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From: mat@hou4b.UUCP (Mark Terribile)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: The end of it
Message-ID: <1250@hou4b.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 29-Dec-84 19:51:33 EST
Article-I.D.: hou4b.1250
Posted: Sat Dec 29 19:51:33 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 30-Dec-84 02:59:06 EST
References: <1625@pucc-h>
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>Jesus asks us to love our enemies, and if I can't do that (yet), how can I
>deserve any favor or acceptance? Christians reading this, don't bother
>telling me that God accepts me as I am; He agrees not to throw me out, but
>I question whether He likes me and will say "well done" given that I am not
>much like Christ and do not act much like Him.  Acceptance is given, but
>praise and liking must be earned.
-- Jeff Sargent

This may belong elsewhere, but the discussion is living here right not.
Jeff, I'm no theologian, and I'm coming from a ``big-established-denomination''
viewpoint, but the way I see it is this:

You don't ``deserve'' God's love.  None of us does.  It's a gift, freely given.
Chesterton wrote: ``You see, it's the hardest thing in theology to believe.
You matter.  I matter.  We all matter -- to God.  God only knows why.''  The
point is that God does like you -- not for what you do but for who you are.
He doesn't necessarily accept you -- He leaves it to you to accept him -- but
He loves you and He will accept you when you try to accept Him.

Don't worry about rating yourself on an absolute scale.  Instead, ask yourelf
``Is this what I should be doing?  Well, then what can I do to change it?''
Recognize that it will take time.  Allow yourself the time.  It's ok to be
be a little disturbed over some of the answers.  It's ok to hurt a bit.  It's
not necessary to try so hard that you damage yourself -- even the most ardent
of missionaries rest enough that they can keep going.  You can't ask any more
of yourself.
-- 

	from Mole End			Mark Terribile
		(scrape .. dig )	hou4b!mat
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