Reasonable Justification

We seldom have much difficulty knowing the difference between right and wrong. Most things are pretty clear. However, we don’t always like what we see. If we find something appealing, right or wrong, we look for all manner of reasons to justify it.

Benjamin Franklin recognized this trait in himself and others. Concerning his first voyage from Boston to Philadelphia, he writes: “I believe I have omitted mentioning that…our crew em­ployed themselves in catching cod, and hauled up a great number. Till then, I had stuck to my resolution to eat nothing that had had life; and on this occasion I considered, according to my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, nor could do us any injury that might justify this massacre. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had been formerly a great lover of fish, and, when it came out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanced some time between principle and inclination, till recollecting that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, `If you eat one another, I don’t see why we may not eat you.’ So I dined upon cod very heartily, and have since concluded to eat as other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”

Franklin was right. Men are reasonable creatures.

We find reasons for whatever we want to do, no matter how wrong the thing may be. As a result, men have sought to justify all manner of sin including abortion, euthanasia, gambling, homosexuality, and alcoholism. How does it work? Abortion is justified by the woman’s right to choose. Euthanasia is the loving and merciful response. Gambling revenues can finance education and programs for the aged (who aren’t going to need any programs if the euthanasia advocates win out). Homosexuality is a discrimination issue. Alcohol abuse is a disease, don’t ever use the sin word.

How does a Christian respond to all of this?

Christians are to be more concerned with doing what God demands than what others want. Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 5:30). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).

All of the reasoning in the world will not make right wrong or wrong right! God, alone, makes those determinations, and we must accept them.

There is no reasonable justification for sin.

— Roger