Of course. Some may not know the name or even have a wrong concept of what someone has told them of Christ, but still do good. Religious formation and theology can help, but they're not absolute requirements.
I would make a sharp distinction between doing good in God's eyes and doing good in man's eyes. I believe the Bible says that the former is only possible for believers. :
Rom 14:23 : 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Rom 3:9-10 : 9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
Rom 7:18 : 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Rom 8:7-8 : 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
These verses and others show man in the state unto which he was born. We cannot please God, we cannot do "good". Only faith in Christ can release us from the bondage of this sinful nature.
Humility is knowing one's true place. I don't get the paradigm of servitude. Love, compassion, charity.. yes. Dying to self, loving others as ourself. Service in love, yes. Servitude? I don't get that God wants slaves. So I think we're on different pages here, though maybe not, maybe different phrasing or something else.
I think part of the point of the slavery language in the Bible is to identify the master. The Bible tells us that we cannot serve two masters, so we are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. It also emphasizes that we believers are wholly owned by God. We are not partners with God and we are not cooperators with God. He literally owns us and we are His slaves. This is a good thing.
We are not partners with God and we are not cooperators with God. He literally owns us and we are His slaves. This is a good thing.
I'm understanding Kosta's statement about why atheism was born in the West. Again, please understand, nothing personal here, but this is in my view slander against God. And far removed from Christianity down through its history. Why on earth anyone would love Jesus, flock to him and die for him, if this was what he taught about His Father?
Forgive me, FK, it's a caricature of Abba. Abba's shadow side or some such, that you end up with.
I just can't imagine reading the Jesus of the gospels and coming up with this slave movie portrait of God.
I know there must be love in your theology somewhere, but when you get down to this fatalism and master/slave relationship, double predestination and the lot..
I dunno, maybe in some special term of art in your theology 'slave' is a good thing, but you must know that Jesus wasn't out there preaching it. I hope I'm overreacting, but it always seems Calvinists pull back a curtain to reveal some.. monster manipulator. Sorry to be harsh, I can't see how you don't see this is what you end up with?
I haven't a clue where to go from here except to thank you for your courtesy and the discussion. I sincerely wish you well personally.