By David Hegg
Only those playing with a closed mind and closed history book have trouble understanding why Americans are sharply divided over moral issues. At the risk of offending some on both sides, I will put forth a defense for why those of us who follow a biblical worldview are opposed to social issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion and the continuing advancement of the dogma that gender is not binary.
First, let’s talk about equality. After all, those championing the aforementioned issues contend they are pursuing the foundational American belief that all are created equal and have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” But they have been selective in quoting the Declaration of Independence. American society has, from its beginning, been solidly in the current of human history, which believed all people had those rights because those rights were “endowed by their Creator” and “self-evident.” They were the self-evident societal norms grounded in natural law. Consequently, no government could be allowed to abridge those rights. But there are exceptions. Those who break the law relinquish some of their equality, resources, time and even freedom, because breaking the law is bad for society. Second, those of us who follow the biblical worldview also believe its basic morality mirrors natural law. When we see natural law being set aside in favor of personal desire and convenience, we consider it not only wrong but harmful to society. And so, we disagree and voice our disagreement persistently.
We all recognize natural law, when a baby is born the child is either male or female. Even today, in a world that is topsy-turvy on this issue, upon hearing of the birth of a child, we naturally ask, “Is it a boy or a girl?” That’s what we all know of nature simply because gender has always been, and always will be, determined by genetic material, not human desire or political goals. So, when those who claim loudly to “follow the science” instead break the law of nature in their declarations, we disagree, and voice our disagreement persistently.
The same is true of marriage. The biblical worldview shouts that marriage is between one man and one woman. Only those who disregard the entirety of human history have the audacity to say history was on the wrong side of marriage. When courts break with the precedent of history and declare natural law to have been in error, we assert the court has broken natural law and we disagree, persistently.
Lastly, since the beginning of human history, the intentional taking of a human life has been deemed to be against natural law. Today, our culture has decided this belief no longer pertains to a situation where a conceived child is not wanted. Faced with the absurdity that society can endure with such a cavalier attitude toward life, we disagree, protest, and will continue doing so.
The sides are drawn between those who believe equality has no obligation to natural law and those who believe breaking natural law should not be allowed. While there has always been disagreement in societies where such discussion is freely allowed, we live in an America where disagreement is considered dangerous. For the first time in my life, disagreement with those championing same-sex marriage, abortion and non-binary gender options on the basis of their disregard for natural law, is being labeled as hate speech, and worse, determined to be dangerous and worthy of annihilation.
When Amy Comey Barrett was being examined for a seat on the Supreme Court, many opponents of her worldview suggested she was a dangerous threat to our nation — for believing in marriage, gender and life as defined for thousands of years by natural law. Recently, Jennifer Siebel Newsom took aim at what she called the “far right.” She proclaimed, “They’re living in this Evangelical, conservative silo that, ultimately, is just pulling us back as a country to a time and a place where we don’t deserve to be and we’re not gonna be … Because honestly, young women and fathers of daughters are awake now, and they’re woke, and they’re not going to let us go back.”
This is why we disagree. Those of us who believe in natural law consider that those who throw it aside in favor of personal desires, political goals and convenience are a threat to the nation’s moral stability. We are up for dialogue, to make our case in the marketplace of ideas. But, sadly, our opponents don’t want to talk. They only want to rant and ridicule, slander and insinuate, and mostly, annihilate those who dare oppose them.
But we’re here to stay, and will continue to disagree, hopefully agreeably, persistently, in hopes our opponents will abandon the paths leading to destruction and join us on the path of life.
Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.
