Are Today's Churches teaching selfishness?

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   SpiritusShepherdposted 9 years ago

   Are Today's Churches teaching selfishness?
   
   Many churches today teach that we need to "do good works for God" and that if we do this good works "we will be rewarded".
   If we are doing good works simply to make God happy so we can get rewarded aren't we only serving ourselves?
   Does this not break the command to "love our neighbor"?

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   LoliHeyposted 9 years ago

   Whatever church is teaching that you should do works to make God happy and get rewarded are teaching false doctrine.  You should do right by God and try to please Him, but you won't get into heaven because of it.  Nothing anyone can do will fully please God, because, as you say (and you are correct) most motivations are selfish whether we realize them or not.  That is because the heart is really wicked.

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      SpiritusShepherdposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Those who teach this are often very subtle about it.
      Most do not understand that good works are horizontal, done to meet the needs of our neighbors. Not vertical, done for God, for it is not God who needs our works.

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      LoliHeyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      True, but we're called to glorify God through our works.

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      SpiritusShepherdposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, but not by doing good works with the intention to bring Glory to God, but when we do good works for our neighbors we give glory to God for his blessings that allows us to serve and we cause God's name to be glorified among unbelievers.

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   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   
   
   I suppose the purpose of any church or religion is teach it's followers what they must do in order to please God and get into heaven.
   Those who fail to abide by God's law supposedly go to hell.
   Just as with man's law if one refuses to obey they are punished.
   One old adage is: "The first law of nature is self preservation."
   It's human nature to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
   In the U.S. making charitable donations is a tax deduction. It's the government's way of encouraging people to make donations.
   Numerous times in the bible there is mentioned instances of people being {rewarded} for their good deeds or obeying God.
   It's not a something for nothing world.
   One can sit around and "question" charitable causes and good deeds or be grateful there is help regardless of the helper's motivation. If they're only doing it to get into heaven so be it.

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   Titen-Sxullposted 9 years ago

   People like Joel Osteen, and other popular Mega Evangelists like to preach what is called the "prosperity Gospel" where you will be blessed if you donate money to them. Essentially they are repackaging religious beliefs as a get rich quick scheme. The idea is that God will bless you BUT only if you sow money into their ministries.
   
   The whole thing is a scam, of course, so that televangelists can continue to buy their million dollar jets and stay in hotel suites.
   
   Apparently these millionaire preachers forgot the verse that says that it will be harder for them to get into Heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

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      Eldercurkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      If  we live right God will bless us anyway, sowing into the kingdom is essential, but to give with the wrong intentions is not right. Giving is very necessary if we give with good intentions.

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   Norine Williamsposted 9 years ago

   What “man” thinks he can “outwork” or “outdo” GOD? Didn’t Jn 14:26 say, the Holy Spirit “…shall teach you “ALL” things..?” What part of “ALL” does one not understand or is it NO ONE “BELIEVES” Scriptures? That’s why we have so many “disgruntled Christians” who have found it “very difficult” to “obey” all of those “do’s and don’t’s” in Bible & sometimes “turn back!”  I’m with you, if trying to “obey” WORD “in the flesh” (Gal 5:16)! Jesus told the disciples (us) in Acts 1:4 to “…WAIT…” for the HELPER (Holy Spirit) who “…shall teach you “ALL” things…” & MOST didn’t, finding it “very difficult” to “obey!”“IF” one “WAITED,” the anointing of the Holy Spirit gives “POWER” (Acts 1:8) to “do” what IS WRITTEN in HIS WORD! After “Studying,” “Believing,” & “Having Faith,” the LOVE (anointing) from HIM will “automatically” make you “…forget those things which are behind (sin), & reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize (reward) of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14)! In other words, “doing good works for God” & “Love thou neighbor” are “automatic, “IF” one “WAITED!” I ask, if our earthly father “rewards us “for righteousness, how much more do you think our Heavenly Father will “reward” us? Rewards from our Heavenly Father are FAITHFUL &  “AUTOMATIC” unlike our earthly father. GOD IS SO TIRED OF “RELIGION” who has “taught” one must “WORK” when, in fact, “IF” one “WAITED” it’s “automatic” for Holy Spirit HELPS! I Corinthians 15:9 says, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” So did I! Did I “WORK” for salvation? NO!  Eph 2:8-9 says, “For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; & NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the “GIFT” of God: Not of “WORKS,” lest any many should BOAST.” All I did was got tired of “doing it my way” & always “getting the same results (NOTHING), “humbled myself” (I Chron7:14), remembered the days of my youth (Prov 22:6), “Studied,” “Believed,” had “FAITH” in HIS WORD, asked HIM into my life, “WAITED,” & HERE I AM! You want to know our “WORKS?” Heb 4:11 says ,“Let us “LABOUR” (“WORK”) therefore to enter into that “REST…” Did you hear that? We “WORK” by “BELIEVING, HAVING FAITH, & “RESTING” in what HE has said! Ex: If doctor came to you & told you, “You only have 3 mos to live," you “WORK” by STANDING on HIS WORD & say, “That’s not what MY GOD said! HE said in Isaiah 53:5 “with HIS stripes we ARE healed!” 'WORK!"

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