About Being Basically Good

June 1, 2011 by Dr. Mc.

Recently yet another person said to me, “Well, we believe that man is basically good.” He was contrasting his religion with mine. (I guess he didn’t realize that many people who claim to be of my religion think the same as he does.)
My first thought was to say, “Basically good compared to what?” The response to that would of course be, “What do you mean, ‘compared to what?’” This would allow me to continue: “’Good’ is a comparative word, for example, tall, taller, tallest; or fat v. thin; or high v. low. So, man is basically good compared to what? A porpoise, that plays with its food before it kills it, or a black widow spider, that eats its suitor after it mates?”
The only answer to that is, “No, compare to standards of behavior.” If the standards of behavior are set by men, then of course he is good compared to his own wishy-washy standards. What ‘good’ is that comparison? If you mean compared with the standards of God, be it the Bible, Qur’an, or some other religious book, then you have a problem: Is God perfect or not? Is His standard perfect or not? I am not perfect, and no one who has ever said to me “man is basically good” should claim to be perfect. To say that “man is basically good” is a veiled argument for “God should be OK with my performance, even though I’m not perfect.” Well. that is paramount to saying God is wishy-washy about His own standard.
I said, “My first thought was to say..” because I don’t think it is the best response. A better response would be to begin with a definition of God: “Is God perfect? Is God just? Is God righteous?” Then comes, “I am not perfect. Are you?”
If you or I are to ever have a relationship with God, then somehow a payment for our shortfall must be made, however slight we think it is. Suppose a parent tells their child not to run through the house. Then the child runs through the house and knocks over a lamp, braking it. The child says “I’m sorry,” and the parent says, “I forgive you.” End of story? Who paid for the broken lamp? Being forgiven does not pay for the lost lamp. Paddling the child does not replace the lamp? It’s still gone. Even if the old lamp is not replaced, the cost has occurred, and will be borne by someone. Either the child pays for it or the parent pays for it.
If I run through life and break any part of God’s law, there are only a few options for me to have a relationship with God:
I pay for it, God pays for it, or God is not just and righteous.
I can’t pay for it. Which of the other two options makes the most since? There is only one religion where God pays, and many who claim to be of that religion haven’t really accepted the One who has paid.

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