Following your own good—is Man essentially good? Are we evolving into better people, guided by some innate wisdom?
The Pope etc
An article in FrontPageMag addressed the Left’s march to the papacy facilitated by Pope Francis and like-minded cohorts. The pope has raised eyebrows by consistently making problematic statements. Of course, these are sometimes walked back. Often it’s claimed that he was misquoted; which could certainly be the case. Here’s one,
“Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them. That would be enough to make the world a better place.” ~ Attributed to Pope Francis
I can’t say if Francis was cited fairly. But this mood is prevalent and we see it represented by Man’s attempt to turn himself into a god. As an example, the evolving Humanist Manifestos have tended to atheism. A 2014 Crossway article notes,
Where does humanism lead? It leads to a deification of self and, contrary to what it professes, to a growing disregard for other people. For if there is no God, the self must be worshiped in God’s place. In deifying self, humanism actually deifies nearly everything but God.
But, perhaps, at the time of writing, no person captures this same self-deifying mood is Yuval Noah Harari. On his website he claims that: “History began when humans invented gods, and will end when humans become gods.” He is quoted as saying,
I titled the book ‘Homo Deus’ because we really are becoming gods in the most literal sense possible. We are acquiring abilities that have always been thought to be divine abilities – in particular, the ability to create life. And we can do with that whatever we want. ~ Harari Quotes
You can watch a YouTube clip of his books and note who endorses them.
My intention isn’t to prove people like Harari wrong. He’s an historian; one would have to have blind spots to not see man’s dismal past. Moreover, only an optimist with blinkers would place faith in Man or science to fix this broken world. Just look around you.
What the Bible says
I believe God’s written Word. Here’s what it says at the end of the Book of Judges. For context, read the preceding chapters.
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Prov 14:12
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Isaiah 5:21
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Rom 1:18
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. Rom 1:24-25
And take note of this…
…who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thess 2:4
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thess 2:9-10
Now read Psalm 2.
Maranatha!
Further reading
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