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What's Wrong with Situation Ethics
Joshua 2:4
"And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:"
Someone recently asked me about the story of Rahab hiding the spies and her lying to keep them from being killed. They asked me if it was right for her to lie because she ultimately saved their lives. On the surface this seemed to be the right thing to do, but when you look at the whole picture, you will see that what she did was wrong. She allowed situation ethics to determine what she should do instead of allowing God to work. In all reality, she replaced God by determining what she thought was right.
We live in a day where situation ethics seems to determine what is right and wrong. You will often hear commentators in the news media justify a wrong because of the situation. Sadly, I have watched many men of God justify wrong for the sake of trying to salvage lives. On the surface it seems like it's the right thing to do, but situation ethics will guide you down a wrong path the majority of the time. Let me give you a few thoughts about this story and situation ethics.
First, lying is never right! Rahab justified lying about the men being in her house to save their lives. She felt it was right because they were servants of God. However, when you look at the Scriptures, you will see that lying is always wrong. Proverbs 12:22 says, "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight." God does not change His stance on lying just because it seems as though it will do good. I have never seen a lie have good results. Oh, it may produce good results immediately, but when you look at the end picture you see that lying always hurts more than it helps. If anything, you are teaching a younger generation who is watching that they should lie if it keeps them from being hurt.
Second, situations should never dictate whether you should tell the truth, God's Word should be the determining factor in telling the truth. God's Word is the measuring stick of right and wrong. When you take right and wrong into your own hands, then you have replaced God with yourself, making yourself an idolater. When someone is willing to tell a lie in one area, then they will be willing to tell a lie in another area. People who justify lying for a situation cannot be trusted. Always remember that God's Word should dictate what you should do.
Last, situation ethics take the opportunity away from God to show His power and perform miracles. The saddest part about this story with Rahab is that we will never know what God would have done to save the lives of these men. Because one woman took the situation into her own hands, she took away the opportunity for many generations who followed to see God's power work. Any time you allow situation ethics to determine right and wrong you are taking opportunities away from God to show His power. Maybe one of the reasons why this generation doesn't know much about the power of God is because too many people live by situation ethics. God can only show His power when we wait long enough on Him to come through.
Christian, don't be guilty of allowing situations to determine right and wrong. When it comes to right and wrong, always obey God's Word. When you obey the Word of God, you will then give God the opportunity to prove to you that He is still God. It is then that you will see God come through and your faith in God will grow.