What does moral absolutism say about ethics and morality?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible provides insight into the concept of moral absolutism, which is the belief that there are universal, unchanging moral truths. While Scripture doesn't use the term "moral absolutism," it does present God's character and commands as the ultimate standard for morality. The Bible teaches that God's nature is good, just, and unchanging, which forms the basis for absolute moral truths. However, morality goes beyond mere rule-following and involves heart attitudes, intentions, and love for God and others.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Exodus 20:1–17: "And God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me...'" The Ten Commandments establish clear moral absolutes given directly by God. These commands reflect God's character and provide a foundation for moral behavior.
• Deuteronomy 6:4–5: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." The Shema emphasizes loving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. This command shows that morality is rooted in a relationship with God, not just following rules.
• Micah 6:8: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" This verse summarizes what God requires: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. It demonstrates that morality involves both actions and attitudes.
• Psalm 119:160: "The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever." This verse affirms the enduring nature of God's moral standards.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Matthew 5:17–20: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished..." Jesus affirms the ongoing validity of God's law while also emphasizing the importance of heart attitudes in fulfilling it.
• Matthew 22:36–40: "'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?' And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'" Jesus summarizes all the law and prophets in two great commandments: love God and love your neighbor. This shows that love is the foundation of biblical morality.
• Romans 2:14–15: "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them." Paul speaks of God's law being written on people's hearts, suggesting a universal moral standard that aligns with moral absolutism.
• James 2:10–11: "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law." James argues that breaking one part of the law makes one guilty of breaking it all, implying an absolute and interconnected nature of God's moral standards.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

While the Bible affirms certain absolute moral truths rooted in God’s nature and character, it also emphasizes that true morality stems from a transformed heart that loves God and others. This understanding challenges us to move beyond mere rule-following to cultivate a deep, personal relationship with God that transforms our motivations and actions. In a world that often promotes moral relativism, the biblical view reminds us that there are indeed universal moral truths grounded in God's unchanging character.

However, it also cautions against a rigid, pharisaical approach to morality that focuses solely on external compliance. Instead, it calls us to seek wisdom and discernment in applying God's timeless principles to complex situations, always guided by love for God and others. The Bible's teaching on morality invites us to align our hearts with God's character, recognizing that true moral behavior flows from a transformed inner life, rather than mere external conformity to rules.

UNDERSTAND

• Moral absolutism holds that certain moral principles are universally true, regardless of context, culture, or circumstances.
• The Bible supports some aspects of moral absolutism, showing that unchanging moral truths are based on God's eternal nature and character.
• True morality, according to the Bible, goes beyond following strict rules and is based on heart attitudes, love for God, and love for others.

REFLECT

• How do you currently navigate situations where following absolute moral principles might conflict with your personal desires or societal pressures?
• How has your understanding of God’s unchanging character shaped your view of right and wrong?
• How can you hold to God’s moral absolutes without focusing solely on external rules and appearances?

ENGAGE

• What are some modern challenges to moral absolutism, and how can Christians respond in a way that reflects both truth and love?
• How does the idea of absolute moral truths influence the way we approach complex ethical issues, like justice, equality, and compassion?
• In a subjective, morally relativistic world, claiming to have moral absolutes is repugnant. However, we see plenty of moral absolutism, even for those who claim they are relativistic. One practical example is following traffic signals. Red means stop, and green means go—there’s no debate, as following this rule ensures safety and order on the road. Ignoring a red light can lead to accidents, proving there's a clear right and wrong way to handle this situation. Another example is handling food hygiene. Washing hands before preparing food is the correct way to prevent contamination and illness. Neglecting this step risks spreading harmful bacteria, making it clear there’s a right and wrong approach.
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