How Can I Be Sure What’s Right and Wrong? by Chris Morphew

Book Review: How Can I Be Sure What’s Right and Wrong? by Chris Morphew
The Good Book Company, 2023
96 pgs

Don’t we all just kind of know what’s right and wrong? If not, where does morality come from?

Chris Morphew does an excellent job at introducing the idea of morality to kids and how we know what’s right and wrong in his newest book, How Can I Be Sure What’s Right and Wrong?. He guides us through what it would look like to choose what’s right and wrong by ourselves individually, and then also as a collective group.

This leads to a more philosophical conversation presenting the idea that either human beings have invented morals for themselves, or perhaps there is something bigger out there, “unchangeable facts” that determine what is right and wrong.

Morphew is so great at communicating complicated ideas in a simple way. He introduces the philosophical idea of Forms through a game called “Is It a Good One?” Participants are supposed to determine if the unidentifiable object from Amazon did what it was supposed to do well. He goes on to say, “before you can figure out whether someone is a ‘good’ person or a ‘bad’ person, first you need to know what a person is for–what our purpose is. We can’t tell whether our actions are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ unless we know what it is that we’re meant to be doing in the first place.”

This leads us into pondering what a human life is even supposed to look like, and if it is possibly to be truly good. Because, as he began the book, he stated that most people want to be good people that are making good choices. So, can we even make good choices in the world?

I am thankful for all of the gospel truths that Morphew includes and also appreciate the chapter addressing “What should I do when my friends disagree with me?” as this will be a common reality for believers holding to a biblical worldview. Even with this, Morphew is humble, reminding readers that just because we are right about Jesus, doesn’t mean I’m right about everything else, as we are all on the path to wisdom.

Morphew ends with the encouraging reminder that we won’t always do what’s right and good–we aren’t perfect. But one day when Jesus returns “the whole universe will be filled to the brim with his perfect goodness–and if you’re putting your trust in him, then so will you.” Amen!

The Big Questions series written by Chris Morphew, is such a gift. It truly is such a wonderful resource for parents and kids as sparks such great conversations around such foundational questions. I am truly thankful for Morphew’s books!

Favorite Quotes:

“If I care more about proving that I’m right than I care about loving the person in front of me, I’ve failed at the thing that matters most–because people are so much more important than arguments.”

“…maybe the biggest problem with the idea that everyone should get to decide what’s right and wrong for themselves: it might sound like a really generous, open-minded, inclusive way to live–but not one really believe it all the way through.”

The publisher sent me these books for review consideration but all opinions are my own.