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I go to a church in which the Bible is referred to as “the Word of God” and it’s inerrancy is upheld as the basis (or foundation) of our belief. Here, Christians are basically people who decided to trust the Bible and arguments on Doctrine or Practice can be solved by consulting and quoting of Scripture.
Many of my brothers and sisters know the Bible very well and can quote chapter and verse (of which I am envious) but I have several issues with this “high” view of Scripture which have brought me into some conflict in the past with some of the pillars that be. Read the rest of this entry »
Ruskin, a poet and social critic, once said:
There is no wealth but life.
- John Ruskin
This set me thinking about what Jesus said:
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
- Jesus of Nazareth
Now, if Ruskin and Jesus are right, it means that Jesus has come so that we can have a wealth of life, a fulfilled life. Paul gives us some insight into this in his letter to the Colossians where he talks of wealth (treasure) in relation Jesus of whom he says:
Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- Paul of Tarsus
It seems that we have Jesus coming from God in order to give a wealth of life which is eternal (John 3:15) and that hidden in the mystery of this outrageous gift is all the wisdom of the world! This wisdom is summed up by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Jesus of Nazareth
We are challenged to set our hearts not on worldy goods but on heavenly riches. That is not to say that we are so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good but that the real heavenly treasures are being offered here and now in order that we might have a fulfilled life and that we would be wise to be seeking these everlasting treasures as opposed to gold and share options which rust and disappear.
The best things in life are free.
- Unknown
It strikes me that much of our apparently modern western insight or social morality is a restatement of things we have unconsciously learned from the Bible and sometimes modified or watered down:
- Don’t worry, be happy
- The Golden Rule
- Think Positive
- Basic human rights
- Save the planet
- Love as the greatest virtue
Don’t Worry be Happy
Jesus said “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” and “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” in Matthew 6:25-34 referring to our tendency to worry about our worldly needs. The modern meaning however is almost the opposite where we are encouraged to amass worldly goods and insurance whilst neglecting all deeper reflection which science cannot answer.
The Golden Rule
Jesus said “Do to others as you would have them do to you” as part of a longer exhortation in Luke 6 to empathy and self-sacrifice. Moderns chopped off the bits about turning the other cheek, minding our own business and forgiveness whilst keeping the pragmatic part which best garantees individual freedom and some measure of social justice.
Think Positive
The 20th century must go down as the century of the self – “solve it with self esteem” we have been told. The Bible speaks about faith which is trust in that which is good and worthy. All the positive thought in the world is not going to make a false thing true or an impossible act possible but faith in a worthy concept or trustworthy person is the key to the power of God to make the humanly impossible possible (Matthew 17:20, Matthew 19:16-27 or any of the hundreds of verses which speak highly of faith).
Basic Human Rights
The idea that all human beings deserve such basic things as justice, dignity, education and so on has only recently been incorporated into legal systems. As recently as last century the USA, arguably the pinnacle of modernity and democracy, wrestled with segregation and slavery is still in effect in many parts of the world. Jesus taught, in Matthew 25:40, that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”. God values each life and considers ill-treatment of any human a personal affront. True Christian charity and service has never been something for insiders only but intended as a light to the whole world.
Save the Planet
We’re all trying to become more environmentally friendly especially when it hits our wallets. Jesus came to literally save the entire planet starting with the hearts of men but extending to the whole of creation. A key aspect of Christianity is the new earth which is God’s restoration of goodness to all the created order. Aside from this man was created as a steward of creation, intended to be a dutiful, responsible master over all that lives and answerable to the Creator (Genesis 2).
Love as the Greatest Virtue
Most music, literature and artistic expression attempts to embody and elevate love as the greatest passion/emotion/activity man can attain. Hollywood has perhaps mutated the word into a synonym for copulation but most people recognise the power and benevolence of love. The Bible teaches that love (of God, neighbour and self) is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22), something we need to major in, and that love is the greatest of all virtues without which no good act is truly of value (1 Corinthians 13).
Others
Parents are encouraged to spend time with and listen to their children instead of shooing them off (Matthew 19:14). Loyalty in marriage, truth-telling are basic biblical commands. Anyone who works in sales or customer service is regularly encouraged to “go the extra mile” which comes almost directly from Matthew 5:41. The motivation for salesmen is not love of customers personally of course but a recognition of the fact that customers treated this way tend to be loyal which brings me to my final point: cherry picking the religions for good tips on worldly success leaves much worthwhile by the wayside. Indeed failing to see the underlying principle (love) and only grasping for the fruits we miss out on really changing our world for the better.
So What?
Much of what makes our western society stable, free and attractive to outsiders comes from it’s Christian roots which are sadly being forgotten. Jesus was a pacifist who praised peacemakers and went a route unheard of in world history. Jesus did not fit into any of the 3 categories available to leaders of the time:
- He did not retreat from the world to remain holy and hope for escape in the next life (the religious quietest “holy man”route).
- He did not sharpen his sword, gather an army hope for a chance to revolt against Roman oppression (the revolutionary Zealot route).
- Neither did he conform to the world, disappear in the crowd, and make himself as comfy as possible, getting the most out of life and waiting for whatever happened (the worldly route taken by Jewish leaders of the time).
Jesus came with an agenda so radical and unique it bordered on foolishness and was rejected as such by most of his contemporaries.
The modern world’s agenda has been revisionist in nature: pick what feels right or works best from the world’s philosophers and cultures and discard the rest. In the process Jesus’ real radical message which carries with it power for lasting peace has been whittled away to a few hollow platitudes which bear only a faint echo of the wisdom of which they are but a shadow.
