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Pastor Tim's Blog

Friday, December 04, 2009

 

Be good for goodness sake?

The American Humanist Association came out with their 2009 Christmas advertising last week. The irony is this organization usually wages war against Christmas traditions. Things like manger scenes in public places, Christmas carols sung in schools etc...all under the banner of separation of church and state. As you can see, the AHA ad features a bunch of smiling revelers wearing Santa caps in a pitch that looks like just about every other holiday come-on, complete with red-and-green color scheme. But the giveaway is the jolly message broadcast in capital letters:"NO GOD?. . . NO PROBLEM!" The slogan is followed by a more traditional Christmas sentiment, "Be good for goodness sake," but with this kicker: "Humanism is the idea that you can be good without a belief in God."
Can you be good without a belief in God? Of course. Atheists can do good things based on what culture says is good. Compared to what others do I can do good things and look good. We usually compare our goodness with someone elses badness and that makes us look better, right? Goodness is not exclusive to Christianity. No religion has a monopoly on goodness.

But here's the thing the AHA is missing and maybe a lot of other people: Good people don't go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven. People who have had their sins washed away go to heaven. And isn't that exactly what Jesus, the Messiah, came to do? The angel told Joseph, "She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). In Mary's song (The Magnificat) she says, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46). What great messages, Jesus will save us from our sins; God is our Savior.
Christmas is not just about being good; it's about being forgiven by God's indescribable gift, Jesus Christ.
Be good for goodness sake? No. I'm good because God is gracious. I'm good with God through His Son Jesus, are you?
Being good with God makes me good for God's sake; all through the year!


Merry Christmas!

Pastor Tim
PS - thanks Ginny for sending the article.

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