communal and national moral compass.
us narcissistic. A healthy focus on
virtue.
Pelz
city and county-sponsored events.
express ourselves.
To address your request regarding how we might find our moral compass, I would offer these
observations.
First, I would like
for our younger generation. With that
to thank the City Council for the stance they have taken on the 40 Days of Prayer. We need leadership that see the impor-
we are sending to our youth. The the alcohol abuse problems, but it is
set the right environment and example
in mind, it is my personal opinion that
alcohol should be discouraged from our
city of Bentonville has numerous activities and events without alco- hol. This will obviously not solve all
a positive step to take.
Steve Pelz is pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
VIRTUE
Continued from Page 6
A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.
—Socrates
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