Everyones born with a conscience and knows right from wrong when they learn to reason.
That most human beings are "instilled" with some sense of right/wrong is true. What those rights/wrongs actually are, can/does vary from person-to-person and culture-to-culture.
I do believe that certain (more universal) social and moral norms are commonly regarded, but things are
far from black/white in every way.
We are made in God's image, there is no excuse for sin, everyone knows that murder is wrong, their consciences accuses them.
I live here in WESTERN society, where killing has "parameters" of justification which differ from those of other civilizations. The type of "killing" or "murder" that is right/wrong from culture-to-culture, nation-to-nation does differ. Even THAT isn't clearly black/white, and the real world proves what I'm saying. I've even seen "Christians" differ upon when killing a person is/isn't morally acceptable.
There are some who believe that societal influences are the cause of conscience development, not true.
Who taught you that it DOESN'T cause that?
EXAMPLE: Lets say that a man was accused of murdering and raping someone. The defense says that the man was isolated from society all his life from childbirth before committing murder and rape.
Just as God does, human beings must weight EACH case as judiciously as possible. The reason God can enforce ABSOLUTE LAW or RULE, is because He (and He alone) is unimpeachable or without FAULT. He sees perfectly and judges perfectly (according to what they Bible implies of Him). Human beings DO NOT have perfection in any/every way; they just don't. It's relatively EASY to talk about the perfection of a "God", but impossible for us (humans) to even come close to being THAT "perfect".
Do you think that this defense would actually hold up in court?
I find the crime of "
rape" to be totally reprehensible; yet in some societies/civilizations it gets hardly any attention at all.
Still, the most consistent "STANDARD" I have to hold against it, is that it is a
sin, because it disregards God's foundational admonishment to LOVE others as we love ourselves. No one WANTS to be controlled, assaulted or abused against their will; no one. Most people who RAPE someone (unless they are absolutely insane or under the influence of some chemical substance), realize that the person they are violently raping is certainly
NOT consenting to it. There is little doubt that rape (or sexual assault on a child) is one of the worst acts on the planet, apart from ruthlessly and unlawfully taking the life of another person. And yes, it's true that most cultures understand why such behavior cannot be allowed.
Obviously no! We can't make the same excuse with God either.
We don't know what God is seeing and doing about the "sin" in each person's life. And we don't know what the person who committed the sin is dealing with (internally), only God really knows where that person actually is "spiritually". We (other human beings) can choose to forgive that person (or not), but we don't necessarily know how God is judging/affecting them.
God will judge all people according to his law which reveals what sin is.
He will indeed judge, but we really don't know how He will apply correction or punishment. Some people "imagine" they know, but they really cannot know. Not to say that we must approve of that which we believe is "wrong", but that we must exercise what is most prudent toward them, as God's spirit and Jesus' example of love leads us to.
I may THINK that I want every rapist or pedophile put to death, but that isn't necessarily God's will for the individual who might commit such a crime. I feel like ONE STRIKE and your're "OUT", and that's exactly how some people are punished (here and now).
But one thing remains clear to me: Human beings cannot judge other human beings a abslutely as God can/does. He knows hearts, minds, past experiences and influences; he REALLY knows who will/won't change their ways and why that is. We can't do all that where it concerns another human beings (though we often do our best, legally and socially).
And since God has given every person a conscience,. there is no excuse.
As I implied respectfully (above), perceptions of what is/isn't right or wrong will vary between people. As much as I wish others see God's "laws" in the way I do, I realize the best I can do is to LOVE others as Jesus said to. I deal with EVIL or bad people likely every day of my life; people who have possibly done things which are (in my eyes, or perhaps God's) unethical, immoral or "
sinful".
But the reality is that despite who these people may be (or how "
evil" they may be), I have to accept that I either cannot or should not condemn them (as
only He is authorized to do). And while I agree that encouragement or correction are typically good things, there are those who go too far in trying to FORCE people to be good, right or moral.
We cannot read the "conscience" of another person; no matter how much we think we can. Still, there may come a point where for the protection of others in a less-than-perfect-world, mankind within the given confines of various moral sensibilities and laws, will act upon certain actions/behaviors. This isn't always "bad" to do, but carried too far, it can certainly be. For example:
One of my primary contentions with some Christians who are adamantly against "
homosexuality", is that they are terribly judgemental and unkind toward people who just happen to BE homosexual. Nevemind that millions of people are gay and are hardly "hedonistic" (or perverted); at least no more than millions of heterosexuals surely are. I think that God sees the possobly good intentions of those who wish to combat "sin"; and just as they literally FALL SHORT of the mark in tending to their own FAULTS, He also realize that many also fail miserably to minister properly to others who are also in "sin".
From a spiritual perspective, I know Jesus is the answer. That is where I apply such energy, in dealing with my sin and those of others. I cannot be as perfect as some expect, and I don't expect to find one single individual who is perfect (sinless). I literally expect them to screw-up (somehow/someway). They may be notorious for it, or not... but I KNOW they WILL miss the mark in this reality more times than I will ever know. That is why faith, hope, love and grace are the SUPERIOR tools to make use of in THIS life.
Jesus could have just KILLED every sinner, and been justified. But
LOVE tells me why He didn't do that. As the story goes, there were those who were sinners and did not intend to be "righteous" before God (likely every human in the world), yet he provided a "way" for all to be covered (as a result of His sacrifice).
I've seen enough of people PUSHING their brand/s of religion, Christianity or whatever. That may not be true for others, but it's true for me. If Jesus cannot or will not cover for me, then I'm just plain DOOMED; I'll NEVER BE THAT "GOOD". Not something I'm "proud" of, but it's a reality that I cannot escape; I'm as GUILTY as "sin", and I know it (sometimes).
-Mel-
