A Case Of Arrested Moral Development

I studied Kholberg’s theory of moral development. THIS LINK contains a detailed explanation. 

As a person matures moral development goes through several stages:

1. Obedience and punishment: behavior driven by avoiding punishment
2. Individual interest: behavior driven be self-interest and rewards
3. Interpersonal: behavior driven by social approval
4. Authority: behavior driven by obeying authority and conforming to social order
5. Social Contract: behavior driven by balance of social order and individual rights
6. Universal ethics: behavior driven by internal moral principles

Kholberg said that few people actually function in stage 6, and if they do, it is not for very long.   The thing is, as Christians, our values and moral choices should be in stage 6 continually.  We are new creations in Christ and our values and decision-making principles should be in alignment with God’s values and principles.  This is not just acting in a certain way to keep up appearances or comply with some external expectation.  Rather, our view of the world and how we respond to it must reflect a transformed heart.  

I have always been uncomfortable with the church’s messaging regarding COVID 19, wearing masks, and social distancing.  I did not really know why until I revisited Kholberg.  To date the church’s message has been clearly a stage 4 message.  Christians need to hear a transformational message.  My question is: how could the church move from rules based authoritarian messaging to transformational messaging on this issue? 

As it stands, the church has given only authoritarian messages indicating that we should follow the governments rules on mask wearing, social distancing and vaccinations, because that is what good Christians do. The result of this kind of messaging has not been good has retarded our moral development. People refuse to wear masks, do not get the vacine and the spread of covid in our community and church has increased.

Better messaging will get better results. A transformational message would change the heart and the heart would change behavior. It is not helpful to try controlling people with a stick.

Fine Print:  There are other theories of moral development discussed in the link above.  I always thought Piaget, Erik Erickson, and Kholberg payed nicely together.  I never thought Freud had much of a connection to reality.