Is the common good 'good'?

 

We know what the world thinks is good because that's what is celebrated in the world. But what do we know of good that the Lord celebrates that heaven recognizes that the father sees as his.

Good is an unseen quality, a holy state of being. When Paul said in Gal 6:9 not to tire of doing good, we can assume he was not talking about how the world sees good acts but how the Father sees good in our acts.

Like all good, like all holy states of being, we know there are primary fundamentals. Selflessness and sincerity being two of them. So we then know that good is selfless and good is sincere, if it is indeed good.

Now the question gets complicated. What is the common good? What is the good that is for the whole that denies the one? Well that is worldly good is it not? Yes.

The common good that is described as what is good for the whole, over, what is good for the individual. Is that selfless? A majority describes what is good in the world, as does a worldly authority. Both a majority and an authority hold a common bond, a description of what is widely considered as good. But to accept this consideration is not selfless, it is instead an acceptance of what knowledge supplies, knowledge which is defining good to that group or that authority.

Now, Paul has also said: Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

So Paul is saying we must acknowledge, we must be accepting of what the governance over us is committed to. So essentially he is saying that the collective good is something that we must recognize as believers. We must accept it because God has placed that authority there.

So if an authority of man is in place it is because it was established by God. Yet, Jesus is our authority in Spirit, and we know that the two are in opposition, as one honors the flesh, and, one honors the truth. One honors money and one honors Love. So how can we honor one without denying the other?

We have to consider the context of what was said by Paul to the Romans. Paul makes it clear to those who held Christ up as their mediation to God, that we are to repay evil with good, to support and love one another, and to be obedient to civil rulers. When he wrote this, he was not considering the evil of man, he was considering the good that comes from spiritual living.

So it is not that the common good is to be followed, no, it is that we are to be very clear minded about where righteousness is founded, which is through the Spirit of Life, that recognizes believers who carry Christ forward. The common good is a commitment of faith to the knowledge man has in the time it is committed to. And knowledge without faith in Christ as the root of all righteousness, has led to some of the world's greatest atrocities.

Returning us now to our time. We are alive during a time when the ideal of the common good, and the pursuit of unity under knowledge, has the world in its grasp. The economies of the world are poised to unite us through wealth and influence, and the systems of authority are under this influence. So no longer is the common good a consideration of life, it is a consideration of economic transition and stability. Life is becoming servant to wealth and sustainable living, instead of wealth and sustainable living serving life.

As believers, we must remain sober to this. Being aware that although we abide by the laws of man, these laws are changing to suit a false unity and a false righteousness. But does that mean we should be defiant? Jesus took his punishment as unwarranted as it was. He took unfair judgement, he questioned it, but acknowledged the judgement and abided by it to his death. Not once did he say it was good, not once did he advance or empower the common good. No, he remained true to the good which is holy. He spoke openly of the truth, he was forgiving, and he kept his heart and mind focussed on the Father.

As believers in this time, as in his time, defiance and rebellious behavior only serves to advance the authority of error. Our only course of action is to place our faith in what is righteous, and act accordingly. Whatever the authority of man describes for us to accept, we must show obedience but with a clear conscience that we are  aware that it is in error. We must continue to repay evil with good, to support and love one another, and to be obedient to civil rulers. We must keep our hearts and minds open to what the Holy Spirit sets upon us, for it is expressing the righteousness we need in that moment.

Dark times are upon us. The great light of darkness is finally being revealed and with it will come celebration in the world by its children. The unity and peace will come at the cost of freedom of faith in the unseen qualities of God. Nothing of the world honors the authority of Christ Jesus. And, nothing of the world recognizes the Holy Spirit. It is up to each of us as individuals who have a personal relationship with our savior, to endure, and abide in what is set upon us, while committing to holiness through faith. The road is narrow, few find it.

May the Lord bless and keep you close.