I recently read an argument from a very wealthy person on how they had no more responsibility to help the poor than anyone else. Many interesting arguments have been written against responsibility of this or that type in recent days.
Christianity cuts to the core of the issue. The human heart is bad. Many arguments crafted by great intellectuals fail at this point. The motive is bad.
If we are not required to help others than we don't want to. You see this is the complete opposite of the intent of God.
God calls mankind into faith with himself and then asks that they seek to bless the world. God does not intend for mankind to sit and ask if inaction is permissible.
Christian love seeks what is right, loving, and true. It does not sit and ask is it ethically permissible to do nothing?
God cuts to the bottom of our human condition. We are to like Jesus who actively sought to help those in need at each moment. The question for the Christian is how we express love actively in the world, not whether it is ethical to do nothing.
Showing posts with label motive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motive. Show all posts
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
A Selective Biblicism
Often we see a selective use of the bible in churches or Christian's lives. I had experiences with a Christian which caused me to end our relationship.
His response to me was that we should follow the teaching of God and work things out and reconcile. He went on to tell me how I was completely in the wrong on all points and that I needed to accept that everything between us was my fault.
The spirit of the response was in fact the entire reason the relationship had ended. There was no working through things between us. He was always right and I was always wrong (in his view).
The issue aside there is a spirit of biblical principle which is being selectively used. We can of course work things out in the spirit of God seeking understanding and dialogue but we cannot work things out if the person "seeking dialogue" and "reconciliation" is really simply looking to get our way.
It is often like this in life that we find people adopt or reject parts of scripture as it suits them. Scripture is often inconvenient. Living in love and seeking dialogue takes time. True biblical living requires us at times to question ourselves and our motives. It takes time to live out our faith.
God knows that we have failed and will fail and loves us anyway. It is Jesus' perfect life that God counts as our holiness.
His response to me was that we should follow the teaching of God and work things out and reconcile. He went on to tell me how I was completely in the wrong on all points and that I needed to accept that everything between us was my fault.
The spirit of the response was in fact the entire reason the relationship had ended. There was no working through things between us. He was always right and I was always wrong (in his view).
The issue aside there is a spirit of biblical principle which is being selectively used. We can of course work things out in the spirit of God seeking understanding and dialogue but we cannot work things out if the person "seeking dialogue" and "reconciliation" is really simply looking to get our way.
It is often like this in life that we find people adopt or reject parts of scripture as it suits them. Scripture is often inconvenient. Living in love and seeking dialogue takes time. True biblical living requires us at times to question ourselves and our motives. It takes time to live out our faith.
God knows that we have failed and will fail and loves us anyway. It is Jesus' perfect life that God counts as our holiness.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Method and Motive
A common saying is "all is well that ends well." There is some truth to it. We cannot and should not obsess about what could have happened or might have happened.
But in life, motive and methods are key to Christian ethics. You see the bible does not judge human action by external actions only.
Often we will see in life a person with many awards for philanthropy or designations for this or that cause reveal their true character. You see men judge by what could be seen outward actions. But the real truth lied within the heart.
It is ultimately motive and truly seeking the right methods which pleases God. Of course a heart motivated and filled with truth will act.
A heart right before God is a heart which wishes to act. But often there are many outward movements which have the form of a heart right before God, but motive is not there.
We cannot know the heart of others in life, but it is the reason so many people are found out to not be the people we thought they were. They were following external forms for this or that reason with internal reality.
You see the bible is summed in two principles, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, so and strength," and "love your neighbor as yourself." You see the world cannot keep the law of God because only what is done out of love for God is truly good.
The world often approximates the good and many non-believers do immense amounts of good works in the world. But it falls short of the ultimate reality of living all of life unto God.
But in life, motive and methods are key to Christian ethics. You see the bible does not judge human action by external actions only.
Often we will see in life a person with many awards for philanthropy or designations for this or that cause reveal their true character. You see men judge by what could be seen outward actions. But the real truth lied within the heart.
It is ultimately motive and truly seeking the right methods which pleases God. Of course a heart motivated and filled with truth will act.
A heart right before God is a heart which wishes to act. But often there are many outward movements which have the form of a heart right before God, but motive is not there.
We cannot know the heart of others in life, but it is the reason so many people are found out to not be the people we thought they were. They were following external forms for this or that reason with internal reality.
You see the bible is summed in two principles, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, so and strength," and "love your neighbor as yourself." You see the world cannot keep the law of God because only what is done out of love for God is truly good.
The world often approximates the good and many non-believers do immense amounts of good works in the world. But it falls short of the ultimate reality of living all of life unto God.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Motive in Ethics is Key
It seems common sense that motive is an important part of ethics. It almost seems to go without saying that why we do something is often very important in understanding whether an action is good or bad.
Interestingly the idea that motive matters in ethics is under attack by many of today's philosophies. They seem to equate that the result rather than the motive is what is important.
There does seem to be a certain value in placing result as the primary evaluation of ethics rather than motive, since a lot of people seem pretty confused about what it means to be a good person. The Bible clearly shows that ethics consists of many elements one of which is motive.
The practical applications are many of motive as a part of ethics. The bible frequently talks about not pushing forward ones good works. Why? The motive of pride spoils most of the ethical nature of works.
A phrase which is fairly common, but holds a lot of value is "speaking the truth in love." It is easy to think that simply speaking the truth is loving, but the reality is that there is a huge amount of discernment needed in when to speak the truth and when to wait for a better moment or when to say nothing at all.
Interestingly the idea that motive matters in ethics is under attack by many of today's philosophies. They seem to equate that the result rather than the motive is what is important.
There does seem to be a certain value in placing result as the primary evaluation of ethics rather than motive, since a lot of people seem pretty confused about what it means to be a good person. The Bible clearly shows that ethics consists of many elements one of which is motive.
The practical applications are many of motive as a part of ethics. The bible frequently talks about not pushing forward ones good works. Why? The motive of pride spoils most of the ethical nature of works.
A phrase which is fairly common, but holds a lot of value is "speaking the truth in love." It is easy to think that simply speaking the truth is loving, but the reality is that there is a huge amount of discernment needed in when to speak the truth and when to wait for a better moment or when to say nothing at all.
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