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In this book, Beckwith and Koukl analyze and explain what
is going on in a land that has apparently lost its moral and spiritual way, as
seen in the tragic happenings this year in Washington, D.C., in schools, and on
the streets of our homeland. When you read it, you are likely to say, “Yes, I
agree. The authors are right.” “So why do I need to read it?” you ask. Because
after having read, underlined, and pondered what they say, I agree with the
statement on the jacket—that it “offers common-sense assistance to all who
desire to understand the modern challenges to the Christian faith and its moral
system, that they might be better equipped to defend their beliefs. Christian
educators, church leaders, and students will also find this an important study.”
We live at a moment when Paul’s words in Romans 1:21 are
being clearly demonstrated—that apart from Christ, we reason as fools. Can you
believe some of the things that you are hearing today? From
leaders—politicians, educators, even religious leaders? Have we lost not only
our way, but our mind as well? On top of hearing such foolishness, we are told
over and over that we are not to be judgmental, but must maintain a politically
correct tolerance that allows any and everything to go unchallenged.
Are we not seeing the results of attempting to throw off
moral objectivity, ingrained in us by the Creator, for the sake of “moral”
relativism? Are we not being intimidated by a world that tries to tell us that
morality is simply a matter of personal or group choice? We are assuming or
accepting moral relativism without much question any more. As the book states,
it is not unusual to find The Bridges of Madison County and The Book
of Virtues on the same coffee tables today.
While there are some weaknesses that could have been
strengthened by a more consistently biblical presuppositional approach, this is
a good book to help us see not only the absurdity of moral relativism, but also
the disastrously dangerous application of it. I believe the authors have
fulfilled their purpose not only to critique this “unofficial creed” of our
American culture, but to show us how we can challenge it, stand against it, and
be equipped not to cave in to its ungodly philosophy and practice.
Throughout the book the authors, in good apologetic
fashion, show how moral relativism has permeated education, public policy, and
law, not to mention many religious institutions, including the church. They
demonstrate the practical application of postmodernism’s insistence that truth
is subjective, and so is morality. If truth and morals are subjective, I can
believe whatever I choose; who is to say that I am wrong?
I appreciate the authors’ clever ways of showing how absurd
relativism is—that while moral relativists practice their own theory to a point,
there is a line that even they will not cross. Theoretically, I can do anything
I choose, even shoot you, and be consistent with moral relativism. Since there
is no basis for making moral judgments, you have no basis to accuse me of
wrongdoing.
While morals derive their applications from man and
his systems, morality actually comes from the Creator God who sets
absolute, universal norms to guide us in our moral behavior. He ingrains them in
us. So we say that morality in one sense cannot be relative because morality is
rooted in God. To divorce God from the whole concept of morality is to replace
him with some idolatrous standard—even man himself—which has been the attempt of
the mind of this world. Ours is an age of pragmatic secular relativism.
Preachers, teachers, parents, junior high and high school
students should read this book. This would be a good book for those working with
the teenagers of the millennial generation to use for study and discussion to
help our young people understand the deadly absurdity (as well as the
foolishness) of postmodernism’s thesis as it works itself out in relativism. We
do not have to be intimidated by the world’s mind at this point. I also remember
the encouragement from Marva Dawn not to wait until teenage days, but to start
with children to help them think biblically about these issues. In the
tradition of Francis Schaeffer and C. S. Lewis, this book will be a helpful tool
in your case of resources to carry out your calling to “serve God’s purpose in
this generation.”
The authors are to be commended not only for their effort
to explain moral relativism, but for their ideas and suggestions for students
and adults to respond properly and accordingly. However, as you have occasion to
use their responses, remember Schaeffer’s admonition to be lovingly
confrontational to those not yet believers. Use this book, but use it
carefully; because, I have found that while most non-believers give the façade
of belligerence and arrogance, they are ultimately fragile people made in God’s
image who need the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity is ultimately not
an intellectual argument to win but a lifestyle to demonstrate.
- Charles Dunahoo, CEP Coordinator
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