THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY: KEY TEXTS

TEN GUIDING PRINCIPLES1. Creation: imago dei2. Equality3. Unity (We are all interconnected: what we do to others we do to

ourselves)4. Solidarity: God identifies himself with every human, especially the

marginalized and oppressed5. Jesus’ definition of his own mission: to liberate the oppressed6. God/Jesus became poor in order to liberate the poor7. Criterium for entering the kingdom of God8. Centrality of Love9. The Exodus paradigm: God as the liberator10. Imitatio dei: we are called to be perfect like the father in heaven

GOD/JESUS

Humanity

Neighbour

I

(Individual)

UNITY EQUALITY

1. FAITH AND REASON: Critical thinking imperative “Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good?

But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear so that when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.” (1Peter 3, 13-17)

“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control,self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion,devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love…”(2 Peter 1, 1-11)

2. FAITH AND FREEDOM

Critique of idolatry, critique of religion (Mt 5-7; Mt 23) * "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom"(2 Cor.3 : 17) * Freedom from the letter of the Law (Romans 7: 1-6)

"Now we have been released from the law - for we have died to what bound us - and we serve in the new spirit, not the antiquated letter" (7:6)

"The written law (letter) kills, but the spirit gives life" (2 Cor.3:6) Freedom from rituals and taboos (Food, Circumcision,…)

FREEDOM FROM TABOOS(FOOD, ETC):Rom. 14, 1-22 Circumcision rejected (Gal 5, 1-6)1 Cor 10, 23-31 Acts, chap.10, 11 (Peter’s Vision) 1 Cor 6, 12-20 Acts 15 (Council of Jerusalem)1 Cor 8, 1-131 Timothy 4, 1-8Colossians2:16-23

Lev.15 : 16-27 and Lev.12, 1-8: bodily impurity of women (and men) (Rejected by Christianity, but there is no specific text addressing this issue

in the NT)

3.1. The book of Wisdom 11: 20-26; and 12:1. …you (God) have disposed all things by measure and number and weight. For with you great strength abides always; who can resist the might of your arm. Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance, or a drop of morning

dew come down upon the earth. But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook the sins of

men that they may repent. For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you

hated, you would not have fashioned. And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been

called forth by you? But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things!

3.2. KENOSIS (Humility, Simplicity)Kenosis: be humble, don’t be arrogant: the first will be the last!

Philippians 2, 1-11: Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better

than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as

something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name…

Rom 12: 1-21(humility and unity)

3.3. PATER NOSTERWhen you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do;

for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then in this way:“Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be your name.Your kingdom come.Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,As we also have forgiven our debtors.And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Mt 6:5-15)

4.1 Equality From Nationalism/Ethnocentrism to Univeralism

Jesus’ new family (Mt 12, 46-50: who is my mother? Who are my brothers?…)

Acts, chapters 10, 11 (Peter’s vision) I begin to see how true it is that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10,34) You know that it is not proper for a Jew to associate with a Gentile…But God has

made it clear that no one should call any man unclean or impure (Acts 10,28)

Acts 15 (Council of Jerusalem)

4.2. Christianity vs Patriotism (a Christian is a citizen of the world!)

The “Epistle to Diognetus,” defined early Christians as follows:

“But while they dwell in cities of Greeks and Barbarians as the lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs in dress and food and the other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, is marvelous, and confessedly contradicts expectation.

They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners; they bear their share in all things as citizens, and they endure all hardships as strangers. Every foreign country is a fatherland to them, And every fatherland is foreign.” Hugh J. Schonfield, The Politics of God, New York: Bantam Books,

1970; p.201.

TWO PILLARS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH 1. LOVE 2. THE POOR

to love my neighbourFaith = to love God = { to love the poor, the oppressed, the stranger, the

marginalizedto love the enemy

5. LOVE is THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY

1Timothy 1:3-11The aim of this (Christian) instruction is love from a pure heart, a good

conscience, and a sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk,

wanting to be teachers of the law, but without understanding either what they are saying or what they assert with such assurance. We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law, with the understanding that law is meant not for a righteous person

but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and sinful,

the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers,

the unchaste, practising sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers,

and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

LOVE 5.1. “Beloved, let us love one another; because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God

and knows God. Who ever does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4, 7-8) 5.2. “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers and sisters, are liars; for those who do not

love a brother or sister who they have seen, cannot love God who they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this:

those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” (1John 4,20-21) 5.3. Golden Rule: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and

the prophets” (Mt 7,12)

5.4. LOVE IS GREATER THAN “FAITH” (1 Cor. 13, 1-13)“Faith, hope, and love, abide these three; and the greatest of these is love

(1Cor 13, 13)“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing”

(1 Cor 13, 1-2)

Love in Action, Faith in Action 5.5. Mt 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the

kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’

5.6. James 2, 14-26 (Faith without works is dead!): “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demon believe and shudder.

Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?… just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” (James 2,19-20, and verse 26)

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘God in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2, 14-17)

6. Denouncing Hypocrisy (Mt 5:37; Mt 6: 1-7,16-18) and (Jeremiah 7:1-10) Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil

one… Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then

you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites

do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others.Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him…

And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7. JESUS’ CHARTER OF NON-VIOLENCE (Mt 5, 21-48)“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever

murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or a sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire…

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;

And if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to

you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

8. THE 8 BEATITUDES (Mt 5, 1-11): 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven. 2) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness, for they will be filled 3) Blessed are those who mourn, for their will be comforted 4) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth 5) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God 6) Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called

children of God. 7) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’

sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 8) Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute

you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…

Prayer of Saint Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, union; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy, For your mercy and truth’s sake. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love, For it is in giving that we receive, It is pardoning that we are pardoned, It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

9. DECALOGUE Deuteronomy 5: 6-18. Exodus 20 : 1-17. *Exodus 34:1-28:

New Tables of the law with the word “Ten commandments” (34:28)

***

Jesus’ version: Mt 19:1-25 (Rich young man: 6 commandments) Mt 22:34-40 (Decalogue reduced to 2

commandments) Mt 7:12 (Golden Rule)

Jesus’ version of Ten Commandments: Mt 19:1-25 (Rich young man: 6 commandments)

Mt 22:34-40 (Decalogue reduced to 2 commandments)One Pharisee, a lawyer, asked Jesus a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him,“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Mt 7:12 (Golden Rule):

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

DECALOGUE 1. Thou shalt not kill 2. Thou shalt not steal 3. Thous shalt not lend money with interest 4. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods or property 5. Thou shalt not bear false witness (Thou shalt not lie) 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery 7. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife 8. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at

a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. (Mt5:27-30)

THE MAJOR BIBLICAL CURSES (Deuteronomy 27, 9-26): 9. Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has violated his father’s rights. 10. Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law. 11. Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his

mother.” 12. Cursed be anyone who lies with any animal.” 13. Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan, and the widow of justice. 13. Cursed be anyone who moves a neighbor’s boundary marker. 14. Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind person on the road. 15. Cursed be anyone who strikes down a neighbor in secret. 16. Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood. 17. Cursed be anyone who dishonors father or mother.

DECALOGUE 1. Thou shalt not kill 2. Thou shalt not steal 3. Thous shalt not lend money with interest 4. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods or property 5. Thou shalt not bear false witness (Thou shalt not lie) 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery 7. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife 8. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. (Mt5:27-30)

PSALM 15, 1-5:• Lord, who may abide in your tent?• Who may dwell on your holy hill?• 1) Those who walk blamelessly, • 2) and do what is right, • 3) and speak the truth from their heart; • 4) who do not slander with their tongue• 5) and do no evil to their friends, • 6) nor take up a reproach against their neighbours;• 7) In whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honour those who fear

the Lord; • 8) who stand by their oath even to their hurt;• 9) Who do not lend money at interest, • 10) and do not take a bribe against the innocent.• Those who do these things shall never be moved.

THE MAJOR BIBLICAL CURSES (Deuteronomy 27, 9-26): 9. Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he

has violated his father’s rights. 10. Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law. 11. Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the

daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.” 12. Cursed be anyone who lies with any animal.” 13. Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan, and the widow

of justice. 13. Cursed be anyone who moves a neighbor’s boundary marker. 14. Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind person on the road. 15. Cursed be anyone who strikes down a neighbor in secret. 16. Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood. 17. Cursed be anyone who dishonors father or mother.

10. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE10.1. Acts 4:32-36; 5:1-11 “The community of

believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common... Nor was there anyone needy among them, for all who owned property or houses sold them and donated the proceeds. They used to lay them at the feet of the apostles to be distributed. (But when Ananias and Sapphira his wife sold a piece of property, kept some money for themselves and brought one part to the apostles, Peter cursed them and they died on the spot”

POVERTY, WEALTH, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

10.2. You can’t worship God and Money! (In God/Gold? We Trust)“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Wealth.” (Mt 6:24 and Luke 16:13; and Mt 19:16-26)

10.3. The Love of money is the root of all evil…” (1Timothy 6:10) 10.4.Parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31 and Mt 10.5. Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your

possessions, and give the money to the poor; then come, follow me” (Mt 19:21)

10.6. It is difficult for a rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven:Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:23-24)

10.7. the small gift of the poor old lady is better than the huge gift of the rich (Luke20:45-47 and Luke 21:1-4)

Jesus defines his mission (Luke 4, 14-24)The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,Because he has anointed me

To bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To let the oppressed go free, To proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue

were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

THE MAGNIFICAT (Luke 1, 46-55)And Mary Said:My Soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,For he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.His mercy is for those who fear him from generation in generation.He has shown strength with his arm;He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, And lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, And sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, According to the promise he made to our ancestors, To Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

(Luke 1, 46-55)

PRIMACY OF GOOD WORKS AT THE LAST JUDGMENT (Mt25,31-46)

Jesus, the Judge of Nations at the end of the world (Mt 25, 31-46):(sine qua non conditions for entering the kingdom of God)

When the Son of Man (=Jesus) comes in his glory, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him… And he will say to those on his right, ‘come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

… Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Jesus in the footsteps of Hebrew Prophets (Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah) 20. I hate, I despise your pilgrim-festivals, And I do not delight in your sacred assemblies. Even if you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I look on the peace offerings of your fatted animals. Remove the noise of your songs from me; the music of your harps I will not hear, Rather, let justice roll on like the waters, and righteousness like an everflowing river.”

(Amos, 5: 21-24).

21. “This is the fast I desire: To unlock fetters of wickedness, To let the oppressed go free To untie the cords of the yoke To break off every yoke. It is to share your bread with the hungry, To take the wretched poor into your home; When you see the naked, to close him..”

(Isaiah 58: 6-7)

22. “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who defraud the poor and rob the needy…” (Amos 4: 1-3)

“Seek me and you will live, ah you who turn justice into wormwood and hurl righteousness to the ground,… you who impose a tax on the poor… you enemies of the righteous, you takers of bribes, you who subvert the cause of the needy… how many are your crimes!” (Amos 5: 4-12)

Jeremiah 7, 1-15: Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah, you that enter these gates to

worship the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”

For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, If you do not oppress the alien (immigrant) If you do not oppress the orphan If you do not oppress the widow If you do not shed innocent blood in this place, And if you do not go after other gods , Then I will dwell with you in this place. Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after gods, and then come and stand

before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say ‘We are safe!’ only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this house (Temple) become a den of robbers in your sight?… You know, I too am watching, says the Lord.