Who Decides Right and Wrong?
Every society has standards of right and wrong.
Some are written into law.
Others are accepted simply because they are popular.
But where do those standards come from?
Who has the authority to decide what is right and what is wrong?
The Bible answers that question in its opening chapters.
In the Garden of Eden, God placed Adam and Eve in a world that He declared to be "very good." He also gave them one command.
"You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:17)
The issue was never merely a piece of fruit.
The deeper question was this:
Who has the right to determine good and evil?
Would Adam and Eve trust God's definition?
Or would they decide for themselves?
The serpent challenged God's authority by suggesting that they could become
"like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)
Instead of trusting their Creator, they chose to determine right and wrong for themselves.
That choice lies behind every human rebellion against God.
From that day to this, people have continually struggled with the same temptation.
Rather than asking,
"What has God said?"
we often ask,
"What do I think is right?"
or,
"What does society approve?"
The book of Judges describes the result of that way of thinking.
"Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)
The outcome was confusion, injustice, and spiritual decline.
By contrast, Scripture consistently points God's people back to His authority.
David wrote,
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)
Jesus declared,
"If you love Me, keep My commands." (John 14:15)
Christians believe that God has the right to define what is good because He is our Creator.
His commands do not arise from changing public opinion.
They flow from His holy and righteous character.
That does not mean every decision in life is easy.
Faithful Christians may disagree about matters of judgment, wisdom, or personal preference.
But when God has spoken clearly, His Word—not our feelings or the surrounding culture—must guide our decisions.
Every generation faces the same choice that Adam and Eve faced.
Will we trust God's wisdom?
Or will we decide for ourselves what is right and wrong?
The answer to that question shapes every other moral decision we make.
Continue Your Study
What Does the Bible Teach About Human Identity?
Our culture often encourages people to define themselves by their feelings, achievements, or personal desires.
How does the Bible describe our identity?
What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
And how should that truth shape the way we see ourselves and others?
Related Bible Studies
Biblical Authority
The Story of Redemption
Should Christians Follow the Culture?
Can Truth Change?
Companion Video
Who Decides Right and Wrong?
Read First. Conclude Late