Millennial Morality: I “Generally Do What is Best for Me”

An article titled “The Selfish Generation” discusses the results of this survey about how different generations look at morality. They found that a mere 37% of Americans under 30 “say that people should ‘always do what is right,’” 42% think people should “balance what is right with what is best for them,” and 15% “always do what’s best for them.” In the same age group, almost a quarter say they “generally do what is best for them” as opposed to what is right. Of course, we really need to ask them how they determine what is “best,” or “right.”

Because young people are indoctrinated with evolution and secularism (really the religion of atheism) from a very young age, it’s no surprise that so many decide morality based on what they feel is right for them. They don’t have a firm foundation to base their thinking on but instead simply do what’s right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25).

Without the foundation of the absolute authority of God’s Word, there is no ultimate standard for morality—except one’s subjective opinion.

Without the foundation of the absolute authority of God’s Word, there is no ultimate standard for morality—except one’s subjective opinion. And if there’s no ultimate standard, then why not just do what’s best for you—whatever that is? With this worldview, why should you look out for others or be concerned about what’s right? And anyway, who decides what’s right? Without an ultimate standard, we are left with nothing but human opinion on what is right or wrong or how morality should be determined. Such subjectivity would lead to a collapse of the culture—as we saw with Rome.

But we do have an ultimate standard—God’s Word. Our Creator has plainly told us what is right and wrong. We don’t have to rely on our feelings or on what seems best for us at the time. We can look to God’s Word for guidance and direction from our Creator to whom we are accountable.

You can learn more about the irrationality (and utter hopelessness) of secular morality and the sure foundation of God’s Word in my article, coauthored with Avery Foley, “Do Secularists Have a Foundation for Morality?”

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.