You are visitor: In Scotland the time is:
Christian Network

"It is always important to be right. But it is equally important to be right for the right reasons,"

So wrote author and historian Richard Goldhurst in one of his biographies. His statement was in the context of the role of leadership in military history, but it applies equally well to the Christian life. We can do right for all the wrong reasons and, in so doing, bring dishonor to the name of our Lord. In order to avoid running this risk believers must learn to habitually examine their motives and ask for Godly wisdom before acting on matters of moral conviction.

It is relatively easy to discern an ethical blind spot in another person. It is equally easy to call them on it. What is not so easy is to do is to act because we have that person’s best interests in mind. Attacking even the most flagrant sin becomes problematic if our ultimate motivation is pride. This is why we are called to examine ourselves closely before we embark on personal moral crusades. Without love and true humility as our guides we may indeed try to remove another’s mote while remaining in ignorance of our own log.

Hypocrites were among those singled out by Jesus for His harshest criticism. The Scribes and Pharisees embodied the concept of right actions done for wrong reasons. When the Lord told His listeners to do what their religious leaders told them to do while not being like them He was pointing out the huge disconnect inherent in the nature of their teaching. They knew the Law of Moses. They even taught it effectively enough that the people might understand what was expected of them. But they, themselves, were deeply hypocritical; teaching truth with hearts which were full of falsehood. Consequently the words were right but the spirit was wrong and it was this that was roundly condemned by Jesus.

The Pharisees of old are gone but their modern counterparts thrive in certain wings of the Church. In fact it is safe to say that probably every church has its angry moralists, people who have taken on the mantle of the Old Testament prophets minus those prophet’s humility. However, before we count ourselves among the more holy, it might be prudent to ask ourselves if we have never lashed out in moral indignation, minus the love. I know I have.

One of the greatest challenges of the Christian life is to make our actions congruent with right motives; to make sure the inside of our cup is as clean as the outside. The cleaning of that cup is, in truth, impossible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. The whole thrust of the Gospel is that we are incapable of accomplishing it ourselves. We can only cooperate with Him. It is up to us to align our will with the Spirit’s work. If we flatly refuse to go through the fire of sanctification we will thwart Him and remain people who do right for wrong reasons.

As believers we have the potential to become righteous in our judgments. But the righteousness we speak of is a loving righteousness that is wedded to truth in our innermost parts. Such truth can only reign in us if we allow God to put it there. When we are willing to let Him do so we will truly begin to do what is right for the right reasons.