If Jesus were alive today, how would He react to the world’s many apparent, festering and stubborn problems, to political crises, or even to cataclysmic developments? Would the Son of Man side with the powerful, if they were known as being righteous, or with the oppressed, even if they abandoned His teachings? Would He proclaim that suffering is to be endured, even in the face of unspeakable injustice, or would He support the will of many to rise up, if and when the glory of God is called into question by malice and indignity?
How would Jesus propose we solve the global refugee crisis, the arms race, economic inequality, the enslavement of millions of people around the globe? Would He offer a new blueprint for universal freedom and peace; a new magna carta for all of mankind which to draw from?
Some 2000 years ago Jesus made public, confirmed by His suffering and death on the cross, what people of all ages needed to know. His covenant was then proclaimed as new and final, for every generation to abide by until the end of time. Nothing more is to be added, for everything has been said, laid open, and declared.
According to God’s eternal law, we humans must love and forgive. We must take care of those in need, the sick, and the poor. It is our obligation to radiate goodness and stand up for equality, justice, and all the freedoms people need to have to live a worthy life. We cannot be selfish and ignorant to the sufferings of our brothers and sisters, for our role as Christians is to bring Christ to the world; to offer Jesus to those who turned away from God, have never known Him, or decided not to walk in His consoling presence. Our faith requires deeds of charity, unselfishness and compassion. All of that, and more, can be inferred from the Gospel, which is Jesus’s eternal roadmap for humanity. It is our duty to act upon what has been revealed by God.
Many opinion leaders will argue that accepting the world’s developments as they unfold, without shaping them according to our will and values, testifies to naivety and the abandonment of own’s beliefs. They claim that we should charter a course of national strength, military might, and sustainable economic growth, irrespective of how the global landscape develops elsewhere. Then there are those who want the world to unite behind one political system and body of governance, so that their grip on power is fortified for all times to come. They reject the teachings of the Son of Man, for they do not want any part in His glorious redemption. They see our planet as a finite place of being, hence their animosity to everything that reminds them of the transcending works of Heaven.
Are those correct who say that we are responsible to keep our Christian heritage alive, and that we cannot give up on traditional values, regardless of any coercive attempts made by the modern world? And that Jesus himself, if He were physically present today, would not take the position of eradicating injustice, if this meant new injustice were to take hold?
Again, based on the Bible, we are safe to assume that Jesus would, in trying to overcome global problems, adopt a policy of righteous inclusiveness. He would – as an example – speak out against any military build-up anywhere on the planet; but would He condemn those who prepare for self-defense? Protecting life is not against His covenant. He would, likewise, ask to have compassion for refugees; but would He understand those who claim that the demolition of Christian life must not be offered on the altar of expanding someone else’s religion? We can assume that He would want us to promote a life of community and unity, without giving up on God-centeredness.
So, speaking the truth is, indeed, important – and liberating. What matters is that we are, as disciples of God, steadfast in our faith while protecting the heritage of the Church. It might seem that these two demands are mutually exclusive, but in reality, they promote and foster each other. For doing the will of God means that we are protecting what has been handed down to all generations by Jesus Christ. In other words: we are not reliable guardians of our Christian faith, if we allow ourselves to be stripped of our Christian identity in the name of appeasement and false humility. We must always help to build a better world, but not at the expense of our endangerment as Christians.
FAITHBOUND 