In order to minimize the tension between pietism and activism, Scripture suggests five ways in which the CHRIST -------; CHURCH -------; WORLD syndrome bears fruit:
1. The social action of the priest or religious must be apologetic. Apologetic here does not mean a rational defence of the faith or even offering proofs for it. Rather, it means that good works are done in such a spirit that those who see them are led to God. "Shed your light among your fellows, so that when they see the good you do, they may give praise to your Father in Heaven". - Matt. 5:16 -
The Pharisees draw attention to themselves when they do good works; the Marxists draw attention to an ideology, but the priest does them for God's sake. Does a nun who leaves the convent where she teaches religion to children, in order to earn $12,000 as an administrator in a college, really do this for the glory of God? "Do you give service? Give it as in the strength which God supplies. In all things so act that the glory may be God's through Jesus Christ". - 1Peter 4:11 -
"After the Battle of Agincourt," a historian writes, "Henry V would not permit any ditties to be sung about his glorious victory; he would have all the praise and thanks be given wholly to God".
Mother Teresa of India describes the apologetics and character of social service in the following way: "We must be able to radiate the joy of Christ, express it in our actions. If our actions are just useful actions that give no joy to people, our people would never be able to rise up to the call which we want them to hear - the call to come closer to God".
When action is exalted as the only way to glorify God, it is well to remember that those who are not active through no fault of their own may be considered a victim. David went out to battle with six hundred men, later to find that two hundred were physically unfit. - 1 Sam. 30:10 - David won the battle and took many spoils. as the four hundred started to divide them, David stopped them saying that though the two hundred did not fight, "They shall share and share alike". - 1Sam. 30:24 - The Lord in the end will reward us not on the basis of our activity, but on our faithfulness in His cause.
2. The mere physical presence of a priest or a nun in serving the secular order is not necessarily a "witnessing"......................
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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