In consideration of the many standards of right and wrong in our world, the Christian believes that the only standard we know is right and cannot be wrong is the Word of God. Last week we considered how that right is always right. This article emphasizes that wrong is always wrong.
Wrong is wrong even if you don’t get caught. From “little things” like littering the highways, breaking the speed limit, not being completely truthful, etc. to more serious things as stealing or committing adultery, our society often thinks the only wrong is in getting caught. However, if it’s wrong when you get caught, it’s wrong if you don’t get caught. God is our judge whether man judges us or not. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:3) Wrong is wrong even if you don’t get caught.
Wrong is wrong even if it doesn’t bother your conscience. Anyone’s conscience can become hardened and calloused. It can be trained to accept wrongdoing. (Acts 23:1) Sin is the transgression of God’s law, not of the conscience. (I John 3:4) Solomon wrote, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Prov. 14:12) The conscience is very important. God has given it to us for a purpose. Generally, it helps us keep on the right path. But the conscience must be trained by the Word of God. We will never go wrong when we listen to and obey what God says, not what the conscience dictates. Wrong is wrong even if it doesn’t bother your conscience.
Wrong is wrong even if others do worse things. What others do has nothing to do with you. Each person must live his own life and be judged. (II Cor. 5:10) Anyone can find somebody who is doing worse things than he is. If you are lost, it will be of little comfort to you if you can point to others you know did far worse things than you did. Wrong is wrong even if others do worse things.
Wrong is wrong even if you do it for a good cause. The end does not always justify the means, and never if the means is wrong. Stealing is stealing, even if it is done by a destitute and desperate mother who is trying to feed her children. A good cause does not justify wrongdoing. Buying a raffle ticket for a good cause is still gambling. The amount you wager ($1 or $1000) makes no difference. If your purpose is only to help the good cause, rather than to win the prize, then give the dollar to the good cause, not for a chance to win something. Wrong is wrong even if you do it for a good cause.
Wrong is wrong even if it is commonly considered to be right. What most people believe to be right is not always right. “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…” (Ex. 23:2) Whose standard should we follow? It’s either what God says or what man says. Wrong is wrong even if it is commonly considered to be right.
Richard