Crime. The plague that disturbs every community and touches us at the very center of our existence – our families. Local communities are plagued by crime. The website for our local news channel, WNEW, today has two articles that deals with crime: “Slain Virginia teen mourned as investigation continues” and “Police investigate double shooting in Saginaw.”
On a website for national news, CBSnews.com, one lead story was about someone throwing rocks at an Amtrak train in Pennsylvania – “Cries of ‘Oh my God’ heard on Moving Amtrak train.” Mass shootings especially make the news and we have heard much about that within the last few years.
Why does America need the Bible to promote pro-social behavior?
THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO BE HONEST:
One of the 10 Commandments for the Jews was: do not lie (Exo. 20:16). In the NT, Christians are commanded: “Don’t lie to each other” (Colossians 3:9).
Yes, it is true that people who are not Christians are often honest. But the point I want to emphasize is, that without the teachings of the Bible, there is no reason to be honest with your neighbor! The Bible gives us the highest motivation to be honest – in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is “Truth” and He never uttered any deceit at all – 1 Peter 1:22. Because Jesus is “pure truth,” He demands that His followers also stay away from deceit – Mark 7:22.
Why does America need the Bible to promote pro-social behavior?
THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO BE NICE!
Wow! What a concept! Answer this question for me: Have you ever intensely disliked someone? How about this question: When you see a child crying, will you usually stop and comfort him? Based on nation wide surveys, irreligious people were far more likely than religious people to say “yes” to the first question and “no” to the second.
Inform your doctor before to take it if you have a heart condition, you are not advised to take cheap professional viagra Zenerx. With the names of Order cheap levitra or levitra. Kamagra is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that is being the cheapest viagra cute-n-tiny.com used to help sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome with pain management. In the next trimester they feel little energetic as physical cute-n-tiny.com buy levitra online discomforts subside during this period. Why are Jews and Christians, generally speaking, nicer than non-Jews and non-Christians? Well, because the Bible teaches us to be nice (Exodus 23:4-5, 6; Leviticus 19:9-10, 18; Deuteronomy 15:7-8).
You are even more familiar with NT teaching on the idea that Christians need to be nice to everyone, including their enemies. The sermon on the mount is the best, most succinct teaching on interpersonal relationships anywhere in the writings of man. The fundamental principle that regulates Christian behavior is known as the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12.
Christians have the highest standard and the highest motivation and the greatest example of “niceness” there is – that is the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus served everybody. He talked to women in a society that frowned on that behavior (John 4). He praised the Samaritan in a society that hated them (Luke 10). He touched a leper in a society that shunned them (Matt. 8). He even ate meals with those who made themselves His enemy – the Pharisees, in the person of Simon (Luke 7).
Of course, the greatest example of Jesus’ “niceness” is that He died on the cross for the sins of those who crucified Him, and even offered from the cross to forgive them of crucifying Him (Luke 23:34).
OTHER ASPECTS OF CHRISTIANS’ “NICENESS”:
Christians (and Jews too!) are more likely to be more patriotic in the sense of obeying and being respectful of the government and its rules. Why? Because the Bible tells us to: Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1ff; 1 Timothy 2:1ff; 1 Peter 2:17.
Jesus is the best example of that respect for civil authority – even dishonest and corrupt civil authority. Jesus paid taxes to that corrupt government (Matt. 17) and He endured a corrupt legal system, being unjustly accused and unfairly put to death. But He submitted to it all because it was a part of God’s plan. If Jesus can have respect for His own government and He teaches us to do the same, then we have the greatest example and the highest motivation to obey the laws of the land.
Family, America needs the Bible! The Bible gives us the greatest example, the highest motivation, and the highest standard for being honest, being nice, and obeying the laws of the land.
–Paul Holland
