Skilled in the word of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13) Part 9
Written by: Yeow Chin Kiong
Morality and ethics has reference not only to the mere existence of things (which comes under the ambit of the COSMOLOGICAL Argument proving God’s existence) or that such things have a design, purpose or end (which is the basis of the TELEOLOGICAL Argument for God’s existence) but also to the goodness, truthfulnes or rightness, and, some add, the beauty value of the existing things and their design.
The MORAL Argument for God’s existence lays claim on the physical existence of purposeful things around us as proof of the necessary existence of God as the First Cause and Intelligent Designer of things which mankind perceive to be of value (i.e. being true, good or beautiful to them). God created things which are good (Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25 and 31) which, taken together, provide us gladness or joy (the Greek EUPHROSYNE; Strong’s G2167 in Acts 14:17 as used also in Acts. 2:28).
Acts 14:17 tells us that Nature’s continuous provision of rain and seasons producing food for us is evidence of God “doing good” for us, giving things which we appreciate. The necessary implication of this fact is two-fold: firstly, mankind should, in our gratitude for His good gifts (James 1:17), give God the glory (contra Romans 1:21). Secondly, that we can enjoy good things which God gives us means it is inexcusable for us to deny our fellow human beings the same enjoyment by any means such as by oppressing them or stealing from them,- the basis of morality.
The second point above is the main teaching of Matthew 7:11-12: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. Therefore, whatever you want man to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” We who intuitively appreciate the good that God and our fellowmen do for us must reciprocate by doing good to God and others.
Our innate desire for right and good treatment by others and our sense of injustice when others do us wrong shout loudly in the latter situation for recompense and retribution, even though justice may be denied to us in this world and in this life! Needless to say this enduring craving for justice,- at least for ourself, if not for others! - cannot, and need not, be explained in a merely materialistic and Godless existence. Moral and ethical values serve no purpose in a “survival of the fittest” existence. Mankind’s moral and ethical sensitivities must have a Source outside itself. Also, given our inability to dispense perfectly the justice we crave because of our limited knowledge and wisdom, true justice has to be obtained from outside of ourselves. Indeed, we who have wronged others to some degree have disqualified ourselves from judging others unless we ourselves are pardoned of our wrongdoing. The necessity of the existence of an all-powerful, all-knowing and all-benevolent Law-Giver and Judge is obvious.
There are other arguments for the existence of God beside the three which have been discused. However the cosmological, teleological and moral arguments,- taken together,- are enough to make a strong case for the existence of Deity. Only after we are thus convinced can we proceed to consider whether the Bible is the communication between God and mankind that it claims to be. It must be remembered that Hebrews 11:6 is NOT a call for blind, unevidenced faith NEITHER is it that we must believe that God exists in spite of the available evidence external or internal to ourselves. Foundational matters (e.g. God exists) must, like all matters, be proven to be true (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) BEFORE we go on to consider the truth of other propositions (e.g. the Bible is God’s word) that are built on them.