Acting Like A Good Person
Is Better Than Claiming To Be One
The idea of doing good works – things that are honorable, useful, dignified, helpful, kind, etc. – often takes a beating and, strangely, the beating comes from the people you’d expect to be doing the most good, Christians. Christians can some times sound anti good works.
There is a reason for that but the reason doesn’t justify the negativity.
Let me explain.
Christians are those claiming born-again status, and the salvation associated with born-again happens completely apart from any good works we can do. In other words, salvation is by faith through grace. It’s made free by the death of Jesus on the cross and is offered purely by God’s grace and kindness. That means you can’t good-works your way into heaven.
I agree with that. If Jesus didn’t pay the price for our sins, there aren’t enough good works in the world to cover that sin but some go a little too far with that idea and suggest that before salvation humans are incapable of doing any good at all. The idea is so senseless it doesn’t deserve a mention much less an argument.
But, for the record, there are too many non-believing individuals in the world doing good things to suggest that a sin nature puts good works beyond reach until after salvation.
Is it a good work for soldiers to defend their country against all enemies foreign and domestic? Are Christians the only ones who defend their country?
Even if you believe that only Christians are capable of doing good works, there’s too little of that happening and too few who encourage it. Some Christians become quite defensive, almost insecure, when anyone suggests we should do good works. They immediately begin chanting grace through faith – all of which is good – but it doesn’t apply. It also doesn’t mirror what the Bible says.
Jesus had some positive things to say about good works. You could take His comments as commands but before we get to that, what exactly qualifies as a good work?
A Few General Thoughts On Good Works
Just so you understand where I’m coming from, doing good and expressing love are one and the same. Doing good works is one way to say you care about some person or cause and your actions reflect where you love lies.
There are several legitimate directions in which good can be done.
- You can do good for yourself, self directed good.
- You can do good for family and friends, people with whom your naturally close.
- You can do good for the community with which you identify, people with whom you agree ideologically.
- You can do good for people beyond the previously mentioned boundaries, people who are often demonized and these are probably the ones Jesus had in mind when He said to love your enemies.
A few very important observations before we move on.
One, you aren’t doing good to anyone if you’re not doing good to everyone. Jesus made the point that those outside the boundaries, your enemies (Matt. 5:43-48), are the most important.
You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate you enemy. But I tell you love our enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.
In short, love, bless, do good and pray for those you love to hate. That’s a tall order and it reflects the teachings in the Old Testament too (Proverbs 25:21, Exodus 23:4-5).
Jesus went on to say that doing good for your enemies is more God-like than all the other good you do.
There’s no surprise when you love family and friends. It’s expected but that approach comes up short. if you love only the ones you’re close to, those outside the circle may perceive that as hateful.
Secondly, if you’re not doing good, you’re doing bad. The problems you don’t try to solve are the ones you allow. Turning a blind eye is not an option.
And thirdly, good works is neither condescending nor patronizing. Doing good for others isn’t a power play. Genuine good done properly is uplifting to both the benefactor and the beneficiary.
Good Works Isn’t One Dimensional
There’s more than one way to do good and the differences sometimes become points of disagreement.
A good example is racism.
On one side of the issue are those who claim that race is no longer a critical factor in how society is ordered, that everyone is now treated equally. There are others who remain vigilant in the effort to correct what they believe is inequality and injustice.
Both are aimed at the same outcome.
Both sides claim the upper hand and each spends a lot of time arguing against the other but which one is right? Which side is doing good? If the answer to the problem – whatever the problem may be – isn’t obvious and clear, I would say the argument is where good happens, assuming neither side has ulterior motives and both sides agree that racism is wrong.
That’s the kind of confusion that hinders positive change but it only applies to some issues. There are other acts of good to which everyone gives a nod of approval even when they don’t conform to traditional ideas.
Desmond Doss is a good example. He received the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of 75 American soldiers during World War II in spite of the fact that he was a pacifist and refused to carry or fire a gun. The good he did was extraordinary because his methods ran against conventional wisdom.
He teaches us that doing good requires a special kind of courage, the kind that runs against the norm.
Good Works And Evangelism
The one thing most Christian would say qualifies as a good work is evangelism, sharing the Gospel and attempting to lead people to Christ. I would agree with that. I spent many years as a missionary and the one thing missionaries do is share the Gospel.
The New Testament does emphasize the Gospel and commands us to preach it to everyone but that is usually understood one dimensionally. If we define Preach as only verbal, we’re definitely obedient but if preaching can be done by actions, then we’re failing miserably.
The good works you do are an important part of the equation and I would say we are missing the mark.
We’ll see shortly that Jesus said as much.
Good Works Is The Only Biblically Sanctioned Tool To Fight Evil
Obviously, evil is a bad thing and fighting it is necessary but how you engage that fight determines how effective you are. The Bible does address the issue.
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary repay evil with blessing, becuase to this you were called, that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)
Repay evil with blessing? Knuckle sandwiches aren’t allowed? Clearly, Peter is echoing the words of Jesus and we need to hear it again because it doesn’t sound natural or feel right.
We would all agree that this is not an easy thing to do and the Bible lets us know that God understands this.
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
That word “If” stands our in bold relief. We won’t always execute this approach perfectly but it is the aim.
The context of that passage expands on the same theme as Jesus sermon (Romans 12:14-21). And if you’re concerned about righting wrongs, the passage speaks to that issue also.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirty, give him a drink for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.
That isn’t exactly how we visualize pay back but, again, good works runs a bit contrary to human nature.
We already have a full set of laws against all kinds of evil – lying, cheating, stealing, murder. We also levy penalties and punishments to deter bad behavior but the laws have a limited degree of effectiveness. We have no reason to believe evil can be legislated out of existence.
Good works, however, are always effective and always accepted. No one thinks helping an old lady across the street is a bad thing.
Go ahead and fight evil with punitive, in-kind responses if you wish but understand that you have neither done good nor eradicated evil by following this approach.
You also haven’t obeyed the Bible.
The Sermon On The Mount Made Good Works A Priority
Jesus made some very pointed remarks about good works.
In one of the few times Jesus used the lecture style in His teaching ministry (the Sermon on the Mount), He follows His initial remarks, the beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-11), with a challenging statement about good works:
You are the light of the world. . .Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:14 & 16)
In a way that only Jesus could, He used few words to make several things quite clear.
Good Works Are Required Not Suggested
If anyone needs a push, Jesus provided it here.
Good works is the focus. Jesus didn’t say let your words be heard or your cleverness dazzle or your opinions resound. He said let your good works be seen. No commentary required. No explanations needed. Just do good.
He didn’t say good works is a possible strategy or an allowed option, He said do that first. Instead of preparing your self-righteous speech about how correct you are and wrong everyone else is, instead of engaging a debate, do something good for your antagonists, something they wouldn’t expect.
That idea is all over His sermon. Turn the other cheek is what He suggested and that doesn’t mean backing down. It is a way of deflecting. It isn’t a non response. It’s not lying down and doing nothing. It’s active not passive.
Instead of responding in kind, respond with kindness.
If you want to show how clever you are, de-escalate, deflect or humbly try to understand what’s going on! That’s the intelligent response.
“LET” your light shine is a command. Make it happen.
Good Works Is A Primary Means Of Witnessing
Good works are an essential part of effectively witnessing for Christ.
And verbal witnessing, something featured prominently in Christian circles today and is one of the first things taught to every new believer, takes a back seat to actions in the form of good works at least according to Jesus.
Actively demonstrating your faith is far better than walking into every relationship mouth first. Christians are so busy spewing answers no one is looking for, to people who aren’t asking, they never realize they’re speaking in a vacuum.
I’m not saying you can’t talk about your faith but the Bible teaches that we should elicit requests about our faith by our actions before we dump out thoughts on everyone around us. Peter, the Aposlte with the biggest mouth, is the one to make the point.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentelness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)
Our job is twofold. Do things that make people think and then be prepared to give an answer once they enquire.
The point is Jesus made actions (good works) primary. Bait people with your actions and they’ll be more interested in your words. Come to think of it, Jesus made the fishing analogy too. People will observe your actions long before they’re willing to hear your words and they may bite.
Good Works Isn’t About You
The point of good works, at least according to Jesus, is the other person not you. Neither I nor you are to do good works to demonstrate how good we are or to show how much better we are than others.
Who cares.
In fact, our good works aren’t intended to show that WE care. Caring in that way is patronizing and condescending.
You poor thing. You’re so bad off and I’m doing so well, let me help you out.
The aim of good works is to show that Jesus cares, not about the doer of good works but about the one for whom good is done.
Good works isn’t a competition. If it were and you win, you haven’t encouraged anyone to believe. Christians aren’t trying to gain exaltation and they aren’t trying to show how much they care. It isn’t a matter of being magnanimous. The only point being made is that God cares.
If you aren’t having that effect, you need a different strategy.
Tell me. Which love would encourage you more? The love of your neighbor or the love of Jesus?
Humans are fickle. They’ll love you one day and be otherwise the next. Jesus, however, will never leave you nor forsake you. That’s security. If done properly, good works will convey that message.
Good Works Draws Attention To God
What is the evidence your good works are working?
According to Jesus, good works done rightly will compel observers to glorify God. They may not believe immediately but they will at least be provoked to thoughtful consideration, a different perspective.
A church attendee once told me he wasn’t where I was (in my sense of belief) but in his words:
You have changed my mind,
No Christian can receive a greater compliment. In his case, it took almost two years but he eventually became a believer.
Not every good work will produce that kind of result but good works is still the command. Belief can never be the condition for which we do good.
Good Works Are Focused
One last observation. Good works is personal mostly for the doer and the receiver. Observers will be more intrigued than personally effected.
Mother Theresa sacrificed her life in the service of the most destitute, undesirable people in the world. The lame, the sick, the forsaken were her subjects and I’m sure each one loved her and had no problem taking the God she served seriously.
To the rest of us, she was provocative, maybe challenging, but not compelling. She was an object of curiosity and that’s okay. She was committed to austerity in the extreme, her influence did a lot of good for her focus group and that did get our attention.
Her sacrifices made us wonder but it was her journalling that pulled us in. That’s where her humanity bled through. Yes, she was extraordinary in many ways but it wasn’t her unusual lifestyle that moves us as much as the vulnerability she expressed in her journal. Her openness draws us in.
She was honest about who she was in spite of what she did and that’s a good work too.
THINK!AboutIt
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