Is the question “Is speeding a sin?” the wrong way to begin? A better question might be “What is good and right as I drive?” The first seeks to find a line and see if I can drive right up to it (“I can do it because it’s not wrong.”). The second focuses on the bigger picture of how my driving habits can fit with my faith. So, let’s consider some principles that might have an impact on driving.
One thing a lot of us do is not use wisdom as we drive. We will say we are, but we really aren’t doing it well. We tend to overestimate the benefit of speeding – thinking we’ll make better time (going 65 instead of 60 only makes a 5 minute difference after an hour of driving). We also underestimate the potential harm – thinking we’re in control and nothing could happen we couldn’t handle, but we don’t know all circumstances or realize the energy contained within this vehicle as it flies down the road. Although we claim to make an informed decision, most of us tend to speed out of habit rather than out of a conscious choice. If we think about it we might make different choices.
As I drive I want to be able to do it in such a way that anyone who sees me will believe that I’m a Christian. If I tailgate, speed through traffic and otherwise drive aggressively, it will be hard for me to convince anyone else on the road that I follow Christ. Some verses that fit into this include I Corinthians 9:12, 10:31-33; II Corinthians 6:3; and Romans 14:19-21.
Another aspect of driving is that we tend to act and react out of self-centeredness. We’ll get upset because “they” got in our way and kept us from getting where we intend to go (and getting there smoothly and quickly). For us all to travel safely we have to work together. That means we have to think about others and not focus exclusively on our own “rights. (Philippians 2)
Above all, if faith is to guide us in driving (as in all of life), the ultimate question is whether what we do is honoring to God (Colossians 3:17 and I Corinthians 10:31). We tend to drive more as an economic decision (how much a ticket would cost and what are the odds we’ll get caught) rather than letting our choice be guided by our desire to please and honor God in all we do.
Is it a sin to speed? How will I drive when I live by faith?
