Chapter 2: God Defines the Common God
-it takes deep conviction and courage to persevere for the common good in a hostile culture
Common Good:
“The set of conditions in society, or a state of affairs in society, where all of the various constituencies and elements of society are able to thrive”
Common:
= refers to the relational nature of society
-life we share in relationship with other people through communities of various types and sizes
-shared life humans have given community context
Good:
= conditions and parameters that allow those in a community to thrive
-refers to the thriving that humans normally wish for their communities to attain
***the vast majority of culture wars today are over the common good
-these wars aren’t happening because some people want what’s good for society and other don’t, but because people disagree on what is good for society
-just because a person thinks something is good doesn’t mean it actually is
-a person’s definition of good is ultimately rooted in something much deeper and more complex–their world view
Why Do People Disagree on What’s Good?
-a worldview is a set of beliefs about the fundamental nature of reality
-our worldview is formed by how we answer questions such as where humans came from, who we are, why we’re here, how we should live, and what happens after we die
-our worldview is the lens through which we see everything
-“good” is a concept that inherently connected to people’s worldview
-many ideas of good competing in culture
Good:
1-morally right
2-beneficial to someone or something
Morally right:
-a person’s view of what, if anything, is morally right or wrong is intrinsically tied to worldview questions because the determination of those moral categories depends on what you use as your standard
Ex. learning to play a piano piece by Mozart, so the notes will be judged based on the standard of the original piece. If you can play the original piece outside of who it was originally written then objectively those would be the wrong notes and no longer the original piece by Mozart.
-If you play a piano piece no one has heard of then there is no standard against which to judge, so it is based on your own preferences as no external standard exists
-if there is no God there is no moral standard
-if God doesn’t exist and humans are merely the product of blind evolutionary forces over billions of years, there can be no objective moral standard against which our actions can be judged
-there would be no higher-than-human moral authority with the ability and right to impose amoral law on all people telling us what we should or shouldn’t do
–no human would be in an authoritative position to claim that anything is right or wrong for all people; right and wrong would simply be a matter of individual preference
Worldview:
***I need to recognize that everyone’s idea of what is morally right or wrong is equally legitimate
-the best I can do is gain enough power to impose my idea of good on everyone else
-there is no objective moral good transcending people’s opinions to which I could appeal
-everyone does what is right in their own eyes
-see how a person’s definition of good would depend on the nature of that reality
Ex. one human might believe it’s morally right to marry 10 people while another believes it is morally right to marry only one
-but neither has an objective definition of good that applies to all people because God never made His moral standards known
-if God doesn’t exist, so objective moral rights and wrongs couldn’t exist either
***Defining the common good would be anyone’s guess
Moral Standard:
-the creator, God, does exist and chose to reveal His moral will and requirements for all of humanity through Scripture
humans would have an objective basis for knowing the moral standards that exist and what they are–these moral standards that apply to everyone
-then you make choices that are morally right or wrong relative to the objective standard that exists external to our moral preferences
-God has objective standards that people who seek the common good
-those who seek the common good that conflict with God’s standards are not actually good no matter how well-intentioned they may be
Nature of the Universe:
-the existence and definition of moral goods inherently depend on the nature of the universe in which we live
-if people disagree about what kind of universe we live in and/or are logically inconsistent in applying their worldview to matters of morality, they’ll disagree over how to define the common (moral) good
Good is Beneficial:
-beneficial is to produce a good outcome relative to a purpose
Ex. Should I hit this with a hammer? The response would be what are you using it for? If it is a nail then yes (beneficial = good), but if it is a human thumb then no (harmful = bad)
Purpose Good:
-hitting a nail with a hammer produces a good outcome because the purpose of a nail with a hammer produces a good outcome because the purpose of a nail is to go into a wall
-using a hammer to hit a human thumb produces a bad outcome, so hitting it would destroy its ability to fulfill a purpose
Scenario 1:
-there is no God, and people are merely the physical products of blind evolutionary chance so we are essentially accidents with no purpose
-their subjective definition of human purpose
Ex.
-a person could claim that killing their depressed neighbor was beneficial for that neighbor because it eliminated his suffering
-the depressed neighbor didn’t exist for any objective purpose, who would have the authority to say otherwise
-if his self-defined purpose was to live with minimal suffering, ending his life would be beneficial relative to that purpose
Scenario 2:
-there is a God who created people with a specific purpose
Ex.
-you know your neighbor is depressed
-there is an authority that has revealed that all people have a purpose
-there is an authority that says taking the life of the depressed neighbor would not benefit him
-killing your depressed neighbor is objectively wrong because his life has a God-given purpose
***an action is beneficial or harmful depending on the nature of the universe in which we live
-if people disagree about what kind of universe we live in and/or are logically inconsistent in applying their worldview to these questions
-they will disagree over what is beneficial or harmful for people when advocating for the common good
-people may have all kinds of views about reality, leading to cultural wars over what’s good for society
Only one actual reality:
-Christians who believe the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God
-our answers to worldview questions must come from Scripture
-Christian worldview = based on what the Bible teaches as the Biblical Worldview
-Christians advocate for the common good
-the Bible teaches about the true nature of reality
How Biblical Theology Informs the Good:
-key Biblical theological points that have bearing on the subject of the common good
Who is God?
-today people have many unbiblical conceptions about God
-those conceptions are often at the source of cultural debates over the common good
-in these cultural dialogues, Christians are often getting confused in their own understanding of who God is
Back to the basics:
***Scripture is not Subjective
1-God has revealed Himself through Scripture
-this is one of the most fundamental truths of Christianity
-our God is not a deistic God who created the world and walked away, leaving us to blindly guess who He is, who we are, why we are here
-God has revealed these things and much more in the Bible
-He doesn’t reveal everything or even everything we’d like to know
-we have a responsibility of knowing what He’s told us and accepting those things as the truth about reality
-objective truths pertaining to issues of cultural relevance exist
-what those truths are
-people in our culture may hold different worldviews, but that doesn’t change what kind of universe we actually live in
-there is one reality in which is the common good
***what is morally right for and beneficial to communities of humans–is defined by and revealed by God
-people may advocate for the common good according to their own definitions
-Christians should recognize when those definitions don’t line up with what God has revealed
-when we recognize their ideas are objectively wrong our response should be unashamedly advocating for the common good according to what is true
***there are people who identify as Christians and yet don’t believe the Bible is God’s Word
-progressive Christians are those who typically view the Bible as man’s evolving (and often errant) ideas about God rather than God’s eternal truths revealed to man
-progressive Christians don’t recognize Scripture as authoritative revelation about reality, they’ll naturally define the common good on their own subjective terms
-progressive Christians often condemn the Bible-believing counterparts for their views on social issues
-progressive Christians are usually not the object of cultural hate
***when your authority for reality is yourself rather than the Bible, culture will warmly embrace you as one of its own–even if you technically call yourself a Christian
2-God has revealed Himself through the natural world
-the Bible teaches that even if you never lay your hands on Scripture, there are certain things all people can and do know about God from the natural world
Romans 1: 18-20
***theologians call natural world as the general revelation
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1: 18-20).
***Paul is saying that everyone clearly knows there’s a divine and eternal Creator of the world just from observing creation
***if you deny that, you’re suppressing the truth in unrighteousness; it’s a moral problem
“ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares” (Romans 2: 14-16).
***Paul says that God gives humans innate knowledge of right and wrong (refers to a moral conscience)
Moral Conscience:
-the Bible tells us all people have knowledge of a divine, eternal Creator
-we all have a basic knowledge of right and wrong according to God’s standards
-God’s standards has far reaching implications for how we advocate for righteousness in the public square
-we should learn how to engage graciously with and ask probing questions of culture on all subjects
***we should be working to draw out what the Bible says they already know about the basic nature of reality
3-God is love and defines love
-culture largely assumes that both the importance and definition of love are self-evident
-it is loving to save a drawing child or rescuing a kitten out of a tree
But What about these questions:
-Is it loving to take your children to a pride parade in order to teach them about “diversity”?
-Is it loving to make sure a pregnant teenager can get an abortion?
-Is it loving to encourage a five-year old boy struggling with gender dysphoria to start living as a girl?
-the definition of good depends on the nature of the universe in which we live, so does the definition of love
-there will be actions we feel are loving that are actually worthy of condemnation and actions we feel are unloving that are actually worthy of praise
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22: 36-39).
-note the hierarchy: Jesus says one commandment is the greatest, that implies any other commandments should be obeyed within that context
-it tells us that what it means to love others depends on what it means to first love God
-we need to advocate for the common good out of our love for others
-our advocacy must first be rooted in our love for and obedience to God
***love others depends on what it means to 1st love God
4-God is just and defines Justice
***making right that which is wrong
-our culture loves love, our culture loves justice as long as it is for social justice
-as Christians, we have established definitions of justice according to the Bible
Judge = God’s standard
God = Objective
Men = Subjective
-right and wrong are moral categories that require a standard, and it God’s character that provides that standard
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
“The Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness” (Psalm 9: 7-8).
***God’s people are also to judge, and we are to do so according to the standards He’s revealed
-if we instead use our own standards to define right and wrong, we’ll incorrectly identify what wrongs need to be made right
-that means people can genuinely believe they’re working for justice while perpetuating great injustices
Ex. Reproductive justice which is a euphemism for the so-called right to abortion
***Our culture may love justice, but its concept of justice often has a problematic relationship with the reality of God’s objective standards
Who is Man?
-divergent views on who or what a human being is are actually at the root of nearly every cultural debate today
-culture may be confused about the nature of mankind, but Christians shouldn’t be
-our Creator told us all we need to know about who we are
3 Biblical teachings regarding our identity that are foundational for thinking rightly about the common good:
1-Every human is made in the image of God
-we are not accidental by-products of blind evolutionary processes
-mankind was created by God in His own image
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1: 27).
-we are set apart from animals
-we are moral creatures who are able to reflect, reason, and make the choices necessary to execute the dominion God gave us over the earth
“ God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1: 28).
-every human is created by and made in the image of God
***Every human is inherently and equally valuable
***it is this inherent value what makes murder (the unjustified taking of innocent life) such an affront to God
2-Every human has an objective purpose
-humans have inherent and equal value because our Creator gave us that value
-He created us for something
-He gave us a purpose
-we exist to know God, love God, and make Him known to others
-human purpose is not subjective
-we need to know the purpose of something to determine whether in action will be beneficial or harmful to it
-knowing what humans are ‘for” must inform the Christian understanding of how to advocate for the good of individuals and society
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
“He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Like 10:27).
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
“who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
3-Every human has a sin nature
-the American Worldview Inventory survey: 69% of Americans believe people are “basically good”
-half Christians classify themselves as having a biblical worldview who agree that people are “basically good”
-This is unbiblical, because it is clear from the start to finish that humans have a sin nature
-we are not basically “good”; we just think we are
-God created humans with the ability to choose between right and wrong, and when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world
-the consequence of sind is death
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
***Scripture leaves no doubt about this universal reach of our sin nature
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
“Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
-as a culture, we’ve collectively deceived ourselves into thinking we’re basically good, but the Bible tells a very different story
***Only truly good as defined by God
***Know God’s truth or compromise truth under cultural hate
What’s Truly Good is often Hated
-the deceptive ease with which culture throws them around that often leads to the confusion we see today, both in and out of the church
-we must take the time to understand what’s truly good as defined by God
-what’s truly good is often hated by culture
-It is essential that Christians have clarity
-without clarity, we’re prone to compromise truth under cultural accusations of hate
-Christians must advocate for the common good when it comes to the most controversial subjects today
***we need clarity on the intersection of faith and politics…because advocating for the common good is political