The Pew Research Center released a report titled “What Do Americans Consider Immoral?” that shows a perplexing range of personal beliefs. According to the report, most people think that spanking a child is worse than using marijuana, that gambling is more serious than getting a divorce and that viewing pornography is more dishonorable than having an abortion.
These were the overall findings of the inquiry, but researchers delved deeper. They examined how opinions on morality differ by political affiliation, age and gender. For instance, there is a 40 percent gap between political parties regarding the morality of homosexuality. 33 percent of young people believe it is immoral to be “extremely rich.” And here’s a disconnect—men are nine percent more likely than women to call divorce unethical, yet are eleven percent more likely to excuse watching pornography.
Pew’s investigation reveals what the Bible clearly states. It shows humanity’s natural tendency to act as the judge of truth. This, in fact, is the root of the deception that led to the Fall. The serpent first questioned God’s authority before completely contradicting Him.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:1–5)
In so many words, the serpent said, “You know better than God.” The responses to Pew’s survey reveal that our culture still believes that lie. Having an abortion, practicing homosexuality and getting a divorce are all open to debate, depending, of course, on your politics, age and gender.
This research was conducted in 2026, but asking the same questions to a 1926 audience would’ve yielded very different results. (Undoubtedly, they would also differ dramatically in 2126.) We know, however, that from “the beginning” to today, God’s view of morality has not changed.
It’s easy to criticize unbelievers, but some self-examination is also necessary for Christians. God’s unchanging nature and unwavering standards mean that the rule of life for Adam and Eve still applies today. Salvation is only through Christ, but how God expects His children to live remains the same.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 5:17–19)
But here’s the twist! For the Christian, the (still-in-effect, moral) law is not a stick to rap your knuckles. It is a “law of liberty!” (Jas. 1:25). God’s Word informs your conscience and binds your will in ways that honor the Lord. God’s law simultaneously shines a light on sin while illuminating the path to Him. Without a light to guide you through the treacherous jungle, you would easily step on the tail of a venomous snake, put your face through a spider’s web or brush against a poisonous plant. Without the law, you are left to determine your own path based on your own “truth.”
You do not know better than God, so diligently study, humbly submit to and confidently stand on His unchanging truth. “On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (Jas. 1:17)