Right & Wrong: A Case for Moral Absolutes

"Someone has said that we live in a strange world where the relativity of Einstein is considered absolute, and the absolutes of the Bible are considered relative."

I've just finished reading a small booklet with the above title published by RBC Ministries (which is also the publisher of My Daily Bread). At a short 32 pages, it gives a short introduction to why morality is absolute and not relative, as it is claimed to be in this day and age. Just to share some excerpts:

"There is something wrong with a mind that is so open that can't tell truth from error... If Christ revealed God, then He revealed at the same time the Source of all absolute standards of moral decision. More important for us, he showed that the ultimate absolute is a God who shows us what is right only because He loves us."

On examples of moral absolutes:
"Behind all the Scriptures, is a God who by His own nature is the basis for absolute moral law." There are absolutes to protect faith and worship, absolutes to protect the family ("Cultural relativism has broken down the protective fences of sexual restraint."), absolutes to protect the sacredness of life, as well as absolutes to protect honest relationships. Moral absolutes are timeless because they are consistent with God's unchanging character.

On exceptions to the rules:
"The Bible itself shows us that amongst the laws of scripture there are some that do not qualify as absolute standards for all people, at all times, and in all circumstances." Examples include the non-absolute law against killing ("The key to understanding this is to distinguish between the absolute law against murder and the non-absolute principle of killing.") as well as the non-absolute law of submission. "Only when we see how the whole counsel of Scripture applies a law can we determine whether it is meant to be circumstantial or absolute."

This booklet also includes how we Christians can play a role in society with regards to morality and ethics, and what it means to apply the law of Christ in a pluralistic society. ("Individual Christians must make it their goal to be winsome, honest and civil as they express our spiritual and moral concern for others' welfare. Our response must reflect the spirit of Christ.")

To end off, the booklet expounds on what absolutes can and cannot do. "Only when we understand whether an 'ought' is rooted in a principle, and only when we see the relationship between a timeless principle and the character of God, will we be able to understand the real difference between right and wrong. While the law can show us what is right, that same law can never make us good. There is a great difference between knowing and keeping the law... All the absolutes laws of God could ever do was show us our need for the undeserved help of the Spirit of God."

To find out more, feel free to approach me for the book. It wouldn't take you more than a day to read it, but it'll probably take us all a lifetime to internalise and apply it everyday =)


Emmett