How to Become the Good Person You Want to Be
I Am a Good Person - Not
Authors of the New Testament thought differently. Even Biblical saints didn't make the claim, "I'm a good person." This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost sinner. --I Timothy 1:15 (GW)
We live in a culture with the mantra, "But I'm a good person!" (as though trying convince one's self and others), and where the wrong/bad/hurtful/mean/evil things we do are simply an aberration. If we are intrinsically good, ie "I'm a good person" we don't need Jesus, don't need saving and can always do what is good/right/healthful/positive. If I'm a good person, why can't I live up to my own standards of right and wrong? Because instead of being a good person, I'm not so good after all.
The author of Romans 3:23 clearly states his position about the concept of "I'm a good person." "For all have sinned"--done wrong things. Actually, this shouldn't be that huge of a revelation to anyone who views themselves and their choices with any sort of rational thinking. Many think that believing "We're not intrinsically good" is a bad thing. It isn't. Recognizing I'm NOT such a good person forces me deal with the problem of inherent evil--that it not only exists, but that it exists within each human being. Within me.
The good news is that if there is evil, there is good. While "I'm a good person" may not be true, good does exist. We see it all around us, if we look for it. If good truly exists then we are more than an evolutionary accident. If we are more than an accident, design comes into play as well as a designer. This brings us to the God of creation, Jesus Christ, the one who loves and desires a relationship with those He created. But Jesus isn't looking for those claiming, "I'm a good person." Jesus is looking for those who realize they aren't so good. Why? Because Jesus Christ is in the business of redemption. That's the whole thing about Jesus, the cross, taking our place in order to forgive us and offer hope. When we realize, I'm a good person doesn't describe us and ask Jesus for help, He's ready to reach out and give us help, hope and the strength to live like that good person we'd like to be.
Am I a good person? What about when I am angry, frustrated, hurt and want to lash out? Not so good. But when I draw, not on my will, but on that of Jesus Christ, I can move beyond my feelings to an attitude of forgiveness and love, which are attributes not of my natural self but of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, within. The good news of Jesus is the bad news that we are Not good. The better news is that we are good and righteous through Christ Jesus living within. (John 3:16-17)
In Jesus and with him I can become the person He wants me to be. I'm a good person in Christ.
Published by Carolyn R Scheidies
Carolyn R. Scheidies is an author/reviewer/ speaker and more. Find her at http://IDealinHope.com. View profile
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2 Comments
Post a CommentThis article is about being "good" according to a Judeo Christian perspective. You seem to be approaching this from a neutral agnostic perspective which makes the terms not match up well. If you want to argue that Christianity is just one groups opinion then you could argue that, but to just blatantly say that such a definition relative to the called perspective is completely nullified is invalid.
Anyways about the death penalty - THE DEATH PENALTY COMPLIES WITH JEWISH, ISLAMIC, CHRISTIAN AND MANY OTHER RELIGIONS BELIEFS! It's even in the old testament, one man was stoned to death for blaspheming the name of The Lord God who I will withhold from you for your own safety (just kidding right? uh... no lol.)
GD ALSO HAD THE ISRAELITES GO TO WAR!
Aside from that clarification, and from a secular point of view, reality is both dynamic and deterministic. What that means is that it is theoretically possible to predict the future if one had the appropriate means to because eve
I find it ironic how Americans are so religious yet their government seemed to be the exact opposite. Take for example the presence of death penalty in America and the enermous support religious denominations have given to the American government to wage war in Iraq? Well, back to the topic, I don't believe that people has innate evilness because we were born completely innocent. People can sometimes become bad or commits wrongdoing depending on his judgement which can be attributed to many factors. It could be his upbring, his environment (e.g. peer pressure), socio-economic reasons, education level, and so and so forth. But generally speaking, we can become the good person we want to be by learning from our mistakes and striving to live a decent and honest life.