To Individual.

"Why can't people just be decent?"

Wish it was that easy. Nations and countries around the world won't need justice systems if people could just be decent. Look at the news enough though and you can be horrified by the kinds of murders that are out there there. Clearly it isn't that easy. Don't know what's wrong with people sometimes. Even when we find reasons and excuses, it's sickening to think about the criminal behaviors in the world. This goes beyond the scope of religion and being taught to not kill, not lie, not rape, and not steal, and instead goes into the scope of human behavior and what's wrong with people to create monsters, or even to have decent people do horrific things. There decently is something wrong regardless of religion. Otherwise we would not need a justice system to punish the wrongdoers, and protect the innocent. M

To Foxy.

"Religions don't own Truth." If a religion is true versus a religion that is false that's worth noting. In the same way if a religion comes from God, versus a religion that doesn't that's worth acknowledging. This I think is best found by personal searches. Once a person finds out that God is real and has an invested interest in us (do to a spiritual experience or trusting a friend's experiences), then after that it's only reasonable to ask if God has communicated to us through the religions, (or at least their texts) for future generations to find Him easier, follow Him, and know anything important like how to live or view the world around them. Best to seek God and if something is from God, instead of going through life blindly ignoring the light that is from God, (or at least not distinguishing the light apart of the lies and the evil in the world like a blind person.)

Not_Now.Soon,
Yeah, it'd be nice if people were just a little more considerate, especially those in Authority which of course, are generally the root cause of people behaving badly. Be it dishing out legislation that makes life tough for people to simply fleecing us excessively so that people have to turn to bad practices to make ends meet. All that just to keep the hordes of sabotaging bureaucrats rolling in utterly undeserved salaries whilst others toil for minimum wages.
Why the need for over-the-top salaries for public service bureaucrats ? Thus far, no-one has provided an explanation. Religion is a perfect example of not doing as is being preached !
I have yet to hear a sermon addressing the problem of high salaries in the Public Service.
I have yet to hear a sermon that draws attention to those in the congregation who fall into that category of undeserved high pay ! Hypocrisy ?

In the secular world mankind has progressed at an amazing rate, I am astonished at the scientific genius of humanity. However in the spiritual world man is nothing more than a cave dweller, a knuckle dragger, a nincompoop!

While some moved outside the cave with courage and determination, making huge strides in the physical improvement of mankind, others stayed inside with fear and trepidation to worship mythical deities and demons.

Is it easier to put a man on the moon, than it is to love thy neighbour?

"I have yet to hear a sermon that draws attention to those in the congregation who fall into that category of undeserved high pay ! Hypocrisy ?"

Indy, those in glass houses, should not throw stones. How many undeserved dollars do YOU collect each fortnight from the taxpayer. What hypocrisy!

To Individual and Paul

Before anyone starts throwing stones at anyone let's look at the issue in question.

I honestly don't like excuses for excessive criminal behavior. Blaming it on the rich not sharing the wealth is in the same light. I don't buy it, and I don't accept it. The world is full of hardships, and many people still have the resourcefulness to not murder their families, not con older men and women of their retirement for ____________ what ever sales pitch, scare, or promise from a foreign prince wanting a small investment with great payback.

No excuses. These are the choices of men and women who often plan their actions out before committing the crime. No victim card, only responsibility for our own failing. And the teaching. Repent and turn from your sins. Not a bad idea to recognize the monster within each of us before it comes out and actually does great harm. Turn from it before we recognize what we do and potentially like it.

No excuses. There are serial killers, serial rapists, repeat offenders of all crimes. Then there are the gross heinous crimes that just one of them makes your skin crawl. This goes beyond the scope of religion. Whether any of them are true or are superstition. This goes to the problem of mankind and what is wrong with us.

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To Individual.

I am not a pastor or a priest. I have never given a sermon or have a vast knowledge of sermons made to point you to. But I do know the bible has in it a few things to say to the rich. Those who do nothing for the poor around them and who don't pay those who work for them. Two sections in the bible to look up are

•James 5. specifically James 5:1-6. It's a warning to the rich who don't pay their workers.

•Luke 6:24-26. In that Jesus gives a lesson like the beatitudes "blessed are the poor..." and then gives a warning to the rich. These verses are the warning. It's something that I'm sure you, Paul, and I can all share in for a reproach. The world is suffering so much and then there are those who have plenty and don't have to worry about where the next meal comes, or for our very safety and survival. Take heart by it. Social injustice is real and if we live in luxury, that might mean something for us in the future.

Look up the verses on you own guys. I don't have sermon notes for you, but I know if you want answers these ones you can find by the verses I gave you.