Some Communists think Christianity and communism have many of the same ideals: equality, sharing, and justice. Yet the Marxists pursuit of that vision in the Soviet Union had produced the worst nightmares the world has ever seen. Why?
Seventy some years of communism in the Soviet Union had proved beyond all doubt that goodness could not be legislated from the Kremlin and enforced at the point of a gun. Goodness simply cannot be imposed externally, from the top down; it must grow internally, from the bottom up.
God’s power, in contrast, is internal and noncoercive. Such power may seem at times like weakness. God made himself weak for one purpose: to let human beings choose freely for themselves what to do with him.
I have ideas similar to those expressed above. But Philip Yancy expressed them much more succinctly than I ever could, in his book “The Jesus I Never Knew”. Highly recommended.
I think that it also shows that goodness is not inherent in people; that human beings are by nature evil. Take away the social taboos governing how one should behave, and the consequences for misbehavior, and you will end up with a pack of monsters.
Giving a person choices or "free will" involves a lot of love. State clearly the consequences of the choices, make known your preference, and still let the other party decide, knowing full well that the decision and outcome may break your heart. Being a parent, I'm beginning to have a little sense of the magnitude of such love, which is love raised to the power infinity, and that means I'm still infinity away from grasping its magnitude. I cannot love with such love, but that's how God loves me.
We are incapable. But God has demonstrated that He is. And He is ready to help us do it. If only we are willing. How nice it is for us all to be willing!
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I think that it also shows that goodness is not inherent in people; that human beings are by nature evil. Take away the social taboos governing how one should behave, and the consequences for misbehavior, and you will end up with a pack of monsters.
Maybe I am too cynical? :-)
Giving a person choices or "free will" involves a lot of love. State clearly the consequences of the choices, make known your preference, and still let the other party decide, knowing full well that the decision and outcome may break your heart. Being a parent, I'm beginning to have a little sense of the magnitude of such love, which is love raised to the power infinity, and that means I'm still infinity away from grasping its magnitude. I cannot love with such love, but that's how God loves me.
We are incapable. But God has demonstrated that He is. And He is ready to help us do it. If only we are willing. How nice it is for us all to be willing!
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in
the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information
to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
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