Does the end justify the means? More and more people think so. They have little trouble achieving their desired goal by whatever means works. If it means lying to succeed, they deceive. If it means destroying the credibility of an innocent person, they malign. If it means rejecting the commands of God, they rebel.

In America today, innocent unborn life is aborted in the name of choice and women’s rights. Whatever the argued end, the means of killing unborn human life is murder (cf. Exo. 21:22-23; Rom. 13:8-9). In America, over 60 million innocent lives have ended using the justification of freedom of choice and women’s rights since abortions became legal in 1973. The end does not justify the means. (What about the infant’s right to live?)

Violence against property and lives is accepted and advanced by some as necessary means to achieve the end of radical changes in our society. For example, Hawk Newsome, described in the New York Post as “the most influential Black Lives Matter leader in New York,” recently went on the record in support of this philosophy. “I was standing in front of Wells Fargo when it was burning in Minneapolis,” he said. “It was very liberating…Burn man. They only listen when we destroy things. America doesn’t care about people; they care about property” (“NYC Black Lives Matter leader Hawk Newsome on race, activism and gentrification,” Dana Kennedy, New York Post, June 27, 2020). We are solidly for equal justice and equal rights for every person under the law. We know many of our fellow citizens have not always had that. Many still feel the uneven effects of striving for racial justice and racial equality. As Christians, we can do our part to advance equality and justice by loving our neighbors as ourselves and shunning racial prejudice and partiality in all its forms (Matt. 7:12; 22:39). God is color blind, and we must be, too (Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 13:8-10). Simultaneously we reject the notion that lawlessness (the means) will produce justice (the end). Of course, it does not. It only divides and destroys. (By definition, lawlessness is unjust and sin in God’s sight, 1 John 3:4.)

The two previous illustrations, snatched from events in our country, show how the “end justifies the means” way of thinking takes hold of many lives while destroying many others. It is not the result of sober thinking, nor does it produce godly conduct (1 Thess. 5:5-8. Such thinking must never find a safe harbor in any Christian’s heart. When the apostle Paul was charged with saying, “Let us do evil that good may come,” he boldly refuted the concept: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 3:8; 6:1-2).

God disapproves of “the end justifies the means” approach to solving problems. God rebuked Moses and denied him entry into the promised land because he struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it (to bring forth water) as God commanded him. The “end justifies the means” mindset says, “God must have been pleased since water came out of the rock.” But, God was not pleased with the means Moses used. God called it unbelief and rebellion (Num. 20:12; 27:14).

When God commanded King Saul to destroy the Amalekites, and their possessions, Saul and the people spared king Agag and the best of the animals (1 Sam. 15:3, 9). How did Saul defend this disobedience? He told Samuel the people were going to sacrifice the spared animals to the Lord (1 Sam. 15:15, 18-21). God was not impressed. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king” (1 Sam. 15:22-23).

It is presumptuous and prideful to think our “end” justifies whatever “means” we choose, and leads to even more presumption. If my end justifies my means, then every end is justified by any means! People do what is right in their own eyes, and by doing so, become thoroughly corrupt (Jug. 21:25; Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; Acts 26:9). To have God’s approval, both the end and the means used to arrive at it must have divine permission (Jno. 8:31-32).

The practical applications of this truth become evident. We do not decide for ourselves the “means” of how the lost are saved. God does. We do not determine God’s moral code. God does. We do not establish the means of going to heaven. God does. For all of these and everything else that pertains to life and godliness, we must listen to and obey the word of God (Lk. 8:8, 18; Jno. 17:17; Rom. 10:17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4).

When the Lord establishes the means to the end, He expects us to use His means to that end (Lk. 6:46; Matt. 7:21). All we believe, say, and do in life must be approved by the One who has all authority, Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18; Acts 4:12; Col. 3:17). Whether it is morality, doctrine, religion, personal relationships, the work, worship, and organization of the church, or any other activity of life, our end must agree with God’s stated purpose (revealed in Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore, the word of God must also approve of the means we use to reach God’s purposes. To do less is a rebellious presumption that makes ourselves the final authority over ourselves rather than God (Rom. 1:18-32). Remember King Saul.

God wholly rejects rebellion against His will and ways. Those who adopt and apply “the end justifies the means” philosophy will receive a just condemnation for arrogantly rebelling against the Lord (Rom. 3:8). Let us humble ourselves under His mighty hand, assured He will exalt us in due time (1 Pet. 5:6; Jas. 4:10).

Faithfully obeying divinely revealed truth is the proper means to God’s end (Matt. 7:21). 

-Adapted from the original article,  The Spirit’s Sword (April 14, 2002)

Top

Guilty Until Proven Innocent?
Joe R. Price

Top