Is reward a requirement of faith? That is to say, does God exist solely to give reward. Is that the reason we should follow his laws? It is the promise, is it not? Those who believe in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life. A failure to believe places you where? Let's just say in an unpleasant situation, for eternity. That would seem the long and short of it. Is it also the reason we are called the children of God? Children respond to a reward system. Reward is the incentive for them to learn and grow as individuals. Ironically, as we raise our children we stress upon them that doing the right thing should be done for one reason, because it is right, not for reward. That is the lesson when it comes to ethics and morality. Other behaviors you do in compliance with the law.
These thoughts come to me in response to the things happening around me. It is not a questioning of God, just a questioning of motives. The motives of people and the motive of God. It's the age old question, why do bad things happen to good people? The question is, who's to blame. We want to know who's to blame because that is the person that will have the reward withheld. Whether that reward is a piece of cake or eternal life, it is the withholding of reward that concerns us. Why did that man shoot those people in the synagogue? Who's to blame for that, and who will ultimately have the reward withheld? The innocents are the victims, so why did this happen to them? Why are so many people being " punished " for the actions of one? That is the way many view it, as a punishment. To those of us suffering the aftermath of that madman's rage, we demand to know who's to blame! We demand an accounting.
For the Christian or the Jew, or the Muslim, and I suspect for every other religious order the consequence of his actions will land him in hell, or their version of that. But, that isn't enough is it? No, and it isn't enough because there is no reward in it for us. We receive no justice, no equitable solution. His eternal damnation will not restore us. Why do we have to suffer for his sin? Why does God allow this to happen? I think the answer is a simple one. God doesn't interfere in mans' choices, that is what free will is all about. God doesn't choose to have people act in this manner, and God doesn't stop people from acting in that manner. It is in that, that the question arises; is reward a requirement of faith? Should we believe only when rewarded? Should you only do right when someone is watching? Is it only the fear of getting caught that guides us?
We are taught that God makes the final judgement. We often delude ourselves, justifying our own actions as righteous, and therefore forgiven by God. In that way we reassure ourselves that we will receive the reward. As long as we repent of our sins, and confess them before God, we will be forgiven. That is hope, not faith. Faith is believing it. So what is hope? Hope is a desire and an expectation, not a certainty. That is what is being expressed in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, " and now these three remain, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love. " The greatest is love because the other virtues hinge upon it. Without love, the others do not exist. It is love that instills hope into the child. It is love that sustains faith. Reward is the result. Without love, there is no reward. The love of God that surpasses all understanding. We can't know the motive of a madman. We can know the motive of God, and that motive, is love.
For the Christian or the Jew, or the Muslim, and I suspect for every other religious order the consequence of his actions will land him in hell, or their version of that. But, that isn't enough is it? No, and it isn't enough because there is no reward in it for us. We receive no justice, no equitable solution. His eternal damnation will not restore us. Why do we have to suffer for his sin? Why does God allow this to happen? I think the answer is a simple one. God doesn't interfere in mans' choices, that is what free will is all about. God doesn't choose to have people act in this manner, and God doesn't stop people from acting in that manner. It is in that, that the question arises; is reward a requirement of faith? Should we believe only when rewarded? Should you only do right when someone is watching? Is it only the fear of getting caught that guides us?
We are taught that God makes the final judgement. We often delude ourselves, justifying our own actions as righteous, and therefore forgiven by God. In that way we reassure ourselves that we will receive the reward. As long as we repent of our sins, and confess them before God, we will be forgiven. That is hope, not faith. Faith is believing it. So what is hope? Hope is a desire and an expectation, not a certainty. That is what is being expressed in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, " and now these three remain, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love. " The greatest is love because the other virtues hinge upon it. Without love, the others do not exist. It is love that instills hope into the child. It is love that sustains faith. Reward is the result. Without love, there is no reward. The love of God that surpasses all understanding. We can't know the motive of a madman. We can know the motive of God, and that motive, is love.
No comments:
Post a Comment