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From Whence Comes Morality?
by Robert Driskell Humans intuitively know that certain actions are wrong and other actions are right. We repeatedly make judgments about whether something is good or bad, right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable. On what do we base these decisions? Where do these beliefs come from? Evolutionary science, and its many offshoots, would have us believe that humans, over millions/billions of years, simply devised a set of rules that best suits, and benefits, us. These scientists deny the need for a universal intelligent moral code maker, opting for the theory of chance, rather than design, as being the organizing force responsible for our ethical viewpoints. They say our morals evolved in the same manner as everything else about us. But consider this: is it reasonable that a moral sensibility, which functions to protect the innocent, the young, women, the poor, the helpless, etc., evolved from a system whose bottom line is "survival of the fittest"? A 'dog eat dog/me first' mentality suddenly becoming philanthropic in its outlook. Consider the irrationality of this theory: If there were one tiny bit of food left between two people, why would they share? If survival was the main motivation above all other motivations, why would someone give away the last morsel that would keep them alive? Why wouldn't they simply eat it thereby'surviving'? Why would a mechanism having the sole purpose of preserving me, suddenly move me to give the last bit of food I possessed to someone else? It wouldn't. There is another answer to the origin of morality. This answer resides in an all mighty Creator who instills in each of us HIS morals. The ought or the ought not that we feel when faced with certain decisions, events, or situations comes from the fact that we were created by God and infused with His sensibilities of right and wrong. The Bible says that, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27 NASB) If God created us so intentionally, is it reasonable to think that He then just left us on our own to work everything out? Isn't it more reasonable to believe that a universal moral code presupposes a moral code maker? The Bible has answers that make sense. The Bible tells us that we were created to honor and serve God. This is our primary reason for existence. Worshiping and honoring God necessitates a certain behavior; a certain manner of conduct. And God did not hide what He expects from us; He revealed it in His Word, the Bible. The Bible tells us that we were created by an all-powerful, all-loving God who gives us the choice of living by His standards and fulfilling our ultimate purpose in life or choosing to go our own way, reaping the consequences of our rebellion. If there is no God who calls us to His standards and requires us to live by them, then we are at liberty to set our own standards, our own moral code. This may not sound so bad until we think of the implications of this kind of living. Who makes the rules? Who enforces them? History has shown us that the moral climate of a people who reject God degenerates into subjectivism (if it feels good, it must be good) and hedonism (indulging any desire), ultimately ending in anarchy and chaos (Proverbs 21:12; Deuteronomy 12:8). Is this what we want for humanity? The decision is ours. Seeking to introduce people to Jesus Christ and to help them become "transformed by the renewing of their mind." Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |