Morality in scripture

[Catholic_Mike]

Some non-Chrisitans occasionally stereotype Christians as acting morally mostly/only because of fear of hell (yes, all those scary homilies) or hope of reaching heaven.

I am going to explain otherwise to one of them, and while it isn’t necessary, it could be a lot easier if I had a passage of the Bible that speaks to this. Does anyone know of anything in scripture that talks about acting in a loving/moral manner with no thought of reward?

 

[tee_eff_em]

The parable of the sheep and the goats.

While the goats may seem to have been oblivious in life, equally so the sheep. They too ask “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?” If they didn’t recognize Our Lord in the least of his brethren at the time, I can’t see how they could be said to have been motivated by either the fear of Hell nor the desire for Heaven.

:twocents:
tee

 

[trogiah]

Catholic_Mike:

Some non-Chrisitans occasionally stereotype Christians as acting morally mostly/only because of fear of hell (yes, all those scary homilies) or hope of reaching heaven.

I am going to explain otherwise to one of them, and while it isn’t necessary, it could be a lot easier if I had a passage of the Bible that speaks to this. Does anyone know of anything in scripture that talks about acting in a loving/moral manner with no thought of reward?

I have to say, for the record, that I do follow Jesus and his teachings because I believe in the reward. I think Jesus was in no way misleading when he promised a reward to those that gave up everything to follow him.

I should add that I don’t believe there is anything at all wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with self-interest. The problem is people often don’t really know where following their desires will take them.
what we all need is enlightened self-interest.

Enlightened self-interest includes recognizing that all people are part of one family and are- at least potentially, God’s children. Those acting out of enlightened self-interest will not forget that.

peace

-Jim

 

[Joysong]

Eze. 36:26:

I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. [The sense is that they will keep the decrees, not by stoicly observing laws, but by the Holy Spirit of God]

Read also Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones in chapter 37. Vs. 5: "See! I will bring spirit into you that you may come to life: Vs. 6: “… and know that I am the Lord.”

 

[mspencer]

Perhaps you will like these lines in 1 Jn 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.”
Still, I recall the line too, “fear is the beginning of wisdom.” How many of us have perfect love? It is wise in such a case to fear offending God and in fact it is simply an acknowledgement of reality to fear eternal punishment. I don’t think it would be unwise either to fear going into Central Park when it is dark for example, it is simply an acknowledgement of reality. Fear can be useful.

Catholic_Mike:

Some non-Chrisitans occasionally stereotype Christians as acting morally mostly/only because of fear of hell (yes, all those scary homilies) or hope of reaching heaven.

I am going to explain otherwise to one of them, and while it isn’t necessary, it could be a lot easier if I had a passage of the Bible that speaks to this. Does anyone know of anything in scripture that talks about acting in a loving/moral manner with no thought of reward?

 

[Steven_Merten]

Hello Catholic Mike,

To obey God’s commandments is to love God. Yes, those who love God, through obedience to His commands go to heaven. Yes those who do not repent from hatred for God, through disobedience to His commands, go to hell. Still I cannot help but feel that a great many people obey God, in general, out of love for God.

Please visit www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com

INT 1JO 5:3
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.INT JOH 14:15

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." **INT JOH 14:23 **

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

**NAB JOH 15:22 **

“If I had not come to them and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; now, however, their sin cannot be excused. To hate me is to hate my Father. Had I not performed such works among them as no one has ever done before, they would not be guilty of sin; but as it is, they have seen, and they go on hating me and my Father.”