Posted on 09/14/2013 5:34:39 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
The Thai telecommunications conglomerate True is getting rave reviews worldwide for its latest spot, "Giving," which tells the story of a man unexpectedly rewarded for a lifetime of good deeds he performed without expecting anything in return.
Tagline. God bless you forever!
That’s okay. I usually deserve it :-) I apologize for my in-grained cynicism, regardless.
I did and shared it to my facebook.
Cynicism??? Ha. I call it “realism” these days.
And you.
As I have said, Thomas, humans are capable of great things because we have been made in His image. Compassion is one of God’s great attributes and we are wise to emulate it.
However, the heart capable of great compassion is also capable of sin. This is a condition of our fallen state and nothing except the blood of Jesus can cover it and wash it away.
So everyone needs a Savior, even these lovely people in these commercial ads. This is the point that can never be yielded by a believer in Jesus.
Enjoy these ads for what they are, but never forget who Jesus is and what He does for all of us.
God bless you always, Thomas.
jodyel
Truly beautiful. Thank you for posting this.
By the way the original link was at the top of the post.
I do have a sincere question, which I pose not to spark the typical FR fracas, but just for your (may I say short-ish) reflections.
John 1:9 calls Christ "the true Light which enlightens every man who comes into the world." (Here are five parallel translations so you can see if I got the true gist of it.)
I take that to mean that every person, in some way not fully explained, comes into contact with Christ the Light; and that therefore,
What do you think?
(I like the way you put it)
I do disagree with your interpretation of this verse, Mrs. Don-o.
Scripture is emphatic that one must be born again of the Holy Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. This is why evangelism is so important. Believers play a role in bringing the news to others, even if they reject it.
Christ is most certainly the true light of the world (Savior), but many will reject Him. The Buddhists in the commercials qualify as lovely human beings by the world’s standards, but by God’s standard, since they have not accepted the One He sent, they have not believed what God has made clear in His word (in other words, they have gone the way they think is best in their own eyes), then they are not part of Him and will not see the kingdom of God.
God does provide a way for every single person to hear His truth, and even at the end of this age angels will go forth across the earth preaching the Good News to all nations and then the end will come. No one will ever be able to say they have not been told the way to enter heaven.
Once Jesus returns at the Second Coming and sets up His kingdom in Jerusalem during the Millennial Reign, there will still be those who reject Him, going their own way. So even the presence of the Holy One Himself, coming in the clouds with great glory and His saints (believers) and establishing His earthly kingdom and reigning in peace for 1000 years, will STILL not be enough for some to accept Him. He is the light but some will always choose the darkness.
That says a lot about the heart of a man. We are bent on ourselves and what we think is best. Some, who truly seek Him, will know Him. For others, even up close and in your face will not be enough.
I guess the verse about the fear of the Lord is what sums it up best. I know how agonizing just getting thru this life is and I am not about to play fast and loose with my soul. I have always had a fear of the Lord, fearful enough of what this life and the next would offer, that I knew I never wanted to be without Him.
This trait is not in everyone though and a lot of people live their lives with no fear of anything or anyone. Paul comes to mind, rampaging thru the villages and towns persecuting and murdering Christians, until Jesus Himself burst in on him on the road to Damascus. I certainly needed no experience of that sort to believe, but others do. What I honestly wonder is how anyone, face to face with Him, could reject Him. The phrase, it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, is one I do not want. I was never willing to go there.
I am also reminded of Paul’s desire to go to Asia and preach the Gospel but God said no. That tells me that God is well aware of what is going on there and of the many false religions and will deal with them when He is ready.
http://www.thebereancall.org/content/why-did-god-forbid-gospel-asia
Here is a good explanation regarding how everyone will know or hear of the way to God. I sure hope it does not all run together when posted.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/advice/faithdoubt/8c1046.html
What if people never hear about Jesus?
If Jesus is the only way to heaven, what happens to those who never get to hear about him?
Dear Dawson, I know the Bible says that knowing Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. But there are people in remote parts of the world who may never get a chance to hear about God or Jesus. What happens to them when they die?
You’re right, the Bible is clear that apart from Christ, you can’t go to heaven. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
How does this apply to someone who never hears the gospel? The Bible says, “The truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God” (Romans 1:19-20, New Living Translation).
No one has an excuse for not knowing God. That knowledge comes to us naturally—much like the way we instinctively reach for water when we’re thirsty. It’s not something we have to learn.
And it’s not just instinct that draws people to God. God uses visual aids too—his creation. We can see God through the divine design of nature.
When someone responds to these instincts and “visual aids” and truly reaches out to God, God will make sure that person understands his or her need for Christ. God, who loves us beyond comprehension and wants everyone to go to heaven (2 Peter 3:9), will arrange the details for that person to know the gospel—through a missionary, a tract, a Bible, whatever.
You might think, But what if a missionary never visits that island, or a tract never falls into those hands. What then? If those things never happen, we can be assured that God, who is loving and just, is still in control. God is sovereign, and he will always do what is right.
God is an awesome God, and nothing will stop him from getting the good news to even the most remote parts of the world, “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And as if to prove it, God even gave John a glimpse of heaven, where he saw people “from every tribe and language and people from every nation” (Revelation 5:9).
The bottom line: God is obviously able to reveal the truth about himself to anyone, anywhere. But he often uses us to do it. That’s why Jesus’ last words to us were instructions to tell everyone, everywhere, the good news of God’s love (Matthew 28:19-20).
God calls all of us to share his love with the people around us. Maybe he’s even calling you to take this good news “to the ends of the earth.” Wouldn’t that be exciting?
God bless,
jodyel
Spent two years in Thailand in the early 70s participating in the SEA War Games. Thais are beautiful, big-heated people.
Over 9 million views in a week’s time. Has there ever been more viewed video in such a short amount of time?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s22HX18wDY&feature=share
You are touting the fact that 9 million human beings watched a secular video about the spirit of man.
That says it all about where the focus of fallen man is.
I believe Psy and his Gangnam Style got even more hits than this one, but he is no more of Christ than these people.
You are substituting human reasoning for godly reasoning. But that is what Catholics do under the umbrella of ecumenism. Any good done by any person must be of God....sorry that is not of God’s mind. No where in this video is Christ being glorified, only man’s goodness....and that is where Catholic belief and other false teachings fail the test.
Now, since your own pope says that unbelievers can please God, then why should a Catholic think any differently. If this is true, as Catholics believe, then there was no need for God to become human and die on the cross. Sometimes I think you have lost all common sense in the stuff you say.
Romans 8:8 “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Pope Francis: God Redeems Atheists For ‘Good Works,’ Christians Must Accept Non-Believers
http://newsone.com/2475438/pope-francis-atheists/
We are to tell unbelievers about Jesus, then God will make the truth of our words known to those who have ears to hear, such as Cornelius in Acts 10.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
“Now, since your own pope says that unbelievers can please God, then why should a Catholic think any differently. If this is true, as Catholics believe, then there was no need for God to become human and die on the cross. Sometimes I think you have lost all common sense in the stuff you say”.
The Pope can have his beliefs I have mine. Basically Francis sais is hate the sin but love the sinner. This is what Christ said. As far as non-believers going to heaven, the Catholic Church teaches that if you live according to The Beatitudes, and you have not been exposed to the Christ, you could make it to heaven without being a Christian. I agree with this.
As far as the video having over 9 million hits, that’s almost unheard of in video land. As far as the religion of the people in the video he could have been Christian, Buddist or something else. You do not know and I do not know what the good samataritan’s religion is. But helping out the least fortunate in society is certainly one of the teachings of Christianity.
“As far as non-believers going to heaven, the Catholic Church teaches that if you live according to The Beatitudes, and you have not been exposed to the Christ, you could make it to heaven without being a Christian. I agree with this.”
I sure hope you are not misleading others with this, NKP, because it is patently false. Everyone will have an opportunity to hear of the plan of salvation in Christ Jesus, and the angels will even go forth to all nations at the end of the age and tell the Gospel.
I really do suggest reading all of Scripture and not just what the RCC teaches. Someone’s soul could depend on it.
Believe me, if the people behind that commercial were born again Christians they would be giving all credit to the Lord and glorifying Him. Since that is not what is happening, it really does not matter any further what we know of them.
I am mystified as to why Catholics always want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and allow them to slide into heaven in any ole way they choose. There is no slack and no leeway about how to get to heaven and you will never hear me say anything other than born again and Spirit-filled. Sorry, but that is it.
I highly recommend the Life Application Study Bible to anyone here serious about reading the bible.
I’m “born again” every time I participate in the Eucharist in the presence of Jesus Christ. Can’t get any closer than a “personal relationship” with Jesus than that.
Instead of listening to Jimmy Swaggart I would suggest you pick up a copy of the Cathecism of the Catholic Church and read it. It will open your eyes. Catholics have been preaching the word of God for 2,0000 years. Don’t need any advice on the Lord from someone who follows a faith started by a mortal man a couple of hundred years ago, or was it 20 years ago?
Oh, NKP, why, oh why do you cling to that Eucharist stuff? If that is what you consider having a personal relationship with Christ, then I truly feel for you. It is so much more than that.
It is walking and talking and hearing from Him. It is a wonderful vibrant thing. It is learning to listen for His voice and being sure one knows when one has heard it.
Not Swaggart or Catholicism or any other religion has a clue.
My heart truly breaks for you.
When was the last time you were in heaven? I am in heaven, with Jesus Christ, each and every Holy Eucharist. Breaking bread with the one that died for my sins. He walks with me and guides me in every phase of my life. I feel sorry for protestants that deny the real presence. You do not get any closer to the Lord than being with him in Holy Eucharist. I’ll say prayer for you at Mass.
Oh for Pete’s sake, NKP...how foolish can you get?
Foolish, foolish, foolish! And typical “I’ll pray for you” and “I feel sorry for you.”
Okay, guys, I am done replying to this one too.
I can only deal with this kind of blindness and ignorance for so long.
I do not know what the contention is about but that is a blessed story. God gives unmerited grace to sinners, as the future doc receives here, which grace is to bring forth a response in obedience including giving grace (unlike the welfare system in which that which grace gives is a right, and more is demanded).
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)
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