Comments on: One Nation, Under…Whom Would You Say? http://afghanistan-journal.com/blog/2009/09/one-nation-under-whom-would-you-say/ Perspectives on What Matters Most - by Jeff Courter Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:41:39 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jeff Courter http://afghanistan-journal.com/blog/2009/09/one-nation-under-whom-would-you-say/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Jeff Courter Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:33:20 +0000 http://afghanistan-journal.com/blog/?p=276#comment-43 Paul - thanks for sharing your view. I respect that. I agree that the Bible offers guidance and inspiration for us all. (And I hope that more people will embrace those teachings.) However, I fear that arguments based largely on Bible quotes are a "no win" proposition, because it seems that rational people can find Bible snippets to support virtually any position, any time. Instead, I'd like to offer a scenario that illustrates my point: Think of a continuum... One end of the spectrum would be a world where people never hesitate to claim that they "believe" but never act in a way that directly supports that claim (a "perfectly hypocritical" world). The other end of the spectrum would be a world where people continuously behave in a way that reflects the values and principles for which the Lord stands - yet they don't speak openly about the source of their motivation. Granted, these are extremes - and thankfully our world is unlikely to ever be inhabited by either. But if I were forced to choose, hands-down, I'd pick a world driven by anonymous acts of selfless love, sacrifice and compassion toward others. It seems to me that claiming Christianity is the easy part. Living it is where the rubber hits the road. Paul – thanks for sharing your view. I respect that. I agree that the Bible offers guidance and inspiration for us all. (And I hope that more people will embrace those teachings.) However, I fear that arguments based largely on Bible quotes are a “no win” proposition, because it seems that rational people can find Bible snippets to support virtually any position, any time.

Instead, I’d like to offer a scenario that illustrates my point:

Think of a continuum…
One end of the spectrum would be a world where people never hesitate to claim that they “believe” but never act in a way that directly supports that claim (a “perfectly hypocritical” world). The other end of the spectrum would be a world where people continuously behave in a way that reflects the values and principles for which the Lord stands – yet they don’t speak openly about the source of their motivation.

Granted, these are extremes – and thankfully our world is unlikely to ever be inhabited by either. But if I were forced to choose, hands-down, I’d pick a world driven by anonymous acts of selfless love, sacrifice and compassion toward others.

It seems to me that claiming Christianity is the easy part. Living it is where the rubber hits the road.

]]> By: Paul http://afghanistan-journal.com/blog/2009/09/one-nation-under-whom-would-you-say/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Paul Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:47:59 +0000 http://afghanistan-journal.com/blog/?p=276#comment-42 Certainly religion is still among us and always will be. The real question is whether it is tru religion. You say:- "As long as we express “Christian” virtues through ACTION, God is still with us – whether we choose to acknowledge Him formally, or not." On what grounds or authority do you say that? You remind me of those fearful words of Jesus himself in Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Certainly religion is still among us and always will be. The real question is whether it is tru religion.

You say:-

“As long as we express “Christian” virtues through ACTION, God is still with us – whether we choose to acknowledge Him formally, or not.”

On what grounds or authority do you say that? You remind me of those fearful words of Jesus himself in Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

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