(Note: I typed this as a response to the opening 9 chapters of Genesis. Don't bother to tell me it's underdeveloped, because I am quite aware of that fact.)
As I read over this portion of Scripture, I can't help but be astounded by the worth God ascribes to a people who, without such divine action, would have none. Even in the face of our refusal to be obedient and submit to his law, he still makes it abundantly clear that his affection for man is indeed great. It is, of course, of the utmost importance to remember that our worth is entirely derived from God and contain no value independent from the glory we are given as creatures made in his own image and for his pleasure. The progression of events detailed in this reading, including God's creation of humans for a personal relationship, patience with us through the fall, decision to spare Noah and his family and then the establishment of the covenant with Noah provide a wonderful illustration of how much God really loves and values his special creation in humans.
The implications for this knowledge are really endless, both within the Christian life and in the general culture that seems to thrive on despair and hopelessness. Such an understanding should motivate our personal convictions on a host of personal issues within our walk as believers, including the love we hold towards our fellow man, artistic integrity, exercise and nutrition, the budgeting of our time, leisure activities and the importance of being about the business of prayerful sanctification, among others. It also establishes strong precedent within the current ethical dilemmas of abortion, euthanasia, environmentalism, pornography and animal rights, again, to name only a few.
Any thoughts?
3 comments:
Well, the above comment is a very poor attempted refutation of the Christian faith, or Theism in general.
1. Are YOU not a hypocrite?
2. Since we are all hypocrites at least at some point, would you then not fit into the church perfectly?
3. There are some bad doctors. There are some who give placebo treatments and act as if they are real. They are just about making money or being in control, regardless of the reasons, there are bad doctors.
4. After observing point 3, if you were in need of medical treatment or even just thought you were, would you not go to a doctor because some of them are bad?
5. The inconsistencies are obvious. You are judging the christian faith by a different standard than other people groups. Therefor you are engaging in the same hypocrisy you accuse christians of.
6. How is disbelieving natural selection hypocritical? If you disbelieve in God are YOU hypocritical?
7. I am seeing more and more that you are a lot like the church you claim to dislike.
8. Are always, or even EVER altruistic? Then how can you make a claim against God's character.
9. If you are not perfect, if impoverished children are not perfect, if anyone is not perfect, then how can you judge God's justice to be unfair?
10. You also fail in your comment to even understand the true christian faith. The idea is NOT that we asked Christ to save us, but that He did without us asking. We would not ask. That is the grace.
11. You would probably protest if I claimed that ALL muslims are as bad and worthless as Osama Bin Ladin. But then you claim that the Catholic tradition represents all Christian faith. Have you ever heard of the reformation?.
Let me know what you think. Maybe you can fill in some holes.
Point 8 should read, Are "you" ever.
Yanni, just because you don't believe something doesn't make it untrue. You may not believe in an afterlife, but any thinking person must allow for the possibility of being surprised == of dying and going to hell and realizing how wrong you were. It's just that then it will be too late.
In your mind, there is just no history for 400 years. However, there were four centuries of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, of building churches (many underground due to intense persecution) and establishing the Jews' messianic message beyond Israel's borders. The stories of Jesus were not made up by the Catholic church. They were handed down, orally, and written in many languages by hand, so that the truth would not be lost. Why? Because Jesus promised He would return, one day, to collect His own. If you are concerned about global warming and negative impact in the Earth, you might consider that, indeed, we are nearing the end of the world, as we know it. God WILL help us -- those who believe in Him. But when that time comes, if you are still here, and still unsaved, you will cry out for mercy...but you will be left behind to face whatever destruction is inevitable. I hope and pray that you will open your heart to the truth, so that you may enter into the joyful life.
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