Most of us like to think that we do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do. But how do we know what is right? Last week's Washington Post question hypothesized that our sense of right and wrong comes from our understanding of God. As I've been thinking about it more this week, I have decided I disagree. I think our sense of right and wrong is more connected to our beliefs about what we can get away with than they are our desire to do what is right in the sight of God.
As Christians we're at least somewhat familiar with the 10 Commandments, the Greatest Commandment (love God with all your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself), and the stories of how God disciplined/destroyed those who did evil (i.e. wrong) in His sight. And as citizens we're at least somewhat familiar with civil law and the penalties that go with breaking the law. Yet as I've been observing human behavior this past week I've become pretty convinced that our knowledge of these commandments and laws isn't really the primary driver of our day-to-day behavior. We know it is wrong to lie, yet we tell "little white lies" because it just makes life easier sometimes. We know we're supposed to love our neighbor but we don't give the panhandler money because we're not sure he's going to really use it for food instead of liquor. And we know that we're not supposed to drive over the speed limit/when tired/while talking on our cell phone/after having two beers but we do because "everyone does it". And frankly, we don't think we'll get caught.
Our sense of right and wrong may come from God but our good behavior pushes the limits of bad - because sometimes being good is inconvenient, costly, more work, etc. When the advantages to us are clear, when it takes no extra effort, and when we're afraid that we'll be punished for being bad, then we are good. The advantages to being good can take many forms - praise from parents/teachers, popularity with peers, external admiration, internal satisfaction of making someone else happy etc. Somewhere on that list is hopefully an understanding that being good is pleasing to God but I suspect it isn't top of mind.
Therefore my observations this week affirmed my post last week. An understanding of God and religion is not a prerequisite for goodness. It doesn't hurt - but it also provides no guarantee.
Interesting thoughts! It reminds me of how we always say a child will "get away with whatever he/she can". As children of God, it's within us to do the same.
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