Posted by Dinah on March 4, 2006, at 2:02:52
In reply to Re: Integrity and Hypocrisy, posted by deirdrehbrt on March 3, 2006, at 21:19:36
I think you need to be really careful here, because different religious institutions have different viewpoints on the view of good works, and you wouldn't wnat to in any way put down the beliefs of those who do believe in the importance of good works. Given the way those texts of the bible have frequently been interpreted re. Christianity and Judaism, I think it's especially important to be careful.
I'm actually one of the people who believe in the importance of good works (a viewpoint that drew me to my current Protestant denomination). You can't always control your feelings, but you can control your behavior. And I would be very surprised if God didn't appreciate one behaving as he would have one behave, just because one didn't have feelings to match.
Not that I do anything to get into heaven. I figure who does and doesn't get into heaven is none of my business, including me. I trust that if there's an after life, God will do what's right. That's just my own personal belief, and of course, not everyone would or should agree.
But, say I didn't particularly care for someone. But I treated them with friendliness and tried to be helpful and kind. Some might say that that is hypocritical. To me, it's just admitting that while my feelings are interesting and valuable, they don't necessarily govern my actions.
Sometimes good works are just good works, and you do them because they're the right thing to do. Not because you want to get in heaven, and not because you're feeling the feelings that would support htose good works, but just because they're right.
If I sat around and waited until my feelings were congruent with what I thought I ought to do, I'd do a whole lot of sleeping.
poster:Dinah
thread:614466
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20051105/msgs/615742.html