The phrase “to call evil good and good evil” comes from Isaiah 5:20 which says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” This verse is a stern warning against moral relativism – the idea that morality is not fixed but defined by individuals or cultures. When people “call evil good and good evil,” they are deliberately obscuring or even reversing objective moral standards set forth by God. So what are some specific ways this shows up today?
Calling Sin Acceptable
One way people call evil good is by normalizing or even celebrating sinful behaviors that the Bible condemns. For example, our culture increasingly calls evil good when it comes to sexual immorality. Premarital sex, living together before marriage, pornography use, and homosexuality are all viewed as normal and acceptable by many. However, Scripture consistently teaches that all sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and woman is sin (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 7:2; Galatians 5:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). When our culture calls this evil “good,” it defies God’s design for human sexuality.
Beyond sexuality, our culture calls other sins good as well. Gossip, gluttony, greed, pride, and all kinds of evil desires are tolerated or even championed today. Scripture, however, makes it clear that these cravings wage war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). When society promotes these sinful tendencies rather than resisting them, we have inverted moral values.
Suppressing Objective Truth
Postmodernism and moral relativism have led many people to believe that there is no objective truth, especially when it comes to morality. This mindset calls the very notion of moral facts “evil” and suppresses the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). Scripture, in contrast, unashamedly proclaims objective moral values and duties that come from God’s own nature and have been implanted on the hearts of all people (Romans 2:14-15). To reject moral facts is to deliberately suppress God’s truth.
Postmodernism tries to disguise this suppression of truth by using language that suggests all moral viewpoints should be treated equally. But this is nonsense. Calling rape, murder, or racism “evil” is not just an opinion – these acts violate an objective moral law. When we treat all moral stances as equally valid perspectives, we are calling evil “good.”
Rejecting Biblical Morality
As a whole, our society has largely rejected biblical morality. Virtues like prudence, temperance, justice, and courage are openly mocked while vices like foolishness, excess, unfairness, and cowardice are tolerated. Scripture calls us to holiness and living in light of eternity (1 Peter 1:14-16, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). But our culture calls these noble pursuits evil and preaches living for now. In doing so, society has substituted God’s moral code for hedonistic preferences. This is the epitome of calling good evil and evil good.
Even within the church, sound doctrine is under assault. False teachers subtly twist Scripture to justify homosexuality, greed, adultery, and all kinds of evil desires. When anyone tries to use the Bible to call evil “good,” we can know for certain they are suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.
Being Deceived
How can people get to a point where they call evil good and good evil? Scripture tells us deceitfulness is at the root. Hebrews 3:13 warns us not to be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. And Ephesians 4:22 notes that we must put off the “old self” which is “being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.” Sin lies to us and keeps us from seeing objective moral reality. As 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 explains, “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved…For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.” When people persist in sin, God gives them over to the delusion that evil is good.
We see this with all kinds of sinful tendencies today. Adulterers believe their affair is good for them. The greedy think wealth will make them happy. Gossips assume spreading rumors gives life. When in reality, these acts only lead to death and destruction. But sin’s deceit blinds people to that truth.
Judging God and His Word
At the core, calling evil good is about assuming moral authority over God. When people call good things that God has forbidden “evil,” or when they call evil things that God has forbidden “good,” they set themselves up as judges over Scripture. They assume the right to evaluate whether God’s commands are good or evil.
But as Creator of the universe and our Judge, God alone has the right to define good and evil. Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, “His work is perfect…all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” When we contradict God’s moral decrees, we foolishly judge him as wrong. This is arrogant blasphemy. As Romans 9:20 reminds us, we are just created beings: “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?'”
Calling evil good ultimately displays a trust in human moral judgments over God’s revelation. It places us in the seat of authority rather than God.
The Consequences
When cultures or individuals embrace the mindset of calling evil good and good evil, it never leads to blessing. Romans 1 explains that after cultures exchange the truth of God for a lie, God gives them up to more and more immorality and wickedness. The results are all kinds of evil actions and a culture plagued by brokenness (Romans 1:24-32). Calling evil good only breeds more evil. We cannot mock God’s moral law without painful consequences in our lives and society.
Isaiah 5:20-21 also makes it clear that God will not tolerate this mentality forever. Judgment is coming for those who call evil good and good evil. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” Rejecting biblical morality is arrogant foolishness in God’s eyes. He will humble and judge those who persist in this mindset.
On an individual level, embracing the “evil is good” mindset leads to a seared conscience and a life of slavery to sin (1 Timothy 4:2, Romans 6:16). It traps us in futile thinking and a depraved mind (Romans 1:21, Ephesians 4:17). Calling evil good prevents us from repenting and finding freedom in Christ.
The Solution
How should we respond when society or even our own hearts start calling evil good and good evil? We must look to God’s Word alone as the source of moral truth. Isaiah 8:20 contains this imperative: “To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” All moral claims must be tested against Scripture. God’s Word is the only objective standard of right and wrong.
We must also guard our hearts against sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:12-13). Staying in Scripture daily, submitting to its commands, and fleeing from temptation will protect us from exchanging God’s truth for a lie. Psalm 119:9-11 explains it this way: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word…I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” As we treasure God’s Word, we will not be deceived.
Calling evil good is dangerous, deceptive thinking. But Scripture protects us from its influence and clearly shows the way forward – affirming and obeying God’s Word alone. God’s moral standards in Scripture remain our only hope for living rightly in a world that calls evil good.