Journal 3: Jesus� Morality

 

1) The key idea about the Morality of Jesus presented in this section is the way Jesus lived and taught: love everyone. Of all the things Jesus said and did during his life, the majority of it was spent on social relationships. He treated every single person with love and respect. While he supported the 10 Commandments, he offered his own, more difficult to follow standards in the Beatitudes, which center around love. Jesus� teachings can be summed up by the golden rule �Treat others as you would have them treat you.� That�s what Jesus wants us to do, be selfless, live for everyone else in the world, not for our selves.

 

2) A) The first four chapters of C.S. Lewis� book, Mere Christianity, give very logical arguments for an objective morality. The most obvious and clear instance he gives of this is in the arguments we observe. Arguments can often be based off some apparent encroachment to some kind of moral law we are all expected to know. If we all seem to appeal to this moral law, there must be something more to it. It is also interesting to note that we hear this embedded moral voice tell us what to do, but we don�t always listen to it. We know that this instinct isn�t just telling us to do what is convenient, because good deeds typically aren�t easy. I think C.S. Lewis� convincing, sensible arguments provide a good basis for faith. It also provides an argument that I can use in college if there are a lot of people who believe in relative morality in college as you, Mr. Sciuto, have said there is.

 

B) The Beatitudes are very interesting new states to strive for. The Beatitudes are: Blessed are the poor in spirit, the sorrowing, they who hunger, the merciful, the single-hearted, the peacemakers, those persecuted for holiness� sake, and the lowly. Every Beatitude gives descriptions of something that comes out of selfless love and care for everyone else, which is exactly what Jesus wants us to do. If you care more for the well-being of everyone than for your self (which is selflessness) then you would rather let them have enough food than yourself, and you will be hungry. You�ll want peace so everyone isn�t at each other�s throat, it is better for humanity. This is how every Beatitude works. They are very lofty goals, but I like that they are so lofty, it means that if you are expected to fail, the only goal you have to meet is your own.

 

C) I like the side of Jesus� morality that William J. O�Malley brings to our attention. He points out Jesus� emphasis on forgiveness. The thing that Jesus really gets upset about is the Pharisees who refuse to see anything wrong in what they are doing. They are not sorry for the bad things that they have done. Those Jesus forgives and seems more happy with are those who acknowledge they�ve done wrong, and are deeply sorry about it. There are many Biblical references to instances of this, such as the woman �known as a sinner� who cries at Jesus� feet and washes them. She shows that she is sorry, and so Jesus forgives her. Jesus also doesn�t talk about the judgment day very often. In contrast he talks about forgiveness a lot. Jesus doesn�t expect us to be perfect, but to try, and to acknowledge when we have failed. I like to believe in such a compassionate, understanding, and loving God.

 

3)

This is from http://www.ruralrail-france.com/ngsteam.html.

This picture of Le Chambon's train station reminds me of the inspiring story of the residents of this town during Nazi occupation of France who risked their lives to do what was right and protect the Jewish people.

 

4) Christians are those who believe that Jesus was our savior, and try to follow in his foot steps. I�d like to call myself a Christian, because I do believe in Jesus Christ, but I do not make as much of an attempt to be like him as I could. My �pre-sermon survey� shows just how far away I am from Jesus in my actions I really am. An evaluation of my actions shows that I almost never do what Jesus would like. I usually think of acting differently then I do, but I decide to go the easier way. This sets me far away from Jesus. It seems that being a Christian only affects my morality in that I know the right path, and I feel bad for not taking it, but it doesn�t affect my actions very much.

 

5) To be a better Christian it seems rather simple that all I have to do is do what I know Jesus would like me to do, because I can usually tell. It is just easier said than done. It would be best for me to take baby steps first. This would mean something like picking up trash in the halls instead of acting like I don�t see it, or complimenting people when they do something well. I should also stop making fun of people. From there I could do more and more difficult or inconvenient things to help people. Hopefully I�ll eventually be able to stick up for someone my friends make fun of or who is being picked on in the halls.

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