Abortion, moral relativism and mistreatment of others are the top moral issues facing America according to a year-end poll of America’s evangelical leaders. The Evangelical Leaders Survey conducted during the month of October asked “What is the greatest moral issue in America today?”

“While there were some responses that specified secularization, pornography and other concerns, they were not at the top of the list,” said Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). “The top three reflected a majority of responses and were themselves almost a three-way tie.”

Abortion was the number one answer. Jeff Farmer of the Open Bible Churches in Des Moines, Iowa said, “The moral scandal of abortion tops my list…not because murder is worse than other moral evils, but because of the massive numbers of this killing field and intentionality of so many to put self-gratification, greed and political advantage above life itself.”

Moral relativism was the number two answer. Responses frequently quoted Judges 17:6 (KJV) that “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” referring to the morality and behavior in ancient Israel. The problem, according to NAE board member Ron Carpenter, is “a non-belief in Absolute Truth which permeates every other arena of our society.”

Mistreatment of others was the number three answer. Sammy Mah, President of World Relief, said that “the greatest moral issue in America today is our blindness and silence to injustices here and around the world. Social ills like poverty, malnutrition, homelessness, human trafficking, and so many more are rooted in injustices that must be fought.”

The Evangelical Leaders Survey is a monthly poll of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals. They include the CEOs of denominations and representatives of a broad array of evangelical organizations including missions, universities, publishers and churches.