"Let us do Evil that Good may Result"
In my last post, I talked about embryonic stem cell research and "the greater good". Thanks for your comment Chelsea.
This week in Credo small group, we looked at this passage from Romans 3:7-8:
Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved.
Now this passage is primarily about how Christians shouldn't justify sinning by saying that it allows God to forgive them more. To do so is to misunderstand God's grace! But it's interesting that Paul compares this to "doing evil so that good may result", which in Paul's eyes is obviously also worthy of condemnation.
Many Christians, who believe that an embryo is a person, use this verse to refute abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and the like. (And for the record, I think that they are right on all counts).
But if killing an innocent unborn child for "the greater good" is wrong, why isn't killing dozens of innocent civilians in the hope of killing a terrorist?