Is there really a distinction between what you call “personal holiness” and “actions.” I don’t think so, at least not according to Judaism. The positive commandments are just as significant as the negative ones: for example, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” In the Torah, there are 248 positive commandments and 365 negative commandments, and they are all important.No the first duty of all Christians is to do no evil. Look at the 10 commandments. 8 out of 10 are prohibitory. Saying that does not mean actions are not necessary. It means you are expected to change your life so that you are doing no evil. I don’t know about you but for most people that takes radical change and a lot of work. I did not mean to say no action was necessary. I meant to say that personal holiness takes a lot of work.
perhaps we misunderstand each other. I am saying precisely that personal holiness takes a lot of action even if you just consider the personal aspects of the faith. Never mind the beatitudes or corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Even if you just consider “the bear minimum” you are talking about a lot of works. You are talking about changing the course of your life. I don’t think in the end you can take this view for every long however. Quickly you will have to move into the obvious nature of Christian life which is necessarily work orientated. Weather you believe that the works are a response by you to the faith you were freely given or necessarily flow from the faith you were freely given, that no man can get for himself, is really a fairly minor distinction. We are splitting hairs here. If you have the faith works will follow its the proof of the pudding.Is there really a distinction between what you call “personal holiness” and “actions.” I don’t think so, at least not according to Judaism. The positive commandments are just as significant as the negative ones: for example, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” In the Torah, there are 248 positive commandments and 365 negative commandments, and they are all important.
I think this is a good time to point out that the first duty off all Christians is to DO no evil. At least that is how the Catholic church has always taught it.
I don’t think so, It think the first duty of a Christian is to love and that requires action. But there is a point, that we were all made uniquely for certain tasks, and how one person loves most perfectly will be different from how another loves. Some were called to be priests, others teachers, other doers of mighty deeds…
down under…No the first duty of all Christians is to do no evil. Look at the 10 commandments. 8 out of 10 are prohibitory. Saying that does not mean actions are not necessary. It means you are expected to change your life so that you are doing no evil. I don’t know about you but for most people that takes radical change and a lot of work. I did not mean to say no action was necessary. I meant to say that personal holiness takes a lot of work.
I would add as evidence, Jesus’ discussion on the Final Judgement in Matthew 25:31-46. As you know, Jesus separates the sheep (those who go to heaven) from the Goats (those condemned to hell) in this passage. Both groups could claim to have done no evil. His criteria is whether they loved the least of their neighbors.down under…
I have to agree with paul c here. Our first duty is to Love. I say that because, while you rightly point to the 10 commandments - I will point to Mt 22:36-40 where Jesus tells us that root and basis for the 10, and indeed for all the law and the prophets is Love.
So - the first duty is to love…and all the rest is provided as a guide in how to recognize, grow and implement that Love.
Now - having said that - it is easy to see that while we are spiritual children - like Paul referred to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 3:2 - it is necessary and good that we learn to “do no evil” as a first step in learning to Love.
Perhaps this is what you were referring to. That recognizing, understanding and subduing these negatives from our lives is the first step in our spiritual growth.
Peace
James