Our culture increasingly says that nothing is really right or wrong. Although people say this, I don't think they really mean it, and the fact that people really do believe in morality tells us we can trust the Bible. Let me begin to explain what I mean by asking you to take a short quiz. Just tell me if each of the following statements is a fact or opinion:
1. The best ice cream flavor is chocolate. Fact or opinion?
2. George Washington was the first U.S. president. Fact or opinion?
Clearly #1 is an opinion. One person may agree, while another may disagree, and they can both be right. The answer depends on the tastes and preferences of the one you are asking.
Statement #2 is a fact. No matter how a person answers the question, there is only one right answer. An individual may claim a different person was president first, but that doesn't make it so. Only one person could actually be the first U.S. president.
Let's continue the quiz:
3. The University of Florida is the best place to go to college. Fact or opinion?
4. San Antonio is the capitol of the United States.
#3 is an opinion (one I happen to share). But our agreeing or disagreeing with the statement doesn't matter. The answer depends on what you value most. Are sports the most important thing in determining the answer to this question, and if so, which sports? What about average GPAs, or affordability? People will have different answers to this question depending on what they value the most. There is no one right answer.
#4 is a fact. Even though it is a false fact, it is still a fact. There is only one right answer to this question. Someone can't say, "But my opinion is that San Antonio is the capitol of the United States." It doesn't matter what your opinion is, the capitol is still Washington D.C.
How about this next one:
5. Abortion is always wrong.
This is where things get interesting. This is a statement about morality. Is it a fact -- is there only one right answer? Or is it an opinion -- does the answer depend on who you are asking? If you say "opinion," you are not alone. More and more people see it that way, especially among younger generations. But the Bible clearly teaches this is a fact (whether or not it is correct is besides the point), and I think you agree that it is a fact whether you are willing to admit it or not.
Take for example the horrible atrocities committed by the Nazis. Notice by the words horrible atrocities I have already declared that the acts were morally wrong. But the Nazis might argue that is just my opinion. In their opinion they were doing what was necessary and right for the good of the pure German race. If morality is merely opinion and there is no right or wrong position, then they would have a fair point. I have my opinion, they have theirs. Who's to say that one opinion is better than the other?
I emphasized "who's" because this is the crux of the debate. If there is no God, then there are no moral absolutes. Every person has an equal claim to authority on matters of morality. Only if there is someone above mankind in authority is there someone to say which side is right.
The Bible describes God as occupying this position. He created the universe, our world, and all living things. He is therefore the rightful authority over the world. He has decreed moral laws and will ultimately hold us accountable to those laws. Questions about morality are ultimately questions about the laws God has given to us. And God has not left us without evidence that he has indeed set up moral laws, just as he set up physical laws that govern the universe. Paul wrote:
"Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them." -Romans 2:14-15
According to the Bible, we all know that there is a real right and wrong because God gave us a conscience so that we would know.
Consider the Nazis again. Do you think they were wrong to torture and murder young, innocent children? Yes, you do. Is that just your opinion? If you are honest, you know that it isn't. Suppose that the Nazis won World War II. Suppose they imposed their rule over the entire world. Suppose they rewrote every history book to celebrate their actions during the war. Suppose they killed anyone who disagreed. Suppose everyone alive today thought that what they did was good. Would that make it right? Of course not, it would still be wrong. You know it. You know when someone mistreats you that it is wrong. You know that it is really wrong, even though our culture pressures us to say it's just an opinion.
The only reasonable explanation for our awareness of moral absolutes is that God is real and that he is a real law-giver.
Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html
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