Sunday, April 15, 2012
Is Anything Sinful ?
Is anything sinful , or is everything O.K. then ? Where does it all end ? Is it really just a matter of what is wrong for you might not be for me . Do we really just all go our own way ? Is each one free to decide what is right for themselves ?
These are the kind of questions asked when a Christian comes out as pro-gay and pro-marriage equality . People worry about a world , that looks to them , like it is descending into chaos . And so they plant their feet and try so hard to not let the world slip down the proverbial " slippery slope " . They see the world as " going to hell in a hand basket " . And so they get organized and loud and cheer on political candidates that fit their sense of right and wrong .
And yet through the ages reasonable people have agreed that your right to do what you please ends when it interferes with my rights . My rights to life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness . This is the basis for virtually all law in the free world . And is the reason that people rise up and rebel when those in positions of power use their influence to take advantage of others .
For those of us who are followers of Jesus , we see that right and wrong goes so much farther than the protection of individual rights . Jesus didn't just advocate justice for all people . He taught us that the best way to live is to be truly concerned for the welfare of others . Jesus taught us ( and modeled for us ) to think beyond self and to see things from the others perspective . He taught us that the greatest value in life is love for others . Can anyone of us truly imagine what this world would be like if this was the way all people lived ? I believe there would be no more starvation , or people dying due to a lack of clean water or adequate health care . No more abuse , families would remain intact , no more war ! People would never again be judged on a basis of their skin color , their culture , their religion , their gender or sexual orientation . I believe that we would be so much closer to the new creation that Jesus spoke of !
So then , is there anything wrong ? Is anything sinful ? Absolutely yes ! Any time that my life is not in sync with the justice , mercy , compassion and love for others that Jesus modeled for us !
Joe
These are the kind of questions asked when a Christian comes out as pro-gay and pro-marriage equality . People worry about a world , that looks to them , like it is descending into chaos . And so they plant their feet and try so hard to not let the world slip down the proverbial " slippery slope " . They see the world as " going to hell in a hand basket " . And so they get organized and loud and cheer on political candidates that fit their sense of right and wrong .
And yet through the ages reasonable people have agreed that your right to do what you please ends when it interferes with my rights . My rights to life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness . This is the basis for virtually all law in the free world . And is the reason that people rise up and rebel when those in positions of power use their influence to take advantage of others .
For those of us who are followers of Jesus , we see that right and wrong goes so much farther than the protection of individual rights . Jesus didn't just advocate justice for all people . He taught us that the best way to live is to be truly concerned for the welfare of others . Jesus taught us ( and modeled for us ) to think beyond self and to see things from the others perspective . He taught us that the greatest value in life is love for others . Can anyone of us truly imagine what this world would be like if this was the way all people lived ? I believe there would be no more starvation , or people dying due to a lack of clean water or adequate health care . No more abuse , families would remain intact , no more war ! People would never again be judged on a basis of their skin color , their culture , their religion , their gender or sexual orientation . I believe that we would be so much closer to the new creation that Jesus spoke of !
So then , is there anything wrong ? Is anything sinful ? Absolutely yes ! Any time that my life is not in sync with the justice , mercy , compassion and love for others that Jesus modeled for us !
Joe
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