Do You Believe in Absolute Moral Truth?

The Barna Group recently published a report revealing that most Americans reject the idea of absolute moral truth.

A survey by The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released its results in their latest installment describing the world view of both Christians and non-Christians.

The data was collected from 2100 adults who were asked if they agreed with this statement. “A mature human accepts different truth views to be just as valid as their own views.” 67% answered affirmatively. In the group identifying as “born again Christians, 56% agreed.

Similarly, 58% of the respondents agreed that “there can be multiple, conflicting moral truth views in any given situation without anyone being wrong.”

Given the moral state of our nation and the absence of strong spiritual leadership in so many churches today, this ought not to be too surprising. Yet, it obviously contradicts the character of God, the affirmations of Jesus, and the moral teaching of the Bible.

Consider these facts.

#1 God is the ultimate source of all Truth.

The Psalmist affirmed, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever” (Ps. 119:160).

In the shadow of the cross, Jesus echoed this sentiment when He prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).

God’s moral laws reflect His character. His holiness. And His righteousness. They are not arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable. They are consistent, unchanging, and reasonable based on God’s nature.

Thus, He calls us, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:18). If there is no absolute moral standard, how can we be holy?

#2 Jesus was the Divine Incarnation of Truth.

Jesus came to show us the way to the Father. When Thomas wondered how we could know “the way,” Jesus responded, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The unequivocal affirmation is a core belief to Christianity. He asserted His authority, declared His life-giving power, and pronounced the fact of absolute Truth embodied in Him.

#3 The Revealed Word Provides Concrete and Explicit Direction.

Jesus empowered the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all Truth (Jn 16:13). Paul confirmed that His writing was Divinely revealed and Spirit inspired (Eph.3:3-5). Thus, he could offer this exhortation regarding our confidence in the Word as the sole source of spiritual Truth.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

In short, the Word tells us what is right. What is wrong. How to get right. How to stay right. And equips you for every righteous work.

#4 Truth is Not Relative.

The philosophy of moral relativism is a lie of the Devil that appeases the conscience, removes guilt, and lowers the bar so I can feel good about myself. The prophet Isaiah’s condemnation of ancient Israel is still applicable today. “Woe unto those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isa. 5:20).

Like those of the pagan Gentile world who “exchanged the Truth about God for a lie,” they will suffer the same judgment, like all those who “twist the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Pet. 3:16).

#5 Moral Truth Applies to all People.

None are exempt from God’s laws, God’s Word, and God’s Truth. Since all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Rom. 3:23), everyone needs the same soul saving Truth. Indeed, as Paul penned, God desires that “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4).

The Barna report concludes by observing that absence of accepting absolute Truth leads to societal “chaos, confusion and helplessness.” The report called upon churches and religious leaders to speak the Truth on moral issues, and return to a Biblical centered message. Those who fail to do, Barna wrote have become “merely pawns of the culture.”

Barna added that “a Christian body that waffles on truth has no credibility and cannot bless the nation as it is called to do.”

What about you? Do you believe in absolute, moral Truth?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman