Why Do We Strive To Be Loving!
Religion is all about telling people what they should strive for and in most cases organized religion uses a big stick (HELL) to accomplish what their goals are. I just can’t see a God of love needing that kind of stick. The universe is so vast and so amazing and I personally believe that within this great creation is a far more compelling reason to strive for a better life.
That reason is LOVE itself. As the writer John said: "Perfect Love cast out ALL fear." When we strive for LOVE we have our own reward right before us. We don’t need the carrot of Heaven or the stick of HELL to have love as our goal.
When you discuss the idea that Heaven & Hell aren’t what motivates you Christians who are involved in organized religion will almost always give this response: "WELL, IF YOU DON’T GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL WHY SHOULD I BE GOOD (loving)?"
Isn’t LOVE enough to motivate you? Isn’t giving and receiving LOVE it’s own reward?
Yes, I get up each new day and strive to be a loving and kind person, but not to get to Heaven or to stay out of HELL. I do it because the better I get at it the better I feel about myself.
This life can be tough and I suppose it is designed that way for a purpose. Maybe the key to our learning what we need to learn is that it can only be learned through the heart of a truly loving person.
Many people in organized religion are striving to be loving, but what is their REAL motive?
Would you still strive to be loving and kind if Heaven and Hell were not in the mix of what you are being taught?
I’m sure there are those in religion who would be loving anyway, but I have seen a vast majority in my lifetime that are motivated by all the wrong things when it comes to love. I say that because I know how many of them have treated me when they found out I don’t need the carrot or the stick.
Thank you Cliff. Excellent post.
Cliff awesome love always brings love.Punishment and hate never brings love.The true nature of God is love and that is what He created us to be.Loving.
Love in Christ Dan
we strive to be loving because we are christ in this world, without mythology’s afterlife carrot and stick doctrines.
grace,
Marco
“Many people in organized religion are striving to be loving, but what is their REAL motive?”
With some the motive is out of fear of failing God. The fear of not measuring up to a standard that God removed by the death of Jesus Christ. The real motive is self righteousness.
Knowing our identity is key. And our identity is in God who is love. We love and are loving because it is our nature. We are born again in Christ Jesus; He is in us and we in Him. We are of God.
So people in organized religion who do not know who they are in Christ Jesus strive to be loving in vain. And it wears them out.
I like what you have to say Mark, in regards to this quote :
“With some the motive is out of fear of failing God. The fear of not measuring up to a standard that God removed by the death of Jesus Christ. The real motive is self righteousness.”
so are you saying there was an actual standard in place at one time? Is it not possible this “God standard” was a perception and not actually so?
Knowing our identity is absolute key I agree, when we realize we are not just a connected part of Source, but are Source, this is our nature, the core of very core, sadly it gets layered with ego, and we often derive of sense of self from this being (form) instead of Being alone(formless).
Humanity has perceived seperation from God, but God seperated from God is insanity.
my 2 cents
Marco
“All our righteous deeds are as filty rags.”
We are not loving, in the way that Christ wants…outside of Christ. He inspires us, indeed leads us to do the good, loving works that He wants from us.
We don’t do these things on our own. Most of the time we are probably not even aware of the good works that He does through us.
We live by faith and not by sight. We trust that He is at work in us for the benefit of our neighbor..even when we sin.
Radical stuff, I know…hey…we have a radical God!
the righteous deeds of the self serving ego indeed are as filthy rags, the Life that was in Christ is the same Life that is in all, Jesus is recored as saying “the kingdom (realm) of God is within you” before the events of the cross, Presence has always been, the awareness of Presence has not.
have a happy day,
Marco
Great comments by all. Thanks for stopping by and sharing the paths of wisdom you have travelled.