TheFightForGoodAndOtherMatters

Lately I have been contemplating good. That's it. Good. What in the world does that word even mean? Who defines "good?" Is it all up to interpretation? Up to the individual to decide? But then there is this other "good" that everyone agrees on. This go-happy "good" that comes from the heart. The heart of man?

The thing is that I live in a strange time in history. A time were Christian charity and random acts of kindness, compassion, generosity, etc is common....Well, common enough to not be considered anything all that great. But you have to think about it. Back then before America was established you weren't raised or taught the things of the Bible; people didn't have charity or goodness to give. In fact, any one who is oblivious to the teachings of the Bible is oblivious to the very essence of American spirit. Charity, generosity, and all around compassion are foreign to every human heart. It is only through the teachings of the Bible do we even have light to these awesome ideals. Yet here we are in the 21st century of America and we have extracted the amazing teachings of the Bible and integrated them into society. By doing this we have somehow shoved God out of the picture and simply have this raw Biblical teaching without the Teacher. I dub this "Christian Secularism." 

It is extremely confusing. Goodness only comes from Him, but so many Americans believe that everyone is "good" and we should follow our hearts. "Follow your heart." A very popular theme in children's cartoons. But in the Bible we are taught that the heart of man is extremely wicked, so wicked that we can't even comprehend it. Not only are our hearts wicked, but it is impossible to do good when you are separate from God. Wait. That doesn't make sense, right? I mean, we have seen many people who aren't Christians do good, right? Well, yes, to human eyes. But what about God's eyes? God sees their hearts and their motives. No doubt they expected some sort of gain or compensation for their deed. When the Bible talks about good I think it is talking about genuine humility. Doing something for someone without expecting a single thing in return. Genuine goodness can only stem from the source of goodness. A wicked and defiled ground such as the human heart can't possibly sprout the plant known as goodness, can it? I think not.

It is the same with love. America has taken so many wonderful things from the Bible and has shared it with its people. But through time we managed to take the teachings and attitudes and strip God away from it all. Leaving us this bare list of goods and bads that leave us empty. Why should we do good things? So we in turn feel good? There you have it. Without God all good is in vain. It is sad, but true. When you don't have a source for your goodness you can give no goodness, no love, no generosity, compassion, the whole works. By the way, when I say love I mean unconditional love of caring, kindness, and unending devotion and service to the one in question. Can a person separated from God achieve such a love? No, I am sorry. You can't. 

This all brings me to my final conclusion. Anything good, anything noteworthy, anything praiseworthy is only possible when you have the source to all of it: God, Jesus. So the next time you do a random act of kindness or tell someone you love them.....Think about it. I mean, REALLY think about what you said or did. Why did you say or do it? Answer the question! Goodness comes from God, and God alone. Whenever I do something good or tell someone I love them I want to focus on God. Not on anything or anybody else. I want to do good and love others for Him and for my loved ones (as a Christian my loved ones should cover every human on this planet). Without Him it is impossible for me to do a shred of good on this Earth.

Guys, let's all do what we were created to do: Please Him. 

Take it away Sam!