Biblical Absolutes and Relativism

© 2010 by Fulcrum Ministries (www.FulcrumMinistries.org) 1
TheThe
GreatGreat
DivideDivide
Biblical Absolutes and RelativismBiblical Absolutes and Relativism
ByBy
James C. Wright, J.D.James C. Wright, J.D.
jcw@FulcrumMinistries.orgjcw@FulcrumMinistries.org

The Great DivideThe Great Divide
 In the West,In the West,
post-modernitypost-modernity hashas
captured our laws,captured our laws,
our courts, our art,our courts, our art,
our universities andour universities and
our culture.our culture.
 Post-modernityPost-modernity nownow
defines the structure,defines the structure,
hopes and aspirations of our lives,hopes and aspirations of our lives,
families, culture and society.families, culture and society.

Why Worldviews Matter . . .Why Worldviews Matter . . .

What Is Post-Modernity?What Is Post-Modernity?
Post-Post-
Modernity:Modernity:
There either areThere either are
no absolutes,no absolutes,
or if they door if they do
exist, thereexist, there
is no way ofis no way of
knowing whatknowing what
they are.they are.

Post-ModernityPost-Modernity
The Age of SkepticismThe Age of Skepticism
and Relativismand Relativism
• Impossible to know what isImpossible to know what is
objectively true, moral or realobjectively true, moral or real
• Truth, morality and reality areTruth, morality and reality are
subjective and relativesubjective and relative
• Autonomy and individualAutonomy and individual
choice are defining principleschoice are defining principles
for societyfor society
• ““That may be true for you, butThat may be true for you, but
it’s not necessarily true forit’s not necessarily true for
me.”me.”
Judges 17:6

Christianity & Post-ModernityChristianity & Post-Modernity
Post-Post-
modernitymodernity hashas
taken hold oftaken hold of
most of ourmost of our
ChurchesChurches andand
is the worldviewis the worldview
of aof a majority ofmajority of
born-againborn-again
ChristiansChristians inin
America.America.

Most ChristiansMost Christians
Are Post-Modernists!Are Post-Modernists!
 OnlyOnly 32 percent32 percent of born-again adultsof born-again adults
in America believe that absolute moral truth exists.in America believe that absolute moral truth exists.
• Two out of three born-again adults in America either
reject the concept of absolute truth . . . or (perhaps
even more scarily) . . . they haven't got a clue!
 OnlyOnly 9 percent9 percent of born-again teenagers believe thatof born-again teenagers believe that
absolute moral truth exists.absolute moral truth exists.
• Over nine out of ten born-again teenagers in America
have bought into post-modernity rather than
authentic Christianity.
-- Barna Research Group, Ltd. (www.barna.org)-- Barna Research Group, Ltd. (www.barna.org)

Most ChristiansMost Christians
Are Post-Modernists!Are Post-Modernists!
 In Western Europe, my travelsIn Western Europe, my travels
indicate that the statistics likely are farindicate that the statistics likely are far
worse – as a result, the Church is very weakworse – as a result, the Church is very weak
and anemic.and anemic.
 In former communist countries, the need forIn former communist countries, the need for
transcendent, absolute truth was moretranscendent, absolute truth was more
widely recognized following their experiencewidely recognized following their experience
with authoritarian humanism, but this lessonwith authoritarian humanism, but this lesson
from history is fading with time.from history is fading with time.

Worldviews Matter . . .Worldviews Matter . . .
 Your worldview has consequences because itYour worldview has consequences because it
determines your life’s potential – individualsdetermines your life’s potential – individuals
and societies will never exceed the limits ofand societies will never exceed the limits of
their worldview without a new worldviewtheir worldview without a new worldview
 How we view ourselves and relateHow we view ourselves and relate
to those around us, how othersto those around us, how others
relate to us, and how we actrelate to us, and how we act
depends on our worldviewdepends on our worldview
 Our society’s dominant world-Our society’s dominant world-
view determines the veryview determines the very
structure of our nation andstructure of our nation and
our lives, whether we agree with it or notour lives, whether we agree with it or not

The Roots of Post-ModernityThe Roots of Post-Modernity
The “Enlightenment”The “Enlightenment”
• Man, through reasonMan, through reason
alone, can know whatalone, can know what
is true, moral and realis true, moral and real
• Science seeks toScience seeks to
limit reality andlimit reality and
knowledgeknowledge
to material world ofto material world of
cause and effectcause and effect
• Gives birth toGives birth to
utopianism &utopianism &
resulting tyrannyresulting tyranny
– Marxism, fascism & socialism– Marxism, fascism & socialism

Why Is It Called Post-Modernity?Why Is It Called Post-Modernity?
 The Modern EraThe Modern Era
• “Enlightenment” resulted
in tyranny and genocide
• Human reason alone
utterly failed to develop
any objective basis what is
true, good or beautiful
 In reaction, the idea thatIn reaction, the idea that
truth exists has beentruth exists has been
arrogantly rejected.arrogantly rejected.

Post-Modernity . . .Post-Modernity . . .
A worldview that says:A worldview that says:
• There is no external
authority – everything is
relative, subjective and
individualistic.
• There is no universal
meaning or unity to our
lives, society or the world
– other than shifting
alliances of individual self
interest.

Anarchy and TyrannyAnarchy and Tyranny
History shows that when a society rejectsHistory shows that when a society rejects
transcendent,transcendent,
universal norms foruniversal norms for
its art, culture, laws,its art, culture, laws,
institutions andinstitutions and
families, then thefamilies, then the
inevitable result isinevitable result is
anarchy leadinganarchy leading
to tyranny.to tyranny.

11stst
Century RomeCentury Rome
1818thth
Century FranceCentury France

Biblical PresuppositionsBiblical Presuppositions
 We start with the presuppositions (premises)We start with the presuppositions (premises)
that 1) there arethat 1) there are absolutesabsolutes, 2) which are, 2) which are
defined bydefined by GodGod , 3) who speaks to us, 3) who speaks to us
throughthrough scripturescripture and hisand his creationcreation, and 4), and 4)
gives usgives us faithfaith to believeto believe
andand reasonreason
to understand.to understand.
 Any worldviewAny worldview
that denies thesethat denies these
presuppositions ispresuppositions is
notnot Biblical.Biblical.

Revelation and ReasonRevelation and Reason
 Reason, apart fromReason, apart from
revelation, can only lead torevelation, can only lead to
relativism, skepticism andrelativism, skepticism and
despair because it isdespair because it is
impossible to knowimpossible to know
objective truth, morality andobjective truth, morality and
reality apart from Godreality apart from God
 This was the great failing ofThis was the great failing of
the Enlightenment – it onlythe Enlightenment – it only
worked to the extent reasonworked to the extent reason
was shaped by Biblicalwas shaped by Biblical
truthstruths

Three Philosophical IssuesThree Philosophical Issues
 All worldviews must attempt toAll worldviews must attempt to
answer (even if unsuccessfully)answer (even if unsuccessfully)
three philosophical questions:three philosophical questions:
I. How do we know what
is true? (epistemology)
II. How do we know what
is moral and good? (ethics)
III. How do we know what
is real and our essential
nature? (metaphysics)
 The resulting answers defineThe resulting answers define
how we live our lives, relate tohow we live our lives, relate to
others and to God, perceive the universe,others and to God, perceive the universe,
structure society and shape our lawsstructure society and shape our laws

First Philosophical IssueFirst Philosophical Issue
I.I. EpistemologyEpistemology::
The Problem ofThe Problem of
Knowing WhatKnowing What
is Trueis True
Can finite humanCan finite human
beings be certainbeings be certain
of anything unlessof anything unless
we knowwe know
everything?everything?

Second Philosophical IssueSecond Philosophical Issue
II.II. EthicsEthics::
Knowing What isKnowing What is
Right and MoralRight and Moral
Can imperfectCan imperfect
human beings, withhuman beings, with
conflicting motives,conflicting motives,
know what isknow what is
objectively right orobjectively right or
moral?moral?

Third Philosophical IssueThird Philosophical Issue
III.III. MetaphysicsMetaphysics::
Knowing What is RealKnowing What is Real
and The Essentialand The Essential
Nature of Things andNature of Things and
OurselvesOurselves
With perceptions limitedWith perceptions limited
by subjective senses,by subjective senses,
can we know what iscan we know what is
objectively real?objectively real?
Can there be the one (aCan there be the one (a
universal standard) anduniversal standard) and
the many (diversity)?the many (diversity)?

Biblical PresuppositionsBiblical Presuppositions
A Biblical worldview must start with GodA Biblical worldview must start with God
as the Creator:as the Creator:
• Epistemology: God created all things, yet
transcends all of creation. Only God,
therefore, is omniscient and can know
everything.
• Ethics: As creator, God is sovereign over His
creation and thus has sole authority to define
what is moral.
• Metaphysics: Because all things were
created by God out of nothing, he alone
determines their essential nature. There are
no naked facts.

Apart From God . . .Apart From God . . .
Our Lives Have No MeaningOur Lives Have No Meaning
““In HimIn Him
we live andwe live and
move andmove and
have ourhave our
being.”being.”
(Acts 17:28 –(Acts 17:28 –
Paul preachingPaul preaching
on Mars Hill toon Mars Hill to
Greek StoicsGreek Stoics
and Epicureans)and Epicureans)

The Gap between God and ManThe Gap between God and Man
 As a finite, imperfectAs a finite, imperfect
(sinful), created beings, we(sinful), created beings, we
cannot know what is true,cannot know what is true,
what is moral or what iswhat is moral or what is
real apart from Godreal apart from God
 Only God can bridge theOnly God can bridge the
epistemological, ethicalepistemological, ethical
and metaphysical gapand metaphysical gap
between us and Him – webetween us and Him – we
cannot do it ourselvescannot do it ourselves
through human ability orthrough human ability or
initiativeinitiative Tower of Babel:Tower of Babel:
Man Trying to Reach GodMan Trying to Reach God

A God Who SpeaksA God Who Speaks
 Although weAlthough we
cannot reachcannot reach
God through ourGod through our
own efforts,own efforts,
God in hisGod in his
mercy hasmercy has
reached downreached down
to usto us
 God speaks toGod speaks to
us in Scripture,us in Scripture,
which is his authoritative revelationwhich is his authoritative revelation
regarding his nature and his creationregarding his nature and his creation

Biblical orBiblical or
Post-ModernPost-Modern
Worldview?Worldview?
 Secular rationalism as a viable worldview is deadSecular rationalism as a viable worldview is dead
(yet we still try to “convince” people that(yet we still try to “convince” people that
Christianity is true through evidential apologetics)Christianity is true through evidential apologetics)
 Now that the “modern” age has ended, WesternNow that the “modern” age has ended, Western
culture faces a choiceculture faces a choice
 The only two externally coherent worldviews left areThe only two externally coherent worldviews left are
Christianity (reason empowered by objective truth,Christianity (reason empowered by objective truth,
morality and reality) and post-modernity (nihilism)morality and reality) and post-modernity (nihilism)

The Tyranny of Post-ModernityThe Tyranny of Post-Modernity
 Post-modernity, however,Post-modernity, however,
is internally incoherentis internally incoherent
because it rests on anbecause it rests on an
inherent contradiction: Itinherent contradiction: It
must assert absolutely thatmust assert absolutely that
there are no absolutes.there are no absolutes.
 Ultimately, this inherentUltimately, this inherent
contradiction leads tocontradiction leads to
tyrannytyranny
 While claiming neutrality,While claiming neutrality,
post-modernity seeks topost-modernity seeks to
supplant virtuesupplant virtue

God or Autonomous Man?God or Autonomous Man?
 Only a Biblical world-Only a Biblical world-
view, rooted in aview, rooted in a
transcendent, omniscienttranscendent, omniscient
and sovereign Creatorand sovereign Creator
who reveals truth, moralitywho reveals truth, morality
and reality to rational manand reality to rational man
is both externally andis both externally and
internally coherentinternally coherent
 Only an authoritative GodOnly an authoritative God
who defines the limits ofwho defines the limits of
human institutions like thehuman institutions like the
Church and the State isChurch and the State is
able to preserve true libertyable to preserve true liberty

A Biblical WorldviewA Biblical Worldview
““We demolish arguments and every pretensionWe demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up against the knowledge ofthat sets itself up against the knowledge of
God, and we take captive every thought toGod, and we take captive every thought to
make it obedient to Christ.”make it obedient to Christ.” ((II Cor. 10:5 NIVII Cor. 10:5 NIV))
Unless Christ is Lord over your presuppositionsUnless Christ is Lord over your presuppositions
and worldview by submitting to Biblical norms,and worldview by submitting to Biblical norms,
He is Lord over none of your life.He is Lord over none of your life.

Biblical Absolutes and Relativism

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