fccool Posted September 7, 2014 Posted September 7, 2014 I find it rather odd that Christian world is essentially cannibalizing concepts that are visibly true, because they need to voice their "conservatism" and "fundamentalism". The latest Victoria Osteen outrage is quite puzzling to me. Her direct quote: "I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we're not doing it for God—I mean, that's one way to look at it—we're doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we're happy, So, I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you're not doing it for God really. You're doing it for yourself, because that's what makes God happy. Amen?" What fundamentalists around the net hear, when they listen to the soundbite is "Don't do things for God... do things for yourself". And they attack the above as though that's what she meant The obvious concept is quite ironic, because she essentially says: "Grow Up, and stop doing things because daddy says so. Stop eating veggies "for God", and instead understand that it's good for you, and do it for that reason... because that's what God wants you to do, because He wants you to be happy and prosperous". People turn around and cry Blasphemy! , and I find it absolutely hillarious, because to me such objection signals that they think that : 1) God has no interest in you being happy 2) Hey only wants you to do things for Him, and not because you think it's good for you 3) He wants you to brainlessly follow and give him props for anything that's good, and blame yourself for anything that's bad I find it both disturbing and sad, but in a rather ironic way. Someone says "Do good because you understand that it's good for you, and it will benefit as a result ... and that's what God ultimately desires", and people scream BLASPHEMY! God doesn't want that, because it makes God look "less important". It's just sad. LynnDel and Kevin H 2 Quote
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted September 7, 2014 Members Posted September 7, 2014 I tend to agree with you. It runs along the same lines of "thanking God" for all His blessings (food, safe trip, good grades, etc), and blaming the devil for the bad stuff... Kevin H and LynnDel 2 Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Moderators LynnDel Posted September 12, 2014 Moderators Posted September 12, 2014 Her comments go along with what I hope we all understand. Our creator knows what we need to be happy and healthy, and He told us how to do it. He's not standing around with a brickbat waiting to whop us on the head when we don't follow the owners' manual; our lives, bodies, and emotions will naturally do that job. LD Kevin H 1 Quote LD
Aliensanctuary Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 Yes. Ultimately, the 10 C's and a few other Biblical commands are for our own good, to protect us from harming each other, and ourselves, a great benefit to all mankind. Far too many do not want this. LynnDel 1 Quote The Parable of the Lamb and the Pigpen https://www.createspace.com/3401451
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted September 13, 2014 Administrators Posted September 13, 2014 Her comments go along with what I hope we all understand. Our creator knows what we need to be happy and healthy, and He told us how to do it. He's not standing around with a brickbat waiting to whop us on the head when we don't follow the owners' manual; our lives, bodies, and emotions will naturally do that job. LD That is sort of how I took it too. And it really goes to our motivation and level of spiritual maturity. When children are little they obey their parents out of a sense of wanting to please them and at a very basic level to avoid the pain of their displeasure and get the reward of their approval. That may not reflect much intrinsic understanding of why the behavior is correct or beneficial in and of itself. The evidence of that is when a young child's obedience is less likely when Mommy turns her back and older children misbehave or try to get away with more when parents aren't present. And without maturing to a higher level, that basic pain/pleasure motivation becomes less effective unless it is consistently present and fairly immediate as a consequence of the behavior. Self actualization begins to internalize motivation and understand meaning of behavior. Long term consequences can work. We relate to God in much the same way. LynnDel and TruthSeeker123 2 Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
TruthSeeker123 Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 I couldn't have said it better myself, Tom. Quote
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