Christian Living

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Death seems to make saints of so many sinners. When somebody dies there is very rarely a bad word spoken about them because it is generally accepted that one should not speak ill of the dead.

Does that mean it's okay to criticize and belittle people, and to highlight their faults while they are alive, but when they die they become untouchable? It seems sometimes only death allows a person to be fully forgiven for the wrongs they have committed in life. People are judged much more harshly during their lifetime than at their death. Although the deceased's enemies would no doubt say what a bad person they were, and happily point out their failings and sins, no one wants to hear that. It makes us all feel much better if the goodness of the person is emphasized.

Friends say it is bad when a good person dies, while enemies say it is good that a bad person has died. They are talking about the same person. Both are expressing opinions. Almost everybody can be good or bad because it depends on point of view. A person's goodness or badness is entirely relative, and when you listen to people talk about others, their comments are based on what that person has done for or to them, or for someone they know.

Here's an example; Bill is talking to Fred about George. Bill says that George, who works at the local garage, is a good man because he helped his sister when her car broke down. Fred does not like George because he gave Fred an outrageously high quote for some smash repair work, and then became angry when he wanted to get another quote.

Bill says George is a good man but Fred says he is a bad man. Both are making judgements about George based on their limited experience of him, but if these two men tell YOU what they think of George, how will you judge him? Regardless of what you think, what is the true objective measure of a good man?

The Bible says George is a bad man, but no worse than Bill or Fred who are also bad men. Compared to God, we are all bad. Romans 3:23 says "All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Men are judged by their deeds so that Mother Theresa, for example, was a good woman while Charles Manson is a bad man, but in God's eyes, both are sinners. The average person would consider themselves not as good as Mother Theresa but much better than Manson. Compared to each other, our goodness or badness is relative, but compared to God we are all bad, because God is absolutley good. He is perfect whereas we are born in sin, and there we die unless we are saved.

If we reject the Bible's teaching on the subject of sin, how can we possibly determine who is good and who is not with any degree of objectivity and fairness?

The biblical measure of a man's goodness can be judged by how he relates to three distinct groups of people.

1. Friends
2. Strangers
3. Enemies

Friends are friends because, among other things, they treat each other well, they have common interests, they help each other and they show loyalty. It's easy to be good to your friends, and by being good to them, it's easy for them to reciprocate.

Stangers are a slightly more difficult proposition because although a bare minimum of courtesy and politeness can be managed by most people, we are generally less tolerant of, less transparent with and certainly less trusting of people we do not know. Our own insecurities cause us to be wary of strangers and disinclined to get too involved with them.

Some people will help strangers, others will not, as we see in the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan. We Christians should help strangers. The Bible says in Galatians that, "we should not grow weary while doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to ALL, especially those who are of the household of faith." This is what God expects of us and although it won't make us good, it will make us better.

The third group are our enemies. Most of us would deny having any enemies, but let us say that anytime somebody does you wrong, or does wrong to somebody you know, they become your enemy. How we deal with this third group of people is where the rubber of our Christianity meets the road.

In group one, there will be Christians and non Christians. In group two you might expect to find more Christians than non Christians, but in reality there will still be a mix. In group three you will struggle to find anybody at all.

Jesus said, "If you love those who love you what reward have you? Do not even tax collectors and sinners do the same? And if you greet the brethren only, what more do you have than others?"

The twelfth chapter of Romans is arguably the best snapshot of Godly behaviour in the Bible, and as such it should be mandatory reading for everyone. Paul writes, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (verse 21) "If your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him drink."(verse 20) Verse 18 says that, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you live peacably with ALL men." Measure yourself or anyone else against this criteria and you will be forced to agree with Romans 3:23. There are no good men, by this measure. Even Jesus himself when addressed as good teacher, replied that only God is good.

If this sounds too hard, that's because it is too hard for you, for me, for any man. It's really not possible for men to live this way except they be filled with and powered by the Holy Spirit. Remember this though, even if you pass this test and can be good to not only your friends but strangers and enemies as well...you still will never be as good as God.

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