SAUMC Sunday School 25 01 26 CSL #2 The Reality of the Moral Law

A theory states the existence of something called the Law of Human Nature, which can’t be proven scientifically. However, one can use logic and reasoning to claim it as reality. There are two things we know about humans. We are haunted by the notion that we should live with fair play, decency, and morality. But we don’t practice or live up to this idea or notion. Secondly, humans ought to behave decently toward one another, but they don't always. They don't act like the law of gravity. This Law of Right or Wrong is not a fact like our behavior, yet it exists. The Law of Human Nature must be a real law, that humans did not invent which we know we ought to obey.
So, what's behind this new law? Ever since man began to think, he has wondered what the universe is and how it came to be. There are two views. The "materialistic" view says that matter and space just happen to exist, always have, and nobody knows why. Humans came about by chance. The other idea is the "religious" view which says something like a “mind” is behind the universe, and it is conscious or aware and has purposes and preferences. Now science can tell us what they learn from observations of nature, but they cannot answer the “why” behind the universe.
Man knows more about one thing in the whole universe than anything else he can observe and that is human beings. We don't merely observe them, we are them. So when humans are observed and appear to be reacting similarly to a notion of right and wrong, there must be a reason. Either the universe is without purpose or reason, or there is “something” behind it or outside it. If a person were to observe humans from outside the world, they would not know this moral law even existed, because he could only see what humans did and not what they ought to do. The only way we would expect this controlling power to exist would be as an influence or command trying to get humans to behave in a certain way.
This power both compels objects to obey the Laws of Nature as well as humans to obey the Law of Human Nature. So the Moral Law is “someone” or “something” from beyond the material universe that is actually getting at us or doing things to us. This logical thought has not defined or identified this outside power to be the god of any religion, let alone the God of Christianity. The object is to identify who or what this power is from our own stream of thought and logic.
There are two observations or pieces of evidence known about the universe around us. The universe is artistically beautiful but mercilessly cruel. Therefore, the power behind it is an artist but is also quite merciless and no friend to humans. The world is cruel. Secondly, the power has put the Moral Law into our minds. Therefore, more is known about this power from the Moral Law and watching humanity than from anything in the universe in general.
This power behind the universe is intensely interested in right conduct because the Moral Law is interested in fair play, unselfishness, courage, good faith, honesty, and truth. There's nothing indulgent about the moral law. It is cruel. It tells us the right thing to do, no matter how painful, dangerous, or difficult it is. If our universe is not governed by absolute goodness, then human greed, exploitation, cruelty, etc. will dominate, and all our efforts are hopeless. Conversely, if the universe is governed by absolute goodness, we are also hopeless because if we make one mistake, we have failed. It is unlikely we will ever improve. Absolute goodness is also supreme terror.
When you know you are sick, you will listen to a doctor. Lewis took on this roundabout manner to discuss the Moral Law and the power, mind, or being behind it all because Christianity won't make sense if we have no reason to repent or do not feel we need forgiveness. If logic shows there is a real Law of Human Nature, that humans have broken the Law and put themselves in the wrong with the power behind it, then Christianity begins to talk.
Christianity is a thing of unspeakable comfort, but it begins in dismay. There is a Moral Law, and it is hard. It is what we humans ought to do, and we don't do a very good job of doing the right thing consistently. The application of the Law of Human Nature is seen most frequently in our fellow humans when they fail to do the right thing. There is a power behind that Moral Law that wants us to behave in a certain way which we can't seem to do. Therefore, humans need a solution. This is what Lewis is attempting to lead us to in a logical manner.
Scripture references for this lesson
1 Peter 1:13 Prepare your minds…to look forward in hope for the grace provided by Jesus.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 Pray with your mind engaged.
Ephesians 4:20-24 Knowing Christ is to make your minds new.
Romans 12:1-2 Be transformed by renewing your mind