"what is the right thing to do?"

Most of us throughout our life have found this to be a fundamental question we ask in many situations we find our selves. Philosophy (ethics) or Religion tend to be the source of choice to inform us of "what is the right thing to do?" Since my thought life and writings have focused on the distinction between the carnal mind and the Kingdom mind, I'll use this dichotomy of sense-making to provide my perspective on this question.

If we are dealing facts right means "correct", but this question deals with behavior. The carnal mind will anchor "right" as somewhat a synonym of "fair." Thus, what is "right" tends to be defined by what is "fair." Webster's original dictionary defines "right" as "just, equitable, according to the standard of truth and justice." This is an 1828 version of human thi nking about "right." The current view of "right" has not varied much but would include in addition to fair and just the notion of moral and ethical. "Fair" (equitable) is based on maintaining the idea of equilibrium of the ratio of what is the deserved outcome one receives to what is provided by the one receiving the outcome with some standard or expectation. What is ethical refers to actions we take (behavior) that "fits" society's standards so we can exchange our behavior for favor of those in the society we belong. These ideas of "right" are consistent with the equilibrium imperative I describe as the "carnal mind" in my book Stuck in Stinkin' Thinkin'. In this frame of sense-making, "doing the right thing" is an imperative humans have in order to act in a way that we receive from society the "good housekeeping seal of approval."

In Religious terms there is basically no variance of sense-making in what we get from Philosophy. We simply replace society's favor with God's favor. It is still an equilibrium imperative in which we behave in order to receive something from outside our self that provides us some aspect of well being. When society or God does not "do the right thing" back, we become disgruntled at them and withhold our affection and further actions we might take on their behalf.

The Kingdom mind (which is not religion BTW) is based on Grace and not equilibrium. In this case the "doing the right thing" is not based on equity or morality, but thanksgiving. "The right thing" has nothing to do with reciprocity or obligation, but rather a desire to share with others and God from the blessing we have received from God. Its more of a "pass it own" idea where "it" was freely given to us in the first place by God, whether "it" is time, money, abilities, possessions, or even our life itself. "Doing the right thing" is playing out what God has put in us, in faith and free of expectation of consequences.

Let's take a simple example. Suppose you are in a Christian group that meets periodically and the hosting of the meetings are not defined or follows no formula. Any member just notifies the others that he/she will host the next meeting. When a member of the group says, "I'll host next time" they can be motivated either by the carnal mind or the Kingdom mind. The carnal mind says, "its my turn" or "its only fair that I do my share of hosting." The Kingdom mind would say " I love to share my home in hospitality with my friends." While the behavior is the same, both satisfy A definition of "its the right thing to do", which motivation would bless the group the most?

Just something to ponder .......