"Blessed are the poor in spirit, because they were the owner of the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the cheapest in heart: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness, for they were the owner of the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when you heckled and abused me and you on it all the evil slander.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. "(Matthew 5:2-12).
Happy ... happy ... happy and rejoice ... how we should practice what the preach on the Mount and at the same time supporting the use of military force?
Violence, rape, oppression, looting which we have felt almost make us participate bitterness trees flourish along with the time, so the gap between those who believe and do not trust deepened.
That's a reasonable question, for example, also disputes the border between our country and neighboring countries who would not want to make us as Christians who are involved directly as a means of defense or state only as an ordinary citizen who loves this country will certainly have a desire great to be able to defend or at least maintain this state.
But Jesus taught we should love our enemies, repay evil with goodness. Is this realistic in a world where crime is very often win?
When Jesus says of the Kingdom of God, He gave the standard radical who should run the citizens of the citizens are happy and rejoice in any circumstance, and this standard is almost no sense.
He knows how to live like that is difficult and complicated, but it will give the testimony the values of the Kingdom of God even in the midst of this evil world. Christ did not say the Christians who obey will be able to deliver the kingdom of God to earth, only Christ himself who will do that when He returns. But for the period between the two stages - the announcement of the kingdom of God and its final perfection - God gave the structure to prevent crime in this world.
State even allowed to take up the sword if necessary, and Christians are commanded to obey and respect the State authorities as instruments of God, in the Book of Romans 13:1-7, says:
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities on it, because no government, which is not of God, and the governments that exist, established by God. So whoever against the government, she resisted the ordinance of God and who do, will bring punishment upon themselves. For if a do good, he do not fear the government, only if he do evil.
Would you like to live without fear of government? Do what is good and you shall receive praise from him. Because the government is the servant of God for your good. But if thou do evil, be afraid of him, because the government does not bear the sword in vain. Government is the servant of God to avenge God's wrath upon those who do evil.
Because it must needs be subject, not only for punishment but also because of conscience. That is also why you pay taxes. Because those who care about it are the servants of God.
Pay to everyone what should you pay: taxes to the person entitled to receive the taxes, duties to the person entitled to receive tax; fear to those who deserve fear and respect to people who deserve respect. "
So there are two important commands should be noted, namely: to live according to the teachings of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, which gives examples of the values of the Kingdom of God which has not yet come in its fullness and at the same time supporting the role of government to maintain order as a witness to God's authority over the kingdoms of the world today.
So even though Christians should not repay evil with evil - instead he had to forgive, and to break the cycle of crime - he may participate in a structure that allowed God to prevent crime and disorder in the world using the power of government.
How many of us are already taking part in this? Or we never care about this? As long as we still feel safe in our place, maybe we never would think to break the cycle of crime that, until the crime is coming upon us.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar