Nope... Dennis Rader was a big church going guy and he was also the BTJ killer between 1974 and 1991. Reading a book, or going to church don't mean a thing. God doesn't live in a church or book. It's what is in your heart(aka soul) that counts.
Agree that going to church does not mean you're a moral person but once again you find an isolated case to support your arguement. With that criteria you can support or dispute any arguement. Maybe that's why you have such a hard time with black and white ideas.
My 2 cents would be- It depends on what your idea of God is. In general if you truly try to follow the commands of the Bible then I would say yes, belief in God will make you a better person. I can list stat after stat showing how religous people give more to charity, are happier, live longer, raise healthier kids, get into less trouble with the law etc. But for some that won't matter. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind". The next is to love your neighbor as yourself. If you are following that one command then your belief will make you a better person.
Many people who don’t attend church or even believe in God do a lot of worldly good works.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble
James 2:14-17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Pook: Wiser men than I wrote these words thousands of years ago. It doesn’t matter if you believe them to be the Word of God or words written by men. I think the answer to this question lies here.
Believe that there is a God isn’t enough to make a human a “good person” as far as society measures good people.
In verses 14-17 the writer seems to me to be saying that if you know that there is a God and don’t put that knowledge to work helping your neighbor, then you have a dead knowledge or faith and you aren’t a “good person” in God’s eyes.
Church attendance by itself will not make you a good person. Putting the principles that you learn in church to work will make you a good person in societies eyes. People who attend church hear a message of forgiveness and admonishment to live a better life. People who don’t tend to listen to the world telling them if it feels good do it. Being a “good person” means doing the right thing even when it doesn’t feel good or isn’t the easy way out.
“God doesn't live in a church or book. It's what is in your heart(aka soul) that counts.”
You are so right about where God lives. The problem is He doesn’t live in the Human heart is it’s natural sinful condition. How can God live in a heart that fits the following mode?
Mt 15:19 For out of the heart (soul?) proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mr 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Ro 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
When we come to faith by His grace He takes control of our “heart”.
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
That is why we sign and pray, along with the psalmist, the words above. We can’t make our heart (soul) clean and pure, only God can do that for us.
Nope...
ReplyDeleteDennis Rader was a big church going guy and he was also the BTJ killer between 1974 and 1991. Reading a book, or going to church don't mean a thing. God doesn't live in a church or book.
It's what is in your heart(aka soul) that counts.
Agree that going to church does not mean you're a moral person but once again you find an isolated case to support your arguement. With that criteria you can support or dispute any arguement. Maybe that's why you have such a hard time with black and white ideas.
ReplyDeleteMy 2 cents would be- It depends on what your idea of God is. In general if you truly try to follow the commands of the Bible then I would say yes, belief in God will make you a better person. I can list stat after stat showing how religous people give more to charity, are happier, live longer, raise healthier kids, get into less trouble with the law etc. But for some that won't matter. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind". The next is to love your neighbor as yourself. If you are following that one command then your belief will make you a better person.
Many people who don’t attend church or even believe in God do a lot of worldly good works.
ReplyDeleteJames 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble
James 2:14-17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Pook: Wiser men than I wrote these words thousands of years ago. It doesn’t matter if you believe them to be the Word of God or words written by men. I think the answer to this question lies here.
Believe that there is a God isn’t enough to make a human a “good person” as far as society measures good people.
In verses 14-17 the writer seems to me to be saying that if you know that there is a God and don’t put that knowledge to work helping your neighbor, then you have a dead knowledge or faith and you aren’t a “good person” in God’s eyes.
Church attendance by itself will not make you a good person. Putting the principles that you learn in church to work will make you a good person in societies eyes. People who attend church hear a message of forgiveness and admonishment to live a better life. People who don’t tend to listen to the world telling them if it feels good do it. Being a “good person” means doing the right thing even when it doesn’t feel good or isn’t the easy way out.
I can find hundred of case list this, not sure what you mean about isolated case?
ReplyDeleteGod doesn't live in a church or book.
It's what is in your heart(aka soul) that counts.
“God doesn't live in a church or book.
ReplyDeleteIt's what is in your heart(aka soul) that counts.”
You are so right about where God lives. The problem is He doesn’t live in the Human heart is it’s natural sinful condition. How can God live in a heart that fits the following mode?
Mt 15:19 For out of the heart (soul?) proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mr 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Ro 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
When we come to faith by His grace He takes control of our “heart”.
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
That is why we sign and pray, along with the psalmist, the words above. We can’t make our heart (soul) clean and pure, only God can do that for us.