Introduction
In human history (his-story) the most destructive rationale ever used to do mass murder and mayhem is, “the ends will justify the means.”

This justification has been used to start more wars, torture more people, and steal more plunder than any other excuse man conjures up.

This validation is seen in such verbiage as, “you have to break a few eggs if you’re going to make an omelet,” and “we have to fight like they do to win” and “do whatever it takes to win.”

However, doing wrong to fight wrong is wrong.

We wonder why our children don’t trust police officers when the example we set of how to have integrity in fighting against drugs is to have police officers go undercover, using drugs, lying and acting as bad as the dealers, and yet it is ok to do such things if the cause is right.

What kind of double message do we seed when we sink as low as the criminals in an effort to catch them.

Isn’t the greater implication that we as a society believe that “if you’re going to do something, do it right, get the job done,”  “the main thing is winning.”

Have we forgotten that evil will always be with us until God destroys it, and that us coping it only proves we too are evil, only in second place rather than first.  Did Jesus teach us to “win at any cost.”

Yet, we hear this type of talk all the time, as if it is America to be winners, “no matter what you have to do to come out on top.”

This is a lie from the pit of hell, from the liar of all liars, from the murderer of all murderers; from the one that said he would be god, because his will was all that mattered.

God’s Perspective
Was it not Christ, who said:

“You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’   “But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.  “And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.  “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.  “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.  “You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’  “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”.1

Where is the win at any cost theme in those teachings?  Did he say to wipe out your enemy when he is weak, use the advantage God had given you, and “do all for God and county.”

Moreover, was it not Paul speaking under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit who told us to feed and give water to our enemies,2 and John also who said:

“Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”3

Again, where do we sense that we can use evil to fight evil from this passage?  In fact we are told,

“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.  And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”4

 As Christians, where then can we support doing wrong to fight wrong, where then can we find the rationale for doing “anything” we have to do to win, where then can we justify achieving something at any cost; true committed believers in Jesus Christ can’t.

Either you believe God’s Word or you don’t, either it is God speaking (which proves his omnipotence) to us His Will in our lives or it is a man-made book subject to err.

Perhaps we should hear from the book of Deuteronomy (which Jesus quoted from more than any other Old Testament book), which quotes Moses’ last words to Israel:

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.  “But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods [an idol is anything we give worth to above God or His stated Will, the Bible] and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it.   “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”5

Or Joshua’s last words to Israel:

“And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods [idols] which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods [idols] of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”6 

Or Paul’s words to the church:

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”7 

As followers of Jesus Christ we must do the right thing, the right way, it is not good enough to have good motives.

All who start a race have the motive of winning; yet that does put them over the finish line first; ability, commitment and God’s Will does.

Good behavior comes from good intent, but good intent does not always mandate good behavior.

In the rule of law, motives have weight, in God’s judgment it does not.

Romans 12:21 says in the original Greek, “Do not be conquered by evil [let it control you], but conquer the evil with good.”

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Endnotes
1. Matthew 5:38-45 (NASB), also see Luke 6:27-38
2. Romans 12:20
3. 1 John 3:7-10 (NASB)
4. 1 Peter 3:14-17 (NASB)
5. Deuteronomy 31:19 (NASB)
6. Joshua 24:15 (NASB)
7. Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)