: John Bevere
: Good or God? Why Good Without God Isn't Enough
: Messenger International
: 9781933185965
: 1
: CHF 9,60
:
: Christentum
: English
: 280
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
These days the terms good and God seem synonymous. We believe what's generally accepted as good must be in line with God's will. Generosity, humility, justice-good. Selfishness, arrogance, cruelty-evil. The distinction seems pretty straightforward. But is that all there is to it? If good is so obvious, why does the Bible say that we need discernment to recognize it? Good or God? isn't another self-help message. This book will do more than ask you to change your behavior. It will empower you to engage with God on a level that will change every aspect of your life.

1

What Is Good?


“No one is good but One, that is, God.”

—Mark 10:18

Everything in the universe is good to the degree it conforms to the nature of God and evil as it fails to do so.

—A.W. Tozer

Good and evil. We all know the difference, right? Aren’t we born into this world with an inherent knowledge of what is right and wrong?

I’ve often heard people say that human beings are inherently good. Is that true? We know that the movies, documentaries, and other programs that warm our hearts are those highlighting the goodness of humankind. I don’t know of any story, novel, or movie that’s gained massive popularity in which evil triumphs over good.

We all grew up watching the good guys go through tough challenges. The odds were stacked against them and they faced inevitable defeat, often right up to the very end, but suddenly our heroes broke through to victory or justice. We anticipated and applauded these finales. We expected good to always win out because, after all, God is on the side of good, right?

In recent years producers and networks initiated a trend when they introduced reality television shows featuring makeovers. It began with shows about fixing up a struggling family’s home. We sat glued to our televisions, admiring the excitement and generosity of philanthropists in their outreach to the poor and needy. We anticipated the shock of those who benefitted, then teared up in that climactic moment when the poor souls beheld their refurbished house. Then came another show that helped “losers” struggling with obesity lose large amounts of weight, while still other programs helped with dress, hair, make-up, and more.

Soon afterward celebrities joined the trend. Recognized artists made a way for those who otherwise would have had no opportunity to showcase their voices or dancing skills. We cheered as we witnessed the unknown candidate given the chance to become a sensational star overnight. What kindness, what generosity, what goodwill!

Any program about highlighting benevolence, protecting the innocent, or sacrificing time to help the underdog grew in popularity. Included in our list of reality viewing were shows about police or bounty hunters apprehending evil criminals. These too became some of the most-watched programs.

To sum it all up, our entertainment is often ce