Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: A Meta-question (Was Re: A Question Message-ID: Date: 6 Dec 90 08:50:57 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 31 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Frank Farkas has pointed out some verses from James which suggest that good works are important in the life of a Christian. He was responding to a post which re-iterated that faith is the only determining factor in salvation. I agree with both of the above points. Sure, faith in Christ is what will save you. But is your own salvation the ultimate goal of your practice of religion. Do you have faith in Christ only because of the benefits that faith will bring to you? If so, doesn't that make your religion a religion of self-centeredness, focusing on what *you* do to save *your* soul. Ditto for the rationale for good works. If you do good works to get a temple recommend, or to get into the "third heavens" (celestial kingdom in mormonspeak) or because you believe you will be judged by them, then you are trying to save your own hide and are missing the whole reason for doing good works. The reason for good works (even faith in Christ, even baptism--everything that we do in our Christian life) is to share the love of God with others, and return it to Him. Good works result, not from fear or desire for personal gain, but from the overflowing love of God as manifested in our lives. Steve Timm Steven Timm Physics Department Carnegie Mellon "Shame on you, and shame on you again for converting me into a bullet and shooting me into men's hearts." Richard Harris c 1972