Plantinga Ch 4

This Chapter is on redemption. He compares the Heidelberg Catechism to the ten commandments. He talks about how we should not only follow the 10 commandments, but expand on them. The Catechism shows us how to get back on track. He talks about how you should not only not kill, but refrain from hatred. For to hate someone, it is almost as bad as murder. If you wish misfortune on someone is it not as bad as causing this misfortune yourself? He says that you must love your neighbor as yourself. In seeking shalom, you must love. To love your neighbor as yourself.. what a great concept, and how hard it is to fathom really. How can you love someone else that your not even related to, or can hardly know as yourself? But Jesus did this. He loved everyone, and treated them with the most respect. This is surely something everyone should strive for. Think of how the world would be a better place if everyone loved their neighbor as themselves.

We need to actively seek out shalom in our lives. How many people become Christians, and then soon after become dead in their search? We must strive to find it. We can't become idol, for being idol is from the Devil himself. In seeking shalom we also set examples for Christians and non-Christians alike. It is only another way of showing God's eternal love. All of our lives belong to God. Not just part of them. We can't go on living one way around certain people, and another around a different group. This is a common thing for people to be leading almost double lives. In church they can seem the most pious person, but then as soon as they leave they can be the Devil himself. We have to be constant in our faith journey. We can't only show our faith at one time and then put our faith away at another.