Seeking the truth...

The World Vision fiasco has had more than its fair share of commenters, but it's too important an issue for me to leave alone without saying something about it. I am furious at the actions of some in response to World Vision's decision. I can understand that some would not want to support World Vision in the future with new child sponsorships or other types of funding. Everyone has the right to channel their money to organizations they agree with. But the decision of some to pull already existing child sponsorships is utterly despicable. How dare you harm a needy child because you disagree with a position held by an organization giving life saving aid. What's more important? I think the words of Jesus in Matthew 23 are apropriate. 23  ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. ...

Again, n ormally I post the text of the passage in the post, but this passage is a little long so I will just link to it,  here . While this won't be a long post, I think its worth while to flesh out the main point of verses 16-21 a bit more fully. As Protestants I think we have a tendency to assume the doctrine of justification by faith without closing examining what the relevant texts actually say. I think this text is a classic case in point. We read that 'whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life' and think, ok, case closed. But, as I pointed out in my last post, if you finish reading the paragraph you will get a different picture. Faith is presented as being the outcome of a life or character that is holy. Those who are holy come to the light, they come to Jesus because they have nothing to fear. There is nothing that they are afraid of being exposed. Commonly Protestants will claim that the good works God requires flow from faith. John is ...