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Moral relativity consists of making moral or ethical choices based upon one’s own internal feelings and opinions (subjectivism).  Thus, morality becomes relative to the person who holds the moral view.  The only “standard” is the individual’s own need for recognition and dignity–to be true to himself/herself.  In this study, we will show that moral relativity is false and must be rejected.  A call for moral truth based upon the Word of God is greatly needed in our culture today.
When you abandon truth, you abandon rationality.  We are living in the age of irrationality due to the fact that many people now believe in moral relativity.
Moral Relativity is False
We can show that moral relativity is false in many different ways.  For instance, if we ask, “relative to what?”  It can’t be relative to the relative ad infinite, since there would be nothing to which it is relative.  This reduces the concept to an absurdity.  The Law of Rationality states that we must gather all of the evidence, reason about the evidence correctly and draw only such conclusions as are warranted by the evidence.  The correspondence principle of truth means that truth conforms to fact or to reality.  From a biblical point of view, truth corresponds to reality as God defines that reality.  God’s Word is truth (John 17:17).  Truth is not self-determined.  Truth is determined by a sovereign God.  Every moral issue is relative to an absolute principle and so is either true or false based upon the standard of truth that originates with God.  The idea that truth is self-determined is an abandonment of God and His Word.  This type of unbelief is at the heart of moral relativity.
Secondly, we can show that moral relativity is false because value judgments would be impossible.  If someone says, “the world is getting better” or “the world is getting worse” –these value judgments require a standard by which the comparison is made (better or worse).  Good, better, and best are comparative terms that require an objective standard in order to distinguish among them.  Thirdly, moral disagreements would be impossible.  Those who affirm moral relativity must affirm that both sides of a moral issue are acceptable even if they are contradictory.  For example, if someone says, “Hitler was not an evil man” or “Hitler was an evil man” can both statements be true at the same time?  The answer is no.  Any proposition/statement that involves self-contradiction is a false statement.  Only by rejecting the Law of Rationality could one say, “yes” to both.  The moral relativist affirms a contradiction.  Moral absolutes are unavoidable.  When someone says, “you should never say never”, he/she affirms a contradiction.  When someone says, “there are no absolutes”, he/she affirms a contradiction (he/she has stated an absolute that there are no absolutes).
Five Consequences of Moral Relativism
First, moral relativism denies God and God’s Word.  God is supplanted with self (this is deification of self).  The denial of God is unbelief.  All unbelief is irrational since it involves a rejection of the truth which results in the belief of a lie.  Rejection of the truth and acceptance of a lie will lead to eternal damnation (II Thess. 2:11-12; Mark 16:16).
Second, moral relativism destabilizes society.  Social order is tied to sacred order (God’s laws and commandments).  Destroy the sacred order (God’s moral law) and the result is moral chaos and the destruction of the social order.  Moral relativism moves us in the direction of social chaos and collapse.
Third, moral concepts would be in a constant state of flux.  This means that every imagination of the hearts of people would be permissible.  Nothing would be forbidden.  The sense of “normal” would disappear.  The very laws by which society determines good from evil and right from wrong would collapse.  No one could be defined as a “criminal.”  The rule of law would collapse.
Fourth, the notion of freedom is redefined.  Licentiousness becomes freedom.  Those who accept moral relativity do so in the name of freedom–the freedom to be me.  If you do not permit me to do what I want to do, then, you are oppressing me and limiting my freedom.  Licentiousness is freedom from restraint.  The unbridled lusts of the flesh are not freedom, but rather, servitude to sin (Rom. 6:16, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey: whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness”).  Lasciviousness is condemned by God in His Word.  It is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:19).  It is a sin of the unregenerate heart that is hardened against God (Eph. 4:19; I Pet. 4:3; Jude 4).
Fifth, moral relativity results in amorality, i.e. no morals whatsoever!  Crime and violence will increase.  Every form of corruption is permissible.  Satan rules the hearts of men and women.
The Call To Moral Truth
In the face of God’s impending judgment, declared by God’s prophet, Jonah, the king of Nineveh called his people to turn away from every evil thing and to repent in sackcloth and cry mightily unto God for mercy (Jonah 3:8).  This is a proper example of what needs to be done today.  The gospel call is a universal call given by the Lord Jesus Christ to come unto Him (Matt. 11:28-30).  It is a call to obtain salvation (II Thess. 2:13-14).  It is a call to repentance of sin (Acts 17:30; 2:38; 3:19).  It is a call to self-denial and to sacrificially follow Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:24).  It is a call out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Pet. 2:9).  It is a call to spiritual union with Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-29) and all of those of similar faith in Christ and obedience to His commandments.  It is a call to holiness (I Thess. 4:7).  The moral law of God’s Word reflects the holiness of God Himself.  In as much as we keep God’s commandments, we reflect His holiness and glorify His name.