Our human nature leads us astray. Even with the best of intentions, an individual is prey to his urges, impulses, desires, fears. He will begin to do things that are not for the best without even meaning to, simply because his inherent sinful nature leads him in that direction.
That is where a fixed doctrine of moral laws, established over time by many other men, can be useful in keeping the individual man on the right path. Thanks to the Bible, an individual need not depend on his own intelligence, his own courage, his own will, to always keep him in the right; he can rely on the collective wisdom of his ancestors, and use that wisdom as his staff and his lamp in the darkness of his own weakness and ignorance.
It is pure arrogance for an individual to assume that he, on his own, has a better understanding of what is morally correct than thousands upon thousands of his ancestors over a span of thousands of years. It is idiotic to believe this, and the worst kind of hubris possible.
I appreciate your insight on this. A few years ago, I used to believe rather similarly.
However, now I think that there are many things overlooked in our original assumptions: To start, there seems to be a common misconception, regarded as fact throughout all generations, that it is our in our human nature to sin; give way to our temptations, desires, fears, lusts etc. calling it our 'inherent sinful nature’ to do so. This is the nature of Satan impressed upon man.
However, with a brief search through the Scriptures, we find that we were not created with anything wanting, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” [Psalms 139:14] This concludes that we were created with the ability to know, find out, and discern what is righteousness. God’s laws are written in our hearts, "Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)" [Romans 2:15] We are born with this innate gift; however few call upon the Holy Spirit to enable it.
God’s law was from the beginning; even before the generations of Abraham. Adam and Eve had been given the law in the garden. Without this law prescribed to them, it would have been impossible for them to transgress and find themselves removed from the God’s presence in the garden. This is the same law that was given unto Moses; God is unchanging and his laws reflect his character. Mankind, throughout his generations have corrupted God’s law trying to make it suit man’s fancy. Eve, herself, added to the word of God when she was being tempted by the serpent - "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." [Genesis 3:1-3] “Neither shall ye touch it” was never spoken by God to Adam and Eve. Additions to the Scriptures is what Satan uses to ensnare his victims. God’s laws are put aside, or added to when man is unwilling to put away the temptations of desire presented by Satan. Sadly, the world is now full of ancestral doctrines based upon man’s tradition rather than the word of God.
I agree with you partly on your last statement: "It IS absolutely arrogant for an individual to assume that he, on his own, has a better understanding of what is morally correct than thousands upon thousands of his ancestors over a span of thousands of years." For what have we, if we have not been given it by the Giver; all glory, understanding, praise, and boasting be given unto the Father. The only arrogance that I see in this is the accepting of honors of self over the honors due to the Father for such understanding. But even if it still were to be so, the condition of arrogance does not disprove any validity in the statement. One could certainly be thought of as ‘arrogant’ in regards to his understandings of the nature and morality of God and man; however he could also just be correct. Jesus Christ, through the perception of the multitudes, was thought to be as ‘arrogant' as you portray this individual to be. Yet, verily, verily I say unto you, I do not find Him to be an ‘idiot'; and He certainly was not known for His 'hubris’.
We have God to thank for our discernment so that no man may be lost on his own, and he is gracious enough to leave us his Son, words, and the history of our ancestors for our admonition.
May God bless you.
(post is archived)