The more one tries to convince others that moral precepts have no value apart from God, the more he demeans the values themselves. This is problematic as it implies that values, such as compassion and forgiveness, are only meaningful if it is believed they originate with God. This is a complete MOCKERY of Him!
How so? Well, it essentially implies that the only reason said moral precepts are followed is to avoid angering God or perhaps just to curry favor with Him, aka "bribery". But if I were God, which thankfully I am NOT, it would insult Me more that My children were following My "good" moral precepts only out of fear and perhaps in order to curry favor with Me as opposed to following them simply because they were deemed good in themselves!
Once again, it is as if one is saying, "OK God, I will be frank with you. I think your moral precepts are pretty lame but if they are the values you want me to live by, then I will do so (with at least a hint of reluctance). Now if one denies this, he is simply acknowledging that God is not necessary for moral precepts to have meaning.
How so? Well, it essentially implies that the only reason said moral precepts are followed is to avoid angering God or perhaps just to curry favor with Him, aka "bribery". But if I were God, which thankfully I am NOT, it would insult Me more that My children were following My "good" moral precepts only out of fear and perhaps in order to curry favor with Me as opposed to following them simply because they were deemed good in themselves!
Once again, it is as if one is saying, "OK God, I will be frank with you. I think your moral precepts are pretty lame but if they are the values you want me to live by, then I will do so (with at least a hint of reluctance). Now if one denies this, he is simply acknowledging that God is not necessary for moral precepts to have meaning.
Well to love God with all my heart and all my mind and all my soul is difficult to do because I'm just so easily distracted. I do love God though because He loves me.
ReplyDeleteTo love my neighbor as myself is an noble standard that everybody should live by, that I don't always live up to, but do make an effort to do.
Love is an awesome and sweet command, that only pride really gets in the way of from time to time.
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ReplyDeleteYour premise that the only reason why Christians obey God is to get God's favor is false and not the case in TRUE Christianity.
ReplyDeleteI obey out of love and appreciation for who God is and what he has done for me. First of all, God loves me. Second, he made a way for me to have a right relationship with him. (forgiveness of sins) Third, he has given be abundant life in this life. Fourth, he has made it possible for me to exist with Him eternally. Because I trust God, I trust that what he commands of me is in my best interest. So, my obedience is out of love and devotion for him first, others second, and myself third. I love myself because God loves me and because of His love for me I am also capable of giving away his love to others, even my physical and spiritual enemies.