Ends does not justify the means
"But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" Why not say-as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say-"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved." (Romans 3:5-8) NIV
Paul's epistle to the Romans is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Although it is sometimes difficult to understand, this book really hits home with me in the world we live in today. We are a lot like the Romans of Paul's day. We worship everything except for God, money, reputation, material things. We live a lifestyle that is hedonistic in its selfishness; I, me, my, mine. If it feels good it isn't wrong! I can do whatever I want as long as I don't hurt anyone.
I know someone that was arrested and put in jail for selling drugs. Their justification was that they had to provide for their family. Huh? Paul tells us in this passage that the end does NOT justify the means. If you lie to someone, it is a lie and is wrong regardless of the outcome. If you cheat on your spouse and it pushes them closer to God, you are an adulterer and it is wrong, regardless of the outcome. Everything we do should glorify Him; everything that we say should glorify Him; everything we think should glorify Him. We should not knowingly sin in order to increase God's glory. The sin tarnishes the glory; it negates it.
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Author: clay1diver
Location: Cedar Park Texas USA
Gender: Male
Age: 46
Blog Entries: 12 (archive)
Blog Comments: 18
i am a 44 year old male, married with no children. i was born in a small town in east texas and grew up in a town with a population of approximately 50, give or take. we had one building that acted as post office, general store, bakery, meeting place,...
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i am one of those that does not have a specific date when i accepted christ. he has been there most of my life. i, being the rebellious son that i am, kept him in the back-ground, but he never left. i "accepted" him at a very young age, too...
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