What Are the Sneaky Dangers of Moral Relativism?

What Is Moral Relativism?

While the concept of respecting diverse perspectives is important, if you accept moral relativism without challenging its validity, then it can pose challenges to Christian principles. For example, someone may say, “That might be your truth, but that is not mine.” You may have said it yourself. This is a form of moral relativism. Imagine a scenario where honesty (your truth) is viewed as culturally subjective (someone else’s truth). This could lead people to rationalize dishonest behavior based on relativistic beliefs. As we explore the dangers of moral relativism, let’s recognize how it may subtly undermine moral absolutes and impact the steadfastness of ethical convictions we anchor ourselves to as followers of Christ.

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What Makes Moral Relativism Dangerous?

Moral relativism is not a spiritual perspective. It is a philosophical one. The thinking behind moral relativism is that moral judgments are not universally objective or absolute. A person’s morality depends on their individual, cultural, or societal contexts.

Since moral relativism claims there are no absolutes, what is morally right or wrong can vary from person to person or from culture to culture because there are no universals.

While values can change from person to person or culture to culture, the same is not true of basic morals. There may be some room for leeway, but remember, morality deals with what is right and wrong. There must be a basic standard in identifying what is morally good or evil. If not, then there is no accurate way of judging what is good or bad. Our culture would then become like Israel during the time of the judges.

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

While some people may want to embrace this way of life, this is a recipe for disaster.

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What Happens When People Follow Moral Relativism?

When you pull back the layers of moral relativism, its problems become clear. For starters, moral relativism is not really about morality; it is more about immorality. The hidden truth is that people want the right to choose what they view as right or wrong. If there are no standards and everything is left up to someone's choice, then just about every behavior can become acceptable. As Judges said, everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

Morality is based on principles that help you distinguish between right and wrong or good and evil behavior. While there will be minor differences in right and wrong activities based on cultural and even societal contexts, those differences are not great enough to say there is no universal moral code. There are defining principles of morality that cut across all cultures and societal groups.

For example, everyone universally accepts that murder is wrong. People would say the same thing about any other violent action shown towards someone else. However, this is not typically where the debate on moral relativism lands. That might be what is on the surface, but what lies beneath is people wanting to justify their lifestyle choices without a standard of accountability. After all, if you say my lifestyle is wrong, that is your truth, not mine.

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How Can Christians Address Moral Relativism Today?

As Christians, we must reject the idea of moral relativism, especially because we have godly principles to stand on. The only way you can address relativism is by giving people the truth. However, as followers of Christ, this requires us to recognize that the principles we are supposed to live by may not be acceptable in the world at large. Especially when you recognize the days we are living in.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4)

This is the mindset we are currently dealing with in our world, and the idea of moral relativism fits perfectly into it. If a person loves pleasure rather than God, then the last thing they want to hear about is absolute truth. They most certainly don’t want anyone else telling them how they are living is wrong.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, you are the salt of the earth. This means as Christians, we must preserve morality in our culture. This can only be done when we hold on to the truth of scripture and, more importantly, live out those truths. However, just be prepared for the backlash from those who disagree with those foundational truths.

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How Can Christians Handle Moral Relativism in the Church?

In some churches, moral relativism is seeping into the framework and teaching. I must remind you of what Jesus also said in Matthew 5:13:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

If moral relativism becomes a principle in the church, it has lost its saltiness. At that point, the church’s impact on society becomes worthless. We have seen evidence of this as some churches have moved away from longstanding Biblical truths. By doing this, they have lost their effectiveness in the world and no longer can truly fulfill the commission Jesus left for us.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, emphasis added)

If we are going to teach people to obey Jesus’ truths, then there is no room for moral relativism.

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How Does the Bible Help Us Combat Moral Relativism?

If the Bible is the authority for how we should live, we must obey it. Too many now treat the truths of scripture as optional. If the Bible says what they like, then they will follow it. If it contradicts how they want to live, they will reject it or make excuses why that does not apply to them or today. This is moral relativism. However, we know from scripture that God does not change, and his word will endure forever.

“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89)

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

“I the Lord do not change . . . ” (Malachi 3:6)

When we truly embrace God’s word, there will be no room for moral relativism in the church. God has established a standard, and that will not change. The question remains: will you live according to God’s standard or succumb to moral relativism? I can assure you the better choice is to build your life on the truth of God’s word.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)

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