Journal 3

1)  The key idea about the Morality of Jesus presented in this section is that Jesus' message of morality was similar to that of Mosaic Law but He came to deliver a different and more radical message.  Jesus wanted to change the way people did things, to reveal the meaning of the Old Testament, and to bring to fulfillment what the Law and the prophets had to say.  He would contrast what the Law had taught people by saying, "You have heard... But I say to you..."  He would give meaning to the ways things were supposed to be done and change things eliminating excessive pride.

2)     a. I think the biggest idea that stuck with me is Jesus' message about prayer (Matt 6: 5-15) and almsgiving (Matt 6: 1-4) from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5, 6, &7).  Jesus criticized people who would make a big display over how much they donated, saying that they have already received their reward.  Instead, Jesus said that you should donate knowing that your reward is waiting for you in heaven.  Also, when talking about prayer Jesus said that you should not pray out in public so that other people may see you, but instead you should go to your room and close your door so that only God knows that you are praying, and you should also not use long phrases and unnecessary words because God already knows what it is that you need to say.          b.  Secondly, I want to remember what C. S. Lewis said about the Law of Human Nature, specifically two points:  One, "that all human beings, all overthe earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it," and two, "that they do not in fact behave in that way.  They know the Law of Nature; they break it."  These two points that Mr. Lewis makes are the basis for our whole existence, because, whether we mean to of not, we often find ourselves in situations where we bend what we know to be the Laws of Human Nature.          c.  Finally, I want to remember what William J. O'Malley said in his "The Moral Practice of Jesus.   O'Malley said that the sexual sins were not that much of a concern for Jesus, or at least that they weren't as much of a concern as they seem to be for the official church.  To Jesus the worst sinners seemed to be mainly the corrupt clergy members and people from the temple, mainly because they don't see anything wrong with what they are doing and therefore do not seek any sort of repentance.

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4)  I want to believe that I am  Christian but if not doing anything when two people are fighting makes me not a Christian then I guess I am not  Christian.  I don't think it is wrong to have sexual thoughts about a woman either, as long as they are not excessive and they do not lead to anything happening then I think thoughts are harmless.  If that makes me not a Christian then I guess I am not.  I follow most of Jesus teachings to the best of my ability but there are some things that I simply don't agree with.  I believe in a natural law like the one found in most world religions combined with the natural law that C. S. Lewis talked about.  I am for the most part a follower of Jesus but I do not think that I can say that I follow everything He said to the "T."  And if there is no room for disagreement then I don't think that I am  Christian.

5)  The Only way that I think that I can make myself more Christian is to relfect on what Jesus said in the New Testament and try to apply it to my life and follow his message more closely.  Aside from that I don't think there is a way for me to change my beliefs about Christianity.