Why Do We Cry Out Against Injustice?

When we hear of the murder of George Floyd or any other unjust actions done against humanity what is our response? As we can see throughout the United States and the world there is a cry for justice (and rightly so) but why? Why does the unjust death of someone or a school shooting strike a chord in humanity to cry out?

Are we more than byproducts?

Since the dawn of Darwinian Evolution, it has been taught, and argued that humanity is just a byproduct of the evolutionary process of natural selection. Humanity is just material like everything else in creation and survival of the fittest rules the day. However, when an event like the death of George Floyd occurs a cord is struck in us that seems to suggest that there is something unique about humanity and that each human life has value.

Let me give you an example. Say someone were to give me the task of watching their goldfish while they were away. I agree but over time completely forget to feed the fish. After a week or two I check on the fish and see that it is dead. The person comes back and is really sad and never will give me responsibility to watch their fish again but overall that is the end of it. Change the scenario and say instead of a fish it was child. Would the response be the same? Not at all. Why is that? Because there is something unique about humanity and we intrinsically know it.

Value and Dignity

Each and every human being has intrinsic value and dignity, but why and where does that come from? If value and dignity is determined by someone’s appearance then it could be said that someone who doesn’t fit that image doesn’t have value or dignity. If value and dignity is determined by what job one has then if someone were to lose their job would they be losing their value and dignity? If value and dignity is just a matter of human invention to survive then it has no real meaning and if one wishes to eradicate it in regards to a fellow human being then they can for it is just made up. The reality is our value and dignity are intrinsically part of who we are as humans. We don’t loose it when we loose our job and all people possess it no matter what they look like. This is what sets us apart from everything else in creation. But why? Why do we have this unique value and dignity?

If humanity is only a byproduct of evolution why do we care so deeply when there is a school shooting, when someone is raped, or in the most recent case when George Flyod was murder? The reason is that all humanity has value and dignity, but again why and where does that come from?

How do we determine how much value something has? A car has value, but does the car itself determine its value, no the company or creator does. In other words, someone outside of the actual object determines and sets its value. This is similar with humanity. We have intrinsic value but since we can’t make our own value, and Darwinian evolution fails to make any sense of value, from where does it come? The Bible states very clearly that humanity was created with value and dignity. They were created unique to all other creation, the “crown of God’s creation”. In Genesis 1:27-28 it states that humanity is “made in His image”. In Psalm 8:5 it states that human was crowned “with glory and honor”. The list goes on but the point is seen that God created humanity and instilled in them value and dignity by making us His image bearers. He is the source, and only source of it. No matter how old, young or color of skin, God has created each person with dignity and value. Our value and dignity are rooted in the fact that we are created in His image, which cannot be taken away. That is why when a great injustice happens or when someone tries to mar the image of God in someone there is an outcry. As Dr. Jim Garlow states [1]:

Committing violent crimes against someone reveals a profound disregard for human life and dignity. Whether these crimes are the result of hatred or prejudice...the result is the same--a violation against a being created in the image of God.

Subjective verses Objective

If however our value and dignity does not come from God but rather a construct of society or a matter of what you look like or have then "value and dignity" is completely subjective. Subjective means that something is based fully on an opinion or preference (personal or societal) rather than reality. Therefore, if something is subjective someone can choose to believe it or not. For example, I say vanilla ice cream is the best, that is completely subjective and someone can agree with it or not, it is all a matter of preference, there is no firm grounding for them to accept "vanilla" as the ultimate flavor of ice cream. The same goes with humanity's value and dignity. If we say that it is subjective then the reality is we are saying it is a preference (like ice cream flavor) and we can choose to believe it or not. If that is the case there should be no out cry when someone doesn't follow that belief (just like vanilla ice cream). But the reality is there is an outcry for we know human value and dignity is not subjective. It is not a preference but an intrinsic value of all people.

If we say that it is intrinsic to all people (which is why we cry out when injustice happens) then we are stating that it is Objective. Objective means it is true and that truth is based in reality and not affected or changed by someone's opinion or feelings. In other words, it is a fact even if someone disagrees with it. Their disagreement doesn't change the fact. I am arguing that humanity's value and dignity is objective and that objectivity has to come from outside of us. This means that God is the only source for our value and dignity. This is why Christians are to fight against anything that tries to destroy or mar the image of God in people (i.e. slavery, murder, rape, abortion, human trafficking...etc). Paul Copan states [2]:

Intrinsically valuable thinking persons do not come from impersonal, non-conscious, unguided, valueless, process overtime. A personal, self-aware, purposeful, good God provides the natural and necessary context for the existence of valuable right-bearing, morally responsible human persons.

Our crying out is evidence that humanity is unique to all other creation. Our crying out points to the reality that we have intrinsic value and dignity, that all people do. And this value and dignity can only come from God, our creator.

[1] James Garlow, Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues (Regnery Faith, 2016) 176.

[2] Paul Copan, "The Moral Argument for God's Existence," in Evidence for God: 50 Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Science (Grand Rapids, Baker, 2010), 22. Sourced in Josh and Sean McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Life Changing Truth for a Skeptical World (Thomas Nelson, 2017), lxxvii-lxxix.