The World of Grandpa Don

Right or Wrong -
How do we know?
 

These thoughts center not on whether a choice will ultimately be correct, that is beneficial to us, or incorrect, to our detriment, when it involves the mundane choices of life such as, which article of clothing or which car shall I buy but rather the choices between good and evil, moral or immoral.

Most will define the difference in good and evil by its legality. Is this permitted by law? Is it not forbidden by Law? If the law says you can do it, or if there is no law that says you can't do it, then it is good. If the law forbids it, then it is bad. The problem with that definition is that laws change and what was once permitted may now be forbidden. The slave trade is an example and so is the US Prohibition laws which prohibited the manufacture, sale and use of alcohol and then was reversed. Various laws have been enacted, repealed and changed regarding abortion and capital punishment. These are just a few examples of laws that have changed and reversed over time.

Since laws, then, are not a reliable measure, does that make them subject to our individual interpretation? Can we decide that we can, at our convenience, bend or disregard them? We seem to do that all the time. When we change a law though, does it change whether an action or practice is good or bad? I think not. Some laws are just rules of order enacted, for example, to bring some semblance of sanity to which side of the road we drive on and when to yield to other drivers. We in the US are not good because we drive on the right hand side of the road and the English are not bad because they drive on the left. However, disregarding the law would be definitely bad in either case. There are other laws which are needed to preserve other aspects of public safety and health. They should not be necessary if everyone put safety and good sense above profit and they were competent in their fields. Unfortunately greed and ignorance make some laws necessary.

But then what is good and bad, right or wrong? C.S. Lewis tells us that there is a code of conduct that is God given and absolute. It never changes and it is this code which is to guide our actions throughout life. There are no exceptions to it and it governs our morality as well as all our interactions with others and even when our actions are solely in regard to ourselves. Many have attempted to write this code of conduct for us as laws and as precepts of religion but because we are not their author we fall short or trivialize it. The problem with laws and rules are that they are man made and use words which are subject to interpretation. They are enforced using the inadequate words used to define them and fall short or go beyond the spirit that inspired them. They are also the product of the mentality of the era.

We all know, if we take the time and effort to think about it, what this absolute code of conduct is. We were created with it, as an integral part of us. Simply put ... Selflessness is good and right ... Selfishness is bad and wrong. That was the message of Jesus but he only tried to remind us of what we should have figured out for ourselves. The problem is that our egos stand in the way. We were all created equal ... but our ego tells us that we are more equal than the other guy.

The fact is that in order to be in the right we only need to ask the question, "Is what I am about to do or say a selfish thing ... will it place my interests above those of God or another person? If the answer is "Yes", then it is wrong. Or we could ask, "Is what I am about to do or say for the benefit of another person and/or humanity in general?" If the answer to that is "Yes", then it is good. A more elaborate test is found in Mathew 25:31-46. This is the only place in the New Testament where Jesus speaks of judgment and it is all about ... Selflessness rewarded, ... Selfishness condemned.

But one may protest (and often does) ... 'This is the real world! Others will walk all over me!' Not if you are a good steward of the gifts God has given you. He means for you to be a success and for you to develop and use the talents He has given you. Each of us is to make the most of that which he has been entrusted. When we raise the bar for ourselves, we raise it for all. I refer you to Mathew 25:14-30. It matters not if we are applying for a job or are a member of an athletic team, we are to do our best, for if we do not, we squander our God given talents. So long as we act in fairness and in a morally correct way it is good. We do not harm another when we raise the bar to our own best level. The best of me must be dedicated to the benefit of all. The person with the most talent in a particular activity must be the one to serve at that activity in order for all to benefit. In barter and trade, there need not be winners and losers. We each have something the other needs and we also have money representing things of value. One is traded for the other for the benefit of both parties and each should benefit equally. The work we do is traded for the money we need to obtain other goods and services.

So why do we need laws at all? The very early Christians didn't think we did need them and considered themselves, not above the law, but beyond them. The  rule of selflessness was not to be just a belief but a way of life. Before they were know as Christians, they were followers of "The Way". They already considered themselves "Saints". While a member  in good standing, he was never taken to a civil court to settle any differences or disputes. Thus, the instruction was to take a member who strayed from the "Way" aside and admonish him and if he refused to listen, bring one or two "witnesses" to point out his error. If that didn't reform him, he was to be taken before the assembly and if that failed, he was expelled from the group because he was obviously not a Saint and his example would taint the others. However, there was always the opportunity for reconciliation ... public confession and penance then re-admittance to the group. The goal was to bring the entire world into "The Way" ... this ideal way of life and the way to redemption and ultimately, Heaven. Heaven was to begin, right here on earth, the difference being that in Heaven everyone there is committed to "The Way".  Remember Mathew 25:14-30?

Great effort is put into trying to legislate morality and the rules of civilization. I am afraid that equal or greater effort is put into finding loopholes in the laws in order to serve our egos, our self interests.  It is this ego-driven selfishness that undermines "The Way".  We make laws because we don't believe that selfishness is wrong, and indeed, laws are in them selves ego driven selfishness. We are trying to force others to accept our concept of fairness and civilization. In a way, this is necessary because there are always those whose ego's are so out of control that they refuse to accept any measure of selflessness as the ideal way of life. We try to make and use laws to deter them from anti-social behavior. For some, it works. For the "Law Abiding" citizen it brings them close to "The Way" but often not in their hearts. They look for the loopholes in the law or ways to beat the "system".  For other's, ingrained by their ego's to be completely selfish and self centered, they consider the law to be an impediment to their needs and desires and bank on not being apprehended or, if caught, being able to defeat the law and it's consequences. As a deterrent, it does not work for the hardened offender. In that case, it only serves as a justification to administer punishment on those it does apprehend and convict. This applies to both criminal and civil matters. The law itself, is a necessary device of an imperfect, selfish, world.

So, we can look to the law for guidance, but not for the absolute answer to the question of right and wrong. When we can do something, should we do it? These are questions which we need to ask when making many choices.

Is it Right or Wrong? ... See Mathew 25:14-30

The Way