The "Whatever" Society
In the April 12, 2026 issue of The Reno Record, Marvin Weir relates a new (but not altogether unexpected) finding concerning the Bible. It seems that George Barna (of the Barna Group) has discovered that "for the first time he's been doing research, the most oft-quoted verse was not, 'For God so loved the world…''' (John 3:16). That's hard to believe, since "John 3:16" signs pop up even in the endzones of football games. What could possibly have more recognition than that in today's society? Could it be, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Ps. 23:1)? How about, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"? No, the number one quote now is, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7:1). Barna adds:
Even among evangelicals, we have succumbed to the hypnotic drumbeat of the incessant mantra, "Who are you to judge?" A person commenting on this said that the clear implication, among people of faith, is that none of us have the right to say, "That lifestyle is wrong or that preacher is a false teacher or that doctrine is heresy." He then says that one word could be used to describe our society—"Whatever!"
Marvin commented: "Most people have decided that the Creator has no say-so or right to condemn what He has created!" Yes, that is the implication. Not only can my fellow human beings not "judge" me; not even the One Who created me can do so. What most Christians try to get across in these discussions is that we are not attempting to impose our own personal beliefs on anyone, but that God has revealed to us His objective standards of morality. Had He not revealed to us the truth concerning what is moral and what is not, we would have no authority to declare the actions of another right or wrong. But He has provided such information to us.
Consider stealing, for example. It is wrong, period. One may try to justify it by saying that another person had several loaves of bread and the thief had none. That is not the point; he took what someone else legally obtained, and the thief had no right to take it. "But who are you to judge him?" A moral issue surfaced in an episode of the old television series, Quincy. The medical examiner made a moral pronouncement against what had been done. Immediately, he was challenged, "Who do you think you are to make this judgment?" He responded, "Who do you have to be?" God, an objective Individual outside of and above mankind defined what is good and evil. We, His creation, just note what He taught and apply it. With people's attitudes being so anti-judgmental (which is itself making a judgment), it is no wonder that criminals are not arrested, convicted, or sentenced. This "whatever" trend needs to be reversed.