Loving and Doing the Good

"It is better to do a thing because God said to do it 
than because you think it is a good idea."

I've been told the above line is in the Talmud, the central work of and for Judaism, a commentary on the Jewish Bible, i.e., the Christian Old Testament. It came to mind this evening as a friend spoke of verbatim compliance. He had worked high security military projects and verbatim compliance was required. If following the book was impossible for any reason, rather than proceed according to what "made sense," the workman had to contact a supervisor to resolve the problem.

Verbatim compliance: doing exactly as the book says to do because the book says to do it. This, says the Talmud, is how we are to obey God.

This brings to mind the matter of faith seeking understanding. That is, we want to know the reasons for our faith and by direct implication, the reasons God says to do thus and so. Even then, however, it matters not why he said it and furthermore it is very likely we often will not know much of the reason. So we are safest to simply do it "because God said so."

Does it matter to know the "why" of a thing. Yes, but with God we must always obey verbatim whether we understand or not. Hesitation can be deadly and questioning Almighty God, while allowed, is not the wisest strategy.

Conclusion? We do it because God said it, not because it sounds like a good idea.

This implicates another classical discussion: Euthyphro's Dilemma. C. S. Lewis phrases the dilemma clearly: Are these things right because God commands them or does God command them because they are right?

The first option means good is by fiat, "because God says so." The second means the good is something outside of God to which He is accountable. As Lewis says, both options are intolerable. Rather, goodness is found in the very being of God and is the primary expression of His existence.

Where does this leave us?

If we know God clearly prescribes a course of action, we ignore it to our peril. Immediate, cheerful obedience is the rule. Understanding is beside the point. Verbatim compliance.

But how do we know? Scripture lights the way; and in the Person of Christ we see endless guidance. But faith is required as well, for our eyes are dimmed by frailty and failings. This means we often wonder, our faith seeks understanding, and we must trust God in the dark.

But where God clearly speaks we are safest and most faithful children when we do as he says without needing to know the reason.

One final caveat. Perhaps everyone who has sincerely tried to follow God has stepped into a ditch while thinking they were following God. I know of people who plotted to murder an abortion doctor, believing they did God's bidding. On much lesser matters I often grappled mightily with mind and heart to avoid doing what seemed right while everything of good sense said otherwise.

And so, as in all things we are at the mercy of God and, thankfully, that mercy endures forever. He will see us through if we ask, believe, and walk with Him. That is enough because He is enough.

Selah, which is being interpreted in this case, "I'm done."