What is wrong with this idea?!?!?!

[Death on Dark Wings]

Recently, I've thought of an idea that goes like this:

Baptism = 1000 christpoints
Attending service = 500 christpoints
Joining a cell group = 3500 christpoints
Converting 1 person = 2000 christpoints
Converting 10 persons = 30000 christpoints

5000 christpoints = 1 poster
50000 christpoints = normal bible
75000 christpoints = portable bible
100 000 christpoints = high-quality cross made of pine/oak

I suggest this idea to some Christians on mIRC, but they got extremely angry. On further probing, I found out that this had something to do with Roman Catholics and they thought I was joking about some merit point system thing whatsoever. To be 100% honest, I was 100% serious about the idea. What exactly was so insulting about this idea? Anyone cares to explain please?

 

[boughtwithaprice]

The Catholic church and all of christianity is not AmWay. We should be motivated by our love of God and His church, not by any motivation of greed or pride. It would give people an occasion for boasting, when the bible says that we are saved by grace and no one should boast.
Your proposition does not make me angry, but it doesn't sit right with me either.

peace in Christ,

Jerome

 

[VOW]

This sounds similar to a discussion my daughter had with one of her classmates who was trying to "save" her from Catholicism. The girl told my daughter for every person she personally led to Jesus, she would receive a jewel in her crown once she got to Heaven. And in Heaven, the person with the most jewels in his/her crown would be the one who saved the most souls.

I was disturbed by that conversation, and I'm disturbed by this one, too.

Let's set up a similar system in hospitals! The doctors who save the most lives can win new cars!


Peace,
~VOW

 

[geocajun]

well, we are rewarded for our works of charity in heaven, no doubt about that, but as
boughtwithaprice said, this isn't amway and when one is growing in holyness, they certaintly aren't looking for personal reward or recognition.

 

[MariaRegina]

I was disturbed by that conversation, and I'm disturbed by this one, too.

Let's set up a similar system in hospitals! The doctors who save the most lives can win new cars!

Peace,
~VOW

Dear VOW:

Good points. Frankly I think we should get rid of the reputation system as this is also bogus. Some of the most kind and intelligent posters like you and Michelina are not being recognized, but I'm sure God will reward you richly in heaven -- this is what counts in the end.

There was this Catholic Dominican nun who died over 100 years ago. When the nuns had to move her coffin due to flooding in the basement, they discovered that her coffin was the only heavy one. They got permission from the bishop to exhume her remains. Behold - she was found to be an incorruptible holy one of God. They saved a few relics - finger nail clippings and hair. But she looked like she had just died except that her fingernails and hair were still growing. The exhumation happened around 1973. The point of this story is that she did nothing out of the ordinary, never revealed any visions, and was only a lay sister in charge of the monastery's visitors. In fact, she was only a Dominican Tertiary. Sadly, they had no biographical details on her. She lived a hidden life and was part of a monastery that practiced perpetual adoration.

BTW Perhaps doctors should be rewarded for encouraging their patients to follow a good diet, good exercise, practice humor and prayers, and stay healthy. Maybe that would improve medicine.

Hope this helps.

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[djns9437]

Recently, I've thought of an idea that goes like this:

Baptism = 1000 christpoints
Attending service = 500 christpoints
Joining a cell group = 3500 christpoints
Converting 1 person = 2000 christpoints
Converting 10 persons = 30000 christpoints

5000 christpoints = 1 poster
50000 christpoints = normal bible
75000 christpoints = portable bible
100 000 christpoints = high-quality cross made of pine/oak

I suggest this idea to some Christians on mIRC, but they got extremely angry. On further probing, I found out that this had something to do with Roman Catholics and they thought I was joking about some merit point system thing whatsoever. To be 100% honest, I was 100% serious about the idea. What exactly was so insulting about this idea? Anyone cares to explain please?

Whats the system for?

 

[thereselittleflower]

I think the issue with something like this, and perhaps why some of the people were angry thinking it was like Catholicism, is that it is "me" focused . .what do I get out if it? . .what's in it for me if I do it? . .

Our life in Christ is to be God and other focused, never "me" focused . . and to the degree that it is "me" focused, to the degree that we are not living our life without respect to what we may "earn" or "merit", to that degree we are not living for Christ with Him soley in mind and heart.

That some were angry because it sounded to them as if it was something akin to how they see Catholicisim, well, that is because they do not understand what Catholicism is or is about . .

Who's welfare do you have in mind. . Jesus' and the kingdom of God? Or your own?

Would you do these things even if they gained you no "points" simply because of love for Jesus? That is the highest good, and does not take into account any type of point system as that is no longer something even thought of as your eyes are completely off yourself . ..

Peace in Him!

 

[Filia Mariae]

It reminds me of earning Girl Scout badges or something...or how the kids at the school I teach at sell wrapping paper every year and they earn prizes for how much they sell. The badges and prizes become to motivation. Our motivation should be nothing except the greater glory of God.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

"christpoints"