So there is something that we like about the attitude of tolerance. A phrase like ‘absolute moral standard’ sounds very extreme and irrelevant especially in our culture until we look and see that moral freedom is taken away everyday across the world and even in our own country. An ‘absolute moral standard’ means that certain things are right and wrong, not just for one person, but also for everyone, all the time. From a logical standpoint, if there is no universal moral standard, then tragic and horrific events would have to be deemed justified. Like the holocaust, slavery, human sex trafficking. But, WHAT?? We know those things are wrong. But then, is there an ‘absolute moral standard’? This begs the question then, IF I BELIEVE IN GOD, HOW SHOULD THAT AFFECT MY MORALS?
Here is our passage for this week:
Matthew 25:31-46
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Questions:
-How does Jesus describe the actions of those who follow (the sheep)?
-Let’s put those sheep into modern times, what do you suppose he was involved in?
-How does Jesus describe the actions of those who were not genuine followers (the goats)?
-The ‘least of these’ is mentioned a lot in this passage. Who are ‘the least of these’?
-Does Jesus’ teaching match up with what you would have thought the moral stand is supposed to be for a person who believes in Jesus?
-Moral behavior is completely related to how we treat people. How does that impact the way you live?
Jesus descibes the actions of his followers (the sheeps) as people who helped one another in their time of need, those who were selfish (the goats)and didnt not help their fellow brothers were punished in enternal life.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you started off this section because you raised excellent points like
moral freedoms being taking away everyday around the world (even in America)
-"absolute moral standard"
as belivers in Christ what do we accept as absolute moral standards?
-"whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers of mine, you did for me".whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46"
THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED IN THE BEGINNING:IF I BELIEVE IN GOD, HOW SHOULD THAT AFFECT MY MORALS?
ReplyDeleteI THINK IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD YOUR MORAL VALUES WILL BE GREATLY AFFECTED. HELPING OTHERS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED AND TREATING EVERYONE AS IF THEY ARE YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER.
I THINK IN TODAY'S WORLD IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT PEOPLE LACK THIS MORAL VALUE, EVERYONE GETS A CAUGHT UP THINKING ABOUT THEMSELVES RATHER THAN TRYING TO HELP OTHERS.
THE LORD TEACHES US TO HELP EACHOTHER, AND ONCE THE WORLD REALIZES THIS AND PUTS IT INTO EFFECT, THIS WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE!