Jesus Preached for the Creation of a New Humanity: Some people would like to see Jesus as a revolutionary meaning that in extreme circumstances his followers may be justified in resorting to violence in order to right the perceived wrongs or to rectify an unjust system. Some writers of liberation theology advocated this view. Even the ordinary layman at times invokes the cleansing of the Temple by Jesus as a justification for occasional violence. However, it is widely held at present that violence and hatred can breed only more violence and hatred and never can achieve peace and prosperity as wrongly hoped for by its perpetrators. The circle of violence unleashed by terrorists and anti-terrorists in today's world is proof enough that unless we tackle the underlying reasons, be it political, economic, religious, cultural or any other, no true harmony and peace can be achieved. The non-violent methods of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, etc., have sufficiently clarified how successful those methods were. Jesus advocated a complete revolution in each person not by violence on others but on oneself such that a new creature, a new humanity is formed.
The Problem of Evil: The main objection against putting on the new humanity advocated by Jesus would be that being in this wicked world, such a person would easily be taken advantage of by selfish people. How long can one go on suffering the tyranny of some despots who are all the more encouraged in their wickedness by the helplessness of the innocent people? The answer to this problem is twofold. First, on the individual level, the right to self-defense is part and parcel of the right to life. Second, on the community level, the government authorities like the police and judicial courts and on the level of the nations the concept of a just war can protect the rights of everyone concerned. Non-violence and self-sacrifice are not meant to give occasion for the violent and the selfish to feast on the perceived weakness of the innocent . That is why Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, blessed the Indian soldiers in their mission to stop Pakistan raiders in the State of Kashmir immediately after the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. In America, Abraham Lincoln had to use force which he abhorred, in order to put an end to the inhuman practice of slavery there.
Jesus himself sent out his disciples to preach the Kingdom of God with these words: "Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves; be wary as serpents, innocent as doves" (Matthew, 10: 16). It means that we are not expected to be merely passive in the midst of evil but fight it using all our resources and remaining innocent at the same time. The art of combining the two is a fruit of the Holy Spirit called goodness (See Galatians, 5: 22) and comes from God alone (See Matthew, 5: 39). This is evident from the response of Jesus himself when one of the policemen of the chief priest struck him on the face. "Jesus replied, 'If I spoke amiss, state it in evidence; if I spoke well, why strike me?' " (John, 18: 23). What a dignified way of defending oneself without being guilty in any way and without turning the other cheek in the literal sense?
The New Humanity: What exactly does it mean to say that we should put on the new humanity offered by the risen Lord and continue living in this material world? In other words, how can we combine the spiritual life that is our vital force with exigencies of living in this competitive world? An example given as an answer to this dilemma in Indian Thought is the status and function of a boat in water. Water is required for the boat to float along and yet it should not be allowed to enter the boat that might be sunk. Similarly, we need the world and material things to float along in our mundane journey keeping them at a distance by our attitude of detachment.(See about 'Detachment' in our earlier Post on 'Living in the Presence of God').
The Old nature: Paul has exhorted his faithful through his epistles about how to live life putting on the new humanity brought about by Jesus Christ. "Were you not raised to life with Christ? Then aspire to the realm above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and let your thoughts dwell on that higher realm, not on this earthly life. I repeat, you died; and now your life lies hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you too will be manifested with him in glory" (Colossians, 3:1-4). That our thoughts should dwell on the higher realm and not on this earthly life has its consequences. these consequences are both negative and positive. Negative consequences consist in putting to death those parts of ours which belong to the earth. They are; "... fornication, indecency, lust, foul cravings, and the ruthless greed which is nothing less than idolatry" (Colossians, 3: 5). Because of all these God's judgment is impending although He has held back so far hoping that we will be reformed. Granting that all of us were once party to all these vices, now we must set aside all anger, passion, malice, cursing, filthy talk etc., and have done with them. "Stop lying to one another , now that you have discarded the old nature with its deeds and have put on the new nature, which is being constantly renewed in the image of its creator and brought to know God. There is no question here of Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free man; but Christ is all, and is in all" Colossians, 3: 9-11).
The New Nature: The positive consequences should immediately replace the negative ones in order to deny Satan a chance to re-occupy the mansion he was driven out of (See Matthew, 12: 43-45). Those positive consequences are garments that suit God's chosen people and are: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. "Be forbearing with one another, and forgiving, where any of you has cause for complaint: you must forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. To crown all, there must be love, to bind all together and complete the whole. Let Christ's peace be arbiter in your hearts; to this peace you were called as members of a single body. And be filled with gratitude" ( Colossians, 3: 13-15). The message of Christ should permeate our lives so much so that we are able to instruct and admonish each other with the utmost wisdom, singing thankfully in our hearts to God spiritual songs. Whatever we do shall be done in the name of Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him (See Colossians, 3: 16-17)
In Practice: Paul also advises how husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, masters and slaves should behave once they have put on the new humanity (See Colossians: 3: 18 - 4: 1). The need of constant and unceasing prayer is also stressed besides that of learning how to deal with those outside the community capping everything with the capacity for gracious conversation, studying how best to talk with each person we meet (See Colossians, 4: 2-6) (To be Contd).
The Problem of Evil: The main objection against putting on the new humanity advocated by Jesus would be that being in this wicked world, such a person would easily be taken advantage of by selfish people. How long can one go on suffering the tyranny of some despots who are all the more encouraged in their wickedness by the helplessness of the innocent people? The answer to this problem is twofold. First, on the individual level, the right to self-defense is part and parcel of the right to life. Second, on the community level, the government authorities like the police and judicial courts and on the level of the nations the concept of a just war can protect the rights of everyone concerned. Non-violence and self-sacrifice are not meant to give occasion for the violent and the selfish to feast on the perceived weakness of the innocent . That is why Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, blessed the Indian soldiers in their mission to stop Pakistan raiders in the State of Kashmir immediately after the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. In America, Abraham Lincoln had to use force which he abhorred, in order to put an end to the inhuman practice of slavery there.
Jesus himself sent out his disciples to preach the Kingdom of God with these words: "Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves; be wary as serpents, innocent as doves" (Matthew, 10: 16). It means that we are not expected to be merely passive in the midst of evil but fight it using all our resources and remaining innocent at the same time. The art of combining the two is a fruit of the Holy Spirit called goodness (See Galatians, 5: 22) and comes from God alone (See Matthew, 5: 39). This is evident from the response of Jesus himself when one of the policemen of the chief priest struck him on the face. "Jesus replied, 'If I spoke amiss, state it in evidence; if I spoke well, why strike me?' " (John, 18: 23). What a dignified way of defending oneself without being guilty in any way and without turning the other cheek in the literal sense?
The New Humanity: What exactly does it mean to say that we should put on the new humanity offered by the risen Lord and continue living in this material world? In other words, how can we combine the spiritual life that is our vital force with exigencies of living in this competitive world? An example given as an answer to this dilemma in Indian Thought is the status and function of a boat in water. Water is required for the boat to float along and yet it should not be allowed to enter the boat that might be sunk. Similarly, we need the world and material things to float along in our mundane journey keeping them at a distance by our attitude of detachment.(See about 'Detachment' in our earlier Post on 'Living in the Presence of God').
The Old nature: Paul has exhorted his faithful through his epistles about how to live life putting on the new humanity brought about by Jesus Christ. "Were you not raised to life with Christ? Then aspire to the realm above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and let your thoughts dwell on that higher realm, not on this earthly life. I repeat, you died; and now your life lies hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you too will be manifested with him in glory" (Colossians, 3:1-4). That our thoughts should dwell on the higher realm and not on this earthly life has its consequences. these consequences are both negative and positive. Negative consequences consist in putting to death those parts of ours which belong to the earth. They are; "... fornication, indecency, lust, foul cravings, and the ruthless greed which is nothing less than idolatry" (Colossians, 3: 5). Because of all these God's judgment is impending although He has held back so far hoping that we will be reformed. Granting that all of us were once party to all these vices, now we must set aside all anger, passion, malice, cursing, filthy talk etc., and have done with them. "Stop lying to one another , now that you have discarded the old nature with its deeds and have put on the new nature, which is being constantly renewed in the image of its creator and brought to know God. There is no question here of Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free man; but Christ is all, and is in all" Colossians, 3: 9-11).
The New Nature: The positive consequences should immediately replace the negative ones in order to deny Satan a chance to re-occupy the mansion he was driven out of (See Matthew, 12: 43-45). Those positive consequences are garments that suit God's chosen people and are: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. "Be forbearing with one another, and forgiving, where any of you has cause for complaint: you must forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. To crown all, there must be love, to bind all together and complete the whole. Let Christ's peace be arbiter in your hearts; to this peace you were called as members of a single body. And be filled with gratitude" ( Colossians, 3: 13-15). The message of Christ should permeate our lives so much so that we are able to instruct and admonish each other with the utmost wisdom, singing thankfully in our hearts to God spiritual songs. Whatever we do shall be done in the name of Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him (See Colossians, 3: 16-17)
In Practice: Paul also advises how husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, masters and slaves should behave once they have put on the new humanity (See Colossians: 3: 18 - 4: 1). The need of constant and unceasing prayer is also stressed besides that of learning how to deal with those outside the community capping everything with the capacity for gracious conversation, studying how best to talk with each person we meet (See Colossians, 4: 2-6) (To be Contd).
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