I`m not saying that Christians can`t do good for the sake of doing good. That would be absurd. My question is - can an act of good will done because God commanded it or because a person wants to be a good Christian - be considered alturistic?
That includes all of the Christian charity drives, Mother teresa missions, etc...
2007-10-29 11:36:31 · 14 answers · asked by Future 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, no, I suppose it wouldn't be altruistic...
but altruism isn't necessarily the only definition for "good" either.
2007-10-29 11:39:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
OK, I'm a follower of Jesus Christ for almost 40 years. You really ask what should be our motives for giving to Christian charities. As a follower of Jesus Christ, if anything then God's love moves me to compassionate action, it's good for nothing. But the bigger question is: Do we really give sacrificial? Would we give if we dont get a tax receipt? By the way this is an exclusive thing in Northamerica. I have a birthday coming up. My son asked me what I want. My reply was, "Send the amount you plan to spend to a Christian agency spreading the Gospel of Christ in Turkey." And all of you...pack a shoebox this week as part of the Samaritan Purse Operation Christmas Child.
2007-10-30 08:17:37 · answer #2 · answered by swissman711 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+PAX
First, any act of charity done must be done for the love of God and no other reason in order for it to be altruistic.
Taking pride in what you have done is not part of being altruistic and blabbing it all over the place for 3 weeks before you hand out the muffins or sandwiches is not being altruistic.
I would say yes. It could be considered SOME Christian works and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta are altruistic.
The man who jumps in the freezing water of a river to rescue passengers of a downed airliner, I'll promise isn't thinking of himself. That is an altruistic act....one he could die from.
The Nun who knowingly and willingly takes the hand of an Ebola patient to give them comfort is altruistic.
St. Max Kolbe who took the place of a young man and father to be killed at Auschwitz was altruistic.
I often wonder, how many of us would have that altruistic streak in us, should we be asked? How many of us would really say "Yes"?
In His Love,
j
2007-10-29 19:11:47 · answer #3 · answered by teresa_benedicta_of_the_cross 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry, I don't get the question ... you're asking if an act of good will can be done for unselfish purposes? Isn't that sort of the point of doing good will?
I suppose people can go about doing good and have a selfish reason for doing so, but I can't imagine what that might be, except perhaps to receive glory.
2007-10-29 18:42:10 · answer #4 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christian heart once converted is Altuistic. For it is told to us that freely we have received and freely we give. These acts are not done out of necessity for salvation but because we are changed in the inner man who now has a generous spirit.
God bless.
2007-10-29 18:46:07 · answer #5 · answered by Bobby B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people go about doing things in the Name of God...yet are not serving God....and many are serving God....yet not doing anything..............So...who is in the right?? One who is alturistic...or one who waits to do for benefit of others lead by God rather then themselves ??
2007-10-29 18:41:59 · answer #6 · answered by hghostinme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to this is found in the New Testament - look up: Hebrews 6:10
David C
2007-10-30 11:39:21 · answer #7 · answered by David C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's see --- when the Spaniards invaded South America - they stole all the gold, burnt and destroyed everything they could of the native culture - all because they thought it was the work of the devil.
And it was common for the missionaires to do this....
What is your own feeling about this?
Would you like this to be done to you? Your country and culture?
2007-10-29 19:13:31 · answer #8 · answered by TruthBox 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not if they do it because they want to score brownie points with the Big Guy. But they are human and I assume capable of ordinary compassion. That would be altruism.
2007-10-29 18:40:23 · answer #9 · answered by Chris 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. We have to ask that of ourselves sometimes. "Am I doing this because I think I will be rewarded, or because I am a genuinely good person?" The first one applies to most people.
2007-10-29 18:40:14 · answer #10 · answered by Michael 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
everyone does good will acts because doing good makes them feel good.
is that not altruistic...because they get a good feeling? is it selfish helping others if you feel good helping other? if you feel good helping others, maybe you shouldn't do it? i mean, what are you trying to say here. you have to be miserable while doing a good act for it to be altruistic?
2007-10-29 18:41:18 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋