| IMPLICATIONS OF UTILITARIANISM (3) Jerry D. McDonald |
In our last study we saw that one of the implications of “Utilitarianism” is
that it negates the existence of God. If man is governed solely by pain and
pleasure then he is not governed by God and if this be the case then there is
no God. In seeing the truthfulness of this one only look as far as those
professing this doctrine. Almost everyone of them are atheistic in belief.
There are, however, some who propose Christianity who hold to the utilitarian
belief. The following website address will direct one, if it is desired, to an
article written by a supposed Christian upholding just such a belief
(http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=399). However, most of
those who hold to the doctrine of utilitarianism are atheists. Religious people
who hold to this doctrine are just one step away from atheism.
Why is it that the doctrine of “utility” implies that there is no God? Simply
because of the fact that it teaches that man is governed by two sovereign
masters, pain and pleasure, and it is those two masters alone that will not only
tell us what we ought to do, but what we will do. If God created man, in his
image, then we would be governed by whatever rule he has given. Some think
that God just created life and then backed off and let it happen on its own.
However, the Bible doesn’t teach any such thing. The Bible teaches that God
works in this world and always has.
Until recently I thought that utilitarianism was a doctrine that was confined
the ethics and morality, but I have just discovered that Charles Darwin used
the principle of utilitarianism and even called it “the utilitarian doctrine” in
chapter six of his book The Origin of the Species. Here he states:
“The foregoing remarks lead me to say a few words on the protests lately
made by some naturalists, against the utilitarian doctrine that every detail of
structure has been produced for the good of its possessor.”
As we can see, he was using this doctrine to propagate the theory of
evolution. Now while Darwin’s doctrine is not as widely held today as it once
was, it is still the basis for many atheists in their beliefs that God does not
exist and that evolution is responsible for where man is today.
How can any Christian (or anyone professing Christianity) have anything to
do with such a doctrine as utilitarianism. As far as ethics and morality are
concerned it teaches that man is governed solely by pain and pleasure. It
matters not how they try to explain this, it simply teaches that there is no
God. Atheistic utilitarians will tell you that out right. Religious utilitarians
will try to compromise and have the best of both worlds. Jesus said: “He that
is not with me is against me” (Mt. 12:30). This means that there is no “best of
both worlds.” You are either on Christ’s side and as such you reject the
doctrine of utilitarianism and submit yourself to God (cf Jas. 4:7), or you
reject the will of God (Mt. 7:21-23), and accept the doctrine of utilitarianism.
The two are not compatible.
Even with the utilitarian’s explanation of what this means, it implies false
doctrine. If society (according to the utilitarian’s explanation) decides that
there is to be no monogamous marriages, this would not make such right.
The Bible teaches that there is to be one man and one woman for life. This is
what Adam understood when he said:
“This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his
mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:23,24).
This was what Jesus understood when he said:
“Have ye not read, that he which made them male and female, and said, For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and
they twain shall be one flesh” (Mt. 19:4,5).
And this is what Paul understood when he wrote:
“Know ye not brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law
hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an
husband is bound by the law of her husband so long as he liveth; but if the
husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her
husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress;
but if her husband be dead, she is freed from that law; so that she is no adulteress,
though she be married to another man” (Rom. 7:1-3).
The ethical doctrine of utilitarianism says that if society decides that there
would no longer be monogamous marriages, then according to the governance
of pain and pleasure that all not only ought to live in such a way, but would
live in such a way because to live differently would bring pain to society.
However, the Bible teaches that such relationships are sinful and are to be
avoided at all cost.
Utilitarianism and God are not compatible. Either utilitarianism is right and
man is governed solely by pain and pleasure or God exists and man is to live
in accordance with his word. There is no middle ground. You cannot choose
to be neutral or in the middle. You are either for him, or you are against
him. In looking at what we have already seen, we can see that the doctrine of
“utilitarianism” implies evil teachings; teachings that go contrary to the will
of God. We will continue to look at these implications in weeks to come.
that it negates the existence of God. If man is governed solely by pain and
pleasure then he is not governed by God and if this be the case then there is
no God. In seeing the truthfulness of this one only look as far as those
professing this doctrine. Almost everyone of them are atheistic in belief.
There are, however, some who propose Christianity who hold to the utilitarian
belief. The following website address will direct one, if it is desired, to an
article written by a supposed Christian upholding just such a belief
(http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=399). However, most of
those who hold to the doctrine of utilitarianism are atheists. Religious people
who hold to this doctrine are just one step away from atheism.
Why is it that the doctrine of “utility” implies that there is no God? Simply
because of the fact that it teaches that man is governed by two sovereign
masters, pain and pleasure, and it is those two masters alone that will not only
tell us what we ought to do, but what we will do. If God created man, in his
image, then we would be governed by whatever rule he has given. Some think
that God just created life and then backed off and let it happen on its own.
However, the Bible doesn’t teach any such thing. The Bible teaches that God
works in this world and always has.
Until recently I thought that utilitarianism was a doctrine that was confined
the ethics and morality, but I have just discovered that Charles Darwin used
the principle of utilitarianism and even called it “the utilitarian doctrine” in
chapter six of his book The Origin of the Species. Here he states:
“The foregoing remarks lead me to say a few words on the protests lately
made by some naturalists, against the utilitarian doctrine that every detail of
structure has been produced for the good of its possessor.”
As we can see, he was using this doctrine to propagate the theory of
evolution. Now while Darwin’s doctrine is not as widely held today as it once
was, it is still the basis for many atheists in their beliefs that God does not
exist and that evolution is responsible for where man is today.
How can any Christian (or anyone professing Christianity) have anything to
do with such a doctrine as utilitarianism. As far as ethics and morality are
concerned it teaches that man is governed solely by pain and pleasure. It
matters not how they try to explain this, it simply teaches that there is no
God. Atheistic utilitarians will tell you that out right. Religious utilitarians
will try to compromise and have the best of both worlds. Jesus said: “He that
is not with me is against me” (Mt. 12:30). This means that there is no “best of
both worlds.” You are either on Christ’s side and as such you reject the
doctrine of utilitarianism and submit yourself to God (cf Jas. 4:7), or you
reject the will of God (Mt. 7:21-23), and accept the doctrine of utilitarianism.
The two are not compatible.
Even with the utilitarian’s explanation of what this means, it implies false
doctrine. If society (according to the utilitarian’s explanation) decides that
there is to be no monogamous marriages, this would not make such right.
The Bible teaches that there is to be one man and one woman for life. This is
what Adam understood when he said:
“This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his
mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:23,24).
This was what Jesus understood when he said:
“Have ye not read, that he which made them male and female, and said, For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and
they twain shall be one flesh” (Mt. 19:4,5).
And this is what Paul understood when he wrote:
“Know ye not brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law
hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an
husband is bound by the law of her husband so long as he liveth; but if the
husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her
husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress;
but if her husband be dead, she is freed from that law; so that she is no adulteress,
though she be married to another man” (Rom. 7:1-3).
The ethical doctrine of utilitarianism says that if society decides that there
would no longer be monogamous marriages, then according to the governance
of pain and pleasure that all not only ought to live in such a way, but would
live in such a way because to live differently would bring pain to society.
However, the Bible teaches that such relationships are sinful and are to be
avoided at all cost.
Utilitarianism and God are not compatible. Either utilitarianism is right and
man is governed solely by pain and pleasure or God exists and man is to live
in accordance with his word. There is no middle ground. You cannot choose
to be neutral or in the middle. You are either for him, or you are against
him. In looking at what we have already seen, we can see that the doctrine of
“utilitarianism” implies evil teachings; teachings that go contrary to the will
of God. We will continue to look at these implications in weeks to come.
| "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth" (Jno. 17:17). bellecofc.centurytel.net |
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