Sijo Chemmannur
Member
“Sheep among wolves” Matthew 10:16
World history and politics went through lots of ups and downs. There were times, when many part of the world are segregated or isolated and the philosophies of the people have been deteriorated into the hands of people who were clearly without a vision, proper to the progress of humanity. We have witnessed the eugenics, torture and harassment of Nazi’s especially to the Jews and other races. The atrocities and outcry of the people suffered in the World wars are still resonating in the minds of people even after sixty odd years. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the remnants of our own insanity to ourselves. We are not even worthy to be called ‘cancer to the earth’ because cancer cells will not kill each other while killing the host organism. The world which is created by God in its fullness and grace are being devastated by human. Many of the social scientists and population analysts now agree that the definition of virtue and moral in a society is decided by the relative sense of its openness to critical evaluation and flexibility to cop with the amendments to its identity. An identity culminated by the thinkers and philosophers of the community. The latter sect of people has special roles in drawing the line of offending and defending the social scenarios depending on short-term or long-term outcomes. The worth of the thinkers of a society is thus evaluated by the subsequent generations, the longevity of the morals and values they have outlined could be uphold. Many think for today, others for tomorrow yet others for the coming generations. But the best teachings are which stands for ever, to the eternity.
Religion has significant influence in defining the moral of a society. Most of the religion uphold what is necessary to preserve their identity and look for ways to propagate their ways of life and the embedded culture with them. In a plural society, this identity has a profound relevance since in the midst of challenges the thrive to reach a social order according to their religion will in fact makes them more challenging person than without it. There are many religions in this world. Many of which has perished with the due course of time but others have expanded to horizons of the world due to multifaceted reasons including colonization. What religions pertain to the moral of a society is many times questionable to the modern philosophical outlook. For example, Hindu religion in its pragmatic way impose many restrictions about eating beef. Even though the fundamental books of Hinduism like Vedas and Manusmriti records eating of beef by all class/caste and sect of people, the interpretations by the current religious thinkers and their priorities predisposes the society to implement one particular order within a religion. Thus, we can find deviation from the fundamental religious scriptures evident at the social level. How much people appreciate the comparison of the scriptural understanding to the mere practices of the religion is greatly depends on each individuals understanding of the scriptures within a community.
Christianity is the largest religion in the world today. The word ‘Christianity’ has become a misnomer misinterpreted and concealed into the chalice of traditional rituals and practices that are rudimentary to the revelation given to this world by Jesus Christ. ‘Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ’ (Colossians 2:8). St. Paul gives clear warning to those who keep their eyes away from Christ and following the ritualistic traditions of men and rudiments of the world. The mere persona of Jesus Christ is slowly disintegrated into a level that none of the Christians would love to follow His foot steps or do what He did in his life. We have to clearly understand the difference between veneration as a God and following (living) Jesus. The earlier part is the easiest, and largely followed. This personified veneration and segregated isolation induced fear among common people which makes the organizational establishment of churches to develop as institutions. This is the hypocritical way of placing Jesus in a place where nobody can limit to imitate Him as a normal human. The eugenics and predestination of divine power is an essential factor then for the attainment of such a position. That personal position is un-reachable. From this untouchability arose the traditional hierarchy of high priests and priests in Christianity. It even gave unprecedented power to the Church authorities, the power close to divine nature. ‘No one can question the decree of the high priest’ became the norm of the Church institutions. But, we have to argue the base of these hierarchy. Is it in accordance with the New testament principles of Jesus Christ? ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light’ (1Peter 2:9). We are all equal in front of God, and there is no difference between the Bishop, priests or other high priests. ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28). Jesus Christ called us out of the slavery of darkness to a marvelous light. God ‘delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son’ (Colossians 1:13). Hence, we are in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ were all are same. No difference of any sort. A kingdom of no over-powering authority and no slavery. A Kingdom where ‘the only thing that counts is our faith in Christ expressing itself through love’ (Galatians 5:6). Jesus Christ poured us the divine light in all our hearts and that is equal in all our hearts. No difference between the light of ours with anyone else who believe in Christ. The oneness in Christ. ‘That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us’ (John 17:22). This is the prayer of Jesus Christ to God. An invitation to be unified in minds and be in light. Then there won’t be space of darkness and its powers, which puts barriers in our minds.
Jesus Christ gave lot of warning against the hypocritical way of the Pharisees against the veneration of holy scriptures, reciting it again and again, ritualistic following of the traditions, but not understanding the inner meaning of those Words in the scriptures. Literally, the words in the scriptures never penetrated into the hearts of those Pharisees. They questioned Jesus for each and everything. Why you are eating with tax collectors and sinners? Why your servants are not fasting or washing hands before eating? With whose authority you are doing this? We can see Jesus shouting to the Pharisees and comparing them to White washed tombs (Matthew 23:27). This is the danger for all who superficially follow the Word of God without specifically following Jesus Christ as a person. The later part is the toughest in Christianity. Then, the word Christianity will be transformed into ‘follower of Jesus Christ’. A daily effort to walk in the steps which Jesus Christ would have walked. To think like Jesus Christ and to do like Him. It will be a tough decision to become a Christian who tries to do what Jesus Christ do. He himself said “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). The world today will surely mock at anybody who tried to do what Jesus Christ did. From the worldly point of view Jesus Christ is a complete disaster as a human being. He preached for three years, claimed to be ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Messiah’ and he was crucified like a thief on the cross. When people are torturing Jesus and spitting on His face and beating Him, He kept silent and didn’t retaliate. Prophet Isaiah presaged centuries ago ‘He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth’ (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus Christ suffered all the pain not for vain. He suffered and become curse for our redemption from sins ‘But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:5).
Jesus Christ sending us into this world as sheep among wolves. We are not to retaliate for the torture the wolves are pertaining on us. But, to love our enemies. “I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). For us to be perfected in our God, whom we call Abba father, we should uphold the values of the Father who are in heaven. ‘Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing’ (1 Peter 3:9). It is very important as a Christian to keep the teachings of Christ who sacrificed His life for ransom even when we are sinners and evil doers. Extremisms and violence are the product of evil which we should be completely aware of. We follow Christ who taught the world to Love and Love only.
World history and politics went through lots of ups and downs. There were times, when many part of the world are segregated or isolated and the philosophies of the people have been deteriorated into the hands of people who were clearly without a vision, proper to the progress of humanity. We have witnessed the eugenics, torture and harassment of Nazi’s especially to the Jews and other races. The atrocities and outcry of the people suffered in the World wars are still resonating in the minds of people even after sixty odd years. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the remnants of our own insanity to ourselves. We are not even worthy to be called ‘cancer to the earth’ because cancer cells will not kill each other while killing the host organism. The world which is created by God in its fullness and grace are being devastated by human. Many of the social scientists and population analysts now agree that the definition of virtue and moral in a society is decided by the relative sense of its openness to critical evaluation and flexibility to cop with the amendments to its identity. An identity culminated by the thinkers and philosophers of the community. The latter sect of people has special roles in drawing the line of offending and defending the social scenarios depending on short-term or long-term outcomes. The worth of the thinkers of a society is thus evaluated by the subsequent generations, the longevity of the morals and values they have outlined could be uphold. Many think for today, others for tomorrow yet others for the coming generations. But the best teachings are which stands for ever, to the eternity.
Religion has significant influence in defining the moral of a society. Most of the religion uphold what is necessary to preserve their identity and look for ways to propagate their ways of life and the embedded culture with them. In a plural society, this identity has a profound relevance since in the midst of challenges the thrive to reach a social order according to their religion will in fact makes them more challenging person than without it. There are many religions in this world. Many of which has perished with the due course of time but others have expanded to horizons of the world due to multifaceted reasons including colonization. What religions pertain to the moral of a society is many times questionable to the modern philosophical outlook. For example, Hindu religion in its pragmatic way impose many restrictions about eating beef. Even though the fundamental books of Hinduism like Vedas and Manusmriti records eating of beef by all class/caste and sect of people, the interpretations by the current religious thinkers and their priorities predisposes the society to implement one particular order within a religion. Thus, we can find deviation from the fundamental religious scriptures evident at the social level. How much people appreciate the comparison of the scriptural understanding to the mere practices of the religion is greatly depends on each individuals understanding of the scriptures within a community.
Christianity is the largest religion in the world today. The word ‘Christianity’ has become a misnomer misinterpreted and concealed into the chalice of traditional rituals and practices that are rudimentary to the revelation given to this world by Jesus Christ. ‘Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ’ (Colossians 2:8). St. Paul gives clear warning to those who keep their eyes away from Christ and following the ritualistic traditions of men and rudiments of the world. The mere persona of Jesus Christ is slowly disintegrated into a level that none of the Christians would love to follow His foot steps or do what He did in his life. We have to clearly understand the difference between veneration as a God and following (living) Jesus. The earlier part is the easiest, and largely followed. This personified veneration and segregated isolation induced fear among common people which makes the organizational establishment of churches to develop as institutions. This is the hypocritical way of placing Jesus in a place where nobody can limit to imitate Him as a normal human. The eugenics and predestination of divine power is an essential factor then for the attainment of such a position. That personal position is un-reachable. From this untouchability arose the traditional hierarchy of high priests and priests in Christianity. It even gave unprecedented power to the Church authorities, the power close to divine nature. ‘No one can question the decree of the high priest’ became the norm of the Church institutions. But, we have to argue the base of these hierarchy. Is it in accordance with the New testament principles of Jesus Christ? ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light’ (1Peter 2:9). We are all equal in front of God, and there is no difference between the Bishop, priests or other high priests. ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28). Jesus Christ called us out of the slavery of darkness to a marvelous light. God ‘delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son’ (Colossians 1:13). Hence, we are in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ were all are same. No difference of any sort. A kingdom of no over-powering authority and no slavery. A Kingdom where ‘the only thing that counts is our faith in Christ expressing itself through love’ (Galatians 5:6). Jesus Christ poured us the divine light in all our hearts and that is equal in all our hearts. No difference between the light of ours with anyone else who believe in Christ. The oneness in Christ. ‘That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us’ (John 17:22). This is the prayer of Jesus Christ to God. An invitation to be unified in minds and be in light. Then there won’t be space of darkness and its powers, which puts barriers in our minds.
Jesus Christ gave lot of warning against the hypocritical way of the Pharisees against the veneration of holy scriptures, reciting it again and again, ritualistic following of the traditions, but not understanding the inner meaning of those Words in the scriptures. Literally, the words in the scriptures never penetrated into the hearts of those Pharisees. They questioned Jesus for each and everything. Why you are eating with tax collectors and sinners? Why your servants are not fasting or washing hands before eating? With whose authority you are doing this? We can see Jesus shouting to the Pharisees and comparing them to White washed tombs (Matthew 23:27). This is the danger for all who superficially follow the Word of God without specifically following Jesus Christ as a person. The later part is the toughest in Christianity. Then, the word Christianity will be transformed into ‘follower of Jesus Christ’. A daily effort to walk in the steps which Jesus Christ would have walked. To think like Jesus Christ and to do like Him. It will be a tough decision to become a Christian who tries to do what Jesus Christ do. He himself said “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). The world today will surely mock at anybody who tried to do what Jesus Christ did. From the worldly point of view Jesus Christ is a complete disaster as a human being. He preached for three years, claimed to be ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Messiah’ and he was crucified like a thief on the cross. When people are torturing Jesus and spitting on His face and beating Him, He kept silent and didn’t retaliate. Prophet Isaiah presaged centuries ago ‘He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth’ (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus Christ suffered all the pain not for vain. He suffered and become curse for our redemption from sins ‘But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:5).
Jesus Christ sending us into this world as sheep among wolves. We are not to retaliate for the torture the wolves are pertaining on us. But, to love our enemies. “I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). For us to be perfected in our God, whom we call Abba father, we should uphold the values of the Father who are in heaven. ‘Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing’ (1 Peter 3:9). It is very important as a Christian to keep the teachings of Christ who sacrificed His life for ransom even when we are sinners and evil doers. Extremisms and violence are the product of evil which we should be completely aware of. We follow Christ who taught the world to Love and Love only.
