Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Fall and Its Impacts Upon Nature

Thinking a bit more on folks and the approach to Natural Law, here are some thoughts.

1. I acknowledge an ontological aspect to creation - that things are created for a purpose and function and ought to generally be used in those functions (yes, I know folks will complain about that "generally" but give a dog a bone here).

2. However, after the fall, things do not work properly in nature. Our existence is fraught with difficulties and trials and dangers that would not be present absent the Fall.

3. It is good and proper to face trials and dangers with trust in God.

4. However, it is also an act of love to attempt to deliver or rescue your neighbor from the dangers and trials they face, and indeed to prevent them if possible. (Putting the little plastic plugs in the electrical sockets is a good thing)

5. It is not an act of love to simply tell ones' neighbor "you ought to trust God" and then do nothing to alleviate their burdens. (Consider James: "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?")

6. Because off the fall, because of the burden of life in a fallen world, there will be some things that are permitted or allowed that are not ideal, for so allowing prevents greater trial and trouble.

7. I acknowledge that the above is a dangerous statement, because one can always justify an action "for the greater good".

8. Therefore, the lines which are not to be crossed in terms of behavior are not to be established by the wisdom of man, nor the desire to obtain some natural state of perfection which ignores the neighbor. Rather, the lines which are not to be crossed in our attempts to alleviate the impact of sin are to be established by God, revealed in His Word.

Just some thoughts.

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