Character Education

Right and Wrong

Along the way your heart will learn
How good from evil to discern.


In this modern age of moral relativism, sometimes we feel like we are in a wilderness of semantics. Long ago Isaiah defined “semantics” for us when he said:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

This noisy world can be very confusing. How do we help our children create order out of this chaos? We need a strong moral compass.(Developing moral compass. See Epic Stories for Character Education, by C.A.Davidson, coming soon.)

How do we navigate a straight course and not get lost in today’s wilderness of confusion? First, let’s define the directions we might take. If one course leads to the confusion and chaos of moral relativism, at the opposite end of moral relativism are principles, or “moral absolutes”. There are lots of meanings for “absolute”, but when we’re talking about morals, it simply means, “opposites”. For example, the following are opposites: good and evil, right and wrong, truth and falsehood, freedom and slavery, love and hate, joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, etc. You can think of a lot more. Try it!

Every day you experience another set of opposites: choices and consequences. Your ability to choose, that you were born with, is called your moral agency. Every choice has inescapable consequences. Choosing right has certain consequences, and choosing wrong has other consequences.

Look in the Glossary to find the meanings of good and evil, right and wrong.

What is Good?
What is Evil?
What is Right?
What is Wrong?

Choose the Right

Choose the right when the choice is placed before you.
In the right the Holy Spirit guides;
And its light is forever shining o’er you,
When in the right your heart confides.

Choose the right! Let no spirit of digression
Overcome you in the evil hour.
There’s the right and the wrong to ev’ry question;
Be safe through inspiration’s pow’r.

Choose the right! There is peace in righteous doing.
Choose the right! There’s safety for the soul.
Choose the right in all labors you’re pursuing;
Let God and heaven be your goal.

Choose the right! Let wisdom mark the way before.
In its light, choose the right! And God will bless you ever more.

~Joseph L. Townsend, 1849-1942


The sunflower is such a good example because it always faces the sun. (Son)
~Karrie Golding


Back to Lesson 3
Teaching Youth Better Morals:
  Character Education