Why Do Good?

[bmoynihan]

One of the main reasons that turned me off christianity is that in essence its a selfish religion. Its all about getting a 'key' to get into heaven, I wonder how many would still follow god if there was no heaven.

I was recently reading an article by a Christian who had 10 questions to ask Lord Buddha. Two of which were on the topic of being good and doing the right thing. The article was basically asking how would people be encouraged to do good without any God, so I ask this to you Christians. Why do you do good things? Is it because God tells you to or is it for the good of the person on the receiving end?

When I was a Christian I got the impression that a lot of people were only doing good things (ie not sinning) because its gods will! Why not just do good things for the good of others? Is that so alien?

What also concerned me was how many prayers are asked for self, ie "Please let me pass that exam, please let x happen etc" Very little of it was thanks or asking for help for others. Then there was the 'Totonto Blessing' which is another story!

 

[hereiam]

I don't think its selfish. in fact its the selfless religion. sin is selfish. and sin separates from God. the reason we follow God, is not even because we get to go to heaven. christians main duty is to worship God because God is God. He is who He is. He is holy, He is good, He is majestic. He is this being that we are not fit to look at, not fit to see. It's not about a key to get into heaven, it's about worshipping someone worthy of worship. Doesn't sound selfish to me. We do good things, not because God tells you so. We do them because if we are worshipping God, and we seek Him, He will change our hearts to be more like Him. The good things we do, are evidence of a heart worshipping God. We don't do good things just to not sin. We should be doing it for the good of others. the good of others is God's heart. So when you have the mindset of God, your mindset is to do good for others.

you don't worship God for the stuff He gives you, but i don't think it's selfish to pray for help unless thats the only reason your going to Him. i don't think you should judge all christians, based upon some of the prayers you've seen. not that i'm any better in my prayer.

but yeaaaah hope this helped, just my opinion

 

[hereiam]

We do good things because when we love God, and want to be like God, we end up looking out for the good of others. not in the sense that it is a duty, but because our mindset is more and more selfless like God's.

i read my above entry and it didn't seem too clear

 

[Chrono Traveler]

I do good, simply to do good. Salvation is not really that important to me. I just want to help out the ones I love, its all for them, not for me, not for god. Because I do find it a bit selfish to say I was doing everything I did for God...

You have life, and life is one of the best things you can have other than friends. Nothing is better than having friends...If you had the choice between belief in God and friends, what would it be?

I see their lives as more important than mine. And I would die protecting them, but I won't die in the name of God or the spirits. Tho I feel a very personal relationship with the spirits, they don't need me to die for them.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Chrono Traveler,I am one of those Christians who want to give God the glory,for the good I do.I also love my familie and friends very much,but I realise,and believe that without God I could not love,and enjoy the love my dear ones give me.Whatever God blesses will last,and without God`s blessings nothing will last,and I know many Christians myself and know about,they can,and will testify to the truth of this.I say this with love and humility,Chrono Traveler.Sincere greetings from Emmy,a sister in Christ.

 

[Chrono Traveler]

I have faith, I would just rather put most of it into my friends and loved ones. God doesnt really need me to do good just for him does he? Many people do get along fine without belief in god, and they are able to have friends and live a good life. But some people would fall apart and there life would be one without faith of any kind.

Its important to realize the something brought us here, the point of life is living. I choose to live my life for the good of others, religion has nothing to do with why I do good. I do it for my own moral reasons.

 

[simguy83]

Strange... I was under the impression our good works do not get us into heaven?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves [it is] the gift of God Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:5

 

[Chrono Traveler]

I think works are more important than "just having faith". Any one can say "I have faith" and go on living a terrible life..., but showing you have a compassion for people and the world is something truly great.

 

[simguy83]

Chrono Traveler, Jesus has done all the work for us, "It is finished" he cried on the cross.

Christians should do good works because they want to and love God, not because they feel they have to.

 

[Chrono Traveler]

I do good works cause i love humanity, not cause I feel I have to

 

[2_KwIcK_4_U]

And maybe it's not so much the key to get into heaven....but the key not to go to hell.
And just doing good isn't going to get you into heaven. We do good because it is God's will and we do good because we were taught it sense birth. Some of the nicest people in the world aren't christians.

 

[Chrono Traveler]

And maybe it's not so much the key to get into heaven....but the key not to go to hell.
And just doing good isn't going to get you into heaven. We do good because it is God's will and we do good because we were taught it sense birth. Some of the nicest people in the world aren't christians.

and why is that? some people don't do any good all their lives then say "Oh, I accept Christ" on their death beads. and they think thats acceptable.. I would much rather follow my own religion and just do good for the good of all, not just cause "god asked me to"

 

[SequenceBreak]

the reason we follow God, is not even because we get to go to heaven. christians main duty is to worship God because God is God. He is who He is.

A life of blind servitude doesn't sound 'selfless' to me. It sounds ignorant.

 

[Tim104]

Too do good according too God is what matters, not according too humanity.

And to live good according too God is to keep the commandemnts of God, and the faith of Jesus.

The commandments of God are based in loving. First in loving God, then in loving one another. If we focus on loving and serving one another then we run into another problem of "loving and serving the created more then the creator." And the cursce for that is homosexuality, as a cursce from God. (Romans 1:25-28)

Now what is sin? Breaking the Laws of God.
1 John 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

How do we learn what sin is? By knowing what the Laws of God are.
Romans 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

And Jesus our Lord commands us to live good according too God, and repent and sin no more.

Bro Tim

 

[OccamsLaser]

We do good things because when we love God, and want to be like God, we end up looking out for the good of others. not in the sense that it is a duty, but because our mindset is more and more selfless like God's.

i read my above entry and it didn't seem too clear

This wasn't too clear, either. In Genesis 3:22, Adam and Eve are banished from the Garden of Eden because God notices that they have "become like us, knowing good and evil." So man's aspiration to "want to be like God" is the basis for condemnation, not reward.

Occam's Laser

 

[Aaron_3521]

Of course friends are great to have. However, even if we had all the friends in the world, we would still be searching for more and what would it amount to. Nothing. Because in the end you and your friends are going to die, so the relationships are naught but superficial. However, by believing in God, we will also have great friendship. In Heaven there is no such thing as hate, so everyone will be friends. The people you were friends with on earth, you may still remember them and what role they played, but I am unclear to that matter, as only time will answer that.

So why do good? There are christians who do it all for self-gratification and glory, but that is not the way of the true christian. It is a very selfless way to live, as we enjoy helping others and not ourselves. Even though people do bad things in their lives, that is really based on a humanistic level. Murderers can still go to heaven, provided they follow God. Because on God's level all sin is the same. Although some people think that following God is just a means of doing good for God, it is not. It is a proper relationship, which is why christianity should not be classified as as religion, but a relationship, for that is what it is. Realistically, if we didn't serve God, we would only serve ourselves.

 

[Chrono Traveler]

Of course friends are great to have. However, even if we had all the friends in the world, we would still be searching for more and what would it amount to.

actually no....I have a select few friends and thats just perfect for me. Sure I shall find friends along the way, but I still would not change a thing...

 

[Aaron_3521]

The key word was "if."

 

[Chrono Traveler]

yea, but that doesnt change my veiws at all.

 

[legiwei]

To me, doing good deeds or anythings, depend on our REASONS that we have. The stronger/better they are, or should I say, the more you understand about doing good, the better it is. The message of Love our enemies, will you do good for your enemies? What was Jesus message to us? Isn't it Love, how long untill we are able to understand that message that LOVE is one of the highest feeling in the universe.