Here are a few secular charities: Doctors Without Borders, The Red Cross, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Kiva, Goodwill. Me myself, I give to all charities regardless of denomination. Saturday afternoons I volunteer at a hospital. I also do regular clean ups of our waterfront, donate bloo, and support businesses through Kiva. —Bridgette P.

There is nothing more nauseating than having to listen to someone boast about their own goodness — something called “self-righteousness.” Christianity has nothing to do with doing good works. Some who mistakenly think so quote the book of James which says that faith without works is dead.

However, if they would read the verse in context they would see that it is merely saying that good works are evidence that someone is truly a Christian. We do good works because we have been given everlasting life (from a motivation of gratitude) and not to try and earn everlasting life (trying to bribe God to forgive us by offering our good works).

Please take the time to read this verse carefully (your eternity could depend on your understanding of what it says): 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9

Check out www.needGod.com if you are interested in eternal life.

—Ray