Answering an objection that God's law is written on our hearts

[Jaxb]

Romans 2:12-16 teaches that even though the Gentiles do not have the Law, they instinctively do the things of the Law. They show that the Law was written in their hearts. Moreover, their conscience bears witness against them. One objection that people make to this is that different people have different beliefs about what is right and wrong. If everyone has the Law written in their hearts, everyone would have the same beliefs about what is morally right and wrong. Some people think that homosexuality is ok, but others do not. How would you answer this objection?

[37818]

Romans 2:12-16 teaches that even though the Gentiles do not have the Law, they instinctively do the things of the Law. They show that the Law was written in their hearts. Moreover, their conscience bears witness against them. One objection that people make to this is that different people have different beliefs about what is right and wrong. If everyone has the Law written in their hearts, everyone would have the same beliefs about what is morally right and wrong. Some people think that homosexuality is ok, but others do not. How would you answer this objection?

The knowledge of good and evil, which we inherit from our original parents, which is the cause of our sinful nature and so also makes us self condemned before an infinitely holy God, was and is God knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:22) needs to be understood in contrast to God's law being written in our hearts do to the new birth (Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 3:31).

[hedrick]

I suspect Paul was thinking of some kind of "natural law," that is universal. For documentation that there is actually such a thing, there's an interesting appendix to C.S. Lewis' book "The Abolition of Man."

Various religious traditions vary a lot on how their conceive of the divine, redemption, etc. But there's more agreement -- though certainly not complete -- on how people should treat each other.

[KingsGambit]

In addition to what hedrick said, I'd encourage you to read Romans 1 as well where Paul accounts for why people engage in such behavior.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Various religious traditions vary a lot on how their conceive of the divine, redemption, etc. But there's more agreement -- though certainly not complete -- on how people should treat each other.

I've seen this thought before. I find that many people that argue all religions worship the same God tend to minimize the differences in the first part and emphasis the second part. I personally don't believe all religions worship the same God because of the vast differences in the conception of the divine, redemption, etc.

[Marta]

Romans 2:12-16 teaches that even though the Gentiles do not have the Law, they instinctively do the things of the Law. They show that the Law was written in their hearts. Moreover, their conscience bears witness against them. One objection that people make to this is that different people have different beliefs about what is right and wrong. If everyone has the Law written in their hearts, everyone would have the same beliefs about what is morally right and wrong. Some people think that homosexuality is ok, but others do not. How would you answer this objection?

[Jaxb]

I suspect Paul was thinking of some kind of "natural law," that is universal. For documentation that there is actually such a thing, there's an interesting appendix to C.S. Lewis' book "The Abolition of Man."

Various religious traditions vary a lot on how their conceive of the divine, redemption, etc. But there's more agreement -- though certainly not complete -- on how people should treat each other.

I agree that Paul is talking about some kind of natural law. God has implanted in every person a knowledge of what is morally right and morally wrong. However, since we are born sinful, we can have a twisted notion of what is right and wrong.

There is agreement about certain things such as torturing people just for fun is wrong, racism is wrong, genocide is wrong, and so on.

[NorrinRadd]

I agree that Paul is talking about some kind of natural law. God has implanted in every person a knowledge of what is morally right and morally wrong. However, since we are born sinful, we can have a twisted notion of what is right and wrong.

There is agreement about certain things such as torturing people just for fun is wrong, racism is wrong, genocide is wrong, and so on.

Broadly speaking, perhaps. Certainly the Nazis and the KKK, e.g., did not consider racism to be "wrong."

In the OT, YHWH did not regard genocide as "wrong" in any universal and absolute sense.

[Obsidian]

I think you're exaggerating his point by saying that the gentiles "instinctively do the things of the Law." He doesn't say that they do them. He says, "When" they do them...

[hedrick]

I think you're exaggerating his point by saying that the gentiles "instinctively do the things of the Law." He doesn't say that they do them. He says, "When" they do them...

I think it's reasonable to believe based on his statement that some do.

It's also clear from 1 that not all do, since in 1 is uses the natural law to accuse them of violating even what ought to be obvious to them about God.

I don't think Paul would define natural law as something that everyone agrees on. The argument in 1 is rather that it's clear enough from the world that everyone *ought* to be able to see it.