This challenge came my way in a  Stream comment not long ago. “They say integrity is doing the right thing when nobody’s watching,” the critic began.

But mythologists believe that’s never the case. I’ll take the integrity of the rational good, who do the right thing without being coerced by the delusion they’re being watched by an imaginary overseer.

Christians (“mythologists”) expect a reward for being good. We think Someone’s always watching us and we want to impress him. Atheists do good “for nothing.” They do it just because it’s good. (That’s not “good for nothing,” by the way. There’s a difference!) 

In other words, according to my critic, Christians only do good to get what we want. We do good out of self-interest. If that were true, he’d have a point. But it isn’t. We do good for a reason he doesn’t even begin to see.

Christians Don’t Do Good to Get to Heaven

Most non-believers think we’re trying to be good so we can get to heaven. That would be true of some religions, but not Christianity. Christianity teaches that it’s not our goodness that gains us life, but the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Eternal life is about being in relationship with God through belief in Him, not works. That’s what John 3:16 is about.

The reward really isn’t eternal life. It isn’t walking on “streets of gold.” It’s fellowship with God. What we really want in heaven is fellowship with the ones we love, especially with the greatest of them all, Jesus Christ.

I have that relationship with Christ, through faith in Him. It’s secure. I don’t need to do good to keep it safe.

For the Christian, doing the right thing isn’t about getting to heaven. I’ve already got what I want as I look ahead to eternity. No, doing good flows from my desire to follow Jesus Christ because He is worthy of being followed. I do good because I want to be like Him. Jesus is perfect and He makes me want to be like Him.

An Earthly Example

We do good because we want to please the God who loves us, not to get to heaven. My atheist critic doesn’t understand Christianity at all. So naturally he puts us down.

Let me give an earthly example. I like to wash the dishes at home when my wife is away. I do it with the hope and expectation that I’ll get a big smile from her when she gets home. Sara has the world’s greatest smile.

I do the work for my own benefit (I like a clean house), but I do it more happily knowing it’s going to make her happy. Does that mean my motives are impure — that I’m doing the work so I can feel happy about making her happier?

I don’t think so. I think it’s a sign of a normal loving relationship. If I didn’t enjoy the thought of her being happy, I’d be a monstrous sort of husband. If I didn’t enjoy making her happy, I’d be a louse. So I do good — the dishes have to be washed — partly because doing that makes my wife happy and that makes me happy. Similarly, my love for Christ leads me to enjoy that idea that I’m pleasing him by doing good.

That’s the way love works. That’s what the atheist doesn’t understand. He doesn’t understand love.

Adapted from an article at Thinking Christian. Used by permission.