Where Does Lawlessness Come From?
In our day, we are reaping what post-modern thought has sown. Generations of agnostics and atheists have been looking for a foolproof way to root human rights and desirable social values in a naturalistic and materialistic outlook. But on a materialistic basis, why should humans claim certain moral rights above animals–or even vegetables?
We instinctively know, as the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that all humans are “born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Yet, as a recent article points out, “the charter provides not one syllable of defense for why we should believe such as statement to be true.” (CTY Today, Sept/Oct 24, p. 62)
The same article quotes atheist Peter Singer; “there is no such thing as an inherent privileged set of rights or dignity that applies exclusively to human beings.” Why would he say that? Because he doesn’t believe in a Divine Lawgiver and can find no basis for universal human rights in materialism. John Locke joined many thinkers in concluding that “without appealing to transcendence there is …no objective standard for human dignity and equality.” (Ibid) At least the US Declaration of Independence roots human rights in humans being “endowed by their Creator.” Unfortunately for our societies, casting off faith in God has meant getting mired in a swamp of relativism without any way of escape.
God has given us laws. They are even written on our consciences. They define human flourishing and social order. They are unchanging. In the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi contrasts the instability and unfaithfulness of Israel with the unchanging nature of God. “I the LORD do not change. So you O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed” (Malachi 3:6). His mercy does not change, but the fallout from lawlessness does not change either.
The condition of Israel at that time reflects the condition of our societies today. Glorifying adultery. Shading the truth in business. Defrauding our own labourers of a fair wage by searching the world for the cheapest labour costs. Oppressing the weak. Denying the reality of our DNA so we have pretend women and pretend men living a masquerade. Teaching children to deny the same reality by encouraging them to choose their gender in grade school. The spread of violence. The result of all this moral relativism is social instability. The denial of eternal moral principles has resulted in ambivalence about any standard and delayed justice in courts. Sin always creates chaos, which is Satan’s goal. “The wicked! They are like the chaff that the wind blows away” (Psalm 1:4). “‘The wicked are like the tossing sea which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked’” (Is. 57:20).
To change the metaphor, we can’t gobble up the cake of personal moral freedom and expect to still have the wonderful life God promises. Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments” ( John 14:21). “I am come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” No divine law? No peace. Chaos.
The root cause of corruption and instability is lack of respect for the infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and gracious God. John Bunyan in Pilgrim’s Progress wrote: “Though there is not always grace where there is fear of hell, yet, to be sure, there is no grace where there is no fear of God. For the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and they that lack the beginning have neither the middle nor the end.”
Fortunately, “Every good and perfect gift is from above from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). And so, the offer of mercy through faith in the Gospel is still in play. God’s anger is unhurried as he waits for us to repent of our sins and receive his gracious gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
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