Tag: Spiritual Gifts

In computer programming, there is a commonly held ideal for Trash In Trash Out. If a person inputs fair amount of of garbage and nonsensical commands, the program will simply shut down and return the garbage it has been given. But, if there is care and intentionality in stringing together the code, remarkable and beautiful programs spring out.  Whatever input the programmer gives reveals itself through the program.  Goodness, in the lives of the spirit-filled Christian, works similarly.  Goodness comes from the overflow of goodness through us.  Whatever we spend time engaging with and filling our hearts with will be the thing that pours out of our hearts.  While it is certainly true that Christians are saved by faith instead of works, the works of a Christian display the fruit that comes from within a person.  Mankind produces whatever has been seeded inside of it and reflects what we truly worship and not what we necessarily should worship. As Christians, we allow the Holy Spirit to move within us and through us to express the abundant goodness and righteousness of God in the public sphere.  We stand for the good and the right because God is working through us and has redeemed our own personal unrighteousness for His glory.

There is often talk of a person’s “moral compass” often referring to the intrinsic drive within a person that compels them to behave in moral and good ways.  Yet, we also live in a world shaped by moral relativism where the idea and concept “goodness” becomes hotly debated if not entirely eroded. According to moral relativism a person’s experience and worldview determines whether an action is “good” or not.  Since there cannot be complete truth, as everything is relative to the individual, there cannot be anything purely good either.  Yet for the Christian impacted by the Redeemer,  our standards, our worldview, and our actions adhere to a much higher standard.  We display the fullness of God’s goodness. While one aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit is kindness which gives of itself, goodness gives of itself in right and holy ways. Kindness and goodness work together through the outward actions of man together in both grace and truth. Goodness roots itself in the love and holiness of God who has proclaimed His mind from the beginning of time.  God is the ultimate good as He exudes excellence and purity in great abundance.  

There is often talk of a person’s “moral compass” often referring to the intrinsic drive within a person that compels them to behave in moral and good ways.  Yet, we also live in a world shaped by moral relativism where the idea and concept “goodness” becomes hotly debated if not entirely eroded. According to moral relativism a person’s experience and worldview determines whether an action is “good” or not.  Since there cannot be complete truth, as everything is relative to the individual, there cannot be anything purely good either.  Yet for the Christian impacted by the Redeemer,  our standards, our worldview, and our actions adhere to a much higher standard.  We display the fullness of God’s goodness. While one aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit is kindness which gives of itself, goodness gives of itself in right and holy ways. Kindness and goodness work together through the outward actions of man together in both grace and truth. Goodness roots itself in the love and holiness of God who has proclaimed His mind from the beginning of time.  God is the ultimate good as He exudes excellence and purity in great abundance.