đ§ Which Morality Is Right? Is There an Absolute Law? Who Should Govern?
A Christian Response to Lifeâs Foundational Questions
𪧠Introduction: The Big Questions That Shape a Lifeâand a Nation
At the root of nearly every social debate, political argument, and personal crisis lies a handful of timeless questions:
- Which moral code is right?
- Is there such a thing as absolute truth or moral law?
- Who has the right to govern, and what makes a leader legitimate?
From courtrooms to classrooms, coffee shops to Congress, these questions stir the pot. And if we don’t answer them wisely, the results are confusion, conflict, and collapse.
The Christian faith doesnât duck these questions. Instead, it offers clear, compelling, and time-tested answersârooted not in emotion or trends but in the eternal truth of Godâs Word.
Letâs take a deep dive into each question and unpack how the Bible, the life of Jesus, and the teachings of Christian leaders offer guidance thatâs as relevant now as itâs ever been.
đ Which Morality Is Right?
âď¸ Morality Begins with Godâs Character
In the Christian worldview, morality is not something we constructâitâs something we discover. God is the source of morality, not culture or consensus.
âBe holy, for I am holy.â â 1 Peter 1:16
âThe LORD is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does.â â Psalm 145:17
God is not only lovingâHe is just, holy, and true. And since we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27), we are designed to reflect His nature through moral living.
The moral laws found in Scriptureâsuch as the Ten Commandments and Jesusâ teachings in the Sermon on the Mountâare expressions of Godâs own heart.
đ Relativism vs. Revelation
In today’s culture, many believe that morality is relative. Whatâs right for one person might not be right for another. But if thereâs no higher standard than personal preference, then might makes right and truth becomes whatever the majority says it is.
âEveryone did what was right in his own eyes.â â Judges 21:25
This verse describes a time of chaos in Israelâwhen Godâs law was ignored, and each person became their own moral compass. The result? Moral decay, injustice, and national collapse.
By contrast, the Bible calls for a revealed moralityâtruth that comes from outside of ourselves.
âYour word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.â â Psalm 119:105
đ§ A Universal Sense of Right and Wrong
Even those who reject the Bible often agree on certain moral principles: murder is wrong, justice is good, and honesty matters. Where does this consensus come from?
âThe work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness.â â Romans 2:15
Theologians call this natural lawâa basic moral awareness placed in every human heart by God. While sin can distort and dull our conscience, we are still moral creatures, designed to live by a standard greater than ourselves.
đ Is There an Absolute Law?
đ The Moral Law: Absolute, Not Arbitrary
Christianity holds that Godâs law is absolute, eternal, and just. Itâs not a fluctuating set of rules that adapts with societyâs whimsâitâs the expression of Godâs unchanging nature.
âThe law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.â â Psalm 19:7
Godâs commandsâdo not steal, do not lie, love your neighbor, honor your parentsâarenât just good advice. They are universal truths that apply to all people in all places.
When we treat law as a human invention, we end up with legal systems that change every few years. But Godâs law provides stability, justice, and clarity in a morally foggy world.
đ§ Natural Law and Conscience
C.S. Lewis famously argued in Mere Christianity that every culture has some version of moral law, and that this points to a divine lawgiver:
âYou find out more about God from the moral law than from the universe in general. The moral law is inside information.â â C.S. Lewis
Even children intuitively know itâs wrong to cheat or steal. That inner voiceâwhat we call conscienceâis part of Godâs design.
Yet, conscience alone is not enough. It must be shaped and sharpened by Scripture, because sin can distort what we think is right.
đ¨ Law and Gospel: Judgment and Grace
One of the Bibleâs most powerful truths is that the law condemns us, but the Gospel saves us.
âThrough the law we become conscious of our sin.â â Romans 3:20
âChrist is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.â â Romans 10:4
The law shows us the perfect standard, and the Gospel gives us the power to pursue itânot to earn salvation, but as evidence of Godâs transforming grace.
Jesus didnât cancel the moral lawâHe fulfilled it, perfectly. He is the embodiment of righteousness, and by His Spirit, believers are empowered to live lives of holiness.
đ Who Should Govern?
đď¸ Earthly Government: A Divine Institution
The Bible makes it clear: human government is part of Godâs design to maintain order, uphold justice, and restrain evil.
âLet every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God.â â Romans 13:1
Government is not inherently corrupt or secular. In fact, rulers are called âGodâs servantsâ in Romans 13:4. When functioning correctly, they reward good behavior and punish wrongdoing.
Thatâs why Christians are instructed to pay taxes, obey the law, and pray for those in leadership (1 Peter 2:13â17; 1 Timothy 2:1â3).
đ¨ When Government Goes Wrong
However, earthly authorities are not ultimate. When the state demands something that contradicts Godâs commands, believers must choose civil disobedience in allegiance to God.
âWe must obey God rather than men.â â Acts 5:29
Examples include:
- Daniel praying in defiance of a royal decree.
- The apostles preaching Christ after being told to stop.
- The Hebrew midwives refusing Pharaohâs order to kill newborn boys.
In all cases, these men and women disobeyed manâs law to obey Godâs higher lawâand Scripture praises them for it.
đ The Ultimate Authority: Christ the King
At the end of the day, all human governments are temporary. Jesus Christ is the true and eternal King, and His Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).
âThe government shall be upon His shoulders… Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end.â â Isaiah 9:6â7
This doesnât mean Christians retreat from politics or public life. Instead, we engage with integrity, compassion, and a Kingdom-first mindset.
Our goal isnât to build a theocracy, but to be ambassadors of heaven who reflect Christâs reign in how we live, vote, lead, and serve.
đ Illustrations and Real-World Examples
đ¨ Compass and Map
Imagine being lost in the wilderness. A compass gives you direction, and a map shows you where youâre going. Without either, you’re wandering aimlessly.
Godâs law is the compass; His Word is the map. They donât just point out where you areâthey help you get where youâre supposed to be.
âď¸ Bonhoeffer: Faithful Resistance
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor, resisted Hitlerâs regime because the Nazi laws contradicted Godâs commands. He was imprisoned and ultimately executed, not because he hated government, but because he loved Godâs law more than manâs decree.
đŻď¸ Martin Luther King Jr.: A Higher Law
In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. King wrote:
âA just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.â
His activism was rooted in biblical theologyânot political power. He believed that Godâs law was higher than the law of the land, and that every believer had a duty to seek justice based on divine truth.
đ Summary Table
| Question | Christian Answer | Key Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Which morality is right? | Godâs morality, rooted in His nature | Micah 6:8, Matthew 22:37â40 |
| Is there an absolute law? | Yesârevealed in nature and Scripture | Romans 2:15, Psalm 19:7 |
| Who should govern? | Earthly rulers under God; Christ reigns supreme | Romans 13:1, Isaiah 9:6, Acts 5:29 |
đ How Then Should We Live?
- Study Scripture Regularly â Let Godâs Word shape your view of right and wrong.
- Form Your Conscience Biblically â Donât just follow your heart; form it with the truth.
- Engage Society Boldly â Christians belong in politics, schools, courts, and neighborhoods as salt and light (Matthew 5:13â16).
- Submit When You Can, Resist When You Must â Respect authority, but never compromise Godâs truth.
- Proclaim Christ as King â Not just in private faith, but as the public Lord of all creation.
âSeek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.â â Matthew 6:33
đ References
- The Bible â NIV, ESV
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
- Francis Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?
- John Stott, Issues Facing Christians Today
- Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
đ Final Reflection
When it comes to morality, law, and leadership, the world is loud and confused. But the Christian has a quiet confidenceâanchored not in changing times, but in the unchanging character of God.
There is a right and wrong. There is an absolute standard. And there is a sovereign King.
His name is Jesus. And under His rule, we find not just truthâbut freedom, peace, and eternal purpose.
âYour Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.â â Matthew 6:10
đ Published by Mountain Veteran Ministries
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