swordofpeace
Member
Hello,
I am concerned as usual that I am not making as big of a difference in the world as I should, as I am called, as a Christian in general. I have lately become even more inspired from reading one Christian authors book, which talks about how Christ, when people spoke of heaven or God's Kindgom, when not speaking in cryptical parables, often referred to doing things in the here and now for the sake of a better world- i.e. turn the other cheek, sell all you have and give to the poor, show mercy, etc. We as christians I think tend to teach something that isn't even biblical as much as theological from the theology of man- in that the message should just be "turn or burn" and Ticket-Jesus- the get out of jail card, but we know what it says in Matthew where Jesus tells some people- Depart from me, I never knew you. We also have the prodigal son story. The faithful son was bitter and resentful. It's as if he served God only to receive a reward or out of fear and can't understand grace or is envious. We can't just serve God for that reason. And yet being Christian is about bearing fruits- it is about works. Not salvation by works but it is about doing good works nontheless, from love. Many non christians put us to shame in this and many fundamentalists literalists have I think a strange theology that would not in the slightest be recognized by the early church except perhaps as a heresy.
But I don't want to get too much into the theology. Suffice it to say I want- not feel the NEED to to win God's love, but I want to do more in the world to make a difference.
But I don't know how to start. I look at other people and I lack the skills and self discipline they have. I fail before I start. I know we maybe should first make a difference to those nearest us- family and friends and community. Sure. I think about the people without water, without any food or money- I think about war happening everywhere. There is so much opportunity in the world today- it could almost be days of opportunity for us christians- to score aquire treasure in heaven, if we look at it that way. In many ways the old days were easier- we didn't know about starving people 3000 miles away. We just didn't know about them. Out of sight, out of mind. That maybe gives us a greater responsibility to day, and feeling of guilt.
But I want to do more. I want to do it without hesitation and without feeling held back. I want to do something like I see other doing. I am just a 30year old who has not done anything special with his life. I am teaching English in a foreign country. I think I have intelligence and I have had money- not to brag- I think I have wasted my talents it sometimes feels like. Of course it's not too late but it eventually will be if I don't change the road I am on. Since I didn't know then, why would I know now how to do it?
Actually I will end by saying I am disgusted- DISGUSTED- with those Christians who just preach Jesus as their personal ticket to escape the place they call "hell" which may or may not exist as popularly conceived and understood- and I am not sure if Christ or the spirit is actually truly in them. I say this not in judgement, I do not boast about anything I have accomplished or even boast in my faith- which I think is the one thing that has saved me and kept me afloat. I do not even take credit for my faith, and I don't blame others. But that doesn't prevent me from being repulsed by those ticket-Jesus from gehenna/lake of fire/hades/sheol type people. But at least it's a start and we can start there, and maybe they will grow. I say this not in judgement. I myself also need to grow and I need help. I don't know how or I get distracted. I am just a stupid bachelor English teacher at a stupid adult school- not even a real school, I have a stupid degree in Economics from a stupid university, but I come from a great loving family in a nice part of the country (midwestern American city). What the heck have I done with what's been given me? What about my thirsty brothers in Africa or wherever, who don't even have water to drink? The workers are few, and I am able but what have I done? I don't even know how to start but I don't want any to thirst. I trip at the start gate and I go on to doing more reading, intellectual stuff. I have got that area well covered, but I am always thirsty for more. I am in my head, not my hands. Can someone help me? Thanks
Gerald
I am concerned as usual that I am not making as big of a difference in the world as I should, as I am called, as a Christian in general. I have lately become even more inspired from reading one Christian authors book, which talks about how Christ, when people spoke of heaven or God's Kindgom, when not speaking in cryptical parables, often referred to doing things in the here and now for the sake of a better world- i.e. turn the other cheek, sell all you have and give to the poor, show mercy, etc. We as christians I think tend to teach something that isn't even biblical as much as theological from the theology of man- in that the message should just be "turn or burn" and Ticket-Jesus- the get out of jail card, but we know what it says in Matthew where Jesus tells some people- Depart from me, I never knew you. We also have the prodigal son story. The faithful son was bitter and resentful. It's as if he served God only to receive a reward or out of fear and can't understand grace or is envious. We can't just serve God for that reason. And yet being Christian is about bearing fruits- it is about works. Not salvation by works but it is about doing good works nontheless, from love. Many non christians put us to shame in this and many fundamentalists literalists have I think a strange theology that would not in the slightest be recognized by the early church except perhaps as a heresy.
But I don't want to get too much into the theology. Suffice it to say I want- not feel the NEED to to win God's love, but I want to do more in the world to make a difference.
But I don't know how to start. I look at other people and I lack the skills and self discipline they have. I fail before I start. I know we maybe should first make a difference to those nearest us- family and friends and community. Sure. I think about the people without water, without any food or money- I think about war happening everywhere. There is so much opportunity in the world today- it could almost be days of opportunity for us christians- to score aquire treasure in heaven, if we look at it that way. In many ways the old days were easier- we didn't know about starving people 3000 miles away. We just didn't know about them. Out of sight, out of mind. That maybe gives us a greater responsibility to day, and feeling of guilt.
But I want to do more. I want to do it without hesitation and without feeling held back. I want to do something like I see other doing. I am just a 30year old who has not done anything special with his life. I am teaching English in a foreign country. I think I have intelligence and I have had money- not to brag- I think I have wasted my talents it sometimes feels like. Of course it's not too late but it eventually will be if I don't change the road I am on. Since I didn't know then, why would I know now how to do it?
Actually I will end by saying I am disgusted- DISGUSTED- with those Christians who just preach Jesus as their personal ticket to escape the place they call "hell" which may or may not exist as popularly conceived and understood- and I am not sure if Christ or the spirit is actually truly in them. I say this not in judgement, I do not boast about anything I have accomplished or even boast in my faith- which I think is the one thing that has saved me and kept me afloat. I do not even take credit for my faith, and I don't blame others. But that doesn't prevent me from being repulsed by those ticket-Jesus from gehenna/lake of fire/hades/sheol type people. But at least it's a start and we can start there, and maybe they will grow. I say this not in judgement. I myself also need to grow and I need help. I don't know how or I get distracted. I am just a stupid bachelor English teacher at a stupid adult school- not even a real school, I have a stupid degree in Economics from a stupid university, but I come from a great loving family in a nice part of the country (midwestern American city). What the heck have I done with what's been given me? What about my thirsty brothers in Africa or wherever, who don't even have water to drink? The workers are few, and I am able but what have I done? I don't even know how to start but I don't want any to thirst. I trip at the start gate and I go on to doing more reading, intellectual stuff. I have got that area well covered, but I am always thirsty for more. I am in my head, not my hands. Can someone help me? Thanks
Gerald
