This week, two stories dominated the news. In Massachusetts, the governor signed legislation dramatically expanding abortion access later into pregnancy. In Washington, newly released communications revealed that government officials privately discussed a potential miscarriage concern while publicly reassuring Americans about COVID vaccines.

At first glance, those stories appear unrelated. But underneath both lies the same question:

Who gets to decide what is right and what is wrong?

That's the battle our culture is really fighting.

For the Christian, right and wrong are not determined by politicians, judges, scientists, or public opinion. They are determined by the character of God.

Deuteronomy 32:4 declares:

That leads us to a simple principle that can guide every moral question we face:

Something is right if it is consistent with the character of God. Something is wrong if it is inconsistent with the character of God.

Because God's character never changes, His standard never changes.

Psalm 139 reminds us that God forms each life in the womb. Before government recognizes that child, God already knows that child.

Then Proverbs 31:8 gives believers a responsibility:

Few people are more speechless than the unborn. They cannot defend themselves. They cannot plead their case. They cannot ask those making decisions about their lives, "What about me?"

That's where Christians come in.

God calls His people to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Romans 12 tells believers to "abhor what is evil" and "cling to what is good."

It's important to understand what Paul is saying. He is not explaining how someone receives eternal life. Eternal life is God's free gift, received by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Paul is speaking to believers about how they should live after they have believed.

Salvation is free. Following Christ is costly.

Every believer must decide whether following Jesus is worth the price when culture, politics, or even friends pressure us to compromise.

The Massachusetts law and the Fauci revelations are not the same issue. But they reveal the same temptation: allowing government or political ideology to replace God as the authority over right and wrong.

Once that happens, morality becomes negotiable. Human dignity becomes negotiable. Even innocent human life can become negotiable.

That's why this conversation is bigger than abortion. It's bigger than vaccines. It's even bigger than one governor or one government official.

The real battle is over authority.

Who defines good and evil?

God...

or man?

Every generation has a defining spiritual battle.

Ours may be this:

Will we allow the culture to redefine what God has already settled?

As believers, we don't move when culture calls evil good. We don't bend when political power asks us to surrender God's standard. We remember that the Rock is still perfect, His ways are still just, and His character remains the measure of everything that is right.

When the defenseless have no voice...

We open our mouths.

The headlines will change next week.

Politicians will pass more laws.

Experts will issue more opinions.

But God's character will remain exactly the same.

So cling to what is good.

Abhor what is evil.

And never let the culture redefine what God has already settled.

Run to win. Be God's friend. Remember... It pays to serve Jesus!