The prophet Isaiah warned, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” A contemporary instance, as Dr. Al Mohler lately described on The Briefing, is the “moral incoherence” of believing life is sacred and beneficial whereas additionally rejecting any penalties for individuals who take it.
Lately, the state of Georgia charged a lady with the homicide of her 22- to 24-week-old child, who died inside an hour of start after her mom took abortion drugs at house to terminate the being pregnant. That is the primary homicide cost within the state associated to its six-week abortion ban.
The Washington Put up article that lined this story concluded by citing a 2022 Economist/YouGov ballot. In accordance with the ballot, 19% of respondents suppose a girl who has an abortion that violates state legislation needs to be charged with homicide, whereas 54% suppose she shouldn’t be charged and 26% are not sure.
A newer 2025 Pew Analysis report described the ethical confusion about life in even starker phrases. Entitled “What do Americans Consider Immoral?,” the research requested about numerous behaviors starting from consuming meat to abortion. In accordance with their information, “47% of Americans say having an abortion is morally wrong, while about half say an abortion is not a moral issue (31%) or is morally acceptable (21%).”
An fascinating parallel exists between the abortion problem and the opposite nice ethical evil in American historical past: slavery. Individuals made many compromises within the a long time main as much as the Civil Struggle in makes an attempt to deal with slavery, most notably the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. This legislation sanctioned “popular sovereignty,” the concept federal territories ought to resolve by a easy majority whether or not they wished slavery or not. That legislation supplied the seeds for the enlargement of slavery all through America, together with in territories the place it was beforehand forbidden.
Abraham Lincoln responded by interesting to the ethical customary discovered within the Declaration of Independence. Given the precept of human equality articulated there and the pure legislation, even majorities should obey and train that slavery is mistaken. In accordance with Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, who authored the Kansas-Nebraska Act, was responsible of “blowing out the moral lights around us.”
Within the 2022 Dobbs Supreme Courtroom determination, the Courtroom overturned Roe on a authorized technicality, fairly than on the idea of a created, ethical order that establishes that each human life is sacred. As a result of the Courtroom returned the query of legality to the states, the problem of abortion is now dealt with in a method like fashionable sovereignty. The Dobbs determination was a main victory for the pro-life motion, however as a result of the Courtroom did not declare abortion morally mistaken, some states have now enshrined it as a primary human proper.
The place does that go away us in 2026? Like with slavery and Jim Crow legal guidelines, the US is essentially divided state by state on a query of important ethical standing and unimaginable ethical gravity.
In such a setting, these phrases from C.S. Lewis, on the ethical decay of tradition, are simply as acceptable as when he wrote them:
Personally I imagine we must work not solely at spreading the Gospel (that definitely) but additionally at a sure preparation for the Gospel. It’s essential to recall many to the legislation of nature earlier than we discuss God. For Christ guarantees forgiveness of sins: however what’s that to those that, since they have no idea the legislation of nature, have no idea that they’ve sinned? Who will take medication except he is aware of he’s within the grip of illness? Ethical relativity is the enemy we need to overcome earlier than we deal with Atheism.
The continuing debates about abortion and a myriad of different up to date points — from gender dysphoria and the LGBT campaign to Essential Concept and immigration — underscore the significance of returning to and answering the essential ethical questions: Is there a transcendent ethical authority? By what customary will we choose what is correct and mistaken? Is each human being beneficial or not?
Christians imagine that God is the last word customary for all morality, above any traditions, values, legal guidelines, norms, or majority opinions. By this goal ethical customary, revealed in each pure legislation and biblical revelation, all actions and insurance policies can and needs to be measured. That requires not solely pushing again in opposition to the ethical relativism that has captivated hearts and minds, and nonetheless pervades up to date tradition, but additionally interesting to and upholding God’s clear ethical requirements amid huge ethical confusion.
This Breakpoint was co-authored by Andrew Carico.
Initially printed at BreakPoint.
John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Heart, equipping Christians to dwell with readability, confidence, and braveness in at this time’s cultural second. A sought-after speaker and writer on religion, tradition, theology, worldview, schooling, and apologetics, he has co-authored 5 books, together with A Sensible Information to Tradition, A Scholar’s Information to Tradition, and Restoring All Issues. John hosts Breakpoint, the nationally syndicated commentary based by Chuck Colson, and The Level, a every day one-minute function on worldview and cultural points. Beforehand, he held management roles at Summit Ministries and taught biblical research at Bryan School (TN). He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with his spouse, Sarah, and their 4 youngsters.
“Well bless their hearts.”
