The Benefits of Obedience Validate the Law

Now in Chapter 10 of Dr. Greg Bahnsen's book, By This Standard: The Authority of God's Law Today we read the second ethical argument for the continuing validity of biblical law. This time it's the consequential perspective of Christian ethics.

Summary of the Three Ethical Perspectives

Let us compare the consequential perspective to the other two ethical perspectives - the normative and the motivational. The normative concerns itself with ethical standard of right and wrong. The motivational is about intentions. And the consequential is about results of one's decision and action. From this perspective, if the result is good, the decision and action are also considered morally good. 

All these three ethical perspectives are taught in the Bible. The focus of the book is the normative. In previous chapter, we learned that in the motivational perspective, the ethics of grace and love actually validate the law. The present article summarizes the consequential perspective. 

The Biblicality of Consequential Perspective

Consequences of our actions are clearly taught in the Bible. Take for instance the apostle Paul's admonition in Galatians 6: 7 to 9. Commenting on the passage, Dr Bahnsen said: 

"Paul communicates this well in saying that we would have to be deceived to think God could be mocked. Evil living will not bring about happiness and blessing, for then the justice and holiness of our God would be a mockery....Those who live according to their rebellious nature will suffer corruption, while those who live by God's Spirit will gain eternal life....It is noteworthy here that Paul focuses on the benefits which will accrue to us if we engage in welldoing" (pp. 80-81). 

So the consequential perspective is related to the "the thought of reward for righteous living" (p.81). It concerns about benefits that God bestows "as an incentive for moral living" (ibid.). Other biblical texts that teach this include Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 4:8, and Malachi 3:10. Basing on Pentateuch, Dr. Bahnsen summarized:

"....Moses, had written that obedience to the Lord would result in blessings on the society's children, crops, rain, herds, cities, and fields; it would bring peace to the people from without and prosperous economy and health from within (Deut. 7:12-15; 11:13-15; 28:1-14; 30:15, 19; Lev. 26:3-12)" (pp. 81-82). 

So this ethical perspective is all about making a serious consideration of the outcome or the end of our decisions and actions. This tells us that "Doing the right thing or having a proper attitude will result in benefits" (p. 82). 

Thinking of Benefits

Now, is thinking of the benefits for our actions selfish? Is it self-serving? In this discussion about the consequential perspective, Dr. Bahnsen explained the nature of this benefit. He believes that thinking about personal benefits, the benefits of others, and the benefits of the society as a whole have their own proper place, but subordinate to the kingdom of God as the top priority. He cites passages like Matthew 22:39, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Ephesians 5:28-29, and Philippians 1:24 to prove his point. However, he is careful to distinguish personal concern, which he describes as "egoism" from "egotism" (ibid.). For him, both egoism and altruism have their own appropriate places "in Christian ethics, as does a concern for the wider collection of people in one's society" (ibid.). Moreover, as already mentioned, "all of these interests are subordinate to the one supreme goal for all of our actions: the kingdom of God" (ibid.). He thinks that within the kingdom of God, "the varying interests of one's self, the other, and the many are all harmonized" (ibid.). As for me, I consider these two sentences as a conclusion of this point:

"The kingdom of Christ is to have top priority when we contemplate the consequences of our actions, for Christ has pre-eminence over all (Col. 1:18). It will be for our good, our neighbor's good, and our society's good if all of our actions and attitudes are governed by an interest in the kingdom of Jesus Christ" (pp. 82-83). 

The Way to Pursue God's Kingdom

After understanding the proper place of benefits, how about the procedure to pursue to them? In discussing this procedure, Dr. Bahnsen reintroduced his main thesis - the continuing validity of divine law. The way to pursue the kingdom of God is through obedience, and it only makes sense in connection to the law of God. Dr. Bahnsen explains: 

"Biblical law is a pathway to divine benefits - not an ugly, dour, painful course for believers. It is not only a demand, it is something to desire! As John said, "His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). They are the delight of the righteous man who receives God's blessing (Ps. 1). If we wish to have a morality which promises blessed consequences, then our morality must be patterned after the law of God" (p. 83).

The Benefits of Obedience (ibid.) 

And the list of benefits of obedience to divine law that Dr. Bahnsen gave is very encouraging: 

• Life and well-being (Deut. 30:15-16)

• Blessing and a strong heart that does not fear (Ps. 119:1-2; 112:5-7)

• Peace and security (Ps. 119:28, 165, 175; Prov. 13:6; Luke 6:46-48)

• Enjoying the Lord's loving-kindness (Ps. 103:17-18),

• Walking in liberty (Ps. 119:45; Jas. 2:25)

• Prosperity with respect to all of our daily needs and interests (cf. Joshua 1:7)

• Blessing upon a society (Prov. 14:34), giving it health, food, financial well-being, peace, and joyous children. 

Conclusion

The consequential perspective cannot be separated from the normative. They work together. Dr. Bahnsen concludes: 

"We see again why the validity or authority of God's law cannot be dismissed today. Without that law we would be lost when it comes to pursuing the beneficial consequences for ourselves, others, and our society in all of our moral actions and attitudes. As God clearly says, He has revealed His law to us for our good (Deut. 10:13). Opponents of God's law, therefore, cannot have our good genuinely in mind; they wittingly and unwittingly mislead us into personal and social frustration, distress, and judgment (Prov. 14:12)" (p. 84).

Source: Bahnsen, G. L. (1985). By This Standard: The Authority of God's Law Today. Tyler, Texas: Institute for Christian Economics.