Ethical relativism is the view that morality is not absolute or universal, but rather is relative to the norms of one’s culture or society. According to ethical relativism, there are no objective or universal moral truths that apply to all people at all times. Right and wrong are determined by the social customs, traditions, laws, and practices of a particular culture or society. What is considered morally right in one society may be considered morally wrong in another, and no society’s morality is objectively better or more correct than any other.
The Bible unequivocally rejects ethical relativism and affirms that there are absolute moral truths established by God. Scripture teaches that God’s moral law is universal and applies to all people, in all cultures, at all times. The Ten Commandments given to Israel represent God’s universal moral law (Exodus 20:1-17). Jesus affirmed the permanence and authority of God’s moral law when He said that He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-19). The New Testament epistles repeatedly affirm the ethical teachings of the Old Testament as authoritative for the church.
The apostle Paul declared that Gentiles, who do not have the Mosaic Law, nevertheless have the work of the Law written on their hearts and know God’s moral standards instinctively (Romans 2:12-16). Paul said that Gentiles who do not have the Law nevertheless know that practices like adultery, homosexuality, and theft are morally wrong because of their conscience (Romans 2:12-16). This indicates that all people, regardless of cultural background, have an innate moral sense of right and wrong that reflects God’s moral law. Scripture views God’s moral law as an unchanging reflection of His holy nature.
A key passage is Romans 1:18-32, where Paul explains that all people have knowledge of God’s power and nature, and yet suppress that truth and worship idols instead. Because people reject the truth about God that they know instinctively, God gives them over to immorality and sinful desires. The sins Paul lists, like sexual immorality and greed, are violations of God’s moral law. The passage makes clear that these sins violate an absolute moral law that comes from God’s nature, not just particular cultural customs. People are condemned for rebelling against the moral truth they know innately from creation.
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul rebukes the church for accepting sexual immorality that even pagans would condemn. Paul’s point is that there are moral absolutes that even nonbelievers recognize, so Christians should surely obey them. His comments would make no sense if morals were culturally relative. New Testament authors repeatedly condemn practices like sorcery, idolatry, and pornography as universally morally wrong (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8). The biblical view is that morality is grounded in the unchanging, holy nature of God, not the norms of human cultures and societies.
Several Bible passages make clear that God’s universal moral law applies to all people and cultures, not just to Israel or the church. For example, in Genesis 20, God rebukes the pagan king Abimelech for taking Abraham’s wife Sarah, even though Abimelech did not have God’s law. This indicates all people are accountable to God’s moral standards. In Jonah 1:2, Jonah is sent to the pagan city Nineveh because their wickedness has come up before the Lord, not just because they disobeyed God’s national law for Israel. These and other passages assume an absolute moral law that transcends particular societies and cultures.
In summary, the Bible clearly affirms universal moral absolutes that come from God’s nature and apply to all people in all cultures. Right and wrong are not determined by cultural norms but are grounded in God’s unchanging nature and character. Although cultures and societies may differ in their ethical practices, God judges all people by the same absolute standard of His moral law. Biblical morality transcends cultures and ultimately finds its definition in the holy character of God. Ethical relativism is incompatible with biblical Christianity.
The Bible condemns ethical relativism because it rejects God’s sovereignty as the ultimate authority establishing right and wrong. Relativism sees ethics as grounded in changing human conventions rather than God’s fixed moral character. By asserting that morality varies between cultures, ethical relativism implicitly denies that God has the right to impose moral standards on people. It rejects God’s absolute moral authority in favor of the idea that communities determine right and wrong for themselves. But Scripture teaches that only God has the authority to establish moral law because He alone is Lord over all creation.
Ethical relativism is also incompatible with the Bible because it denies that human beings are accountable before God for their actions. If there are no absolute moral standards, then people cannot truly be held responsible for immoral behavior. Relativism sees morality merely as adhering to the conventions of one’s society rather than obeying God’s authoritative law. But the Bible teaches that people will stand before God at the final judgment and be held accountable for how they lived in light of God’s moral absolutes (Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 2:6-11). Relativism seeks to avoid personal moral responsibility before God.
In addition, ethical relativism contradicts biblical teaching on the corrupting power of sin. Scripture teaches that people’s moral thinking is corrupted by sin and they actively suppress God’s moral truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-23). Relativism denies this bias toward sin and asserts that people construct their ethical systems through an objective consideration of cultural norms. But the Bible says people reject God’s moral law because of rebellious hearts, not because they adopt customs that construct divergent moral codes. Humans do not develop moral truths, but rather suppress the moral truth instilled by their Creator.
Finally, ethical relativism essentially boils down to moral nihilism, the idea that nothing is universally morally wrong. Taken to its logical conclusion, relativism renders morality meaningless because even the most horrific acts could be deemed morally acceptable by some societies. But the Bible clearly teaches that some practices, like rape and murder, are moral evils that violate God’s good design for creation. Biblical Christianity holds that objective moral truths exist because God established them for His glory and human flourishing.
In summary, ethical relativism is incompatible with biblical Christianity because it rejects God’s moral authority and law, denies human accountability for sin, minimizes the corrupting effects of sin, and ultimately leads to moral nihilism. The Bible asserts that morality is grounded in the holy nature of God, who has universal authority to establish binding moral duties for all people in all cultures. Right and wrong are not culturally determined but divinely defined by a just and loving God who created human beings for His glory.
The Bible not only rejects ethical relativism but also offers enduring and liberating moral truths. God’s moral law comes from His wise, just, and loving character, so it leads to human flourishing, not oppression. Obedience to God’s Law would restrain human evil, protect the vulnerable, preserve social stability, and promote true human thriving. Unlike the changing social conventions of human societies, God’s moral principles are eternal and spring from His unfailing character of righteousness, justice, and love.
Scripture teaches that morality is grounded in the very nature of God Himself. God’s moral attributes such as love, justice, holiness, and faithfulness emanate from Who He is. His moral law flows from His attributes and reflects His moral excellence. The immutable moral truths found in God’s law proceed from His unchanging nature and holy character (Psalm 119:160; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Unlike ethical relativism, biblical morality is rooted in God’s eternal being.
The Bible also provides moral stability and coherence in a changing world. God’s moral law does not depend on changing human customs but offers fixed ethical standards that are needed in every generation. The Ten Commandments given to Israel still provide moral guidance in modern societies because human nature and moral problems remain constant. Biblical morality centered on loving God and neighbors fulfills people in all cultures and contexts. God’s moral absolutes provide stability amidst shifting cultural trends.
In contrast to the uncertainty of relativism, God’s moral truths offer assurance of the difference between right and wrong. They serve as ethical guideposts that help people make wise moral choices rather than being lost in a sea of conflicting cultural perspectives on morality. Belief in God’s moral law also motivates people to courageously uphold what is right, even when their culture says otherwise. Biblical morality equips people to pursue moral integrity in a fallen world.
Most importantly, God’s moral standards come from a God of love, justice, and mercy who desires the wellbeing of His creation. Unlike human conventions, God’s moral commands are always for human good because He is a caring Creator who knows how people thrive best. The biblical view of morality centered in a loving God offers meaning, security, justice, and hope that relativism cannot.
In conclusion, the Bible soundly rejects ethical relativism and its view that morality is culturally defined. Scripture teaches that moral values and duties come from God’s holy nature and His desire for human flourishing. God has authority to establish absolute moral truth. His eternal moral law provides true virtues that align with His purposes and transcend cultures. Unlike changing human customs, God’s moral truths offer assurance, stability, and care rooted in God’s wise and loving character. Biblical Christianity provides an enduring account of morality centered in a God devoted to the wellbeing of His creation.
