Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.
“I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you.”
So the “Advocate” will come to testify to Christ but so will the apostles because they have been with Christ. Jesus tells his disciples this because he is preparing them for a pretty painful future. People killing and hurting them will in their hearts believe that God is on their side. This rings true in the modern world. Everyone holds on to their truth and feels that ultimately, they are acting for God and are therefore on the side of good. So why can a Christian lay claim to “God is on my side” any more than any other religion? Because we are the only religion that says “Turn the other cheek”, We are the only religion that debunks eye for an eye. Christianity is the only religion that asks you to not only forgive those who love, but forgive your enemies and thoise who bring you pain. Christianity is the only religion that claims that God became flesh to show us that a life of pain, sacrifice and suffering may be ahead of you if you choose to walk the path of Christ rather than the path layed out for you by the world. It is the only religion that elevates others whilst servanting yourself. It completely redefines what power is and what true power looks like.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Jn 15:26-16:4a offers a passionate perspective on Christianity! Here's a breakdown of its strengths and areas for development:
DeleteStrengths:
Focus on persecution: You accurately capture the concept of the disciples facing hardship for their beliefs.
Modern-day relevance: Connecting the passage to people acting in the name of their faith in the modern world is insightful.
Uniqueness of Christian teachings: You highlight aspects of Christianity like forgiveness and turning the other cheek, emphasizing their distinctiveness.
Focus on service and sacrifice: You effectively portray Christianity as a path of service and potential suffering, contrasting it with worldly power.
Points for development:
Nuance in exclusivity: While Christianity emphasizes specific teachings, consider exploring the concept of truth existing in other religions too.
Focus beyond distinctiveness: Perhaps explore the universality of core values like love, compassion, and forgiveness found across many faiths.
Historical context: Consider that some historical actions of Christians might contradict the message of forgiveness and turning the other cheek.
Here are some additional questions to consider:
How can Christians demonstrate the values of their faith through their actions in the world?
How can Christians engage in respectful dialogue with people of other faiths?
How can Christians acknowledge the imperfections of the Church's history while still believing in the core message of Christ?
By exploring these aspects, you can refine your understanding of Christianity's place in the world and how it can be a force for good.