Article Contributed on: 1/4/2007 11:57:10 PM
There are a great number of misunderstandings within the world of Christian Belief, (and while I'm taking note of them here, please don't think that I fashion myself as an expert in the Faith - I'm just another believer); some believe that it's necessary to worship Mary - the Mother of Yeshua - to get to Heaven. Some think that Yeshua's only message was that of "Love Thy Neighbor" and extend that belief to absurd lengths. Others read the "judge not, let ye be judged" passage and decide that Christians must never judge the actions of others, (or, more absurdly, come to the conclusion that Christians cannot be lawyers, judges or lawmakers).
But perhaps the most common misunderstanding among today's Christians is the idea that you can buy your way into God's eternal kingdom through good works. All too many of us - even and sometimes especially those of us who read The Bible - start to think that we'll earn God's favor by doing good works.
You know the sort of thing; we'll change the tire of an old woman in need. THAT'LL make us look good in God's eyes. We'll pick up stray litter we spot in the park. THAT'S sure to get God's attention! Or, at the next available opportunity, I'll either; take someone's shopping cart back to the store as I'm going in, scrape the windshield of that attractive single Mom in Accounting or offer to carry the bags of an old woman at the mall.
The next time I'm at the mall, that is. It's not like I'm going to make a special trip or something...
But can good deeds get us into Heaven? Is there a clause in our lives that says that if we're
just GOOD ENOUGH we'll be able to overcome all the sin and wickedness we've created? And if good deeds are the answer, what's the standard - against whom will we be judged? Will it be Mother Theresa or Hitler? Is there a curve?
Of course that's just nonsense. We can no more "buy" our way into God' good graces through our deeds than we can control the orbit of Mars. Our salvation comes solely through belief in and acceptance of Yeshua and His sacrifice on the cross. So, why should be bother with good deeds at all?
I believe that as a Christian I am called to be Holy - meaning separate - in this world and one of the best ways to achieve that is through my behavior. After all, I cannot count on my fellow citizens judging me on the character of my heart alone, so I must manifest my heart's nature in an observable way.
(Please don't mistake me to be saying that I live for the approval of others - that's neither the truth nor the point. I'm merely saying that there are supposed to be ways in which my Faith is made manifest for the rest of the world to see.)
So how can I make my Faith visible to those I can impact? I can change tires, pick up trash, return shopping carts, scrape windshields and carry bags. As a start...
Chris Stone attends the First Baptist Church of Evergreen where he is a member of the Media Team. His views are not necessarily those of the Church. He is the learning Father of 3 young children and has not had a good night's sleep since August, when they moved in.