"Purpose"

[Left]

Q: Does every life serve a purpose?

....

....

So on the TV show Malcolm in the Middle, Malcolm's brother Reese was a bully. After getting beat up by a girl, he decided to take on a life of not bullying anyone. The loss of his even-handed brutality made everyone at his school to become a bully and think they can do what they want themselves. At the end of the show... Reese had to become a bully again to make the other people behave and so that there were a LOT less bullies, meaning just him.

 

[GTW27]

Every soul has a gift and a purpose. Some souls live there whole lives never knowing(finding) their gift or their purpose. It is only by truly knowing The Creator of that soul that a persons gift and purpose is revealed. Yes all of us are here for a reason and a purpose.

 

[redleghunter]

Q: Does every life serve a purpose?

....

....

So on the TV show Malcolm in the Middle, Malcolm's brother Reese was a bully. After getting beat up by a girl, he decided to take on a life of not bullying anyone. The loss of his even-handed brutality made everyone at his school to become a bully and think they can do what they want themselves. At the end of the show... Reese had to become a bully again to make the other people behave and so that there were a LOT less bullies, meaning just him.

I would recommend not watching poorly written and produced TV shows.

 

[Left]

I would recommend not watching poorly written and produced TV shows.

Yeah, but then I would be staring at a blank screen.

 

[EmmaCat]

Bullying has no part in a Christian's life. We are not meant to be bullies, for that causes others pain. We are Christians who strive to love others and treat others very well.

If one is bullied, there are proper steps to take to stop it.

I am also concerned with what is on TV. We must be careful for what we watch and not let it affect our lives in a negative way.

It is best to use the TV as a tool for news, weather, and occasional sports. There are good Christian things on YouTube and nice shows on Hulu and Netflix and elsewhere on the Internet that are wholesome.

All good things,
Emmy

 

[Left]

Bullying has no part in a Christian's life. We are not meant to be bullies, for that causes others pain. We are Christians who strive to love others and treat others very well.

If one is bullied, there are proper steps to take to stop it.

I am also concerned with what is on TV. We must be careful for what we watch and not let it affect our lives in a negative way.

It is best to use the TV as a tool for news, weather, and occasional sports. There are good Christian things on YouTube and nice shows on Hulu and Netflix and elsewhere on the Internet that are wholesome.

All good things,
Emmy

Yeah I wasn't advocating bullying. I just wondered to what extent a person had purpose, something they are good at. In the case of this Malcolm episode, Reese was really good at nothing. Yet he still had a purpose. I'm not saying TV is reality or anything like that, I'm just wondering to what extent people have a person, and to what extent they don't. For example, I could argue that the most horrendous people (serial killers, etc) don't have a real purpose, but then what do I know.

 

[EmmaCat]

Yeah I wasn't advocating bullying. I just wondered to what extent a person had purpose, something they are good at. In the case of this Malcolm episode, Reese was really good at nothing. Yet he still had a purpose. I'm not saying TV is reality or anything like that, I'm just wondering to what extent people have a person, and to what extent they don't. For example, I could argue that the most horrendous people (serial killers, etc) don't have a real purpose, but then what do I know.

We have choices in life. We can choose to do right things or we can choose to hurt people in one way or another.

We have the ability to make the right choices and a close walk with God, along with sheer common sense, enables us to make right decisions.

We have the potential to have a purpose if we are clear-thinking people whose hearts are kind. Serial killers and horrendous criminals are not clear-thinking, nor are they close to God.

We all have the potential to make our lives purposeful, to be kind, to do things to help others, even in very small ways. We can decide not to drink and then drive and kill a family, we can decide not to rob a business, we can decide not to take others' lives, and we can decide to basically be a good upstanding person or a person void of morals and values.

Look up "Affluenza" on YouTube. That will shake you up and you will understand decisions.

All good things
Emmy

 

[redleghunter]

Yeah, but then I would be staring at a blank screen.

What's interesting is the acting talent of Bryan Cranston. He played cameo roles on Seinfeld and of course Malcoms dad. Yet you really don't see his full talent until his role as Walter White on Breaking Bad.

Talk about a program you could write sermons on Total Depravity and the absence of moral absolutes in our post modern society!

 

[Matisyahu8898]

To the OP, I would say that it all depends on your standards for what constitutes a purpose. A serial-killer does have a purpose, and that is to kill, but I never said it's a good purpose. A purpose for the moral good on the other hand can sometimes come in very small, and hard-to-notice ways. For instance, an any might fall off of a table in a funny way and it makes you laugh. That's a good thing that happened. But I assume you're asking if everyone has a purpose wether they know it or not. Even so, to what extent would you label someone's life "purposeful?"

 

[redleghunter]

To the OP, I would say that it all depends on your standards for what constitutes a purpose. A serial-killer does have a purpose, and that is to kill, but I never said it's a good purpose. A purpose for the moral good on the other hand can sometimes come in very small, and hard-to-notice ways. For instance, an any might fall off of a table in a funny way and it makes you laugh. That's a good thing that happened. But I assume you're asking if everyone has a purpose wether they know it or not. Even so, to what extent would you label someone's life "purposeful?"

I would say our purpose as Christians is the Great Commission and to walk in the Spirit. Romans 8:12-17

 

[Matisyahu8898]

To the OP, I would say that it all depends on your standards for what constitutes a purpose. A serial-killer does have a purpose, and that is to kill, but I never said it's a good purpose. A purpose for the moral good on the other hand can sometimes come in very small, and hard-to-notice ways. For instance, an any might fall off of a table in a funny way and it makes you laugh. That's a good thing that happened. But I assume you're asking if everyone has a purpose wether they know it or not. Even so, to what extent would you label someone's life "purposeful?"

ant*

 

[Matisyahu8898]

I would say our purpose as Christians is the Great Commission and to walk in the Spirit. Romans 8:12-17

Yes, but I think that is in a slightly different vain than the OP is using.

 

[Left]

Yes, but I think that is in a slightly different vain than the OP is using.

I'm not sure if it is or it isn't, but redleghunter said "the purpose for Christians". I've been studying a lot of philosophy lately which is really expanding the reaches of my mind and it makes me ask, "What for atheists?"

 

[redleghunter]

I'm not sure if it is or it isn't, but redleghunter said "the purpose for Christians". I've been studying a lot of philosophy lately which is really expanding the reaches of my mind and it makes me ask, "What for atheists?"

Good question. We were designed to glorify God.

Perhaps as Christians we can ask instead of purpose but hope. Where do we put our hope? For Christians it should be in Christ. He should be the center of our thoughts and desires.

So where do atheists put their hope? I ask them this and I get the "science is my rule." Which means they put their faith in the world and we know this world is fallen and only one thing is certain---death.

People can find a purpose in this life. But what or Who do they have their hope in?

 

[Left]

I've actually made the conversation in this thread pretty light, thinking that it wouldn't take off. But I will say...

I think I know my purpose. At one point I thought it was ministry. But I just don't have the patience for it. Then I realized, that my purpose was probably to be a Christian Philosopher. And I actually want to start out by admitting that I know nothing and am a blank slate. To that slate I'll add the Bible. Then I'll work from there. And I'll be honest, my question in this thread was pretty simple. I think there was someone who even wanted to call me out on it. But the bottom line is, I'm not very sure of anything. Sure I have some things wired into my mind, some common sense and morals, but I also believe I won't become smart by knowing a lot, but by starting out admitting that in the grand scheme of things... I know nothing.

 

[redleghunter]

I've actually made the conversation in this thread pretty light, thinking that it wouldn't take off. But I will say...

I think I know my purpose. At one point I thought it was ministry. But I just don't have the patience for it. Then I realized, that my purpose was probably to be a Christian Philosopher. And I actually want to start out by admitting that I know nothing and am a blank slate. To that slate I'll add the Bible. Then I'll work from there. And I'll be honest, my question in this thread was pretty simple. I think there was someone who even wanted to call me out on it. But the bottom line is, I'm not very sure of anything. Sure I have some things wired into my mind, some common sense and morals, but I also believe I won't become smart by knowing a lot, but by starting out admitting that in the grand scheme of things... I know nothing.

I would recommend exploring the promises of God in the Bible. If you want to start with something sure that's it. God keeps His promises.

Good starts here:

All the Promises of God Are Yes in Christ

How to Read a Bible Full of Promises

The Christian’s Confidence from God’s Promises

 

[Arsenios]

I think I know my purpose... to be a Christian Philosopher...
I know nothing and am a blank slate.
To that slate I'll add the Bible.
Then I'll work from there.
I'm not very sure of anything.
I know nothing.

Know God...

No small matter...

Repentance from the world...

"I will take the Cup of Salvation...
And I will call on the Name of the Lord..."

Until you know God, you know nothing...
After you know God, you know nothing...
God is no thing...

There is absolutely no substitute...
For the God-quest of repentance...

Repent and be baptized...
For the Kingdom of Heaven...
Is at hand, here and now...

Arsenios

ps -
The OP is centered on the Mystery of Evil...
In our fallen state, we need motivation...
Without evil to overcome in ourselves...
We will end up neither hot nor cold...
Unfit for the Marriage of the Lamb...