We’d often rather not look too closely at the violence in our world. But on the days we can’t avoid it, where do we go?
Violence is a broken part of our world…and unfortunately it is not an uncommon experience to university life with campus shootings, sexual assault, self-violence in the form of suicide, or even just the violence of abusive words. How will we respond to the brokenness around us?
Dr. Dallas Willard a philosophy professor at the University of Southern California and Christian, wrote that there are 4 key questions to ask ourselves about life that reveal our most basic assumptions as to who we are and what we should do. They help us assess our core beliefs on a level we often assume but don’t discuss. For example, who “has it made” in life? What is “the good life”? Is it life with money, life free from pain?, committed relationships?, uncommitted relationships? Additionally, who is good? and How does one become good?
Dr Willard believed that Jesus had reliable answers to these questions. For Jesus, the “good life” was not in conflict with good character. And love simply put was “will-to-good, willing the benefit of what or who is loved.” This love is different from desire. “We may say we love chocolate cake, but we don’t. Rather, we want to eat it. That is desire, not love.” Jesus is a person from whom we can learn to love. He lived in a violent day. as the Israelites were prisoners of war within their own country.
What do you think?
Because as we can expect the violence, grief, and sadness in the world that has continued for thousands of years to continue, we can also determine how we will engage it, and live amongst it. The life of Jesus is a place to learn.
What do you think?
Because as we can expect the violence, grief, and sadness in the world that has continued for thousands of years to continue, we can also determine how we will engage it, and live amongst it. The life of Jesus is a place to learn.
Here are some questions for reflection and discussion:
- What is most commonly assumed to be the “good life” today? Who is thought to “have it made”?
- When was the last time you had a dthoughtful and thorough discussion wtih someone about what kind of human being qualifies as a reslly good person? Ever?
- What are various opinions as to how a person BECOMES really good? Is there a predominant opinion?
Lastly,
- How would you compare Jesus’ answer to the questions of the good life, who is truly good and how one becomes good?
For further reading:
- to learn more of Jesus life and perspective, try one of the books of the Bibledescribing his life.
- Dr. Dallas Willard definitely wrote like a philsophy professor. For a deep philosophical approach, try Knowing Christ Today.
Join us at Cru WC! Cru WC is a community committed to taking next steps to explore life with God and to wrestle with questions about what the “good life” is. We will talk more about who Jesus is and the difference He can make in us living the “good life”.