- Many who do believe live as if they don’t, and many who don’t believe live as if they do.
- Even Jesus taught that the good son was the one who said, “No,” and then went and obeyed the father rather than the one who said, “Yes,” and then disobeyed him. (Matthew 21)
- Judge the tree by the fruit rather than the lips.
- If a person lives a life of service and generosity and patience and joy, but doesn’t express any opinions one way or the other about God, how can you possibly say that person isn’t a good person?
- It doesn’t take God to be decent. If you think it does, then you haven’t met enough Buddhists, Hindus or atheists, quite frankly.
- Most of what you believe is determined by what you are exposed to. There is very little free will involved in any of our beliefs, let alone the religious ones.
Post-show thoughts: "The just shall live by faith." "Without faith it is impossible to please God." "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart...." But it is still true that many who do not believe act as if they do and many who do believe act as if they do not. This is tragic. But the question of whether it matters whether we believe is solved quite simply. Aside from mattering to our own salvation, it matters greatly to God, and pleasing God is more important than being saved. So, if God desires us to believe in Him, then that is the best answer to the question, regardless of how we behave. Although surely it is true that God is much more pleased by us believing AND acting accordingly. The tree shall be known by it's fruit. But just as believing has an impact on other people because we show our example to them and lead them to believe as we do, so also does disbelief impact other people in the same way. The believer leads others to heaven, but the disbeliever leads others to hell. So, far from being merely a private issue, the choice to believe or not carries consequences for others as well....a sobering consideration for those who are willing to risk their own souls but may well pause at the idea of risking the souls of the others they claim to love.
1 comment:
I think it was this topic last week on my 25 minute drive home that you had a missionary guest or caller talking about the great need to bring the Gospel to the nations which in many cases requires the smuggling of Bibles. The word smuggling was used with emphasis several times in the discussion and it struck me for this first time in this particular context as not a good thing. A little background - I love missionary work and have been on three short term trips, two to Russia and one to Turkey. The Russia trips were after the wall fell and upon the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Education to bring morals and ethics social education. Campus Crusade for Christ responded and put together a morals and ethics curriculm based on Biblical principles. As career professionals we went is as educators. In a sense we smuggled our selves in with the intent to also bring in Bibles. I went to Turkey as part of a drama and dance troupe. Drama was used to portray the Biblical story from God's creation, fall of man, to Christ's resurrection. No bibles were brought. Just realized we were actors per your other discussion. Again we smuggled ourselves in with the intent of spreading the Gospel. Long way of saying I love missions, believe in the mandate to go to the nations. But now I have a concern with the matter of "smuggling" Bibles. Smuggling implies something illegal, with the intent to break law. If we are not to break the law here at home (render unto Caesar, what is Caesar's) then why do we feel it's ok to break law abroad. Clealy, I understand the intent, but does the end justify the means. I'm not sure smuggling Bibles is ok. I used to be sold on it. During this discussion I was clearly convicted - inspired maybe. I don't like the idea of being brought into more truth since truth is truth, but I do believe that as we grow we are further enlightened by God. Can you justify smuggling from a Biblical perspective? Why is it ok to break international law? In this country one of our biggest issues is illegal entry and the smuggling of human cargo. Are we not also abliged to obey the laws of other countries? Or is it simply for the better good? A concern and many thoughts from a man who has a love for souls abroad. - Rick
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