Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: A Meta-question (Was Re: A Question Message-ID: Date: 24 Dec 90 08:36:32 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC Lines: 35 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) writes: >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. Steve, I think we need to make a distinction here. No one starts off with such altruistic motives. Like babies (the Biblical analogy is so apt), we start off very self-focused. As we grow in Christ, we begin to move out from ourselves into the world about us to share that which we have found in Christ. And even at this, we tend to do good works at first because it gives us pleasure to do so, and less because we are doing right simply because it is right. The distinction that I would draw is between immature and mature faith. Immature faith centers, like a baby, on itself and the benefits that come from believing. Mature faith is one that reaches out beyond itself to a world in desparate need, seeking no personal gain or need, and ministers to that need. No Christian that I have ever known has started off with mature faith. Other than this nit, I liked what you said. Yours in Christ, Gene Gross