Is art a commodity? No, says Mike Cosper. Mainly, it is a gift. This was a major theme of the writing conference: “Word and Words.”
Hosted by Sojourn Community Church, the conference brought together a prestigious group of writers and teachers, including Gregory Thornbury and Mike Cosper.
When you ask “why be moral?” your answer needs to be more than, “Because it’s the right thing to do.” That is circular. What makes something the right thing? What goal does a man achieve by doing right?
Some answer that, “Virtue is it’s own reward.” Others answer that “Morality benefits others, and that is what really matters.”
But what motivation does Scripture offer? Your life. Your reward.
I often hear the misquote: “It is better to give than to receive.”
Paul relays this maxim from Jesus in Acts 20:35.
The error? Jesus did not say “It is better…” Rather, he said, “It is more blessed…”
The first step of my philosophical journey was reading The Fountainhead. The novel taught me to uncompromisingly seek my own rational self-interest. If values are personal and selfish, then I must choose them myself. From my smallest choice of personal taste, to my choices in friends or career, I cannot depend on others to set my direction. For every choice I make, I must have a reason.
A Christian is a worker and a servant. Here are six biblical exhortations to serve. Like the servants in the parable of the talents, we work to share in our master’s blessings!
1. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works… that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10).
