CAN SOCIETY REWRITE MORALITY?

When public opinion changes, does right become wrong—or wrong become right?

TEXT B4 TRADITION — Read First. Conclude Later.

Yesterday It Was Wrong. Today It's Acceptable. What Changed?

Turn on the television. Read the comments beneath a news story. Spend a few minutes on social media.

People who disagree are called fools, idiots, enemies, and worse. Political arguments become personal attacks. Religious disagreements turn into accusations about another person's character.

And sometimes the people behaving this way claim to be Christians.

When did treating people with contempt become acceptable behavior for followers of Jesus?

Society changes. Its customs change. Its laws change. Even its understanding of right and wrong changes.

Some changes correct genuine injustices. Others encourage conduct Scripture condemns.

But here is the question:

Can society actually change what is right and wrong, or can it only change what people are willing to accept?

And an even more important question:

Who has the authority to decide what is right and what is wrong?

Let's examine what Scripture says.

1. Who Has the Final Authority?

Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 119:142

When Abraham discussed God's coming judgment of Sodom, he asked:

"Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25, WEB)

Abraham was appealing to God's justice.

His question rests upon a fundamental truth: God is righteous, and His judgments must be just.

Deuteronomy 32:4 describes God as faithful, just, and without wrongdoing.

Psalm 119:142 declares that His righteousness is everlasting.

Right and wrong do not originate in public opinion, political decisions, or religious traditions.

God is the ultimate authority on what is right and what is wrong.

That does not mean Christians always understand His will correctly.

We can misunderstand Scripture, overlook its context, or mistake our traditions for His commands.

But our mistakes do not change His authority.

Our responsibility is not to decide what God ought to approve. It is to discover what He has actually revealed.

2. Can People Call Evil Good and Good Evil?

Isaiah 5:20

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (WEB)

Isaiah was speaking to Judah, where injustice, greed, and corruption had become widespread.

Read Isaiah 5:8–23. The prophet condemns those who accumulate property at the expense of others, pursue drunkenness, reject God's instruction, and pervert justice.

His accusation is not merely that people disagreed about morality.

They had begun defending what God condemned.

And that raises a logical question.

If something becomes right simply because enough people approve of it, how could Isaiah accuse an entire society of calling evil good?

His warning assumes that right and wrong are not determined by public approval.

A million people agreeing that something is right cannot make it right if God has said it is wrong.

3. Does God's Character Change When Society Changes?

Malachi 3:6; Psalm 119:142; James 1:17

God told Israel that He does not change. In Malachi 3:6, He was speaking of His faithfulness to His covenant despite Israel's unfaithfulness.

Psalm 119:142 describes His righteousness as everlasting.

James 1:17 describes God as unchanging in His goodness.

These passages establish that God's character is not determined by human opinion.

But God has given different instructions under different covenants.

Israel was commanded to offer animal sacrifices. Christians are not. Hebrews 10:1–18 explains that Christ's sacrifice accomplished what those repeated sacrifices could not.

That is not God changing His moral character. It is God fulfilling His saving purpose through Christ.

God's righteous character does not change merely because human customs or opinions change.

4. Can the Majority Make Something Right?

Exodus 23:2

"You shall not follow a crowd to do evil." (WEB)

God gave this command in the context of justice and truthful testimony.

An Israelite was not permitted to distort justice simply because everyone around him was doing so.

Consider the trial of Jesus.

In Mark 15:11–15, the chief priests stirred up the crowd to demand His crucifixion.

The crowd agreed. Pilate yielded.

Did the crowd's approval make the crucifixion just?

Of course not.

And the opposite is equally true. Being unpopular does not automatically make someone right.

The question is not how many people agree.

The question is: Does God agree?

And to answer that question, we must examine what God has revealed rather than assume that our own opinion represents His.

5. Can Society Make Genuine Moral Progress?

Certainly.

Sometimes a society changes because people finally recognize an injustice that previous generations accepted.

James 2:1–9 condemns favoritism toward the wealthy and mistreatment of the poor.

Micah 6:8 calls God's people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.

Philemon 15–16 urges Philemon to receive Onesimus as more than a slave—a beloved brother. Paul does not write a civil law abolishing slavery, but he insists upon a relationship that goes beyond treating another Christian merely as property.

When society rejects discrimination, exploitation, or cruelty, it may be moving closer to principles Scripture has taught all along.

That is not rewriting morality.

It is correcting a failure to practice it.

Therefore, we should not defend something merely because our grandparents practiced it, nor condemn something merely because it is new.

The age of a custom does not determine whether it is right.

God's standard—not the age or popularity of a practice—is what matters.

6. Has Insulting People Become an Acceptable Way to Disagree?

Ephesians 4:29–32; James 3:9–10

Here is a moral question much closer to home.

Read the comments beneath almost any controversial social media discussion.

People ridicule one another's appearance, intelligence, education, character, and motives.

Some spread accusations they have never verified. Others repeat insulting labels because they dislike someone's political or religious position.

Now compare that behavior with Scripture.

Ephesians 4:29 forbids corrupt speech and calls for words that build others up.

Ephesians 4:31 tells Christians to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice.

Ephesians 4:32 commands kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness.

James 3:9–10 points out the contradiction of blessing God while cursing people made in His likeness.

James says:

"My brothers, these things ought not to be so." (WEB)

That is not a suggestion about good manners.

It is a moral instruction.

Calling someone names instead of answering his argument does not establish that he is wrong.

Mocking a person's appearance does not prove that his position is false.

Accusing someone of dishonesty without evidence is not defending truth.

Personal abuse is not a substitute for reasoning.

And Christians do not receive an exemption because the person they are attacking belongs to another political party, supports a different candidate, or interprets Scripture differently.

We may strongly oppose an idea. We may expose false teaching. We may identify conduct Scripture condemns.

But none of that gives us permission to treat people with contempt.

We can disagree without being disagreeable.

7. Didn't Jesus Call the Religious Leaders Names?

Matthew 23:13–33

Yes. Jesus called certain religious leaders hypocrites, blind guides, and even serpents.

So does that give Christians permission to speak about their opponents in the same way?

Consider who was speaking.

John 2:24–25 says Jesus knew what was in mankind.

Jesus knew the hearts of those He confronted.

We do not.

We can examine someone's words. We can evaluate actions. We can demonstrate that a teaching contradicts Scripture.

But we cannot look into another person's heart and declare with certainty what motives are hidden there.

1 Corinthians 4:5 warns against judging before the Lord comes, when He will bring hidden things to light and reveal the purposes of hearts.

This does not prohibit examining teaching or recognizing wrongdoing. Paul repeatedly instructed Christians to do both.

It does prohibit pretending to possess knowledge that belongs to God.

Jesus also instructed His disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them (Matthew 5:44).

Peter tells Christians to answer with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15–16).

And Paul tells Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:24–25

"The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, in gentleness correcting those who oppose him..." (WEB)

Notice that Paul does not say to avoid correcting error.

He tells us how to correct it.

There is nothing weak about demonstrating that someone is wrong.

But there is something seriously wrong with using the truth as an excuse to humiliate another human being.

8. Should Christians Confront Ideas That Are Wrong?

2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Acts 17:11; Titus 1:9

Yes.

Christian love does not require silence when an idea contradicts Scripture.

Paul spoke of bringing arguments and thoughts into obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3–5).

In Acts 17:11, the Bereans were commended for examining the Scriptures daily to determine whether Paul's teaching was true.

They did not simply accept what they heard because a respected teacher said it.

They examined the Scriptures.

Titus 1:9 instructs church leaders to hold firmly to the faithful message so they can encourage others through sound teaching and correct those who contradict it.

The New Testament does not teach Christians to remain silent in the presence of error.

But how do we determine that an idea is wrong?

Not by counting how many people believe it.

Not by asking whether it agrees with our traditions.

Not by deciding whether we like the person presenting it.

We examine the idea in the light of what God has revealed.

If someone teaches something contrary to Scripture, we should be willing to demonstrate the error.

Show the passage.

Examine its context.

Consider related passages.

Explain why the conclusion does not follow from the text.

And if the evidence shows that our own interpretation was mistaken, we should be willing to change it.

Attack the argument, not the person.

We can disagree without being disagreeable.

And we can be firm without being cruel.

God determines what is right. Our responsibility is to understand and faithfully communicate what He has said.

9. What About the Way Christians Behave in Politics?

Titus 3:1–2; James 1:19–20

Political disagreements can involve serious questions of justice, freedom, honesty, responsibility, and the proper use of government authority.

Christians have every reason to examine those questions thoughtfully.

But political conviction does not cancel Christian responsibility.

Titus 3:1–2 instructs believers to be subject to rulers and authorities, ready for every good work, and to speak evil of no one, avoiding quarrels and showing gentleness toward all people.

Notice those last words:

All people.

Not merely people who agree with us.

Not merely people who vote as we do.

Not merely people who treat us kindly.

James 1:19–20 instructs believers to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, because human anger does not produce God's righteousness.

So consider these questions.

If someone insults a political opponent, does that make his argument stronger?

If a Christian shares a damaging accusation without checking whether it is true, has he honored the God of truth?

If someone celebrates cruelty because it is directed toward a person he dislikes, is he practicing the love commanded by Jesus?

A Christian cannot justify unchristian conduct by claiming to support a righteous cause.

And this applies regardless of political party.

Our loyalty to Christ must govern how we treat people even when we disagree with them strongly.

The same God who commands us to stand for truth also commands us to love our neighbors. We have no authority to discard one command while defending the other.

10. Can Governments Make Wrongdoing Right by Legalizing It?

Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1–7

Peter and the apostles were ordered not to teach in Jesus' name.

They answered:

"We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29, WEB)

Human governments possess legitimate authority. Romans 13:1–7 explains that Christians should respect governing authorities and their proper responsibilities.

But government authority is not unlimited.

When human commands directly conflict with God's commands, the apostles demonstrate which authority comes first.

A law may permit conduct that Scripture condemns.

A law may also prohibit conduct that God requires.

Legal does not necessarily mean righteous. Illegal does not necessarily mean sinful.

Christians should respect legitimate government without treating government as the final authority over morality.

Government can determine what is legal. God determines what is right.

11. Can Religious Traditions Change God's Commands?

Mark 7:6–13

Jesus confronted religious leaders whose traditions allowed people to avoid their responsibilities toward their parents.

He accused them of setting aside God's commandment in order to preserve their tradition.

The problem was not that they had customs.

The problem was that their customs contradicted God's instructions.

The same danger exists today.

Religious communities can develop practices that become so familiar that members assume they must be biblical.

But familiarity is not authority.

Neither age nor popularity makes a tradition God's command.

If we cannot establish a religious requirement from Scripture, we have no right to impose it as though God commanded it.

That applies to our own religious practices just as much as those of anyone else.

Religious leaders do not have the authority to rewrite God's instructions.

Neither do we.

12. Does Love Require Us to Approve of Everything?

1 Corinthians 13:4–6; Ephesians 4:15

Some people seem to believe that loving someone means never telling him he is wrong.

Scripture teaches otherwise.

First Corinthians 13:6 says love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth.

Ephesians 4:15 calls Christians to speak the truth in love.

Both are necessary.

Truth without love can become cruel.

Love without truth can become an excuse for refusing to confront wrongdoing.

Consider a parent who sees a child heading toward danger.

Would love require the parent to remain silent?

Of course not.

But the parent's concern should be evident in the manner of correction.

The same principle applies when Christians disagree about morality, doctrine, or conduct.

We can tell someone he is wrong without treating him as worthless.

We can firmly reject an argument without attacking the person making it.

We can identify sin without pretending that we ourselves have never sinned.

Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned.

That includes the person doing the correcting.

Love does not require us to approve of what God condemns. And defending God's truth does not give us permission to disregard His command to love.

13. Are We Confusing God's Moral Standards With Our Own Customs?

Romans 14:1–6; Colossians 2:20–23

Not every difference in behavior is a difference between righteousness and sin.

Cultures differ in clothing, greetings, food, social customs, and countless other practices.

Romans 14 describes Christians who disagreed about food and the observance of certain days.

Paul did not permit them to condemn one another over those matters.

Colossians 2:20–23 warns against human religious regulations that appear wise but lack the spiritual value their advocates claim.

The lesson is important.

We have no right to make our personal preferences into God's moral law.

Before calling something sinful, we should be able to show what Scripture teaches and how the conclusion follows.

If the Bible does not establish our conclusion, we should not claim God's authority for it.

That is true whether we are discussing worship, morality, politics, family life, or religious traditions.

God has the authority to determine right and wrong. We do not have the authority to add our own rules and then claim they came from Him.

14. What Should Christians Do When Society Changes?

Romans 12:2; Hebrews 5:14

Romans 12:2 instructs Christians not to be conformed to this age but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Paul is not commanding Christians to oppose everything popular.

He is commanding them to develop minds capable of discerning God's will.

Hebrews 5:14 describes spiritually mature people whose senses have been trained to distinguish good from evil.

That requires study, judgment, humility, and practice.

When society changes, we should ask whether the change agrees with God's revealed will.

Sometimes the change corrects injustice.

Sometimes it encourages wrongdoing.

Sometimes it concerns a custom about which Scripture gives no universal command.

And sometimes the real problem is that Christians have mistaken their own traditions for God's instructions.

Our task is not to defend the past or imitate the present. It is to follow Christ.

So, Can Society Rewrite Morality?

Society can change its laws.

It can change its customs.

It can change what it celebrates and what it condemns.

It can correct injustices that earlier generations accepted.

But society cannot change God's righteous character or turn something He condemns into something He approves simply by popular agreement.

God decides what is right and wrong.

Not politicians.

Not religious leaders.

Not the majority.

Not you.

Not me.

Our task is to discover what God has revealed and follow it.

That requires more than defending our own opinions. It requires examining Scripture carefully, understanding its context, and being willing to change our conclusions when the evidence shows we were wrong.

And when someone teaches an idea that contradicts Scripture, we should be willing to challenge it.

Confront the error. Demonstrate why it is wrong. But do not attack the person.

Calling people names, spreading unverified accusations, ridiculing opponents, and treating others with contempt violate the standards of speech and conduct taught in Scripture.

It does not become Christian behavior because the target is a political opponent.

It does not become acceptable because someone disagrees with our religion.

And it does not become righteous because thousands of people on social media applaud it.

Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors—and even our enemies.

We cannot claim to follow Him while deliberately ignoring those commands.

We do not have to surrender our convictions to demonstrate love. We must demonstrate love while defending our convictions.

We can disagree without being disagreeable.

We can defend the truth without insulting those who disagree.

And we can stand firmly for what is right without pretending that we ourselves are the final authority.

God determines what is right and wrong. Scripture reveals His will. Our responsibility is to understand it, obey it, and teach it with both conviction and love.

Continue Exploring Scripture

WHO DECIDES RIGHT AND WRONG?

https://text-b4-tradition.com/who-decides-right

TEXT B4 TRADITION — Read First. Conclude Later.

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