The Chaos of Moral Relativism

Judges 17:6 (21:15) In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes

Our society, and many in our world, are influenced by the idea of moral relativism. Moral relativism holds to the understanding that there is no universal or absolute set of ethical standards. Those guided by this philosophy identify with statements like, “To each his own,” and “Who am I to judge.” In our society, it is the rejection of the “Judeo/Christian Ethic” as the standard for morality (i.e. Scripture). 

The assessment of the people in the nation of Israel in Judges 17:6 and 21:15 is a description of moral relativism. Their ideas reinforce the point made by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:9–10, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.

The reflection that “there was no king in Israel” is a comment noting that there exists no governing official to reinforce the standard of God revealed in the Law of Moses. Those in the nation of Israel knew themselves to be the nation of God, and many were religious. The fact that “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” means they did not follow the Mosaic Law as their absolute moral standard. Their religious practices became a hodge-podge of Scripture, and their personal opinions, mixed with the beliefs of the heathen people around them. Worthless and godless nonsense.

People need the only valid moral standard, the Law of the Creator God revealed in Scripture. When God’s word and ways are ignored or diluted with human philosophy, the result is chaos. There is no consistent final standard. What comes forth as a basis for judgment are the confused musings of the masses, corralled by authoritarians in positions of power that typically become tyrannical. We are witnessing this all around the world and in our nation today. Even in churches, biblical authority is absent. Scriptural authority takes a backseat to attitudes of accommodation, commonly saying, “Who am I to judge.” 

Yet the people of God are to judge. But our judgment is not based on personal opinion. The Law of God revealed in Scripture, under the authority and rule of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is the basis of sound judgment. Our overt loyalty should be to love the truth of God, learn the truth of God, live the truth of God, and challenge others to do the same. We are to be beacons of light in a dark and chaotic world. 

May we wholeheartedly accept the challenge of God through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:13-16. “13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.‘ 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

May Christ shine on you to illuminate the world in chaos around you!