Greg Koukl is a Christian apologist, radio talk show host, author and blogger in Los Angeles, California. He is the founder of Stand To Reason, a Christian evangelical organization dedicated to the articulation and defense of the Christian worldview.
Religion and Works
3 comments:
I agree with tons of what that guy says, actually.
But when he says "the point isn't to be more moral", I really understood where he was going.
This is a refreshingly intelligent Christian argument. But when he says that Christianity is the right way because God forgives our past transgressions, I lose interest.
Why are we focused so much on these past events? I certainly believe there is value in looking at the past and learning from it, but fundamentally, what we did in the past is done. It's over. We can't change anything, we can only change our future actions.
This focus on "pleasing God" by asking for forgiveness seems...irrelevant to me. As long as I'm apologetic and doing my best to correct and learn from my mistakes, why isn't that enough?
Actions speak louder than words. That's why I believe that physically showing people that you have learned is much more valuable to every single person on this earth than saying "I let god into my life and ask for forgiveness".
I don't care if God forgives me, because I know that I am learning and God's opinion of me is irrelevant to me enhancing life for everybody around me.
I agree that negative self-image comes from guilt and past transgressions. Personally, I sometimes feel negative if I've done something to affect somebody else. It could be a mistake, or it could be through ignorance.
But the only thing I can do is tell that person I'm sorry and that I've learned from my mistakes. Maybe I can make up for it somehow by doing something for them.
This is where religion is comforting. It tells us that we don't have to worry about what we did in the past.
I don't think God is necessary for me to get over my past. Why can't we just look at what we've done, and instead of put a frame of "I disobeyed God" around it, why can't we just say "I let myself down. I'll do better next time." And then DO better next time.
Why isn't that enough?
Good post.
Logically, believing in ourselves MAY seem to be enough. I can see why people would be drawn to this way of thinking.
However, I believe in a Creator. Intelligent Design. God created the world AND us for a reason. By believing in Creation, I believe in the idea that God created us with free will. The freedom to choose. Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They created a fallen world by giving into temptation.
I don't know about you, but I sin every single day...multiple times at that. At this rate, my good deeds will never catch up to the debt that I owe. So, even though it sounds like we are paying for generational sins...I struggle to just keep my head above water everyday. The beautiful thing is that God came to us in the form of a human. He showed us the mercy, grace, and love that he intended for us. God showed us a perfect life and then died for all of that sin we take part in every hour of every day. So, is it enough? I don't think it will ever be.
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