Rewards and Punishments.

Too many people manipulate our behavior by using rewards and punishments.

If you do what they want they will reward you with compliments and cheerfulness*.

If you don't so what they want they will punish you with insults and bad temper.

This happens on a personal level, a social level, and a psychic level.

The carrot and stick approach of ruling elites is an example of social manipulation.

And, of course, the traditional theology of the Church reflects this approach.

But rather than seeking to control our behavior God loves us unconditionally.

His representatives on Earth, however, feel that they need to control our behavior by imposing absolute rewards and punishments.

Sin and death, transgression and penance, Heaven and hell.....

These things are control methods.

And they are a direct contradiction of Jesus' teachings.

"Your sins are forgiven."  Luke 7:48 (NRSV)

"The Father judges no one."  John 5:24 (NRSV)

"Love your enemies."  Matthew 5:44 (NRSV)

  

"Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."  Luke 23:34 (NRSV)

God's Love is unconditional.

God does not hold us to ransom.

But this does not mean that He condones bad behavior.

God is good.

And He expects us to be good also.

(*Or give you a tick.)

{Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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