“I’m a good person.” “Good choice.” “They’re good people.” “Good day.” “It’s good.” “I’m good.” “Good job.” “Be good.” “Good call.” “You’re a good person.” “Good for you.” “Good shot.” “Good boy.” “Good girl.” “He’s a good guy.” “Good move.” “Good idea.” “Good for nothing.” “Good buy.”
The truth is that we humans aren’t very good at discerning the difference between good and bad. We misjudge the thoughts, desires, feelings, opinions, and behaviors of other people and even our own. Our knowledge of good and evil is frequently misguided. We think bad is good and good is bad.
The Bible describes a time when people had abandoned God’s moral standards and “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25.) That’s the first sin that is described in account of the Garden of Eden when humans turned away from God’s presence, guidance, and wisdom, which is described as the Tree of Life, and replaced it with their own thoughts, desires, feelings, and opinions by partaking of and embracing what is described as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
I listed various aspects of the Tree of Life in yesterday’s post. Now I’ll list various aspects of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Which tree do you partake of most frequently?
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil consists of things like these:
- Making your own rules,
- Rebellion,
- Self-focus,
- Human opinion,
- Proclaiming yourself to be a good moral person,
- Self-gratification,
- Rejection of accountability,
- Judgement,
- Breaking the law,
- Lack of compassion,
- Unforgiveness,
- Hard heartedness,
- Ignoring the humanity in other people,
- Criticism,
- Jealousy,
- Moral anarchy,
- Using people to get what you want,
- Being your own god,
- Overriding your conscience,
- Self-promotion,
- Idolatry,
- Disrespect for human life,
- Denial,
- Dishonesty,
- Deception,
- Evaluation,
- Mocking people,
- Defining yourself by your desires,
- Pride,
- Hostility toward people who disagree with you.
- Self-righteousness,
- Bondage to sin,
- Ignoring God,
- Denial of responsibility,
- Hostility,
- Ongoing anger,
- Perversion,
- Violence,
- Self-justification,
- Pleasure seeking,
- Greed,
- Manipulation,
- Bullying.
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Yep. Good is arbitrary and subjective.
Indeed. Our knowledge of and discernment of good is “arbitrary and subjective.” However, both Plato and the Bible present good as objective and true. Good is revealed in our conscience, not discerned by our rationality, feelings, opinions, or desires.
Absolutely agree. I would even say “good” is not always defined by our actions. Plenty of people complete “good” acts all the time with a nefarious motive behind it.