Posted by Rich (205.188.192.46) on April 25, 2002 at 21:49:42:
In Reply to: The Good Samaritan: The Problem Of Inner Selfishness posted by Rich (205.188.197.188) on April 25, 2002 at 12:12:10:
: : Biblical archetypes – The Good Samaritan
: : The good works done by the people of the Youth For Christ organisation is very much an imitatio of the self sacrificing traits of biblical christ (imitatio christi); taking care of young people who are drunk or use drugs, trying to give answers to the many questions young adults have, providing education and trying to keep them from falling like ‘the catcher in the rye’ did. Often these good people are cursed and humiliated for what they do….but they continue and humbly volunteer for the many church tasks that are there to be done. The side-effects of this behavior can be that they make people feel guilty and use their good works as a relational glue.
: : Assessement: Self Sacrificing Style (Oldham), Masochistic Personality (Millon), type 2w1 (Riso)
: : Jan
: Hello Jan;
: Your 3 types might well be doing good works, not from the goodness of their hearts, but because of the payoff they get. The Christain ideal is selfless love, but these 3 types are really doing this for a payoff.... I have met a lot of 2W1 teachers, and they are very unassuming and modest. But if you don't take them seriously, don't praise their efforts, or don't remark on much effort they put into teaching, watch out, they will become silent, and withdraw with hurt feelings. Then you must slowly and carefully get back into their good graces! ( They would never dream of making a public display of emotion! )
Christ intended the story of the Good Samaritan to shock his audience. The Jews of His time depised the Samaritans as renegades. Today, that story would be the story of the Good Nazi, Communist, KKK, etc. The moral was: If a guy like this unbelieving Samaritan can do this good deed, then you can do no less yourself! Rich