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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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For Goodness Sake... Last month the American Humanist Association unveiled a $40,000 holiday ad campaign to promote its ideals to others. The AHA has produced ads that are currently appearing on Washington D.C. buses proclaiming, “Why
believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’
sake.” Many will recognize some of these words (“be good for goodness’ sake”) as those from the song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The campaign is designed to counteract the association of the Christmas holidays with traditional religion. Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group, explained their intentions saying, “We are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people’s minds.” Speaking of rational thought and critical thinking, consider the following question: “From
where does morality originate?” The answer is that morality either comes from matter, man, or God.... Morality cannot come from MATTER. What can a rock teach us about good and evil? Obviously, nothing! The AHA and others suggest that morality must come from MAN. The AHA defines humanism as “a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.” But still there are the issues of “What is ethical?” and “What is moral?” It is undisputed that man has a sense of “ought.” Every person has a conscience that operates based upon the standard that he/she has accepted for one’s conduct. From where did this capacity for what one “ought” and “ought not” to do originate? Friends, our sense of “ought,” our consciences, are evidence that we were created by a Moral Creator. This Creator the Bible calls, “God.” As American Family Association President Tim Wildmon has stated, “God in His Word, the Bible, tells us what’s GOOD and BAD; RIGHT and WRONG. If we are each ourselves defining what’s good, it’s going to be a crazy world.” God has given us not only the capacity to know what’s right and wrong, He has also given us the Standard of Morality: His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As we compare ourselves with THE Standard of Morality which reflects the holiness of God Himself, we come to a painful realization: we are not good! "There is none righteous, no, not one … There is none who does good, no, not one. For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 12, 23). But
God is Good AND Loving.
He sent His Son to die on the cross as payment
for our sins (Ephesians 1:7).
He is ready and willing to forgive our sins if
we will believe Trust and obey Christ for your soul’s sake. Then be good, for God’s sake! -- David A. Sargent, Minister Church
of Christ at Creekwood To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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