This Moral Dilemma Exposed a Professor’s Conscience Instantly

0:00 So, I have a moral dilemma for you. Imagine if you would if you found a secret passageway that went from your apartment on into a bank vault. You could jump in there and you could take a million dollars. You will not get caught. It's guaranteed. So, you don't have to think about that. Would you take that money? >> Yep. >> What What would you do with that money? >> Oh, Batman. >> If I needed a dollar or two, maybe a day, >> you know, I work for whatever I get no matter what. >> But it's a million dollars. >> Doesn't matter. You got to deal with yourself every day. >> No. >> A dribble amount. You know what I Like you know how some people get a certain percentage off, they kind of skim something, you know what I mean? Like 1% of it. And I'm not even sure why I'm justifying a durable, but I I'm saying maybe a dollar or two a week or something just to take it for maybe I could add that up. >> No, >> no,

0:45 >> no. >> Maybe. >> No. >> Why not? >> Morality. >> Why you doing me like that, bro? When consequences are removed, uh the heart tells the truth. This dilemma is carefully designed to strip away fear, uh risk and punishment. There's no prison, there's no exposure, uh there's no loss. And that's the point here. What remains is not behavior shaped by pressure, but desire revealed by freedom. Moral clarity begins here, right? Not when we're forced to choose, but when we're free to choose. And so where do you get your morals from? Do those come from your parents? Do they come from a god or spiritual force? Did

1:32 it come from school? >> My parents. >> Your parents. >> Being homeless, poor, and growing up with nothing. >> I don't know. Obviously, I have a religious upbringing. I'm not sure if that's the reason why I'm saying that. >> What is your religious upbringing? >> Catholic. And you are you currently Catholic or you >> I am 100% 100%. Okay. >> I mean, I teach catechism. So that's Yeah, most people probably would take the money regardless of their religious background. Unfortunately, I think that would be true. I just don't feel it's the right thing to do. But you would take a little bit as you needed it, right? And so as somebody who teaches catechism, >> I didn't tell you what I would do that with that$1 or $2 actually, but what I would do is probably give it to some people in in a way that they need it. I didn't say it was going to be for my own desires. Occasionally, a dollar or two a week just to take it for maybe I could add that up. This is one of the oldest moral disguises. Stealing feels moral when we

2:20 rename it generosity. Right? This is the Robin Hood syndrome. I'm going to steal from the rich. I'm going to give to the poor. I'm going to be the one that's going to do right. Right. By what? By whom? By by what objective standard are you doing that which is right? Changing the destination of stolen money. It doesn't change its origin. Charity does not sanctify theft. Good intentions cannot transform a wrong into a righteous one. Sin often borrows the language of virtue to quiet the soul. But God sees right through it. You are hiding behind a big bush the same way Adam did in the garden. >> Are we good guys or bad guys? You know, I mean, uh, are robbing the rich to feed the poor. >> Rob?

3:06 That's a naughty word. We never rob. We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it. >> Borrow? Boy, are we in debt. >> That's what I was thinking of when I actually thought that. >> So, let's stay within that realm, right? It would seem to me that you now become their financial provider. You're setting an example and you have said maybe you've taught that this is wrong and here's why this is wrong. But then you now are going to go against that if I'm understanding correctly for somebody in need and saying you know what because God's not providing for you I will provide for you. How does that now work out? >> When it comes down to it I think it is a moral decision >> and our morals are they evolving? And if they're evolving are they evolving for the better? Are they evolving for the worse? >> I most feel like we're devolving a bit.

3:52 >> Then there has to be some sort of foundation that's objective. Where do we get the objective foundation by which we're heading towards this or we're pulling away from this? Is it is it transcendent? >> Well, I think our foundational moral bottom or default is law and order. I mean, sure, it has to be, right? >> Why? Why? >> I don't know. Cuz it's something we all agreed on. >> We have order here and there's disorder in other countries and we say that they're wrong or we say we just don't want to be part of your society. We'll be part of our society. But sometimes we do intervene, right? You think of Nazi Germany when Adolf Hitler killed 10 million blacks, Jews, gypsies, and Christians. Our society said that his society was wrong. And with the probing of Winston Churchill, we went over there to stop those heinous things from happening. Who are we as a society to tell that society that they're wrong? >> Yeah, that's a great question. Sometimes

4:38 we just do that with the boycotting of South Africa's apartheid. That seems like it' be a good good reason why to protest. >> Let's imagine if you would that I'm dying. You just came from teaching catechism and I looked over at you and I said, "I'm dying." And I turn around and you see now a knife in my back and I've got 3 minutes to live. I look at you and I say, "I'm afraid of dying. I'm afraid of what's next." What would you say to me in those 3 minutes? >> Well, I would hold that person. I don't know if I would have to say anything to be honest. I mean, I don't know. Everyone comes from a different background. I I don't necessarily impart something without knowing anything about the other person, but I think just the human embrace and looking in the person's eyes and letting them want to say whatever they want to say in those three minutes is more important than what I have to say to them. >> There is real compassion in being present. But compassion that refuses to

5:24 speak truth can still abandon a soul. Silence in the face of eternity, it's not neutral. It is a decision. and love that only comforts but never warns. It may feel kind, but it leaves the most important question unanswered. Eternity is too long to be met with quiet. And Romans makes it very clear. How will they hear unless a preacher is sent? We must open up our mouths. Absolutely. God could have the message shout out from a rock or he could have the the writing appear in the heavens. But he didn't do that. He has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save people. So just to be with someone to comfort them is not the gospel message. We must get to the life, death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ or you failed to give them the gospel. So do you think that you have

6:11 the hope needed to bring me with you cuz when you die I believe that you you're going to go to heaven. And I said, "Hey, like I want to be with you and instead you're just letting me bleed out." And I'm saying you teach catechism. You just told me you just came from I saw you walk out that door. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Again, I don't know, man. I would just it doesn't mean that I can say anything to make you feel better. >> Can I share with you what I would say during those three minutes? >> You good with that? >> Absolutely. >> So, I come from a from a Christian worldview. If I came across you and you had a knife in the back and it was determined that there's nothing we could do to save you, I would say it doesn't look good for you, my friend. Listen, the Bible says that it is appointed for man to die once and after this there's a judgment to come. If God gives you justice, would you go to heaven or hell? What do you think, Jean? >> Would you say this if I die in a minute?

6:56 Let's back up a little bit. Back up a little bit, Jean. We have the Ten Commandments. You've heard of the Ten Commandments, right? You shall not steal. You shall not lie. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. You shall honor your mother and your father. Jean, have you broken these commandments or have you honored these commandments always in thought, word, and deed? >> I don't know if I would tell you this dying moment, but in my head, I'm sure I would contemplate my life and hope that I lived a good life. And I guess in that moment, I would probably pray to God. >> So, I would say the Ten Commandments, it shows us that we have sinned, right? Like how many lies do you think you've told over the course of your life? >> I don't like lying. You're asking the weirdest person cuz I can't tell a lie. >> So you've never told a lie? >> Well, when I was probably eight and 10 and 14, I can remember a few times. That's that's the thing. I can count. But since then, of course, I've grown to

7:41 try to be honest. >> You know, the eighth commandment says you should not steal. How many things do you think you've stolen over the course of your life? >> Well, yeah. No, when I again when I was 10 and when I was just forming my morality. >> How about the seventh commandment? You shall not commit adultery. But Jesus said, "You've heard it said by them of old, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, whoever looks at a woman has committed adultery already with that person inside their heart." >> And we're at Huntington Beach here where everyone's wearing the bathing suits. Yeah. I think that's a hard one. Obviously, we're all going to lust and look at people and we find them attractive. That's a tough one. That's a very difficult one. Yeah. >> So, we're in that three-minute scenario and I'm going through those commandments. I'm trying to show Gan that he deserves to be judged if God is a judge. And the Bible says that is. He's he's appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness. >> Are you trying to tell that to someone who's just about to die? >> Would you tell somebody who was blind

8:28 and they had a cane and they're walking towards a cliff? There's a cliff ahead of you. >> Oh, I see where you're going with this. >> What would you do? >> You got to stop them. Yeah, >> you got to stop them. So, you got to intervene, right? Remember the premises was I'm about ready to die. I don't want to. I don't know what's next. I don't know what's going to happen to me. Can you help me? Right. >> If you like how that answer cut through the noise, imagine having thousands just like it ready to go at any time. That's what's inside the Ultimate USB. It is packed with quick answers to tough questions pictures video sermons and other evangelism tools that you can use out on the street. Get equipped. Visit >> livingwaters.com/usp. >> By the way, there's a coupon code down in the description. >> You're expecting him to ask for forgiveness, right? At least not to me. >> To God directly. >> Yeah. So, to finish off, if I had a minute left in that, I would say you've admitted to breaking God's law. If God

9:14 gives you justice, you would be punished in his prison, which is called hell. But the Bible says that God's not willing for any to perish, and then all come to repentance. The Greek word metaninoi means to change your mind, literally to think God's thoughts after him. He's revealed it. We're just following along. And the Bible says if you turn to him in faith, that he will grant you a free gift, which is everlasting life. It has nothing to do with you. There's no work you can perform that would earn the merit or the smile of God. that nobody going to heaven is because they earned their way there but solely based upon the forensic act of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago and when Jesus died on the cross three days later what happened >> and so that demonstrates that he had the power and the authority over the grave as the creator of mankind turn to him in faith place your faith in him because

10:01 this is not all that there is for any one of us and the hope that we have the only hope that we have is Jesus Christ what are your thoughts on that you get the final thought, final word. >> I think that's the thing that keeps a lot of Christians from believing that they're worthy enough, you know, like that's what it comes down to sometimes is am I worthy enough to be loved by God? >> And I would say no, but he does it anyways. >> I know it gets tough because I mean I'm forgiven no matter what, right? If you just in your heart feel contrite and love God, right? >> Well, it's not enough. >> No, it's not. In the same way, go before the judge and the judge says you're guilty of Grand Theft Auto and you say, "I'm sorry in my heart. I'm contrite. I'll never do it again." I thought he would be forgiving, wouldn't he? >> So, I would say no, unless something else takes place. All right, let's go

10:47 back to the court. You're guilty of a crime. And the judge now looks at you and says you're guilty. As a judge, I got to make sure that justice takes place. Pay a fine or do the time, right? So, what is the judge looking for at that point? He's looking for contrition. >> Yeah. And you penance. You have to you pay off your debt or whatever. >> The debt has to be paid. That's what God's looking for. Contrition. looking for it to be made right. He's looking for payment to be paid. Now, go back 2,000 years ago. When Jesus stepped into the courtroom, he didn't step into that courtroom when he died on the cross because he had his own sins cuz he was perfect. He was blameless. He was holy, sinless. He didn't die for his own sins, though, did he? He died for the sins of other people. And so, when he died on that cross, he uttered the words teletiest, which means paid in full or it is finished. He made the payment for

11:32 mankind's sins, but they have to receive that payment. So, if I go before the judge and he says, "You have to pay $100,000." And this guy goes, "Hey, I'll pay it." And I go, "No, you're not going to pay it." I can still reject the gift, and that's what I would say people do. They reject that free gift, then they're left in their sins. You should do good deeds. But you can't do enough good deeds that's going to earn the smile of God. It's solely based upon what Jesus did. And this is why you've heard the term we're saved by grace alone, through faith alone, by what Christ alone did, as found in scripture alone, all to the glory of God alone. Those five souls, Jesus paid the fine and his life's blood. He paid a debt he didn't owe because you and I, we owed a debt we could never pay. Whoever turns to him in faith is given that free gift, which is everlasting life. >> The real dilemma, it was never the

12:17 vault. It It was never the money. It was the guilt. It was the conscience. And that's what came out. I mean, what do you do when you know something is wrong? You you can't undo it. Uh you can't pay it back in in some cases. Christianity, it doesn't deny the debt. It tells the truth about it. And then it announces the staggering claim that Christ paid it in full. That there is nothing you can do to repay a payment that has already been accepted. Christ has paid it on the cross. and he demonstrated the payment was received when he rose from the dead. >> Amen. >> You've been a very good sport. I've really enjoyed the conversation. I've seen the wheels turning to your head, right? >> Yeah. >> Will you give us any more thought after

13:03 today about our conversation? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> Yeah. Well, thank you. I really really appreciate it. >> Thank you. Have a great day. >> Thanks for watching. If this video encouraged you, give it a like and subscribe to my channel for more encouragement in your faith and to go deeper in your theology. Make sure to follow the LivingWaters podcast here on YouTube. Click the video on the screen to watch my latest evangelism encounter. And for more resources on sharing your faith, visit livingwaters.com.