The Treacherous Path of Relativism
IN
Contending for the Recognition of Absolutes , Part One :
By B . Nathaniel Sullivan
Luke 15:11-32 , Jesus shared what would become one of His best-known parables , the Parable of the Lost or Prodigal Son . Following every impulse , desire , and whim he felt , a young man demanded his father give him his inheritance early and then “ set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living ” ( v . 13 ). Then , a famine hit . Destitute , the former partier was forced to take a job feeding pigs and “ longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating , but no one gave him anything ” ( v . 16 ). At last , he “ came to his senses ” ( v . 17 ) and resolved to go to his father and ask to be taken on as a hired servant . Overjoyed his son had returned , the father welcomed him gladly and even threw a party to celebrate ( see vv . 20-24 ). “ This son of mine ,” he declared , “ was dead and is alive again ; he was lost and is found ” ( v . 24 ).
The idea that everyone is entitled to his or her “ own truth ” means that each individual ’ s perspective or opinion is just as valid as everyone else ’ s . This is called relativism , and it has become the consensus view in America today . Jesus ’ parable teaches otherwise . Yes , a person is free to follow his or her own beliefs , feelings , and inclinations , but not without consequences . Relativism is a myth , but it ’ s one that our society and culture feed , often through government , which frequently “ rescues ” people from the negative repercussions of their false beliefs and the resulting irresponsible behavior . If not artificially mitigated , negative consequences can teach valuable lessons . The father in Jesus ’ parable actually saved his son by not intervening to “ rescue ” him . Yes , sometimes life-saving intervention is necessary , but in many instances , irresponsible behavior doesn ’ t result in life-threatening scenarios , and those it does produce often provide tremendous learning opportunities .
A belief in absolute truth pushes back against relativism . Those who believe in absolutes say certain principles apply to all people at all times , under all circumstances , everywhere . 1 They contend it would be far better for a person to align his or her beliefs and actions with reality in the first place , rather than having to “ learn the hard way .” Dennis Prager encourages people to take the path that actually does good as opposed to the one that merely feels good . 2 Zig Ziglar once said , “ If you will be hard on yourself , life will be easy on you . But if you insist upon being easy on yourself , life is going to be very hard on you .” 3 By cooperating with life ’ s realities , a disciplined person can avoid many of its pitfalls , some of which , as we have affirmed , are deadly . Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 declare , “ There is a way that appears to be right , but in the end it leads to death .”
16 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW