Right Or Wrong?

Josh McDowell has written a book titled Right From Wrong. In it he reveals a study shows that 57% of our young people can’t tell you if an objective standard for right or wrong even exists. That means a majority of kids today don’t know what “wrong” is. The younger generation for the most part has lost its belief in values and morality. This comes from the doctrines of our society: relativism and deconstructionism. Both are dangerous doctrines. Relativism teaches that there is NO absolute truth. Deconstructionism teaches that there is NO objective meaning to what is written; i.e. what has happened in the past has NO significance today. Both doctrines are rampant in our colleges and universities. You might take note that both doctrines make the Bible an outdated book.

The Bible is a book about what is right and what is wrong. It is full of truth. Paul said, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;... “ (Romans 3:4). Jesus said in a prayer to the Father, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). It is wrong to believe that truth cannot be found nor understood. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

What our young people need to be taught today is a lot more truth and a lot less foolishness. The professors have undermined their trust in parents, government, and God. A lot can be learned from the past. A lot can be learned from the elderly. A lot can be learned from the greatest book ever written, the Bible. We must note that “right” and “wrong” are also called “good” and “evil” in the Bible. Some might ask, “Is it possible for man to know right from wrong?” The Bible says, “Yes.” Take note, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever” (Genesis 3:22). God made man such a creature as to be able to discern good from evil. Children (in fact each new generation) must be taught right from wrong. Each generation needs to learn to fear God and to keep His commandments. Solomon said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

The proper standard for right and wrong is God’s word, the Bible, “....Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deuteronomy 4:10). Note that this standard must also be taught to the children. God warned, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: {7} And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6- 7). Notice the urgency: diligently, in the house, while walking, while lying down and when you get up; in other words, any time we are with our children we are to be in a teaching mode. And that which we must teach are the words of God and His definitions of good and evil. Also, we might note that grandparents have a grave responsibility to teach grandchildren. Then, if one generation (their parents) were not taught, at least the next generation will be taught and only one generation is lost. Why is the present generation so ignorant of right and wrong? Because the Bible and its principles has all but been removed from our society. It has been removed from the school. In fact our Supreme Court has virtually made it unlawful to even mention Jehovah God in our schools. The principles of God’s law have been overrun by the allowance of gambling, (lotteries, horse and dog racing, etc.); drunkenness (legal sale of most alcoholic beverages, etc.), fleshly lust (movies, nightclubs, adult book stores and video stores, etc.) and virtually any other kind of vice that man can imagine. Not only that, but our children are shown advertisements that make these vices seem so pleasant and enjoyable.

No wonder they stay so confused. Reality would suggest that some things are wrong, but society, mother, and daddy enjoy all of these vices, so what could be wrong with anything that dear mother and daddy would do. God help us that our young people have the opportunity to hear the instruction of David, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. {12} What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? {13} Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. {14} Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psalms 34:11-14).
—John D. Cotham

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