The modern charge, that Christians who follow God's law are "puritanical," shows the unbeliever's hatred of God's law in that he uses a term that's commendatory (pure) to be derogatory (oppressive). We should strive to be "puritans" (i.e., pure) in our moral values. The law is not a constraint upon those who would act righteously, but only upon those who do evil deeds: "Law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious" (1 Tim. 1:9)
The absolute principles of morality are designed to curb the evil desires of the sinner's heart. God's law condemns the "societal good" of those cultures that practiced genocide, cannibalism, human sacrifice, pederasty, widow immolation, or community suicides--and the more mundane evils in our own culture.
Greg L. Bahnsen, Pushing the Antithesis, (Powder Springs, GA: American Vision, 2007) 181.
No comments:
Post a Comment