The Nature of Truth and Moral Relativism
Picture this: you’re at a coffee shop, sipping your dark roast, when a spirited conversation breaks out at the next table. A young man declares, “That might be your truth, but it’s not mine.” His friend nods thoughtfully, as if he’s just solved world peace by banishing absolute truth to the land of personal preference. You glance at your cup and wonder if you accidentally ordered the relativism roast.
If our culture had a motto, it might be: “Live your truth.” It sounds kind, tolerant, even noble. Truth, we’re told, is like ice cream — everyone picks their flavor. Vanilla, rocky road, mint chip — all equally valid. No one dares suggest that maybe, just maybe, there’s a right or wrong choice — because that would be judgmental.
But what happens when “truths” collide? What if my truth says your property is actually mine? Or if your truth says lying is virtuous? Suddenly, we’re no longer at an ice cream parlor; we’re lost in a fog with no compass. And a world without a compass? That’s a world destined for shipwreck.
In this post, we’ll explore why Christians must graciously, confidently, and lovingly point to the one True North: the unchanging truth of God’s Word, embodied in Jesus Christ. In a world obsessed with “my truth,” it’s time for believers to stand for The Truth — not as arrogant know-it-alls, but as humble torchbearers lighting the way out of confusion.
What Is Moral Relativism?
If truth today is treated like ice cream, then moral relativism is the menu that says: “Everything’s on offer — and no one can say what’s right for you.” Moral relativism is the belief that right and wrong aren’t fixed; they shift depending on the individual, the culture, or the historical moment. What was “wrong” yesterday might be celebrated today. What’s “right” in one country might be frowned upon in another — and, according to the relativist, that’s just fine.
It’s the philosophy behind popular slogans like:
- “Live your truth.”
- “Who am I to judge?”
- “What’s true for you isn’t necessarily true for me.”
In fact, studies suggest that moral relativism has become the majority opinion in our culture. A recent Barna report found that 74% of U.S. young adults believe moral truth is relative, not absolute. Relativism feels modern, enlightened, and compassionate — no arguments, no judgments, just “you do you.”
But moral relativism appeals for another reason: it promises personal sovereignty. If morality is a build-your-own adventure, I’m the author, the editor, and the judge of my own story. It lets us silence that pesky inner critic — or the voice of God — and crown ourselves as kings and queens of our private kingdoms.
Yet as Greg Koukl wisely points out in Tactics, relativism can’t sustain itself. It’s self-refuting. To claim “all truth is relative” is to make an absolute truth claim! (That’s like saying, “No English sentences are true,” in English.) This is where tactics come in: when someone says, “That’s just your truth,” we can gently ask, “Is that your truth — or the truth for everyone?” Suddenly, relativism starts to wobble on its own wobbly foundation.
Why Moral Relativism Fails
Moral relativism might sound tolerant and enlightened on the surface, but scratch just a little and the cracks show. Let’s start with the logical problem:
When someone claims, “There’s no absolute truth,” they’ve just made an absolute statement! If their claim is true, it refutes itself. This is what Greg Koukl calls a self-refuting idea — like standing on a branch while sawing it off at the trunk.
Think about it: if all truth is relative, then even that statement must be relative. But relativists don’t really mean their truth is just for them. They want you to accept it too. They’ve smuggled in an absolute without noticing. A gentle question — “Do you believe that’s true for everyone, or just for you?” — can help expose this contradiction without sounding combative.
But relativism doesn’t just fail logically. It falls apart practically. Imagine a society where everyone does what is “right in their own eyes” — we don’t have to imagine; we can read about it in Judges 21:25. The result? Chaos. Lawlessness. Oppression. If morality is merely personal taste, then we lose the ability to condemn evil. Genocide, slavery, human trafficking — who’s to say they’re wrong if morality is just individual or cultural opinion?
Consider daily life:
- We lock our doors because we believe theft is wrong.
- We want honest accountants because we believe fraud is wrong.
- We expect fairness at work because we believe justice is real.
Nobody wants a relativist to manage their bank account or judge their court case. Deep down, we all appeal to universal moral truths.
Here’s where Street Smarts-style tactics help:
Ask questions like:
👉 “If morality is personal, can we ever say the Nazis were wrong?”
👉 “If stealing is my truth, would you accept that?”
These aren’t “gotcha” questions. They’re gracious ways to help people see that relativism can’t provide the moral foundation we all need. The truth is, relativism sounds good in theory, but in practice — it’s unlivable. And the good news? God offers something better: an unchanging standard that leads not to chaos, but to life.
What the Bible Teaches About Truth
If relativism leaves us lost at sea, the Bible offers what humanity desperately needs: a solid compass. Unlike the shifting opinions of culture, Scripture reveals that truth is not up for grabs — it’s anchored in the very character of God.
👉 Truth is absolute because God is absolute.
The Bible declares in Psalm 119:160, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting.” Truth isn’t something God conforms to — truth is what flows from who God is. That’s why Hebrews 6:18can say, “It is impossible for God to lie.” His nature defines reality.
👉 Truth is personified in Jesus Christ.
When Pilate cynically asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), the answer was standing right in front of him. Jesus had already said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Truth isn’t just a philosophical concept or a moral code — truth walked among us. This means to know Christ is to know truth itself.
👉 Truth is knowable because of the Imago Dei.
We can discover and affirm truth because we’re made in God’s image. Our minds were designed for reason, discernment, and relationship with our Creator. Unlike the animals, we don’t just react to instincts — we reflect, evaluate, and seek meaning.
👉 Truth is suppressed by sin.
Here’s where the biblical worldview parts ways with optimistic humanism: the Bible teaches that our problem isn’t a lack of information, but the corruption of our hearts. Romans 1:21–25 describes humanity as those who “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” and whose “foolish heart was darkened.” This is why relativism appeals — in our sin, we want to be our own gods, defining right and wrong for ourselves.
👉 Truth is proclaimed by the Church in this age.
In God’s dispensational plan, the Church stands as the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). While we await the coming Kingdom, where Christ will reign in perfect righteousness and truth, we’re called to shine as beacons of truth in a dark world (Matthew 5:14–16).
👉 Truth leads to life and freedom.
Far from being oppressive, God’s truth sets us free. “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). In a world weighed down by confusion and shifting moral sands, God’s unchanging Word is a gift of grace — a map that points the way home.
Relativism offers the illusion of freedom, but in the end, it enslaves us to chaos and sin. The Bible’s absolute truth is not a prison; it’s a pathway — lit by the character of God and embodied in Christ Himself.
“Truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it.” Os Guinness
Conversational Tactics – Graciously Engaging Relativism
When you hear someone say, “That’s your truth, not mine,” it’s tempting to jump into lecture mode. But as Greg Koukl reminds us in Tactics and Street Smarts, we’re far more effective when we ask thoughtful questions that help people see the cracks in their own ideas — and let them do most of the thinking.
“Never make a frontal assault on a superior force. Instead, go around the back door and ask questions.” Greg Koukl (from Tactics)
👉 Start with “What do you mean by that?”
This classic Colombo question invites clarification rather than confrontation. When someone says, “Truth is relative,”gently ask, “What do you mean by truth? How do you define it?” Many people parrot slogans without considering what they really believe.
👉 Ask, “Is that true for everyone, or just for you?”
This question graciously exposes the self-contradiction of relativism. If truth is relative, then even their claim must be relative — but they’re presenting it as universally true!
👉 Shift the burden of proof.
If someone asserts, “There’s no absolute truth,” ask, “How did you come to that conclusion?” or “What evidence convinces you of that?” As Koukl notes, we don’t have to carry the whole conversation — let them make their case (they usually can’t).
👉 Use relatable examples to test the claim.
- “If someone’s truth is that stealing your car is fine, would you be okay with that?”
- “If your accountant’s truth is that fudging numbers is ethical, would you let him do your taxes?”These questions aren’t meant to embarrass — they’re meant to gently reveal that no one lives consistently as a relativist.
👉 Model grace and humility.
Remember, we’re not just winning arguments — we’re aiming to win souls. When people see that you’re asking questions to understand, not attack, they’re more likely to open up.
👉 Leverage helpful tools.
This is where resources like What Would You Say videos can help. Imagine sharing a short link or clip in a conversation:
🎥 “Actually, I saw this helpful video that explains why truth can’t be relative — would you be open to watching it together?”
In short, when confronting relativism, our task is not to overpower, but to help people discover that they already believe in absolute truth — they just haven’t connected the dots yet.
“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” Charles Spurgeon:
Discipleship and Parenting Applications
Moral relativism isn’t just a challenge out in the world — it shows up at our kitchen tables, youth group discussions, and small group meetings. So how do we help those we’re discipling — especially our kids — see through its fog?
👉 Parenting moment: the faulty GPS experiment.
Imagine your teenager shrugs and says, “My friends say, ‘If it feels right, it’s right.’” Instead of launching into a sermon, hand them the car keys and a GPS set to the wrong destination. Ask them to drive somewhere with directions you knoware wrong. When they end up lost, pull out Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” It’s a memorable (and slightly humorous) way to show that believing a wrong direction doesn’t make it the right one.
👉 Small group or youth group application: role-play.
Create scenarios where members practice responding to relativist slogans using Tactics-style questions. Example:
- Someone says, “Who are we to judge other cultures?”
- Group member practices responding, “Do you think all cultural practices should be accepted — even ones that harm others?”
👉 Discipleship principle: truth in love.
Encourage those you’re leading to model what Ephesians 4:15 calls us to: “speaking the truth in love.” It’s not about winning debates — it’s about helping people find their way home to God’s truth.
👉 Leverage tools:
Recommend watching What Would You Say videos on relativism together, and discuss them as a family or group. This equips believers with clear, compassionate responses they can actually remember in real conversations.
Ultimately, these teachable moments help ground the next generation in the confidence that God’s truth is a gift, not a burden — and that living by it leads to real freedom, not restriction.
Call to Live as People of Truth
In a world awash in moral fog, Christians are called to shine as lighthouses — steady, bright, and anchored on the unchanging rock of God’s Word. We are not truth’s inventors, but its stewards. And in an age where “my truth” reigns supreme, that stewardship matters more than ever.
👉 Live as salt and light.
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14). Salt preserves; light exposes. That’s our mission. When we stand on God’s truth, we preserve what is good in a decaying culture, and we light the path for those stumbling in the dark.
👉 Be confident, but humble.
We don’t proclaim truth because we’re smarter or better. We proclaim truth because we follow The Truth — Jesus Christ, the One who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Our tone should reflect that balance: clarity without harshness, courage without arrogance.
👉 Practical action step.
Here’s a simple challenge: Have one conversation this week where you ask a Koukl-style question about truth.Maybe it’s at work, in your family, or online. Start small:
- “What do you mean by that?”
- “Is that true for everyone, or just for you?”These gentle questions can open surprising doors for deeper dialogue.
👉 Remember our hope.
We don’t stand for truth out of fear of losing the culture. We stand for truth because we belong to a coming Kingdom, where Truth Himself will reign. Every time we point someone to God’s unchanging standard, we’re offering them a glimpse of that glorious future.
In a world of shifting sands, let’s be the ones who point to True North — with Bibles open, hearts full of grace, and eyes fixed on Jesus.
