Can you be good without God?

USA Today website reported yesterday that the Freedom from Religion Foundation is taking 4Th of July as an opportunity to publicly proclaim their presence in the United States. Their group mailed out over 15,000 "happy human" pins to it's members who are atheist. Encouraging them to wear them on the 4Th to promote conversation about their motto: "You can be good without God". As a christian God fearing woman "I AGREE" you can be be "Good" without God!

The bible (I know shocking isn't it) says in Luke 6:32 & 33 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!"

Isn't that interesting, the bible says that doing good to those who are good to us is in our very nature. However, the Bible radically challenges Christians to do more, go farther in their actions - put love into actions that is so radical that it goes against our nature, and what makes sense to us in our thinking!

It states in Luke 6:27&28 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you."

Say what? You want me to nice to the lady who just almost ran me down with her shopping cart at the Walmart? You want me to be nice to the lady who makes fun, of me & my husband that we go on "date night"? You want me to be forgiving and kind to the lady who is never nice at the gym? You want me to be kind, to the lady who always grumbles and complains? You want me to be nice to the mom who does not encourage her children to be kind to others, in fact I have heard her praising them when they have been behaving with self centered actions? You want me to be nice to the lady who invited a bunch of women out to eat but did not include me? You want me to be nice and kind to a kid who makes my child's life miserable at school? You want me to be nice to the lady at the pool, who mocks people who are struggling with weight issues? Lord that is asking a lot from me, from anyone!

God that is a lot to ask! How can I even begin to do the things you want me to do. To love the unlovable, to be kind to the unkind. When in my nature I just want to cross my arms over my chest, take my toys and go home! I only am able to love others, be kind, when I realize how much God loves me, and see others how God sees them, and how much God loves the unlovable, unkind, prickly person standing next to me at the store. (1 John 4:11 & Colossians 1:8) I can not do this on my own! No matter how much I want to be "good"!

I am afraid more of us christian do not put that love in action, so the Lord of Lords does not get the praise and credit that is due to him. If I would not be so worried about "my rights", "my feelings", and more worried about loving others for God, he might get praised!

1 John 3:10

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
1 John 3:9-11 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)

Wouldn't it be so amazing if Christians "really started loving people" who were unkind, unlovable, difficult, prickly people -so much so, that people were just awe struck! Then God would be glorified, and he would get all the credit, and how would good really measure up against love then?

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4Th of July, and I hope you take some time to ponder if you are "good" or are you showing Christ's love to others?