In which Sunday learns a lesson from the Wicked soundtrack, and talks a little about heart issues. Sunday can edit this later if she wants.
3 comments:
Monday
said...
First thought: I'm not sure how much doing good things has to do with being a good person. It seems like the kind of thing that ought to be a result of being a good person. I honestly think it's possible to be a good person without doing good things. And... I think you probably think something like that. At least, we agree that it's about the heart.
Second thought: The exact opposite, I'm not sure how important the heart attitude is when it comes to doing good deeds. I mean, yeah, your hear should be in the right place. But good is done, glory is given to God through the deeds - even if not through your heart. Which means that good deeds should be done. Dur. But, what I mean is, don't stop doing good things because you're worried that your heart isn't in the right place.
Third thought: I wonder how much we should care about what people think of us. I think wanting a good name is right. Or, maybe that's not accurate enough. I think wanting to be the kind of person who ought to have a good name is right. As in, wanting to be a good person is right. Wanting to do good is right. I don't know how important other people's opinions are.
Bonus thought: I may have the opposite problem. Because I don't really care what people think of me, I just don't do good things if I don't want to. Two sides of the same coin...
1. Well, bad people can do good things -- good people don't have the corner on the market for good deeds. Further, from a biblical standpoint, if one doesn't do good things, one's not a good person. [James 2:18, 26] [Using the term "good person" very loosely now, of course.] I think it's less of a causality thing, but like you said, a heart thing.
2. This I really wonder about. Like Paul talks about these people who spread the Gospel because they're trying to stir up trouble, and he tells the Colossians [or whoever] not to get all bent out of shape about their bad intentions, because at least the good news is getting out. So I really wonder about how much motivation "counts". I feel as though good things done for bad reasons are inherently counterfeit. But I don't really know.
3. I don't think wanting a good reputation is wrong, but I think when that becomes a motivation, that's probably a problem. My parents always tell me that it's God's job to guard our reputations, our job is just to obey Him. If we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, people's opinions shouldn't matter.
I remember you telling me about the funnel principle. :)
And, I have definitely experienced this. Especially with writing or speaking about myself, I so want to avoid telling people my thoughts or experiences just so they think I'm spiritual or nice. But when the something should be done - like praying with a person, or community service - I can only pray that God changes my heart. Help my unbelief.
This reminds me of discussing virtue at Wheatstone.
A Year Of Questions is a project begun on March 22, 2010, by seven teens who want to be better at asking questions and articulating answers. This blog exists to make it easier to discuss these questions (because a 500 character limit on YouTube comments is rather limiting). Enjoy!
3 comments:
First thought: I'm not sure how much doing good things has to do with being a good person. It seems like the kind of thing that ought to be a result of being a good person. I honestly think it's possible to be a good person without doing good things. And... I think you probably think something like that. At least, we agree that it's about the heart.
Second thought: The exact opposite, I'm not sure how important the heart attitude is when it comes to doing good deeds. I mean, yeah, your hear should be in the right place. But good is done, glory is given to God through the deeds - even if not through your heart. Which means that good deeds should be done. Dur. But, what I mean is, don't stop doing good things because you're worried that your heart isn't in the right place.
Third thought: I wonder how much we should care about what people think of us. I think wanting a good name is right. Or, maybe that's not accurate enough. I think wanting to be the kind of person who ought to have a good name is right. As in, wanting to be a good person is right. Wanting to do good is right. I don't know how important other people's opinions are.
Bonus thought: I may have the opposite problem. Because I don't really care what people think of me, I just don't do good things if I don't want to. Two sides of the same coin...
1. Well, bad people can do good things -- good people don't have the corner on the market for good deeds. Further, from a biblical standpoint, if one doesn't do good things, one's not a good person. [James 2:18, 26] [Using the term "good person" very loosely now, of course.] I think it's less of a causality thing, but like you said, a heart thing.
2. This I really wonder about. Like Paul talks about these people who spread the Gospel because they're trying to stir up trouble, and he tells the Colossians [or whoever] not to get all bent out of shape about their bad intentions, because at least the good news is getting out. So I really wonder about how much motivation "counts". I feel as though good things done for bad reasons are inherently counterfeit. But I don't really know.
3. I don't think wanting a good reputation is wrong, but I think when that becomes a motivation, that's probably a problem. My parents always tell me that it's God's job to guard our reputations, our job is just to obey Him. If we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, people's opinions shouldn't matter.
I remember you telling me about the funnel principle. :)
And, I have definitely experienced this. Especially with writing or speaking about myself, I so want to avoid telling people my thoughts or experiences just so they think I'm spiritual or nice. But when the something should be done - like praying with a person, or community service - I can only pray that God changes my heart. Help my unbelief.
This reminds me of discussing virtue at Wheatstone.
Post a Comment