The Most Important Thing I Learned from My Father-in-Law

Gary North - October 01, 2014

I don't know if Rushdoony ever put this on paper. I do remember that he said it. It is just two sentences.

Never promise God that you will stop a particular sin if He will do something for you. Just stop the sin.

An atheist thinks: "That doesn't apply to me." Yes, it does. The source of the benefit varies, but not the proposition. An atheist's variant: an alcoholic's wife tells him she is leaving him, and she is taking the children. She has had enough. He responds: "If you will stay with me, I will stop drinking." She has heard it before.

He should stop drinking. Then maybe she will return. Or maybe not.

This variation is legitimate: "I know I have to stop drinking. I will join AA today. But it will be easier for me if you don't leave." But he has to stop drinking whether she leaves or not. There is no quid pro quo on the road to sobriety.

The issue here is ethics. This is where the theological rubber meets the epistemological road. What do you really believe? What is the basis of cause and effect in history?

If what you are doing is wrong, stop doing it. Maybe you will get no applause. Maybe you will only avoid a disaster. But plan for a disaster if you don't change.

People think they can get positive sanctions for not sinning. They forget the negative sanctions for sinning.

Many alcoholics experience rock bottom before they change. But they know it is not rock bottom. Death is rock bottom. This is only a down payment on rock bottom -- next-to-rock-bottom.

It is better to change before you hit next-to-rock-bottom.