How much Christian service is self motivated, I will Obey God so that He will let me in Heaven, or so He will keep me from going to Hell. Do People pray just to say I love you God without asking anything for themselves? Do people do things just because they love God, Or, are they secretly hoping God will notice their deeds and reward them in some way. Is it the expression of love for God, or the hope of reward that really motivates us? I will settle for an answer to the last question.
2006-12-05 16:19:08 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I agree with your sentiment completely. The American people at large have a disease called apathy, and can't seem to shake it off in any aspect of their lives, religiously, politically, even in their personal lives. It's all about the scapegoat, pointing the finger, and casting responsibility and blame on someone else (like France, Iraq, women, black people, gays, fat people, whites, hispanics... you get the idea).
People pray because that's what they think they have to do. They ignore the true meaning of prayer, as you put forth in your explanation; "Do people pray just to say I love you God without asking anything for themselves?"
It's all about the "me".
2006-12-05 16:26:28 · answer #1 · answered by spewing_originality 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't get me wrong; the thought of spending eternity in Hell scares the fire out of me. I try to obey God and follow His commandments, but I know that I am far from perfect. I know that God does not reward us on the basis of works and deeds, however. I know that it is by Grace through Faith that we are saved. I believe that there is a God, and I have been Baptized, so I am saved.
Frankly, I don't see how people can believe that God does not exist. Do they really, honestly believe that EVERYTHING happened one day, just by chance? That seems pretty lonely to me. Also, I think that it's funny that not one scientist has been able to take the basic building blocks of life (ie. oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, etc.) and re-create so much as a blade of grass in a lab.
And don't talk about cloning, because they have the entire cell, not it's make-up at the atomic level.
It seems to me to take more faith to believe that there is NOT a supreme being.
2006-12-05 16:29:59 · answer #2 · answered by tn_lovett 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't trust & obey God for God to let us go to heaven. Once we are born of God, we are Christ righteousness, inheriting ever lasting life in Christ. Nothing we do or don't do will change that. So, no matter what, we are heaven bound.
We trust & obey / serve God because we are made the righteousness of Christ. And we love God. But it is true, that I do fear the conscequences of disobeying God today. There are conscequences. We reap what we sow.
I like to get rewards. Once I told a testimony of Gods deliverence because I was asked the question. I was shaking in my boot, but I told them. Later, the Lord rewarded me with a vision of the Lord puting a crown on my head and the words, "I give you a crown of courage, for what you said to....". God doesn't just reward us in the 'after this life' but 'today' also. When God rewards it is like a compliment. It makes you feel happy.
2006-12-05 16:46:58 · answer #3 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer the bolded question. Fear is what you are serving.
God says anything not of faith is fear.
Yes I do pray to God just to tell Him how marvelous He is.
And repent (at the moment we have a very severe drought, 2 Chron 7:14; Leviticus 26(first half of chapter))
I don't do good hoping for reward - if that was me I would have quit.
No it is not an expression of love to be frightened out of hell in to heaven. That is why I dislike it when people flippantly state "dude, you're goin to hell".
My Love for God motivates my life, I aren't big on rewards, however I have noticed that when you do what God wants out of love, there is blessings (but I also experienced 2 - 3years of hell on earth (not many clouds with silver lining). I learnt to love God even then.
2006-12-05 16:29:23 · answer #4 · answered by Abbasangel 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tonks is basically right: We do generally start on the road to God for reasons of self-preservation. But as we mature in Christ, our motivation undergoes a radical reshaping. The ultimate goal becomes to be more like Christ. The great part of this is that the more we do His Will, and become more like Him; loving and giving, the more He blesses us!
We just can't seem to stop being blessed, no matter how far away we get from our original, selfish act! Is this a great God, or what?
2006-12-05 16:37:28 · answer #5 · answered by therealme 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
oi, yeah, ppl do pray to God just to say ''i love you'' and not to ask for anything. that's called worshipping/praising.
Christians are to first, have faith, then good deeds.
1.) we're supposed to deny ourselves and follow Christ. christians are to be Christ-like (no, not necessarily miracles and all kinds'a stuff like that. you know what i mean, just don't sin, and do good when you see the opportunity.)
2.) but at the same time, not one person will EVER get into heaven based on good deeds he's done, and/or bad deeds he's refrained from. the only way anyone gets into heaven is by putting their faith in Jesus and accepting His gift of eternal life.
1 + 2 = so the harmony of the other two paragraphs is: ''love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.'' and the test of love is obedience. i could go on and on about stuff the bible talks about like
the foolish man built his house on the sand = he trusted in himself, and banked every aspect of his life based on his own efforts, thinking they were good enough.
and the wise man built his house on the rock = he trusted in Jesus and put every aspect of his life based on His efforts.
the point is humans will make hella mistakes, whether they're xtian or not. the xtian has this though: that he has banked all his hope on the promises of Jesus, and he tries his best to honour God with his life. i honestly wrestle with this a lot--getting my motives right, that is.
2006-12-05 16:23:55 · answer #6 · answered by phtokhos 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have a very good point! I can not speak for others and their motivation, only God knows what is in their hearts. Personally I think that a religious attitude based on fear of hell and hope for reward is rather immature. It can be a place to start, but no one should stay there.
2006-12-05 16:24:09 · answer #7 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe that God "rewards" people for anything. The Bible tells us that good deeds will not get a person into heaven, but believing in Jesus will. Personally, I love God and thank him for my struggles and triumphs.
God knows our hearts we cannot hide our true intentions from him.
2006-12-05 16:36:35 · answer #8 · answered by Jester 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reward is secondary. God sees through us and God knows who can get into His kingdom.
I tell you this: Those who do good things for God is an expression of love for Him. Those who wants the reward itself will not get into God's kingdom unless their hearts are set on fire for God.
So, to think of it. It's impossible to enter Heaven if you haven't loved God at all.
The motivation itself is God.
2006-12-05 16:32:10 · answer #9 · answered by archangel_renz 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think the way god will judge us is because as far out as you may think it sounds.god is a spirit right?he created us in his on image.the angels who were expelled from the most high heaven because satan wanted humans to worship him also more than god and the angles were mad because he created humas with free will so we may do as we wish were as the angles were created to serve god they have no free will.the demons of the earth invoke use or intice us to do the thing we want to do even though we know it's wrong,our freewill is supposed to be a thing to help deterr that but god knows we are as flesh very weak.i have asked myself how i can love something or someone i have never met .that is a good question.how do you love someting or someone you never met?i am still trying answer that.expression of love for God i would think would be to be kind to everyone!help those you can help.very hard to be a totally giving and helping person.some people are born naturals.my self.i believe in the one true god creater of all the heavens and the planets and the seas and lands and all the roam on it.one true god almight.he never told me his name either so thats how i talk to him..
2006-12-05 16:41:49 · answer #10 · answered by man behind blue eyes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋