Reflection Paper 1
Natural Laws
The topic of natural laws “refers to a body of principles and rules imposed upon
individuals by some power higher than man-made law and therefore considered to be uniquely
fitting for and binding on any community of rational beings.” (Inciardi, 2010, p. 29). Essentially
natural laws are God’s laws. With that being said, if natural laws are God’s laws and God’s laws
are the highest laws that exist then they should be the determinants of what is just or moral
regarding man-made laws. However, in order to have higher laws be the determinants of what is
indeed just or moral we would need to evaluate a few things.
First, the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament set the standard for many of the laws
that society adheres to today. For example, murder, adultery, theft, and falsification, are all unjust
crimes that are against the laws of man but were first Commandments made by God in natural
law. (Exodus 20:13-16, KJV). Likewise, other commandments involve morals such as, idolatry,
graven images, blasphemy, honoring parents, and coveting. (Exodus 20:4, 7, 12, 17, KJV).
Second, the way to determine what man-made laws can be construed as unjust or
immoral is to compare them with Scripture and see if they contradict the basic morality and
justice that is present throughout. For example, the legalization of abortion, and homosexual
marriage in some states, directly go against what God states is just or moral law. (Leviticus
18:22; 20:13; Jeremiah 7:6; Exodus 20:13; Jeremiah 20:17; Amos 1:13). In fact, God is very
clear that even those who approve of homosexual sin but do not engage in the sin themselves,
will be subject to the wrath of God. (Romans 1:18, 26, 27, 32).
Melinda Ervin
CJUS 200-B-02
Professor Venturo
Reflection Paper 2
Finally, every person on this earth has a moral duty to adhere to a higher law because
God is the law, and He created the law, and the people. Furthermore, the government was
instituted to uphold His laws, and the people are to obey the laws being upheld. (Romans 13:1-
2). The only exception would be in the case where man-made laws contradict natural laws. When
they go against the highest laws of justice and morality that is when they are not even laws at all.
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