As a Christian, what is your primary and/or scriptural motivation for doing whatever is necessary to help create lasting peace on earth and planet-wide environmental health?
I have asked similar questions before but I honestly don't understand the fundamental motivation for action on such topics if armagedon is going to erase everything anyhow. If I believed in a happy afterlife, this current life would have less meaning - it would be more transitory. If I believed in armagedon my need for peace on earth would be more regional just to protect current self and family.
As a Christian, what is your primary scriptural motivation
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As a Christian, what is your primary scriptural motivation
Post #1"He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall not enter the assembly of the Lord." Deuteronomy 23:1 
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Fisherking
Re: As a Christian, what is your primary scriptural motivati
Post #2In my opinion, lasting peace on earth (between mankind) is a fairytale that will never happen. As far as planetwide environmental health -- We are to be good stewards of what God has given us to tend.Cmass wrote:As a Christian, what is your primary and/or scriptural motivation for doing whatever is necessary to help create lasting peace on earth and planet-wide environmental health?
I would agree with this.Cmass wrote:If I believed in a happy afterlife, this current life would have less meaning - it would be more transitory.
On the other hand, if I believed that there was not an afterlife or a God to answer to, this current life would have no meaning whatsoever to me. I would have no interest whatsoever about the environmental health of the planet as long as my needs were met.
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katiej49
Re: As a Christian, what is your primary scriptural motivati
Post #3Cmass wrote:As a Christian, what is your primary and/or scriptural motivation for doing whatever is necessary to help create lasting peace on earth and planet-wide environmental health?
I have asked similar questions before but I honestly don't understand the fundamental motivation for action on such topics if armagedon is going to erase everything anyhow. If I believed in a happy afterlife, this current life would have less meaning - it would be more transitory. If I believed in armagedon my need for peace on earth would be more regional just to protect current self and family.
God gave us this beautiful earth as a gift. look at how wonderful it is in its damaged state, imagine what it was like in the way it was meant to be , before sin entered!....but, to answer the question.......knowing my eternity is secure and safe leaves me to really enjoy this life now. I want to take care of the incredible gift God has given us in this earth....there will be no peace on earth until Jesus returns.....but I do what i can where i am.........the earth is showing every sign of being a dying planet (just as He said it would be)....but for now, its home and I thank Him for it and do what i can to take care of it
Post #4
Katiej49 wrote:
But why? If Jesus is about to return and if peace on earth is impossible, why bother with difficult, expensive and painful peace initiatives? What is your motivation for "doing what I can"? Just to please God and to be a good planetary janitor? Is there really any fundamental reason for you to give up your life for peace?.there will be no peace on earth until Jesus returns.....but I do what i can where i am..
"He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall not enter the assembly of the Lord." Deuteronomy 23:1
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Cathar1950
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Post #5
I am sure that isn't it for the Christians.
There are many Christians that work for peace and the Apocalyptic dreams are nightmares of self-fulfilling prophesy. The other side is or was a great group and liberation theology made some trails.
Not every Christian has a live for today save some for me tomorrow attitude.
Not all atheists are tree huggers either.
Some do but so do some Christians.
Maybe they think we should all live like it is going to end every day.
But it seems like your OP is saying show me your scriptural reason not to just go met your maker and give up. Or not give up.
There are many Christians that work for peace and the Apocalyptic dreams are nightmares of self-fulfilling prophesy. The other side is or was a great group and liberation theology made some trails.
Not every Christian has a live for today save some for me tomorrow attitude.
Not all atheists are tree huggers either.
Some do but so do some Christians.
Maybe they think we should all live like it is going to end every day.
But it seems like your OP is saying show me your scriptural reason not to just go met your maker and give up. Or not give up.
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Flail
a non-christian
Post #6As a non-Christian my hope is that all Christians will be saved by God from their blind and mindless superstions...likewise for all other religions...
whatever will happen will happen, regardless of what we think about it...so be good...be kind...be tolerant...follow the teachings of Jesus and turn your churches into soup kitchens...religion is killing us....
old movie recommendation to provoke thought....
'Defending your Life" ... Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep...humorous and insightful
whatever will happen will happen, regardless of what we think about it...so be good...be kind...be tolerant...follow the teachings of Jesus and turn your churches into soup kitchens...religion is killing us....
old movie recommendation to provoke thought....
'Defending your Life" ... Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep...humorous and insightful
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katiej49
Post #7
Cmass wrote:Katiej49 wrote:But why? If Jesus is about to return and if peace on earth is impossible, why bother with difficult, expensive and painful peace initiatives? What is your motivation for "doing what I can"? Just to please God and to be a good planetary janitor? Is there really any fundamental reason for you to give up your life for peace?.there will be no peace on earth until Jesus returns.....but I do what i can where i am..
what difficult painful and expensive peace initiatives are you refering to? yeah, i like to please God....pleasing Him also pleases me actually.....i am most content doing what He wants me to.........i dont know what you mean by "give up my life" for peace.....i dont have to DIE to help make my part of the world peaceful and take care of the earth where i am......i dont quite follow you
Post #8
Katiej49 wrote:
Peace is rarely easy - especially when it involves peace between warring religious factions or centuries-old conflicts. It is often expensive monetarily and almost always expensive to the ego because it can require giving something up whether it be land, money, power, or religious influence. This can be true on a micro-level too if in conflict with your neighbor. How ever you want to measure it, creating a peaceful situation requires time, effort and often some sacrifice. What I really want to know is: Why bother if it really doesn't matter?
Katiej49 wrote:
Uh oh....I hope this doesn't lead down the slippery slope to that other thread where we discussed being a bride of Jesus.....
Hopefully I clarified this above. I am referring to the amount of sacrifice you would be willing to give for peace on earth. If it meant sacrificing your life or your child's life or perhaps even just your lifestyle, is it Christianly worth it?
Further notes for all:
As one of my favorite Christian carols states: "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men". But, except for personal, regional reasons for peace (so it doesn't bother you or your family) what biblically-based Christian-centered reason exists for sacrificing for peace or long term environmental health? Other than Katie's desire to please God by tending His garden, I see no persuasive reason to make serious sacrifices for the advancement of peace or global environmental health. Biblical references to tending the earth-garden are timid at best and completely overshadowed by armageddon.
Also, I have not attempted to make the argument that all Christians are war hawks and tree killers or that atheists are not. I could not defend such a claim and have too many close Christian friends and family members who would defy it. However, there is plenty of evidence based upon voting demographics that fundamentalist Christians tend to support agressive military interventions over peace processes and toothless environmental legislation. I have also heard on many ocassions from Christians themselves that there is really not much reason for sacrificing for these things because it is useless or doesn't really matter.
There is no strong, scriptural reason to bring about peace or planetary health. Peace is mentioned in the Bible as a nifty thing to have, but I don't see where it is taught as a long-term, critical strategy for survival. If nations no longer rose up against nations, what would become of the prophecies?
what difficult painful and expensive peace initiatives are you refering to?
Peace is rarely easy - especially when it involves peace between warring religious factions or centuries-old conflicts. It is often expensive monetarily and almost always expensive to the ego because it can require giving something up whether it be land, money, power, or religious influence. This can be true on a micro-level too if in conflict with your neighbor. How ever you want to measure it, creating a peaceful situation requires time, effort and often some sacrifice. What I really want to know is: Why bother if it really doesn't matter?
Katiej49 wrote:
yeah, i like to please God....pleasing Him also pleases me actually.....i am most content doing what He wants me to.........
Uh oh....I hope this doesn't lead down the slippery slope to that other thread where we discussed being a bride of Jesus.....
i dont know what you mean by "give up my life" for peace.....i dont have to DIE to help make my part of the world peaceful and take care of the earth where i am......i dont quite follow you
Hopefully I clarified this above. I am referring to the amount of sacrifice you would be willing to give for peace on earth. If it meant sacrificing your life or your child's life or perhaps even just your lifestyle, is it Christianly worth it?
Further notes for all:
As one of my favorite Christian carols states: "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men". But, except for personal, regional reasons for peace (so it doesn't bother you or your family) what biblically-based Christian-centered reason exists for sacrificing for peace or long term environmental health? Other than Katie's desire to please God by tending His garden, I see no persuasive reason to make serious sacrifices for the advancement of peace or global environmental health. Biblical references to tending the earth-garden are timid at best and completely overshadowed by armageddon.
Also, I have not attempted to make the argument that all Christians are war hawks and tree killers or that atheists are not. I could not defend such a claim and have too many close Christian friends and family members who would defy it. However, there is plenty of evidence based upon voting demographics that fundamentalist Christians tend to support agressive military interventions over peace processes and toothless environmental legislation. I have also heard on many ocassions from Christians themselves that there is really not much reason for sacrificing for these things because it is useless or doesn't really matter.
There is no strong, scriptural reason to bring about peace or planetary health. Peace is mentioned in the Bible as a nifty thing to have, but I don't see where it is taught as a long-term, critical strategy for survival. If nations no longer rose up against nations, what would become of the prophecies?
"He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall not enter the assembly of the Lord." Deuteronomy 23:1
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jgh7
Re: As a Christian, what is your primary scriptural motivati
Post #9Jesus died for righteousness. He died because he knew that he stood for what was good, and doing what is right is more important than whether you live or die. Jesus sacrificed himself for those who hated him, because he loved them. Everyone wanted Jesus dead, but Jesus still loved them. He loved them so much that he would allow them to take his own life because that is what was necessary to show them the path of truth and goodness. He did the most righteous selfless act one could do.Cmass wrote:As a Christian, what is your primary and/or scriptural motivation for doing whatever is necessary to help create lasting peace on earth and planet-wide environmental health?
I have asked similar questions before but I honestly don't understand the fundamental motivation for action on such topics if armagedon is going to erase everything anyhow. If I believed in a happy afterlife, this current life would have less meaning - it would be more transitory. If I believed in armagedon my need for peace on earth would be more regional just to protect current self and family.
I want this life to have meaning for me. I want to try and be just as righteouss as Jesus. I want to be able to care so much about doing what is right, that I would be willing to die for it, and to sacrifice myself to help others do what is right and be happy. My faith in Jesus' sacrifice and what it stood for is one of the main things that motivates me to strive for goodness on this planet. Without faith, my life is meaningless. I won't give up on my faith. I won't surrender to a meaningless existence.
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twobitsmedia
Re: As a Christian, what is your primary scriptural motivati
Post #10It is not up to me to create lasting peace on "earth." I can't even get the drug dealers out of the next block.Cmass wrote:As a Christian, what is your primary and/or scriptural motivation for doing whatever is necessary to help create lasting peace on earth and planet-wide environmental health?
Armageddon as mentioned in the Bible is an event that is to happen in the future. It's not a goal to prepare for.I have asked similar questions before but I honestly don't understand the fundamental motivation for action on such topics if armagedon is going to erase everything anyhow. If I believed in a happy afterlife, this current life would have less meaning - it would be more transitory. If I believed in armagedon my need for peace on earth would be more regional just to protect current self and family.
