Goodness in a Time of Brokenness
For Meditation
“Good” is one of the most common and broadly-defined words in our modern vernacular. We tell our kids to “be good;” we say that some people are “good” lawyers, doctors or teachers; we might say that the recipe we made last night tasted “good.” Despite how often we use the word to evaluate the quality of people and things, it's actually pretty hard to agree on what is “good,” isn't it?
In 1981, Scottish philosopher Alisdair MacIntyre famously wrote that the modern West had become a “post-virtue” society. His analysis may be controversial, but on this point, it has stood the test of time. He observed the fact that modern life in the West had become characterized by the absence of any coherent moral code—that, even then, our society had lost a shared understanding of what was good and what was bad. And he saw this as an incredibly dangerous reality.
While it's somewhat of a mirage to say that there ever was a set of shared public values that governed our common life together for the good of all, we are certainly living in a distinct era. Virtue is increasingly individual and privatized—“you do you” and “I’ll live my truth.” There is very little standard to which we as a society can hold people. Without a shared sense of common good, we are left to pursue our own good, and the good of those in our tribe. We believe that if we don't look out for number 1, no one will. Tribalism, nationalism, and division are taking root so deeply in our society because we lack any trust in a common morality, a common understanding of what is good and what is bad, and a common commitment to good. Our roots—if we ever had any—have withered, and without roots, any society will rot.
Scripture gives us an alternative picture of “goodness” that is not rootless, but found in one source: God himself. God’s character is the very essence of good, and therefore the standard of goodness. His good character flows out into his good actions, which both create goodness in the world and restore goodness to broken things.
God’s goodness is not limited to “doing good by” us—upholding His end of the bargain or doing what is fair. God's goodness goes beyond “rightness” and “purity”—it is also redemptive. Chris Wright says, “The cross is the ultimate expression of the goodness of God, and the resurrection proved its victory. Goodness overcomes evil.”
Contrary to what our rootless and broken “post-virtue” society says, Scripture tells us exactly what is good: it is God, who in his goodness creates good and restores brokenness. And when we are rooted in God, who is the standard of all that is good, his Spirit flows out of us in a way that creates goodness and restores brokenness.
As you prepare for worship this week, allow the words of Jesus in Luke 6:27–31 to confront your idea of what it means to do good, and pray that God would open your heart to receive more of his goodness.
Galatians 5:22–23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Luke 6:27-31
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.