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Author: Stephen McDowell

During the Presidency of Barack Obama the secular left greatly advanced its unbiblical agenda—redefining the family, undermining religious liberty, assaulting individual conscience, presenting homosexuality and transgenderism as normal, and requiring special protection for LGBTs. Their tactics include using court rulings, administrative decrees, and laws to force everyone in the nation to accept their beliefs. Leftists have become increasingly hostile toward any who oppose them.

Thankfully, many Americans who believe in the values of our Founding Fathers have pushed back by electing godly officials, challenging bad rulings in the courts, and promoting truth in the marketplace of ideas. With the election of Donald Trump (who supports many biblical governmental principles while failing to live in accordance with many biblical virtues) the great contrast in the two groups seems to have become more pronounced.

What is behind this great divide in the nation? Why is there an ever-growing hostility among the “left” and “right”? Why Do the Leftist Rage explains that the root of the conflict is a war of worldviews, between one that is Christian and one that is humanistic.

Comparing the Christian and humanistic philosophies of law reveals why the left has such apoplectic rage at having lost power and why they are willing to do anything to regain it, while conservatives accept liberals ruling with relative calm.

Law, from a Christian perspective and as the Founders of America viewed it, originates in the will of God, revealed in general to man through nature and his conscience, and more specifically in the revelation of the Scriptures. Law from a humanistic view is rooted in man, ultimately autonomous man, but practically in the state, and in the consensus of the majority, or of a powerful minority.

From a Biblical perspective man is fallen and fallible, has a sinful nature, and thus needs to be restrained. The Biblical purpose of civil law is to restrain the evil action of men in society. True law reveals what is right and wrong, and hence, exposes law-breakers. But law in itself cannot produce what is right, nor can it change the heart or attitude of man. From a Christian presupposition then, the law cannot change or reform man; this is a spiritual matter. Man can only be changed by the grace of God. He cannot be legislated into a new morality.

Humanists see the evils in society and in man, but explain them differently than Christians. To the humanist there is no higher being than man. There is no incarnate Savior. From a humanistic perspective there is no hope of internal regeneration to save man, therefore, any salvation or transformation that occurs in men or nations must come from man. Historically, humanistic man has tended to use the instrument of law and government to attempt to bring such a transformation or “salvation.”

Having no other means of provision, of salvation, or of peace, humanistic man attempts to regulate and provide all things through government and law. It is only through the force of law that evil will be eliminated and utopia established on earth. Humanistic law is used to promote and advance humanistic morals.