http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2013/01/02/bad-news-crowds-out-the-good-in-the-world-pope-benedict-says/ Religion, faith and ethics Wed, 22 May 2013 22:52:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2013/01/02/bad-news-crowds-out-the-good-in-the-world-pope-benedict-says/comment-page-1/#comment-76082 quintessential1 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:32:40 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/?p=27286#comment-76082 True that the media both magnifies and normalises wickedness. True also that probing can unearth unseen good in places. However - if the message of God's Christ is to be faithfully delivered - the better and most helpful announcement would tell us the following: that each of us, if straight with ourselves, will identify that there is an inner inclination toward evil within each of us; whether manifest in the smallest lie, manipulation, cover-up, sulk, or in the most horrific of darknesses. Unable to escape this perverse inclination, one needs a practical escape, both from the inclination itself (sin) and from one's growing list of actions (sins) birthed out of that inclination. The Escape has a name; "and thou shalt call His Name Jesus; for it is He that shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Right there we hear that the only escape is in reality our death. Love therefore came to offer His own death in your place - to free you, paying the penalty for your sin and your sins. Forever setting you free. Forever by His death - you live. Believe Him. Herein is the only - for it is God's - response to bad news. Herein is good news. Rather....the good news. True that the media both magnifies and normalises wickedness. True also that probing can unearth unseen good in places. However – if the message of God’s Christ is to be faithfully delivered – the better and most helpful announcement would tell us the following: that each of us, if straight with ourselves, will identify that there is an inner inclination toward evil within each of us; whether manifest in the smallest lie, manipulation, cover-up, sulk, or in the most horrific of darknesses. Unable to escape this perverse inclination, one needs a practical escape, both from the inclination itself (sin) and from one’s growing list of actions (sins) birthed out of that inclination. The Escape has a name; “and thou shalt call His Name Jesus; for it is He that shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Right there we hear that the only escape is in reality our death. Love therefore came to offer His own death in your place – to free you, paying the penalty for your sin and your sins. Forever setting you free. Forever by His death – you live. Believe Him. Herein is the only – for it is God’s – response to bad news. Herein is good news. Rather….the good news.

]]> http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2013/01/02/bad-news-crowds-out-the-good-in-the-world-pope-benedict-says/comment-page-1/#comment-75786 quintessential1 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:21:50 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/?p=27286#comment-75786 True that the media both magnifies and normalises wickedness. True also that probing can unearth unseen good in places. However - if the message of God's Christ is to be faithfully delivered - the better and most helpful announcement would tell us the following: that each of us, if straight with ourselves, will identify that there is an inner inclination toward evil within each of us; whether manifest in the smallest lie, manipulation, cover-up, sulk, or in the most horrific of darknesses. Unable to escape this perverse inclination, one needs a practical escape, both from the inclination itself (sin) and from one's growing list of actions (sins) birthed out of that inclination. The Escape has a name; "and thou shalt call His Name Jesus; for it is He that shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Right there we hear that the only escape is in reality our death. Love therefore came to offer His own death in your place - to free you, paying the penalty for your sin and your sins. Forever setting you free. Forever by His death - you live. Believe Him. Herein is the only - for it is God's - response to bad news. Herein is good news. Rather....the good news. True that the media both magnifies and normalises wickedness. True also that probing can unearth unseen good in places. However – if the message of God’s Christ is to be faithfully delivered – the better and most helpful announcement would tell us the following: that each of us, if straight with ourselves, will identify that there is an inner inclination toward evil within each of us; whether manifest in the smallest lie, manipulation, cover-up, sulk, or in the most horrific of darknesses. Unable to escape this perverse inclination, one needs a practical escape, both from the inclination itself (sin) and from one’s growing list of actions (sins) birthed out of that inclination. The Escape has a name; “and thou shalt call His Name Jesus; for it is He that shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Right there we hear that the only escape is in reality our death. Love therefore came to offer His own death in your place – to free you, paying the penalty for your sin and your sins. Forever setting you free. Forever by His death – you live. Believe Him. Herein is the only – for it is God’s – response to bad news. Herein is good news. Rather….the good news.

]]>