Univesal Human Law

Universal Human Law

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Bobby felt pride in the elaborate sand castle he carefully constructed at one end of the playground sandbox. But when Billy’s castle at the other end of the sandbox collapsed, he came over and stomped down Bobby’s sand castle. Bobby was hurt, then angry and shouted, “You have no right to do that. You’re mean. You don’t play fair.”

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Despite the differences of culture, race, class, nationality, religion, we are all still human beings. Knowing this we should treat everyone with the same respect and concern that we would want him or her to treat us. This universal human law we sometimes call natural law because it’s normal human behavior.

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In this essay, we’ll survey misunderstandings C. S. Lewis pointed out in his famous book, Mere Christianity. We’ll examine some examples of abuse. We’ll consider why human law makes universal sense but not ultimate sense. Then we’ll reflect upon why we need a higher authority to justify absolute human law. Finally, we’ll consider the challenge to make some life changes of our own.

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First, universal human law can be misunderstood. It’s not herd instinct as desire for love or food or sex--it’s considering the good of other countries and persons as well as my own. It’s not local custom as which side of the road to drive on, but universal reform of slavery and infanticide. It’s not nature’s laws such as gravity, but human laws such as don’t murder. And it’s not my preferences or fancy, but that in the real world moral wrongs such as racism, caste system, hatred, cruelty.

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Second, let’s examine some examples of abuse. Lists may vary somewhat but general agreement exists throughout history as C. S. Lewis shows in his book The Abolition of Man. 
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Life. The first law of human survive is that life must be provided for and protected. Parents and posterity deserve our respect and care just as we cherish it shown us. Murder, rape, injury, neglect, and warfare all disregard this basic human law. Moreover, let’s not lie to ourselves, we know human life is a process that begins when sperm penetrates egg and continues until our last breath. If right to life excludes unwanted babies, it sets the precedent for denying it to defective persons, the aged, maimed, or anyone disagreeing with controlling officials. Are moderns any more moral to dice infants in the womb than were ancients to expose them to the elements and wild animals? Human law values life above things and many lives above one. When human life isn’t valued and respected no life is safe.  Can we be honest enough to admit this?

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Honesty. It’s basic to all else. We should keep promises, vows, covenants, and treaties. Trust between people is vital to good will, social relationships, trade, and avoiding wars. If circumstances change, parties should work out their differences and remain at peace. Honesty too would prohibit deception, cheating, stealing, gossip, as all are destructive to human welfare. Employers should be fair with employees and workers owe an honest day’s work. We don't have to read the Bible to know this is right? What we don't want done to us, we shouldn't do to other people.
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Gender. It’s no secret that men and women are designed for and compatible with each other in several ways. Since persons receive half of their genetic makeup from their father and half from their mother neither sex is superior to the other but designed for different roles. It’s universal shame to degrade, exploit and murder women and girls. Men are bigger, stronger, and aggressive suggesting their role is to provide and protect their family. Women are smaller, more detailed, social minded, emotional and have the babies signifying their role is nurture and homemaking. It's shameful that some religions and philosophies degrade women even to slavery.

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Marriage. One man for one woman is the natural order. The number of baby boys born generally equal baby girls. One person having multiple spouses deprives others from having a spouse and one person cannot give multiple spouses the attention they all need. It’s bound to result in jealousy and rivalry. While some Bible characters had many wives, it was not God's will and showed hardness of heart. 
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Education. This enables us to learn skills, gain employment, improve health, comfort, and have longer life. Parents and schools are duty bound not only to teach children language, history, math, science and trades but ethics and social and marital skills are even more vital. Use of substances abusive of mind and body such as alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs should be discouraged. Human laws imposed on imperfect people, however, must allow for lesser vises that most persons can avoid in maintaining social stability. We acquire knowledge through experience, experiment, jurisprudence, forensic science. Usually, we must settle for high probability. And human fallibility requires we allow criticism of our assumptions, correctness of reasoning and conclusions. Humility, sensitivity, and human compassion needs to be shown in education.  

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Homosexuality and Bestiality. These are the most unreasonable violations of nature. Design of male and female bodies clearly defines their compatibility, reproductive and family functions. Homosexuality consistently practiced would destroy the human race. No studies by homosexuals or anyone else show a homosexual gene and all such studies claiming a 10% incidence are seriously flawed. Learned feelings can be unlearned. To say I can’t help it is not good enough--thieves, rapists, murders can say the same thing. And human sex with animals is degrading and humiliating to both. Monkeys know better than to have sex with dogs or cats with turkeys. There is no real evidence we came from monkey or anything inferior to them. That's all supposition and foolishness.

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Third, we know these universal human laws make sense to have a sane, sensible, safe humanity—don’t steal, rape or murder and always be kind and respectful. Yes, we’re quick to object, uphold and defend universal law when we’re abused, but look the other way when others are or we’re not at risk. When we suppress our conscience and compassion for others like ourselves, we violate this law. But often we put desire above duty. We suppress, deny, obstruct, or excuse human violations. Prestige and power can overwhelm us as with Hitler, Mao, and countless others who have murdered millions of men, women and children who disagreed with them. Trust in our Creator, Lawgiver, Redeemer, and Judge can enable us to rise above all that.

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With passions so strong, violations unlikely discovered and punished, and we’re evolving, perishing, soulless dirt, why bother? Motivation is weak. We’re left feeling restless, empty, confused, and defeated. Human laws make earthly sense, but not ultimate sense. Why even care about this world unless an eternal world exists? Moral absolutes require a Moral Lawgiver, an infinite person who can set standards, know our thoughts and deeds, and hold us accountable.

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Fourth, can there be this higher authority? Certainly unthinking matter, unconscious force, or limited goodness cannot do this. So no local tribal god will suffice. No God allowing 51% goodness qualifies--he’s imperfect himself, untrustworthy, and cannot insure an uncorrupted world. Neither can a deist God who abandons us nor a pantheist god of unconscious energy can hold us accountable. We must admit human absolutes require an absolute Moral Lawgiver--a person we can identify with, who sets standards, cares about us, and holds us eternally accountable. Does such a God exist?

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Yes! Science assists us here. We know something can’t come from nothing. Our running down material universe is neither self-sustaining nor eternal—stars burn out, everything deteriorates, and all motion will stop. The universe is an effect dependent on an uncaused cause—an eternal, powerful, immaterial something outside time, matter, and space.
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Biologist Louis Pasteur demonstrated only life produces life. Living things have a specified complexity; a genetic blueprint mindless nature can’t produce whatever amount of time. Life is irreducibly complex--every organ and system is originally complete and functional or else breathing would be impossible, heartbeat impossible, sex impossible.
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Astronomer Hugh Ross’s book The Creator and the Cosmos lists 122 exact conditions called the anthropic principle which show earth designed for human habitation—it’s just right air, water, gravity, temperature, magnetism, speed of rotation, size and distance from the sun, moon, stars. We’re not here by evolutionary chance but by divine creation.

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Finally, we can account for all the above only by the biblical Christian faith. God created us immortal, rational, moral persons in his image, not evolving perishing soulless dirt and not recycled energy. But we have fallen into selfishness, pride, rebellion. Jesus promises us eternal life, but warns us of eternal darkness, torment and tears. Bearing our sins on the cross, he demonstrated God’s justice and love. His divine claims, fulfilled prophecies, miracles, and resurrection assure us of eternal life and that his teaching is true.
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We can be forgiven, become children of God, and the love of Christ motivate us to fight the good fight of faith. This makes sense of everything. Won’t you turn from sin to trust in the Savior of sinners for forgiveness, cleansing and eternal life? As you trust the Lord, He will be with you to guide you through life. But it's His will we must seek even when we can't understand. He's promised to be with us to the end of the age (Matthew. 28:19-20). 
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