Why are people good? As ten year olds walking home from school we puzzled over this philosophical question: “Are you good because it is in your nature, or is it because of the rewards such as praise and a feeling of self-esteem.”

Let us consider goodness as it relates to loving and caring for other people. I believe that everyone is on a loving-caring spectrum.

At one end are people like Mother Teresa, who gave her life to the poor and needy of society. At the other end are monstrously selfish egoists – most of us are somewhere between.

Good charitable acts are sometimes described as ‘Christian’, as if only Christians do good. What rubbish – people of every religion or none, of every gender and every ethnic group, all perform good, charitable deeds.

My understanding is that being a Christian means being a disciple of Jesus Christ, and all that implies, no more than that.

As a disciple one should follow the leader and obey his commands, and this is where the confusion between goodness and Christianity arises.

As followers of Christ we are told to love one another, even our enemies; loving implies caring.

To quote from the New Testament: “Anyone who doesn't breathe is dead, and faith that doesn't do anything is just as dead!”

So, in addition to our own characters, Christians have an extra reason why they have to be good and perform good deeds.

Anne D. Wilson, Churches Together in Kendal and District