Eric Johnson and Mark Shea have been involved in a hearty discussion about the war in Iraq. It has been one of the most polite and Christian of discussions that I have seen on this topic in just about any venue, and I am impressed by their charity and their obvious care in thought and speech. I am not going to post my personal opinions on this topic - for one, I truly don't think I have enough knowledge to have an informed position that is suitable for prime time. Like so many other vexing issues, I have decided to deal with it in small chunks and to salt liberally and take with prayer. No, their extended conversation has caused me to contemplate another conundrum. Those who have raised teenagers will recognize it. The question: Is it better to do wrong for the right reasons, or to do right for the wrong reasons? Is it better to say, "Yes, I will" to a reasonable request, and then bail out - or to say, "No way, Jose", and then to have a change of heart and do the task?
The church's moral teachings are clear that the ends never justify the means, and that it is not OK to do sin in order that good might result - but in talking about 'wrong things' I am talking about those areas of moral ambiguity that can exist especially given man's imperfect understanding of the will of God.
What say you all?
Is it better to do wrong for the right reasons, or to do right for the wrong reasons? Is it better to say, "Yes, I will" to a reasonable request, and then bail out - or to say, "No way, Jose", and then to have a change of heart and do the task?
I thought that in the Gospel, Jesus addressed this very issue? Didn't He end with a question, though, like, "Which one did the will of his father" -- but I thought it was supposed to be clear that it was the one who said he wouldn't and then did.
Sorry, I am not nearly up enough on my Bible to come close to giving a chapter and verse... I could very well be wrong about my assumption, and I always kind of wondered if I was and never pursued it. Bad me.