Objective Morality – Darwin v. Creator, Yeshua-Jesus Christ (Comparison-Contrast)

Much discussion as of late among the atheist persuasion concerning the origin of objective morality; Mankind is confronted with two-options for consideration,

1) Darwin’s premise of evolving genomic intricacy and causal deterministic morality.

2) The infusion of objective morality in the inner-man (spirit) at conception by our Creator, Jesus Christ-Yeshua.

Part 1

Darwin’s Premise

Evolutionary Theory, a most potent progenitor of Atheism, suggests that the yet undefined beginnings of DNA-Life (abiogenesis/descent with modification-common ancestor) methodically evolved through increasing genomic intricacy via mutation and over millions-or-billions-of-years a creature possessing physiological – psychological sentientism manifest displaying emotion, wisdom, discernment, equating to self-awareness while pursuing a causal deterministic morality.

Competition for survival among these superior sentient beings created dissension; the struggle for sustenance (survival of the fittest) manifest in destructive behaviors that threatened survival of the species; therefore, a basic understanding of morality mandating behaviors that profited the entirety of the group evolved by trial and error (survival of the most moral); hence, the naturalistic foundation of Natural Law setting forth restrictions on behaviors that warred against the sustainability, general welfare, of the group/a society.

The primordial fly-in-the-ointment for naturalistic origin of morality is the predisposition of mankind to relativize morality as a result of an innate sense of selfishness, lust, greed, accompanied by a desire for dominance under girded by narcissistic pride/arrogance. By what mechanism can the inner-being/behavior of Nature’s most intelligent beings be controlled so that life can attain some measure of meaning and purpose in conjunction with sustainability?

Unfortunately, negative reinforcement does not provide lasting deterrence and a society governed solely by self-determinism, moral relativism, suffers moral decay/moral rot and many have ceased to exist for this reason; therefore, Darwin’s naturalistic approach to morality does not provide a form of objective morality that is conducive to sustainability of the human species over time.

Darwin’s failures

1) Darwin’s premise fails to explain why self-destructive behaviors are manifest in a sentient being that is, according to Evolutionary Theory, evolving into a creature of ever-increasing complexity and physiological-psychological-moral perfection.

2) Darwin’s premise fails to provide an achievable, practical, applicable, deterrence to self-destructive behavior in the human species; behaviors manifesting in immoral, unnatural, conduct that negates procreation, sustainability of the species through same-sex attraction and same-sex intercourse; Darwin’s premise ultimately manifests in the destruction of the Biblical family unit – the bedrock of societal sustainability.

3) Darwin’s naturalistic perspective concerning objective morality fails to address the perplexing problem of “diminishing returns” relevant to the lust of the flesh, the pursuit of sensuality, that can never attain a plateau of consistent-lasting satisfaction/contentment but inevitably mandates ever-increasing forms of sexual debauchery in the realm of sexual immorality or ever-increasing amounts of substance abuse to placate an insatiable fleshly appetite for pleasure and sensuality. The inevitable resultant of naturalistic moral “diminishing returns” is physiological-psychological addiction/dependence and far too often, death of the body.

Part 2

God’s Objective Morality as defined in “The Beginning”

God the Holy Spirit articulates, in various parts of His written Covenant with mankind (the Scriptures), that objective morality is written upon the heart of mankind at conception as it was in the creation of Adam, the first man.

It is written…

“…in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,” Romans 2:15 (NASB)

Evidence relevant to infused morality?

The evidence of God’s infused morality within mankind is demonstrated by the thoughts and actions of the first man and first woman immediately subsequent to their rebellion to our Creator’s edict prohibiting compromise with evil.

In the following Scripture, note the manifestation of fear, shame, deceit, obfuscation, all defining and substantiating the presence of objective morality in both Adam and Eve.

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. [shame]

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. [fear; shame] Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” [fear; shame] And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” [obfuscation; pride; denial of culpability] Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” [pride; obfuscation; denial of culpability]

Why has God infused morality within mankind?

Apparently, our Creator has at least two-primary reasons for infusing morality into the inner-man of Human KIND.

1) Protection of Human Kind through objective moral standards ensuring the sustainability of the species by thwarting destructive behaviors.

2) Objective morality infused at conception is necessary for judgment in Eternity to manifest with equity and due process.

The atheist will be quick to point out that “religion” is not a source of morality and that man can pursue morality apart from religion or a god. The atheist will also point to the Holy Bible and scoff at the concept of the Scriptures as a guide to morality. I partially agree with the atheist relevant to this premise.

The Holy Bible is NOT simply a Book of morality and the Holy Spirit did not construct same with such a singular purpose in mind. The Holy Bible is also a written Covenant of Grace between God and mankind as established by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and said Covenant is sealed/guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit of Promise (Ephesians 1:13). Morality cannot be internalized via a book. Basic objective morality is infused into the inner-man (spirit) of every human being at conception by God.

For clarification, the Bible does articulate moral objectives, standards and behaviors that God defines as acceptable and unacceptable but it is only through the power and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit that mankind finds the strength and wisdom to actually live a life that is morally and ethically pleasing to God (Galatians 5:16; Psalm 119:9-16).

Mankind is without excuse

From the most remote Aborigine to the urbanized city-dweller in America, if neither read a single Scripture from the Holy Bible in their lifetime, they are both equally culpable for iniquity/sin/disobedience before our Holy and Just Creator in this life constrained by Time and at Judgment in Eternity. That culpability manifests equally throughout God’s human creation beginning with The Genesis concerning the first-man, Adam, because our Creator has infused His objective moral law into our inner-man; therefore, we are all culpable before God irrespective of our education, our socialization, our beliefs, our loyalties.

The only exemptions from culpability for sin are granted to children who have not attained an age of reason/accountability sufficient to discern good from evil, moral from immorality and the mentally handicap individual incapable of moral judgment (Matthew 19:14). Without conscious awareness of God’s moral law written upon our heart, there is no sin; therefore, children and the mentally handicapped are secure in God’s righteousness, fairness, justice and compassion (Romans 4:15; Romans 5:12-14).

As an aside, understand that every man and woman having attained an age of reason is aware of God’s moral law and they are also aware of God’s reality and His validity in both Time and Eternity; therefore, if anyone rejects God’s authority and His reality they will be “without excuse” at their Judgment in Eternity (Romans 1:18-32).

“Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 (NASB)

As a result of our first Earthly father, Adam, and his rebellion to – rejection of God’s Covenant of provision and sustenance, all of mankind has inherited a sin-nature through Adam’s seed and we are all therefore guilty before God in accordance with His standard of perfection as written upon our heart via the objective-divine-natural moral law.

If not for the restraining power of the Holy Spirit over this fallen-World and mankind’s sinful-nature, mankind would implode in self-destructive behavior much like the generation of Noah (Genesis 6:5-8).

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 (NASB)

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (NASB)

Conclusion: Comparison-Contrast

Darwin’s naturalistic perspective relevant to objective morality has proven itself to be wholly inadequate as a restrainer of destructive behaviors as well as a contradiction to the theory of evolution. Darwin offers zero-answers and zero-solutions to self-destructive immorality and the ever-present problem of “diminishing returns” concerning the addictive nature of sensuality/lust/the pursuit of pleasure.

The Holy Spirit of God, Who was present at Creation, demonstrates that God the Father infuses the natural law, objective morality within the inner-man (spirit of man) so that Judgment in Eternity will manifest in equity with due process. We see that God has also infused objective morality into the inner-man as a bulwark thwarting destructive behaviors that would otherwise negate the sustainability of Human KIND.

God the Father has also outlined a Covenant by which He provides mankind a pathway leading to obedience to the moral law by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; a Covenant of the New Birth that constrains the sin-nature of mankind through the process of Sanctification; Sanctification being a process whereby the inner-man is incrementally transformed into a new-man/new-woman through the guidance and strength of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

It is the indwelling Holy Spirit received upon one’s faith/belief in Jesus Christ as Lord that teaches the redeemed individual that pursuit of Worldly lust/immorality is futile while the Sanctification process initiated by faith in Christ ultimately leads to Divine “contentment” which leads to Divine “joy” which culminates in everlasting “peace.”

When Divine contentment controls the inner-man, the fallen-nature, though it remains a formidable foe, is tempered and controllable through obedience to the Holy Spirit and it is through the Holy Spirit that the “Fruits of the Spirit” are manifest in one’s life.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)

As for me and my household, we will trust in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as our Moral Authority and Law Giver while rejecting Darwin’s failures as deceptive and impotent thereby culminating in death of the body in sin and death of the body and soul in Hell in futility (Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 10:28).

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8 (NASB)

There is much more to be said concerning the issuance of God’s Ten-Commandments and the 613-Levitical Laws given to the Children of Israel as well as the issuance of Jesus’ Two-Greatest Commandments and their purpose relevant to the objective moral law written upon our heart and the working of the Holy Spirit in the dispensation of The Law v. the dispensation of Grace; unfortunately, this FB format and mandated brevity prevents such a discussion.

Rickey D. Holtsclaw