Comments on: What Would Jesus Do — or not? http://www.pacc.org/blog/2009/06/11/what-would-jesus-do-or-not/ Looking with non-artificial intelligence Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:32:24 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Susan http://www.pacc.org/blog/2009/06/11/what-would-jesus-do-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-1651 Susan Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:34:59 +0000 http://www.pacc.org/blog/?p=295#comment-1651 What a lovely line: "even quiet goodness leaves its mark." That is so true. An intentional follower of Jesus doesn't have to be splashy and loud to be a potent influence as salt and light in the world. What a lovely line: “even quiet goodness leaves its mark.” That is so true. An intentional follower of Jesus doesn’t have to be splashy and loud to be a potent influence as salt and light in the world.

]]> By: Bill http://www.pacc.org/blog/2009/06/11/what-would-jesus-do-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-1647 Bill Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:05:28 +0000 http://www.pacc.org/blog/?p=295#comment-1647 The Christian stereotype you speak of may be an American one. It is not that way in other parts of the world. Some places, India, Japan, China, Russia... I am familiar with see Christians as making the world a better place...indeed being salt and light. We need to see Christians the way the world sees us, not just the way Americans do. As for what Jesus is calling me to do - I'll tell you what is on my list if you'll tell me what's on yours. The Christian stereotype you speak of may be an American one. It is not that way in other parts of the world.

Some places, India, Japan, China, Russia… I am familiar with see Christians as making the world a better place…indeed being salt and light.

We need to see Christians the way the world sees us, not just the way Americans do.

As for what Jesus is calling me to do – I’ll tell you what is on my list if you’ll tell me what’s on yours.

]]> By: Kathy Gormish http://www.pacc.org/blog/2009/06/11/what-would-jesus-do-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-1646 Kathy Gormish Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:26:45 +0000 http://www.pacc.org/blog/?p=295#comment-1646 I recently read "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And I, too, am surprised that Amazon reviewers felt it was anti-religious, because of one judgmental Christian woman. Without ever consciously thinking about it, I had assumed that most of the Guernsey islanders were Christian. Given the historical setting, it would be unlikely to be otherwise. And most of them were portrayed as doing what they could to help each other. I don't know if the general view of Christians is a negative stereotype. I certainly hope not. With the larger number of people in the present day who are not practicing Christians, it is possible that Christians are thought of more as people who have to follow rules than as people who live in the freedom of God's love. Vivian's point is excellent when she quotes Alex and Brett as saying, "We're supposed to pursue righteousness in a way that others will want to imitate." There used to be a monthly magazine, "God's Word Today," published by George Martin, who also wrote many of the issues' daily reflections. In the March 1991 issue on The Sermon on the Mount that I decided to use again this month, he writes, "Those whom the Beatitudes describe are like salt and light to the world. Those who set their hearts on living in the way that Jesus pronounces blessed, and who carry through in action, will be noticeable in a world that is sadly insipid and darkened. Those whom Jesus calls blessed will stand out not because they are striving to be honored and famous but because even quiet goodness leaves its mark." I recently read “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And I, too, am surprised that Amazon reviewers felt it was anti-religious, because of one judgmental Christian woman. Without ever consciously thinking about it, I had assumed that most of the Guernsey islanders were Christian. Given the historical setting, it would be unlikely to be otherwise. And most of them were portrayed as doing what they could to help each other.

I don’t know if the general view of Christians is a negative stereotype. I certainly hope not. With the larger number of people in the present day who are not practicing Christians, it is possible that Christians are thought of more as people who have to follow rules than as people who live in the freedom of God’s love.

Vivian’s point is excellent when she quotes Alex and Brett as saying, “We’re supposed to pursue righteousness in a way that others will want to imitate.” There used to be a monthly magazine, “God’s Word Today,” published by George Martin, who also wrote many of the issues’ daily reflections. In the March 1991 issue on The Sermon on the Mount that I decided to use again this month, he writes, “Those whom the Beatitudes describe are like salt and light to the world. Those who set their hearts on living in the way that Jesus pronounces blessed, and who carry through in action, will be noticeable in a world that is sadly insipid and darkened. Those whom Jesus calls blessed will stand out not because they are striving to be honored and famous but because even quiet goodness leaves its mark.”

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