Opinion| If the Bible Weren’t True: A Society Without Standards

What would happen if the Bible were not true? It’s a heavy question, one worth asking, especially in a world where absolute truth is constantly being challenged. I believe the consequences would be far greater than many realize; without the truth of God’s Word, we risk becoming a society without standards. If the Bible weren’t true, the very foundation of morality and justice as we know it would be shaken.

Whether people care to admit it or not, many of the moral values and laws we live by today were influenced by Scripture, particularly principles found in the Ten Commandments. Ideas like not stealing, not killing, honoring parents, telling the truth, and being faithful are not just “common sense.” They are biblical standards that shaped Western law and society.

Yet, many argue that people don’t need the Bible, or even God, to be moral. They claim we are born with an inner compass that tells us right from wrong. But after two decades of working in law enforcement, I can tell you this: right and wrong become subjective when every person gets to define morality for themselves. What one person sees as “justified,” another calls criminal; what one calls “freedom,” another sees as recklessness. When morality becomes a personal metric, society loses its anchor.

The Israelites were given a standard by God: a way of living that was distinct from the pagan nations around them. While other cultures worshipped idols and practiced things that were detestable, God gave His people laws rooted in holiness, justice, and compassion. That standard was not based on human opinion, but divine truth. If the Bible weren’t true, we’d have no such standard. Who’s to say that what we now call evil wouldn’t become the norm? Without the Bible, what is “good” becomes whatever the culture says it is, and culture is constantly shifting.

I believe the truth of Scripture is the reason many people choose the high road in situations where, humanly speaking, they have every reason not to. Belief in Christ changes hearts. His teachings cause people to forgive when they could retaliate, to love when it would be easier to hate, and to walk away from sin when temptation feels stronger than ever.

Even those who don’t openly profess Christianity often live by its principles, perhaps unknowingly. When people begin to live by the values found in Scripture, they become kinder, more patient, and more considerate of their neighbors. That kind of transformation isn’t born out of human willpower; it is the fruit of truth that is alive and active.

If the Bible weren’t true, we wouldn’t just lose a religious text, we would lose our compass, our clarity, and ultimately, our hope. Praise God that His Word is true, unchanging, and still transforming lives today.

This post was written as part of a class assignment for How to Study the Bible, a course in my Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) program. The curriculum used for this course is based on the workbook by Dr. Steve Hereford. All insights and reflections are my own unless otherwise noted.