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Following in the footsteps of the Acts of the
Apostles, written by St. Luke, Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry
exists by the grace of God to further the first century Apostolic tradition
serving in the Great Commission. |
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Virtue and Vice: Duty
Lewis provides an example of a drowning man upon observing, "we may have a duty to rescue." "It may be our duty to lose our own lives in saving him.” Lewis continues ... "If we live on a dangerous coast, it is our duty to learn lifesaving so as to be ready for any drowning man when he turns up. In contrast, Lewis argues, "The rescue of a drowning man is a duty worth dying for but not worth living for.” In the same way, “A man may have to die for his country, but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country.” As Christian believers our relationship towards God ward is as follows; "Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is." 1John 3:2 Our relations toward those who are currently in a lost state of sin without salvation and forgiveness are as follows; the message of God’s reconciliation through the Great Commission: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." St. Matthew 28:18-20 "Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned." St. Mark 16:15 "I submit that the mandated ministry of the Christian church, the Body of Christ, is that "…we plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” “God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God." 2Corinthians 5:20 Having been filled by the power of the Holy Spirit the Apostle St. Peter addressed the crowd. The response to St. Peter’s address was clear and direct “Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "What should we do, brothers?" Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.” Acts of the Apostles 2:37-41 “Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people…” 2Corinthians 5:11 “God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18 “In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 Christian Relationship Towards the World Our relation towards the world is a follows;” Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.” 1John 2:15-17 Christian Relationship With Living The Christian Life Our relation towards living the Christian life is as follows; "Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-5 “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 “But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 Christian Duty Towards His Neighbor Our duty towards our neighbor is as follows; Love. We learn from the Good Samaritan parable that everyone is our neighbor. St. Luke 10:36-37 Christian Duty Towards His God The duty towards God is found in the book of Ecclesiastes. "Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body. Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil”. Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 When the Lord Jesus was asked; "What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?" Jesus replied,” This is the deed God requires – to believe in the one whom he sent." St. John 6:28-29 “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." The Book of Acts 4:11-12 Christian Duty Defined What is Christian duty? To Love God, neighbor and following a new commandment that the Lord Jesus has left, Love one another... St. Matthew 22:36-39; St. John 13:34 Unbeliever’s Duty What is the non believer's duty? The nonbeliever’s duty is to simply repent and be baptized... “Having been filled by the power of the Holy Spirit the Apostle St. Peter addressed the crowd. The response to St. Peter’s address was clear and direct “Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "What should we do, brothers?" Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.” Acts of the Apostles 2:37-41 Lewis states, “A man may have to die for his country, but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country.” The Lion of Judah states,” If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." St. Mark 8:34; St. Matthew 16:24; St. Luke 9:23 In Weight of Glory, “Learning in War-Time”, under the subject of duty, Lewis suggests that "every duty is a religious duty and our obligation to perform every duty is therefore absolute." 2. Do you agree or disagree with Lewis following quote and why. Write @ least one paragraph. In contrast, Lewis argues, "The rescue of a drowning man is a duty worth dying for but not worth living for.” In the same way, “A man may have to die for his country, but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country.” 3. Recall a significant event in your life that you believe you did not live up to the duty you believe you ought to have. Now, take a moment and reflect on that event. Looking at this event now, weeks, months, or years later, write a note to you, to forgive yourself. Reflect on these events now checking the facts of the situation, perhaps you are blaming yourself without warrant. If this is the case let these pains go. In either case find something to do for someone else that may help them. Your reward will be in the giving. This may include friends, family or simply a stranger. Be kind to yourself. To share your thoughts please contact me at city_of_david_outreach@yahoo.com . |
