In The Next Christians, Gabe Lyons talks about hearing a talk by Max Kampelman on “The Power of the Ought.” There is a video on Lyons’ qideas.org web site which shows Kampelman delivering a talk by the same name; I haven’t watched the video, so I can’t say much about it.

The idea advanced is that we need to focus on doing what we ought, rather than what is practical. Kampelman was addressing a conference that discussed what should be the Christian position regarding nuclear proliferation. He argued passionately that the only option was the elimination of nuclear weapons from the face of the earth.

Lyons quotes Kampelman as saying, “We must recognize the power of the ‘ought.’ It’s the power to change the world! We can’t just see the world in terms of how it is today, or we will always feel defeated. But when we see the world in terms of how things ought to be, we can dream for the impossible—and work to make it become reality.” (Lyons, p. 62)

I guess I see it more along the lines of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Faced with the choice of worshiping an ideal or dying in a fiery furnace, they rejected idolatry, assuring the king that their God was able to save. Then they said, “Even if he doesn’t, we won’t worship your idol.”

I think the power of the ought is in the “even if.” I’m going to do what’s right, not because that will somehow force God to intervene, but I’m going to do what’s right because it’s right. Even if my obedience “doesn’t work,” even if God doesn’t step in, I will know that I have done right.

I think that’s powerful.