I once saw some graffiti on a bridge that said, “Trust in Jesus.” The message was good. The problem is the last time I checked graffiti was against the law. Someone thought that the message was so good that a little thing like the law should not stand in the way of getting it out. I guess that the person who wrote that message on the bridge knew he was breaking the law but figured that the end justified the means. A lot of people think like that. Let me give you a few examples.
- Telling small lies
What is a small lie anyway? To God, a lie is a lie, and all lies are sinful (Revelation 21:8). Some believe that certain situations call for a lie. If we can spare the feelings of a friend by lying to him, we ought to do it. It seems that a little white lie will not hurt anybody if it can spare a friend some pain.
What about when the boss asks you to lie for him? It sure is important to please the boss. It might make a difference when it comes to getting a promotion. Lying for someone else is not as bad as lying for yourself, is it? “I have a family to support, and I do not want to risk making my boss mad.” So, the end justifies the means. We can justify a lot of things with that philosophy.
- Using musical instruments in worship
Most people do not think of musical instruments in connection with Bible authority because they have never been taught how to establish Bible authority in the first place. I have been in situations where I have taught people the basics of Bible authority. They have grasped the concept, but still think that instruments of music are okay in worship. They say, “There may not be any Bible authority for musical instruments, but, after all, the music sounds so much better with them, and God is glorified, and people are edified, to a greater extent. The end justifies the means.”
First, God is never glorified by a violation of His Word, and while music with the instrument might sound better to some people, it does not sound any better to God, and He is the One with Whom we should be concerned. Second, the end never justifies the means if the means are sinful. This is what many need to understand about the use of musical instruments. It is not just a choice. Their use is unauthorized and therefore sinful (Colossians 3:17; 2 John 1:9), and God will never justify the practice of sin, even if some think they are doing it in His name.
- Killing doctors who perform abortions
Abortion is an abomination to God, but you do not fix murder with murder. Murder is an abomination before God no matter who commits it; even if the person sincerely thinks, in a deranged kind of way, that he is doing God a favor. I suppose that if enough doctors who perform abortions were murdered, it would have an impact on how many doctors would be willing to perform them, but the end does not justify the means. The only way to stop an abortionist is by teaching him the gospel. If that does not work, perhaps prayer will make a difference. Peaceful protests are another option. If nothing we do seems to make a difference, we just leave it in the hands of God. He will take care of everything on the Day of Judgment. Sadly, so many unborn babies are being murdered, but to murder the doctors performing the abortions is not the answer.
- Misusing the Lord’s money
Too many brethren do things with the Lord’s money that are unauthorized, all while teaching others the importance of Bible authority. Building basketball courts, daycare centers, kitchens, etc., all seem good on the surface, but where is the Bible authority for them? In a conversation I once had with a preacher who condoned the church building gymnasiums in which the young could play, I challenged him for Bible authority for such a thing. His answer was simple. “The neighborhoods around here are dangerous, and the kids need somewhere to play.” In other words, there is no Bible authority for it, but the end, that is, the young kids having a safe place to play, justifies the means of using the Lord’s money in such a way.
The end never justifies the means if it violates the law of God. If the means are wrong, it is wrong no matter what. Paul recognized that when he condemned the concept of doing evil that good may come (Romans 3:8). We should recognize and condemn this way of thinking as well.