Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good
–Romans 12:9
When it comes to morality, we’re all over the place.
A 2025 study from Pew has tracked what percent of the U.S. population finds certain issues morally wrong.
We differ wildly on issues of abortion, homosexuality, extreme wealth, capital punishment, stuff like that. As for divorce or marijuana? 30% or less view these as immoral.
And finally, things like IVF, contraception, and even alcohol had very low percentages, no matter the party. (You can check it out for yourself here.)
But there is no consensus. No unifying underpinning.
Maybe morality is more subjective than I’d like. Humans may never fully agree on what’s right and what’s wrong.
Even Paul leaves quite a bit of wiggle room. Does love mean compassion or “tough love?” And what qualifies as good or evil? Ask 100 people–how many answers will you get?
This is more personal than party affiliation. My wife and I agree on a lot, but not everything. When it comes to morality, who is right? (Typically, me…)
Much of the world looks to the 10 commandments, but we don’t agree how to interpret them. Some Christians study Old Testament law, while others focus on Paul. Same book, different moralities.
Even among Christians, we don’t agree on contemporary issues ranging from cloning to drag queens to Harry Potter.
We may never agree. Folks (like me) who have been searching their whole lives for “The Truth” will be unlikely to fully grasp such a thing.
The closest I’ve ever come to a moral role model to learn from and follow is Jesus.
Everything I believe, every action I take, every sermon I preach? I run it through the Jesus filter.
The Bible is filled with wisdom, learning, and generations of growing our relationship with God…
but Jesus is my filter. What I read of him carries the most weight. More than the 10 commandments, Paul, Leviticus, or the Book of Revelation.
If you want to argue theology with me, or ethics, you can look to the Sermon on the Mount, or the parables. If Jesus taught it, or exemplified it, or died for it, that’s my moral compass.
Okay, sometimes my needle goes a little wonky. But when I seek the right direction for my life, it always points to Jesus.
Compassion, forgiveness, liberation, and a focus on the “least of these”–this is what I see when I look at Jesus. Paul saw that too. Romans 12 is his list of the marks of a Christian life, and they contain much of the same ideas.
The fact that Christians today (and throughout history) read the same Bible and come away with different morals is troubling to me. And that doesn’t begin to address differences between people of different traditions.
Perhaps the best any of us can do is to be clear about what we believe, and who, and why. Then, with an openness to reevaluation, we emulate our morals to the best of our ability.
As for me, I keep coming back to what I read about in the Gospels.
I believe there is a God, a Source of ultimate Truth who helps us to navigate right and wrong, and the gray areas in between.
And I only know
of one man
who succeeded.
Have a great week,
Mitch
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