Why?
Natural Law.
What is Natural Law? It is a set of moral laws implanted into every human being. These laws - this Natural Law - include ones such as a horror of theft, cold-blooded killing, and inhumane treatment of humanity.
Our every interaction is tempered by Natural Law. It's that little voice inside us that niggles away when we transgress its moral law.
The Apostle Paul referred to Natural Law in Romans 2:14 "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law."
When Paul states that the Gentiles do not have the law, he is speaking of the law contained in the Old Testament. The law that the Gentiles do have - "by nature" - is Natural Law.
Natural Law can help guide us on the road of life. But what happens when we must choose between two parts of Natural Law?
In Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Miserables, Jean val Jean - an everyday French man mired in poverty - is hurled into this very dilemma. He has a choice: starvation of a family member, or theft to feed the family member. Jean val Jean chose to steal a loaf of bread.
What do you think - did he do the right thing?
The worst problem with Natural Law lies not in the law itself, but in humanity's sinful nature. If Natural Law was the cure-all for moral problems, there would be no thieves, Hitler, or King John the usurper. All too often, Natural Law conflicts with our evil desires. The child knows that she should obey her mother, but those cookies in the cookie jar just look so tempting ... so the child hardens her heart against Natural Law. In small steps, humanity sears their consciences. That's how we get people like Hitler.
Natural Law's usefulness is limited by its conflict with both itself and our evil desires.
What do rely on for our rules of conduct if we can't rely on Natural Law all the time?
God's perfect law is the only one that never changes. Natural Law can be the map that guides us on the road of life, but God's law is the magnifying glass that clarifies the tricky spots. If the map tears or coffee spills on it, God's word will be our guide.
Psalm 119:60 sums up our discussion well: "The sum of Your [God's] word is truth, And every one of Your righteous rules endures forever."
Our every interaction is tempered by Natural Law. It's that little voice inside us that niggles away when we transgress its moral law.
The Apostle Paul referred to Natural Law in Romans 2:14 "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law."
When Paul states that the Gentiles do not have the law, he is speaking of the law contained in the Old Testament. The law that the Gentiles do have - "by nature" - is Natural Law.
Natural Law can help guide us on the road of life. But what happens when we must choose between two parts of Natural Law?
In Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Miserables, Jean val Jean - an everyday French man mired in poverty - is hurled into this very dilemma. He has a choice: starvation of a family member, or theft to feed the family member. Jean val Jean chose to steal a loaf of bread.
What do you think - did he do the right thing?
The worst problem with Natural Law lies not in the law itself, but in humanity's sinful nature. If Natural Law was the cure-all for moral problems, there would be no thieves, Hitler, or King John the usurper. All too often, Natural Law conflicts with our evil desires. The child knows that she should obey her mother, but those cookies in the cookie jar just look so tempting ... so the child hardens her heart against Natural Law. In small steps, humanity sears their consciences. That's how we get people like Hitler.
Natural Law's usefulness is limited by its conflict with both itself and our evil desires.
What do rely on for our rules of conduct if we can't rely on Natural Law all the time?
God's perfect law is the only one that never changes. Natural Law can be the map that guides us on the road of life, but God's law is the magnifying glass that clarifies the tricky spots. If the map tears or coffee spills on it, God's word will be our guide.
Psalm 119:60 sums up our discussion well: "The sum of Your [God's] word is truth, And every one of Your righteous rules endures forever."
This is a good post. The verse you chose from Romans is a perfect example for Natural Law. Natural Law is something that evolutionists and atheists can't fully explain, but as you said, the Bible can. Because of this, I think atheists often try to argue that Natural Law doesn't really exist, but there's no denying that it does.
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