Aniruddha Babar, PhD
Department of Political Science
Tetso College, Dimapur
With the evolution of mankind his understanding about himself and his surroundings increased. With the passage of time numerous ‘belief systems’ came into being. Those belief systems gradually evolved into institutionalized ‘Religion’ like Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism which has been spreading their light for the past thousands of years. Christianity is one of the largest and biggest religions in the world. Jesus Christ, a Son of Man who was sent by the almighty creator brought a ‘Good News’ with his arrival. Birth of Jesus Christ was not only just good news in itself but also a hope for the suffering world. Life of Christ has been inspiring humanity for years. Jesus Christ through his ministry, preaching served and saved the people who not only were the victims of their own ignorance but also the injustice of unjust world.
Who were the initial followers of Christ? Were they rich, influential people? Were the emperors and kings became the followers of Jesus? Who were the first disciples of Jesus? History teaches us that the words of Jesus were first listened, understood, accepted, appreciated and guarded by common, poor people who were struggling day and night for their daily bread while spending their life hoping for ‘liberation from suffering’. Jesus was a traveling preacher. His words used to inspire people. However, he was not just a man of words but his words were backed by the concrete actions. Jesus not only preached love but practiced love as well. Jesus not only delivered sermons on compassion and brotherhood but he himself shown the practical meaning of them while living his own words. The Life and Mission of Jesus Christ as reflected in the Bible is a guide to humanity to live a life as meaningful as possible.
There has not been any topic of human interests which has not been touched by Jesus Christ during his ministry days, however, for every sorrow, every suffering, every injustice, every brutality that Jesus saw in the world he had one antidote that is the practice of unconditional love and kindness as this is the universal language in which lord almighty speaks. Christianity may be an only religion in the world where virtues of Love, Compassion, Charity and Service have been incorporated as institutionalized virtues which has been accepted as the basis of Christianity. These virtues are inseparable from ‘Applied Christianity’ which simply means that Christian Fathers, Pastors, Leaders, Nuns, religious representatives and common Christianlaity and followers are under the obligation to practice the message of Jesus which consistently direct us to ‘go to the world of darkness and lit the candle of hope’.
The Church of Almighty lives within us and wherever we go we carry the church along with us. God’s Church represents the ‘living form’ of the message of almighty. Wherever the followers of Jesus gathers together; the place takes a physical form of church- a place not only for fellowship with each other and the lord almighty but also to share and deliberate upon how can the followers of Christ develop Christ-like personality and offer themselves unconditionally at the service of humanity. It is a sad reality of today’s world that human societies have turned themselves into ‘GHETTOS’- in the name of Clan, Caste, Race,Tribe, Village, Nation. The artificial boundaries have separated man from the other. This separation resulted into the notion of “us” and “them”. Word of Almighty doesn’t recognize ‘us’ and ‘them’. Great creator neither discriminates nor favours his children for he is a strict but loving-kind father who desires the best for the world he created.
Christianity has become a victim of materialistic aspirations of its followers who seems to have drifted from its core principles. Somehow ‘ritualistic’ approach has now taken its roots. Festivals like Christmas have turned into materialistic celebration. However, materialistic approach to religion may not be as harmful as ‘convenient’ approach of the people to the teachings of Christ.
World is changing, human values and their interpretations are changing as well, however; the core principles of the teachings of Jesus – Love, Compassion, Service and Charity should not be forgotten. With the spending of thousands of rupees on buying expensive clothes, gifts and other things while celebrating the birth of the ‘Saviour of the World’ we can spare some amount to bring smile on the lips of unfortunate ones for whom all his life Jesus worked. Can’t we take ourselves along with our children out to some orphanage to celebrate Christmas with those children who are not blessed to have a love of a family? Can’t we celebrate Christmas with HIV positive people – who have been condemned by society? Can’t we celebrate Christmas with those ‘condemned’ women who burn their soul every ‘night’ in the ‘imposed’ fire of ‘lust’ to feed the stomach of their children? Can’t we celebrate Christmas with all those prisoners of darkness who are fearful to believe in the possibility of light? Life of Jesus is a hope for the hopeless and vision for the blind. However, the world seems to havenow totally forgotten the life and most importantly the mission of Jesus Christ. Jesus does not live in the Church, Jesus does not live in the sermons, Jesus does not live in worship songs, Jesus does not live in expensive gifts or material celebration. But Jesus lives in unconditional prayer-love-compassion-service and charity. Jesus lives in a relationship that embraces a ‘broken’ person. Jesus lives in every sorrow that flows through a smile. If a Christian is able to make himself or herself useful for the society he is a true child of God. Let us not go to church for the sake of going, let us not hear the sermons for the sake of hearing, let us not preach for the sake of preaching, let us not sing worship songs for the sake of singing, let us LIVE the word of God. Let us extend our helping hands to someone who might need them more than we need. Our Minds, Our Hearts, Our Purses and Our Homes should forever remain open for the ‘battered’, ‘lost’ and ‘needy’souls.
Jesus said ‘I came, not to be served, but to serve.’—Matthew 20:28.So if we want to be like the Great Teacher, what must we do?— We must serve others. We must do good things for them. Jesus with his own examples showed that he wanted his followers to serve one another. He did not want them to think only about themselves. He did not want them to think that they were so important that others should always serve them. He wanted them to be willing to serve others.In John 13:15, Jesus sets an example for us to follow. After washing His disciples' feet — an act of love, humility, and service — He encourages us to follow His lead and serve one another.
"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you," Jesus says.
Jesus, the Son of God, never placed himself in a position above others. He led by serving, and He loved by serving. He washed feet. He fed thousands. He walked to visit and heal the sick and dead. He stopped to touch and heal a sick woman. He spent time with those no one else cared to spend time with. Jesus lived a life of humility.Jesus showed us that serving others and humility goes hand in hand. When will we all become like Jesus? Our actions give life to the words of Bible. World is full of suffering. Man cannot afford to live a life of selfishness. Just like YOURS, OTHERS life matters too.
We are parents as well as children of ‘each other’ and the ‘Creator’ is our supreme Father and the Light. Now, let us pledge together in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit that, “as long as we are alive, we will offer ourselves to the service of the humanity. In our presence none should die without food and medicine, no child should be deprived of education due to poverty; no dream should burn down to ashes without helping hands. Selfishness has no place in the world of God. Selfishness is a sin. We will not be sinner. We will not be selfish. Whatever little we might have, we will freely share in the name of the supreme creator God, for the glory of Jesus. We understand that our purpose on Earth is not to get lost in the dark in our journey through life. But to be a beacon of light so that others may find their way…. This is the way of Christ, This is the way of God”. AMEN !!
