[net.religion] Living for myself? Or living for God?

ddb@mrvax.DEC (DAVID DYER-BENNET MRO1-2/L14 DTN 231-4076) (04/17/84)

We have now been told that the "true" distinction between a good and
bad life from (one) Christian's point of view is whether we live for
ourselves or for others.

This isn't a simple distinction (quite apart from any other feelings
I may have about it).  For example, Jesus could have starved himself
to death by giving all his food etc. to other people starving around
him (presumably there was no shortage of such people).  On the other
hand, if they were his followers surely they should refuse such gift?

Should I go to college, or immediately go out and work with the Salvation
Army?  After college, perhaps I could earn more money, which I could then
use for good works for others....  Should I use my mind an knowledge to
advance science, thus presumably helping all humans everywhere, or is it
better for me become a nurse and work directly with afflicted people?

I notice that most fundamentalist Christians one hears about are reasonably
affluent and don't appear to live their lives differently from anybody
else.  If this is the core of Christianity, I'm not impressed.

			-- David Dyer-Bennet
			-- {decvax,ihnp4,ucbvax}!decwrl!rhea!mrvax!ddb