Sometimes it is better to lose and do the right thing than to win and do the wrong thing.
– Tony Blair
It is becoming harder and harder to maintain honesty, integrity and honorable purpose in today’s manipulative and self centered society. We have to contend with the forces of evil looking to undermine our every good intention. Even our own self doubt plagues us when we arise and attempt to be a force for good in this crazy mixed up world.
Many negative actions have been justified with the phrase “the end justifies the means”. This phrase is also used as an excuse to give up when doing the right thing. We justify our inaction by saying we are not making a difference, or I am not accomplishing anything through my actions. What we fail to remember is that right is right regardless of its success. God has called us to the path of righteousness regardless of its outcome.
In Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Jefferson Smith, (played by Jimmy Stewart) Is an honorary appointee to the U.S. Senate after the untimely death of the sitting senator. In the movie, Smith was appointed merely to be a figurehead. His naivete was meant to keep him from seeing the corrupt political machine that had taken over his state. Smith however inadvertently interferes in that machine when he attempts to fulfill the duties of Senator. His innocence and desire to do the right thing clash with the shady political dealings of Washington. Smith quickly finds himself having to fight not only corrupt politicians and corporations, but also his own friends. His hard work is undermined and his reputation attacked. Smith is then faced with the choice: continue fighting for what is right, or give in and compromise on his convictions.
As Christians we often carry an us against the world mentality. We sometimes believe that we cannot effect any change in our society and so we blend in and avoid creating any waves. We won’t give to the poor for fear we will be taken advantage of. We don’t invest in teaching and discipleship for fear of wasting our time. We won’t speak of our faith for fear it will not be heard. We won’t defend what we believe is right for fear our reputation will be destroyed. We won’t stand up for our faith for fear we are wrong.
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:7-9
Some of us overcome the first wave of fears that hit us and attempt to begin doing the right thing, only to be knocked down by the weight of the world. We believe we are fighting against the physical world and we we rely on our physical strength. But when we rely on our own strength we will eventually run out of that strength. We then become embittered against the world, decrying its evil. We no longer wish to do what is right, but only wish to prove the world wrong. At this point we have traded one fight for another.
The Bible tells us that we do not fight against the world, but the rulers and authorities that are the power behind them. God has called us to love our enemies and love those who persecute us. This means that part of doing the right thing and fighting the good fight is remembering to fight with love and not hate. We need to remember that we are fighting for a cause, not against one. We in our flesh do not have the strength to completer this task, which is why we must feed our spirit in order to maintain strength. Our authority and therefore strength must come from God.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.Isaiah 40:30-31
Doing what is right is difficult, maintaining it is even harder. In the movie, Mr. Smith decided to do what is right. Because of this choice he was degraded and betrayed and ultimately defeated. But in his defeat he continued to fight. At the moment of his greatest loss, he turns to address the Senate and the man who betrayed him and said:
“I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don’t know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain, simple rule: “Love thy neighbor.”
And in this world today full of hatred, a man who knows that one rule has a great trust. You know that rule, Mr. Paine. And I loved you for it — just as my father did. And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any others. Yes, you even die for them — like a man we both knew, Mr. Paine.”
Mr. Smith continued to fight, not for a feeling or a result. He fought because it was right, he stood upon God’s word and stayed true to himself and his convictions. He gained strength despite adversity and did not rely on other’s opinions of him. I pray any who read this will also find the strength to continue to fight the good fight no matter the cost, no matter the result.
God at the Boxoffice 