The Danger of Misguided Goodness

Transcript

The Danger of Misguided Goodness I Int[troduction] A. One of the basic functions of the Christian Church is to keep a certain degree of moral sensitivity. So the church must of necessity urge men to be good, to be sincere, to be conscientous. There are basic moral principles. But they are not enough. To say of a man that he is conscientous and means well, important though that is, does not cover the ground. Not only must we be good, but we must be intelligent. Every man has a moral obligation to be intelligent. [Inserted above: Quote Socrates] One of the most dangerous forces in the world is misguided goodness. B. Some of the most shameful tragedies of human history have been committed, not by bad, people, but by good conscientious people who didn't know what they did. (1) those who made Socrates drink the hemlock (2) the crusades (3) the people that threatened Galileo (4) the trial of Joan of Arc (4) C. The text. A profound passage comes out of one of Paul's Epistles to give something of a scriptural sanction to our theme.