Is there a way to know if and when ‘secular conscience’
fails? In other words, When does the secular conscience
definitions of core values go so far astray that truth
cannot be recovered? How does a secular conscience define
honesty, integrity, and justice? Is all morality relative
and/or evolving? In our democratic republic how does this affect the voter’s trust in our own government?
Using the 14th amendment ideas such as: freedom of religion,
liberty and justice for all, USC not mentioning Christianity
having any legal power, just a part of evolving morality,
just my opinion; are all used as a basis for secular natural
law, i.e., conscience, i.e., core values, today.
Is their any cultural thread holding onto a fixed standard
of morality any more? Consider the traditional Southern
Baptist position on morality, i.e., core values. They
believe in ‘Sola Scriptura’ for all of life.
In line with historical Scriptural exegesis, some Baptists
still believe sodomy is immoral and certainly homosexual
marriage should be illegal. However, considering both the
Baptist strong belief in a separation of church and state as
well as recent SCOTUS decisions, there is no legal leg to
stand on for prohibiting homosexual marriage or making law
that says sodomy is a crime.
Just recently 2 SCOTUS judges reprimanded the SCOTUS
majority for not reconsidering a 2015 case which punished
Kim Davis for not issuing a marriage certificate to a
homosexual couple. These 2 SCOTUS judges claimed the
decision was contrary to the “freedom of religion” of Kim
Davis and thus against her first amendment rights.
There is an unsettling, akin to illogical “quicksand”,
acceptance of this progressive core value: homosexual
marriage. Using a pluralistic (secular) argument who is
to say marriage may not be a contract between any 2
consenting adults? You may think that is just what I said. But, wait, what defines “adult”? Why is the
18th birthday the core value of when a child becomes an
adult? That sounds like some standard is being applied.
Why not use an after-puberty age? Morality is evolving,
right? Wait again. Why not permit this contract between 2
or more consenting adults? Why is the core value of
marriage only between 2 adults? Morality is evolving,
right? Law, based on definitions of ‘core values’ has now
become a pool of opinions contradicting one another since
the secular standard continues to evolve.
Consider core values as redefined by the SCOTUS LGBTQ
decision. There are multiple contradictions in this
‘secular conscience’.
The feminist movement fought hard to pass Title IX where
females are given the same federal sports scholarship money
as the males. But with LGBTQ in place males are allowed to
compete as females and in some sports are winning first
place because of it. The Black Lives Matter (BLM), by this
phrase, are elevating the black skin color. What does this
mean for Judge Clarance Thomas or doctor Ben Carson? The
BLM even disagrees with Dr. Martin Luther King’s position
which did not want to elevate any race above another
[[https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/10/14/the-civil-rights-legend-who-opposed-critical-race-theory]]
Next, consider the lock downs and face mask requirement and
then the rioting in Portland, and elsewhere. How much has
Covid 19 increased in Portland due to this crowd assembly?
SCOTUS is about to consider the legality of homosexual
couples to adopt children, even as I write. How long will
it be legal for parents to “indoctrinate” their own children
that same-sex acts are sinful? I could go on about the
illogic of core values today.
The Bible, in Romans, arguably, is the first to define
natural law. Let’s examine what it has to say. Did the New
Testament change civil law? Did the absolute standard
change such that Nineveh in Jonah’s day was held to a
different civil law standard than we are (or should be)
today? Let’s look into the context of Natural Law mentioned
in the New Testament to see if it agrees or not with Jonah
and Nineveh as well as other Old Testament applications.
Here then is the definition of Natural Law or conscience as
given by Paul in Romans chapter 2 verses 14 and 15.
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. They show that
the work of the law is written on their hearts, while
their conscience also bears witness, and their
conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.
Here is the context starting in Romans chapter 1 verse 18.
I’m using [[https://www.esv.org]] as my Scripture source. Also,
notice how the gospel, summarized by John chapter 3 verse
16, cannot be omitted here. “For God so loved the world, he
gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have everlasting life.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their
unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be
known about God is plain to them, because God has shown
it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his
eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly
perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the
things that have been made. So they are without
excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not
honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became
futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images
resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping
things.24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their
hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies
among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth
about God for a lie and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed
forever! Amen.
Paul begins by writing about God’s commandments being
broken. Notice how he states that evidences of God’s
existence and authority impregnates every one’s conscience.
From verse 18 we understand there is a progression of
continuing rebellion, i.e., unrighteousness, causing more of
God’s truth to be ignored and hidden.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable
passions. For their women exchanged natural relations
for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men
likewise gave up natural relations with women and were
consumed with passion for one another, men committing
shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the
due penalty for their error.
Paul sets up a “marker” in this progression of
unrighteousness and hidden (distorted) truth. It is the
acceptance of homosexuality.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,
God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not
to be done.
This “debased mind” implies a seared conscience which no
longer may be depended upon to discern between good and evil
in the conscience.
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness,
evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy,
murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty,
boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31
foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they
know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such
things deserve to die, they not only do them but give
approval to those who practice them.
Paul identifies unrighteous behavior of all kinds. Then,
closes this section by identifying the sin: teaching others
that unrighteous behavior is fine.
Chapter 2
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you
who judges. For in passing judgment on another you
condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the
very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God
rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do
you suppose, O man – you who judge those who practice
such things and yet do them yourself — that you will
escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the
riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not
knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to
repentance?
Here Paul drops back into the life-blood of natural law: the
gospel. After committing sin, i.e., saying no to God by
going against one’s conscience, I must realize I am guilty
of unrighteous behavior and must repent to receive God’s
mercy believing the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus
Christ was a just punishment for my own sin.
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are
storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when
God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will
render to each one according to his works: 7 to those
who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor
and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for
those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and
fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every
human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the
Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who
does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God
shows no partiality.
Here is where Paul by the Spirit says “all lives matter”.
God doesn’t show favoritism. Everyone who continues doing
evil, rejecting the truth their conscience tells them will
ultimately suffer just punishment. Everyone who repents and
does good will receive God’s forgiveness and blessing.
12 For all who have sinned without the law will also
perish without the law, and all who have sinned under
the law will be judged by the law.
After Jonah’s preaching everyone in Nineveh knew they were
guilty of sin; even without the (written) law, i.e.,
biblical law.
13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are
righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will
be justified. 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. 15
They show that the work of the law is written on their
hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and
their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16
on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the
secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
So, for those without the written law, their conscience
which accuses a person of evil, i.e., sinful, actions is
only useful if one pays attention, i.e., refrains from the
evil action. Verse 15 here sounds like chapter 1 verse 28
above. When one goes against their conscience continually
their conscience becomes useless. The mind, being debased,
now excuses evil behavior.
More to follow.