Real Altruism: God So Loved the World. . .
By Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher
There’s been some confusing discussions about altruism recently, which fail to recognize the source of altruism and the tremendous difference which that Source made to civilization. That Source, of course, is the Creator of the universe, who by creating man in His loving image, gave man extraordinary value.
Then, in the midst of man’s choosing to live in a fallen world (where the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy), the Creator loved man so much that He gave His son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty and give us abundant life and eternal life incredible value (John 3:16 and 10:10). The only way we can respond to that divine gift is an attitude of gratitude and faith.
Jesus redeemed us so we could love our neighbor as ourselves. Out of this love, Christians went on to rescue the orphans and start orphanages, rescue the sick and dying and start hospitals, rescue the wounded on the battlefield, and rescue the abused by celebrating the secure joy of marriage, and by passing on to us the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-26).
Of course, the term Christian today sometimes can be confusing. Just because you’re standing in a car park doesn’t make you a car; just because you’re in a stable doesn’t make you a horse…or, whatever you want to use as an analogy.
So, there are many people, who go to buildings which are called churches, who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, although He died and gave His life to redeem all of them. To have that special personal relationship, they need to accept Him, as LORD and Savior. The mark of that relationship is the power of that grace in their life, which is the power of loving your neighbor as yourselves, such as Mother Teresa taking care of the lepers and the dying in India, or Dr. Livingston rescuing the outcasts in Africa, or the thousands of other Christians who have given their lives to help others with no thought of return.
A Christian, who has the power of grace, is on a rescue mission to rescue people from the adversary who comes to steal, kill and destroy. That is real altruism.
The confusion is that God has no grandchildren. So, unlike an ethnic identity, a Christian’s identity is only determined by their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Looking at those who are Christians, you see history full of people who have brought beauty, art, moral government, love, care, medicine, science, and great achievements to the world. Looking at the world of Non-Christians, you see a modern history filled with socialist atheists who brought more deaths in the 20th Century through their followers than any other group in the history of mankind, Muslims who continue to wage the vicious holy wars of the false prophet Mohammed and his immediate successors, or the sexual hedonists of the “Sexual Revolution” who have helped kill more than 50 million preborn babies and future American citizens since 1973.
Altruism was not the Holocaust in the Ukraine in the 1930s, where Stalin and his atheist goons stole from farms and killed the farm children. Altruism was not the Holocaust of the Armenians by Muslims in Turkey in 1915 and 1916. Altruism was not Pol Pot killing about a third of his fellow Cambodians in the 1970s.
No.
Altruism is the many Christian followers who’ve blessed the world by introducing people to the abundant life of an eternal fellowship with Jesus Christ, who transforms them to love their neighbors as themselves.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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