God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
I think the truth that Christ brings to the world can be discovered in life. Love is a prime example. Christ taught us how to love by using our gifts to elevate others. He advocated for servant leadership in contrast to leaders who use their subjects for their own gain. He taught us abou sacrifice and forgiveness. Those truths can be found outside Christianity. Similarly, you can claim to be Christian and engage in Christian rituals but do not commit to the challenges that Christ threw in front of you. I have been introduced to the Christian message through Christ and have been grateful to see it lead to flourish in my life. I love the Hand of Adam (or more correctly the Creation of Adam).. We never touch God. There is always a gap; bridging that gap is life's journey. Accepting that challenge gives meaning to life. I love Matthew 19:21-24. Jesus says:
ReplyDelete“If you want to give it all you've got, go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” I cannot do that so like the rich man, I walk away from christ with my head down. I recall Bishop Barron saying that Pride is the greatest of vices. We think we have the truth. Humility is accepting that we are broken and continually engaging in a journey to God. Judging others has no place in Christ’s teaching. Focus on using your gifts to elevate others to act in a way that God is calling them to act.
Your response to John 3:16-21 is thoughtful and insightful! Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
DeleteUniversal Truths in Christ's Message: You recognize that core Christian values like love, service, sacrifice, and forgiveness can be found outside Christianity. This is a point of agreement for many theologians.
Faith and Action: You emphasize that simply identifying as Christian is insufficient. True Christianity involves living out Christ's teachings.
Personal Journey of Faith: You share your own experience of encountering Christ and how it has enriched your life.
The Gap Between Humanity and God: You reference Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" to illustrate the gap between humanity and God, suggesting life's journey is about bridging that gap.
Humility and the Journey to God: Drawing on Bishop Barron, you emphasize humility and accepting our brokenness as part of the journey towards God. Judging others contradicts Christ's message.
Overall, your response offers a mature and nuanced understanding of faith. You acknowledge the universality of core Christian values while recognizing the importance of living them out.