Posted by rayww on March 4, 2006, at 17:28:38
In reply to Re: Integrity and Hypocrisy - another twist » rayww, posted by Dinah on March 4, 2006, at 13:09:41
> Well, clearly my notions of good works were framed a lot by my upbringing in the Mormon church. :)
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So were mine :)>
> And I tend not to question why any particular person does good works, as I think good works to some extent speak for themselves.<<<<
Exactly, so why do some insist "you believe that you can work your way into heaven"? We can't exactly say "no we don't" and no matter how we try to explain it, it comes across sounding like we're working our way in. I think the idea of working one's way into heaven, negates God - - takes Him out of the picture, and makes it sound like there are just a set of credentials that one must pass through to be automatically granted entrance.>
> I don't know of any churches or doctrine that advocate doing good works to pave their way into heaven, although there have been anecdotal reports of *individuals* who turn to good works in their last days with the possible desire of making up for past sins so as to not enter hell, if there is one. But I prefer to think of them as having had a last minute change of attitude when faced with the larger issues of life and death. And after all, don't all churches believe that genuine repentence and a change of heart will afford you grace from God, no matter what stage of life you are when you offer it? (My husband has always found that to be grossly unfair.)
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there is definately more than one way of looking at it. Did Jesus ever say anyone was going to hell?
http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=hell&search.x=23&search.y=3
He held hope for everyone. Those of my faith believe this life is the time for man to prepare to meet God, http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/34/32#32
it isn't the end all, but a time to prepare. One part of our preparation might include good works. The scripture points out a couple of verses later that it is for our own best interest and good, and also why death bed repentance doesn't work.> I agree with you that good works are often done as a tangible symbol of one's love for God and desire to do as he wishes. And just as often done by people who have no formal relationship with God, who may even be atheist, just because good works in themselves have a certain beauty and value.
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I agree. There is beauty and value in good works alone, and blessed be the person who loves them. Religion does not hold the corner on good works. I think we need to give one another a little slack, stop pointing fingers, and never try to judge the motive. I mean how would it be if after my kind act, the person thought, "she's just doing it to find favor with God". I would hope the person on the other end of my string would know I genuinely cared about them :) I genuinely care about you.
poster:rayww
thread:614466
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20051105/msgs/615946.html