The Uncooked Lie about Baptism

To lead a life based on biblical faith is not easy. One of the main reasons is Bible has divisions like Old Testament, Gospels and Epistles. Gospels and Epistles are the two parts of New Testament.  When we read these three parts, there is a chance to feel, some times, that these three are contradicting one another; so we gradually come to confusion. Unfortunately, some people deliberately capitalize on this situation and mislead others for their personal gains or for fulfillment of their vested interests making many groups based on different points.

If we take everything from Old Testament literally, then we will have to take sword and will have to fight for a nation for believers. So is the case of Epistles, we will have to deviate from Gospels if we read and observe only Epistles. In nut shell, those who want to follow Jesus should move along Old Testament and Epistles centering and fixing well their lives in Gospels, means it is like drawing a circle with Gospels -Jesus- as center and other books as radius. If we often deviate from the center, then what we try to draw will not be a circle but something else. So, if we do not center in Gospels while we trying to imbibe truth from other books of Bible, we will not be leading a life of disciples of Jesus but something else.

Recently some people put forward an argument that baptizing should be in the name of Jesus only, not in the name of trinity. They got this idea from Epistles. In Epistles apostles, especially Peter on Pentecost day after his preaching, tell those who believed to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  So the argument is this, in first century no apostles has baptized anyone in the name of trinity but only in the name of Jesus and baptizing in trinity is not right. These people draw an indefinite figure; it has no center, other wise it is not Jesus-centered. To know more we have to make a detail study about the fact.

First let us examine the verses they use to justify their arguments. Mark 16:16 (ESV2011) whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Here Mark does not say to baptize specifically in ‘father, son and spirit’ (neither in ‘Jesus Christ’ that is another funny thing to that, in Acts 8, I am coming after explaining something that has priority).

Acts2:38 (ESV2011): And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. In these verses also there is no mentioning of trinity. Like this when we go through Epistles we can see that no apostles have suggested or mentioned to get baptized in ‘father, son and Holy Spirit’.

So the assumption is that in the first century there was no practice of baptizing in trinity. If we take this conclusion in to account we will face another dilemma. What is that? Look Acts chapter 8:  12” But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women”. Then come to Verse 38 to see mentioning of eunuch’s baptism. “38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him”. What we have to understand here? Here in these two above mentioned baptisms neither the trinity nor the Christ have been mentioned, so don’t we need to baptize any one in the name of Jesus or in the name of trinity?  Or should we understand that according to the baptism given by Philip we have an option to form another Christian group? What is the fact?

OK, let us consider the baptism from its beginning. Which is the first known baptism?  It is John the Baptist’s. He is the first one who put the baptism in to practice. The baptism he administered was the baptism of repentance. Jesus also had gone through that baptism and in the time of Jesus this baptism was very popular. Look John 3:26  (ESV2011) ‘And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”  But after Jesus’ ascension the baptism is not the baptism of repentance. It has a quite different meaning and purpose. So to make clear, Jesus had to redefine the baptism and its administration to apostles. He did that according to Matthew 28:19 (ESV2011)”Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. From that moment onwards the administration of baptism is in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Whether we mention it simply ‘baptism’ as in the verses Acts 8:12 & 38 or ‘baptism in Christ’ as in the verse Acts 2:38, it doesn’t matter, administration is in trinity.

Now about the baptism apostles mentioned, it is the same Jesus mentioned. Why? As I mentioned above, in those days baptism was very popular, the baptism of repentance. So in first Church meeting on the Pentecost day Peter had to mention the baptism to be taken for salvation, and the same time he had to mention that was not the popularly known baptism but a baptism commanded by Jesus Christ. So he said in short “You should repent and be baptized in Jesus Christ”. If there had not been another well known baptism in those days, Peter would have needed only to say “repent and be baptized” because the only baptism that existed would have been the one Jesus advised.  When time passed away this Jesus-commanded baptism became popular, so at the time of Philip’s preaching in Samaria he needed only to mention as baptism, not as ‘baptism in Jesus’. Now we also say, simply ‘baptism’ not in Christ or in ‘father, son and holy spirit’. But it is the baptism that Jesus commanded to perform. Any way, whether it is known as simply ‘baptism’ or ‘baptism in Jesus’ it doesn’t mater the administration of baptism is in the name of trinity as Jesus Christ directed. Moreover, the method of baptism apostles performed has been explained no where in the epistles to conclude that they performed a baptism which was not in the name of ‘father, son and holy spirit’.   

Now, why should the baptism which apostles suggested be the same as that of the Jesus commanded as long as the trinity has not been mentioned by apostles in their epistles? To answer this question a best method is to ask another question. What is the meaning of apostles in Bible? Sure, messengers of Jesus Christ. If these apostles are messengers of Christ, which baptism they have to preach and practice? The one Jesus commanded them to perform, if they preach and perform another baptism they are not apostles of Jesus Christ and those who want to follow Jesus needn’t obey them.

In nut shell when we go through, when we read, apostles and prophets we have to stand firm in Jesus –in Gospels. Other wise any one will easily be mislead and exploited by the wolves in sheep-skins. So make sure we have a good stead in Gospels. Don’t be a ‘loin cloth on line’ because wind may blow ‘from’ different directions and ‘to’ different directions.

Kingdom of heaven ,The Church, is not Kingdom of Israel - New testament and Old testament

I happened to confront with some arguments that still maintain the concept 'Israel as Church'. Many who follow Bible still, practically, follow the Kingdom of Israel not the Kingdom of Heaven mentioned in New Testament. 

First we have to understand what Israel and what Kingdom of Heaven or The Church. 

Whoever reads the Bible with any attention cannot fail to perceive that more than half of its contents relate to one nation: the Israelites. He perceives, too, that they have a distinct place in the dealings and counsels of God. Separated from the mass of mankind, they are taken into covenant with Jehovah, who gives them specific promises not given to any other nation. Their history alone is told in Old Testament narrative and prophecy; other nations are mentioned only as they touch the Jew. It appears, also, that all the communications of Jehovah to Israel as a nation relate to the Earth. If faithful and obedient, the nation is promised earthly greatness, riches, and power; if unfaithful and disobedient, it is to be scattered "among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other" (Deut. 28:64). Even the promise of the Messiah is of blessing to "all the families of the Earth." 

Continuing his research, the student finds mention in Scripture of another distinct body, which is called the church. This body also has a peculiar relation to God and, like Israel, has received from Him specific promises. But similarity ends there, and the most striking contrast begins. Instead of being formed of the natural descendants of Abraham alone, it is a body in which the distinction of Jew and Gentile is lost. Instead of the relation being one of mere covenant, it is one of birth. Instead of obedience bringing the reward of earthly greatness and wealth, the church is taught to be content with food and raiment, and to expect persecution and hatred; it is perceived that just as distinctly as Israel stands connected with temporal and earthly things, so distinctly does the church stand connected with spiritual and heavenly things. 

Another distinction between Israel and church is that as Israel is temporal, it was governed by laws but church is not, Church is by righteousness. Law imposes restrictions upon personal activities but righteousness does not imposes any restriction upon persons but persons should do it themselves from his own conviction of righteousness. Nothing, except God, controls them from outside. That is why Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. “ Means, it is more personal. The truth should set the person free, neither his father, his brother, his sister, his/her spouse, nor anyone else. The disciples of Jesus are not controlled by anyone to that extend, but by the word of God, the righteousness. That is the situation in Church but not in Israel and in Old Testament. Do we think that Jesus was unaware of Judas’ activities? Was it the lack of teaching or the lack of spirituality of Jesus that deviated Judas from the way? No, Jesus didn’t put any restriction upon him. Why? Not restrictions, controls, laws, but righteousness that comes from personal conviction. That righteousness leads everyone in Church, no one else. If something else or some one else is leading anyone, then he is actually not in The Church.The only thing others can do upon a person is teach and advice, the rest of the matter belongs to the person. 

Most of those who claim they are in The Church and follow Jesus are actually not. By lip they are in Church by heart they are in Israel and that’s time has over. These people are neither in the Kingdom of heaven nor in the Kingdom of Israel and are on the way of destruction.

Mathew Chapter 7 continues….3

In the verses 15 to 20 Jesus reminded us about false prophets. Here in theses verses, 21 to 23, also he presents the same truth in a different way.  We don’t misunderstand that false prophets means some people with different doctrines. They are the people with same doctrine with different intentions. Jesus knew it very well from the beginning itself, from that desert. These people give primary importance for material side of life and secondary for spiritual, means spirituality is for material life and its prosperity and material is not for spiritual life. All their spiritual activities are to flourish their material side of life. Otherwise, all their activities are to flourish ‘Kingdom of Matter’ or ‘Kingdom of Material’.

When we look back to the human history we can see one truth that, whatever development human effort has achieved that has never taken him to a point of satiation. The more material development he achieved the more was the greed he maintained for it.  Why? We needn’t carry out a research for the answer. By material development satiation or joy is not possible, that is the fact. The satiation or joy is not a material fact. Means it cannot be achieved by the development of ‘Kingdom of Matter’ or ‘Kingdom of Material’ but by the development of some other Kingdom which is not ‘Matter’ or which is not the matter of Material and which satiation or joy belongs to. Means a Kingdom independent of matter exists where plenitude and prosperity is a non-material affair, where primary consideration is for non material side and secondary for material side of life. This Kingdom is known as ‘Kingdom of heaven’ in this Book, Mathew. Here the material facts do not limit or control the emotional realm which comprises joy, love, compassion etc. Actually this emotional Kingdom is heavenly one, material side of life is controlled or limited by this emotional Kingdom. Without material and material existence, experiencing the ultimate joy for ever is known as salvation. Here in this Kingdom people practice the life of salvation and life for salvation. A man who is in Kingdom of Matter always works for the prosperity and plenitude in terms of material wealth. Means he finds values in processed materials and structures. But the man who belongs to Kingdom of heaven sees material values as the essential for material existence. And he doesn’t find any meaning in hoarding these values, as it in excess will not make life in excess or eternal. So the matter of Kingdom of heaven is not building up material world but building up a non-material world means a realm of material detachment. 

As we see, the Kingdom of heaven can also be defined as an emotional realm where love, compassion and other positive emotions prevail and thereby relations among people become genuine and fast independent of material aspects.  A man in this Kingdom is rich when his emotional relations - means relation based on unconditional love, compassion etc – are widely spread. He is rich when he has love and compassion towards everyone, without self-interest, without vested interests. So the man who inherit Kingdom of Material works for material wealth whether he a believer or not, but one who inherit Kingdom of Heaven works for these kinds of emotional wealth as mentioned above. That’s why Jesus said indicating false ones as follows in verses 21 to 23.

21  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22  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 mighty works in your name?’ 23  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Many are believers but what the motivation behind the belief? These believers pray lengthy prayers and preach lengthy sermons and there is no shortage of miracles. But there is shortage of something. That is the ‘Will Of God’. For, all these people perform everything according to their will, giving importance for their life, self-interested, they are self-centered, and so they belong to Kingdom of Material. On the other hand, some believers perform not much big things. They love people and make relations for nothing. They remind other people the need to love one another. They even travel simply to make such loving relations and to make awareness in people about this loving Doctrine. Often, their lives are like that of nomads. They are not concern about miracles and lengthy blabla sermons full of weighty words but the words they deliver are full of love and compassion, free of cost. An outside ‘Will’, divine love, always motivates them. This ‘Will’ outside them is the ‘Will Of God’ that prevails in non-material Kingdom or in Kingdom of Heaven, because it has no material interest.  So only these kinds of people enter there. Others are workers like any other workers working for their material existence. To that extend we can call them spiritual labors, beyond that nothing else. They  spoil not only themselves but  those who follow them.

Mathew Chapter 7 continues…………….2

By this chapter Jesus was going to conclude the sermon on the mountain. So he took care to mention the dangers that might occur by his doctrines being handled by inappropriate men in inappropriate way. So he provided some ways in his teachings to understand and identify such men. By warning about false prophets he tried to bring forth some facts. One important thing of them is, learning scripture is one thing and make internal change and practice it accordingly is another thing. Second, scripture not only can be used for spiritual welfare of human society but it can be used from the consumerist point of view to exploit common people. Third, how your inner being is so you see the scriptures. So we need a clear mind and heart to see the truths from scripture, means studying scripture may not change lives. But in some cases studying scriptures caused personal changes and the opposite is also true, some persons' study of scriptures have changed the scripture-meaning and usage. Fourth, without the providence of almighty it is not possible to see the truths, meanings, hidden in the scriptures. In 1 Corinthians, it says like this:

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.⁴  14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

OK, we can continue chapter seven of Mathew.

               

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

He uses two parables to identify them, the false ones. The first one is an inwardly ferocious wolf who put on an outward attire of sheep. What does it mean? Wolf and sheep! What is the relation between them? Wolf is consumer and sheep is consumable. This is the peculiarity of false prophets. His internal will always be in a consumer mood (exactly it should be the other way according to John 6:48,”I am the bread of life”, but these wolves say “everything and everyone is bread for my life”). He sees everything in terms of consumables. The outer world, whether it is society or it is nature, is to consume not for anything else. Means, everything is for his material benefits. He sees nothing common in his interior and exterior. But he sees a relation between with his interior and exterior, that is a consumer relation. Means he can never maintain a positive emotional relation with his outer world other than consumer greed, a real consumerist. Scripture, teaching and other related things are related to his tummy and his wealth, there is no death and after death issues. As a wolf after sheep-flesh, so these prophets always after people for their material gains. Wolves aim sheep for their material existence not for the welfare of sheep or for sheep’s existence. These prophets don’t care about lives in any situation, whatever the struggles people going through it may be, until and unless they have some sort of benefit that they believe as blessing.  

How can we identify them? Jesus says, from their fruits, from what they produce. That is the second parable for. He says about tree and fruits. What is that? When we read Bible, especially when we come across parables, we have to dissect them part by part and see what is inside, what principle is functioning in it. Here trees and fruits, we can think about the facts and see what divine principle is hidden in it, and then we can understand why Jesus used this particular parable in this particular context. We know that any living being either vegetation or animals absorb energy from their environment in the form of food in order to exist and grow. In the case of plants, when we read botany, we can see that in the process of existence those also absorb energy in the form of food or in the form fertilizer and water. When the food they absorb in excess, they also try to store them up in different forms as fruits and tubers.

What is the purpose of this stored up food? Is it to use up in the future? No. It is used by other living beings as their food. Means what they produced and stored up is not for themselves but for the sake of the existence of other beings. This is a righteousness we see in our natural environment. And every fruit cannot be used by every other being as food. We can use grapes and figs for food as human beings. These fruits have use values for us, no quality then no value.  Now clear, our achievements should be for general welfare not for private welfare; whether these prophets produce fruits to store up for themselves or for others?  From the answer we can recognize them. If it is for them then they maintain that wolf-mentality, they will use everyone for their own purpose and they will consider all their relations like a vineyard or a folk of sheep to consume. True prophets or spiritual people will be good quality vines and shepherds (not wolves) among their people. True prophets or spiritual people are like healthy trees producing healthy fruits which have use value. The true spiritual people never consume their people but they are consumed by their people (“I am the bread of life”). So, observe the mentality, whether it is ‘you are the bread of my life’ or ‘I am the bread of life’. Otherwise a ‘wolf-mentality’ or a ‘plant mentality’?

Mathew chapter 7 continues……..1

One of the most wrongly interpreted parts of the Bible is this one, verses from 7 t0 14. Ask, Seek, Knock then everything will be at your hands. That’s the popular concept of this part of the Bible. Should we think that this is a divine principle to be mentioned in a spiritual teaching? No. First we have to consider the instance in which Jesus teaching this. He was teaching the people whom he called from Galilee sea shore. What had these people been doing there on sea shore when he called them? The same things, they had been Asking, Seeking and Knocking doors to mend their life, to make their life more comfortable. They asked, sought and knocked in material and social environment and they might have got pleasure but not joy and satisfaction as in the case of today’s many millionaires. Their greed might have increased day by day and satisfaction and joy might have been far away from they thought about. So whether a need had been there these points to be taught? No, they were familiar with them. Then, why Jesus again mentioned it?

In verses 9-11 Jesus points out the fact with the help of a parable, children and parents. Children’s asking and seeking are answered not only because of their effort but because parents grant them. Parents grant their children’s requests because that is the right things they have to do in their relations or it’s known as “righteousness”. This is not only the matter of effort but also an attitude, a mental state. Children ask their parents with a specific attitude & emotion and parents grant them with a specific emotion, these emotions and mental state are also the part of “righteousness”, otherwise deeds will be mechanical.

 In the same way Jesus reminded them that they got what they needed in their life was not only because of their efforts but some force granted them that.  To understand this fact we have to examine the relation we maintain with nature and society when we interact with them to achieve what we want.  When we interact with nature or society to process them to facilitate our life, we maintain an attitude that only two entities exists, one is ‘me’ and the other one is where  the ‘me’ interact with; nature or society. This leads us to think that the subjective part or non-material part exists only in ‘me’ and the other part is completely objective, there is no will or an intelligence working behind the other part. This is the mistake we commit always. A universal intelligence (God) is functioning even behind objective environment (not in the objective environment) when we interact with it. Everything in the objective environment has been obeying many principles in order to exist. Means a force has been functioning and that force maintains some principles or laws, it is not functioning in random. This force – God - is an intelligent force otherwise how can it maintain principles? When our interaction with our environment is in accordance with these principles or in accordance with this universal intelligence (which functions behind the universe and 'in' man), otherwise when we keep righteousness with objective as well as subjective environment, like children with their parents (material body is from material world and spirit is from God), these principles or the universal intelligence (God) grant us what we needed, the good gifts as mentioned in the verses. Means what we needed.

In nutshell when we interact with either social or natural environment, we not only have to consider objective conditions but also a subjective condition, that maintain some principles in nature as well as in society, prevails everywhere. But even in today’s society this consideration has no place then what will be the case of that society on Galilee sea shore? So Jesus taught them to do the same thing what they followed but with a modification, to consider a subjective condition like a parent maintain towards his children, on other part when ask, seek and knock. Means, when we seek our welfare or happiness -subjective conditions- we have to ask or seek whether any such subjective condition exists outside us (God’s will). If it exists, we have to work to fulfill such condition first. In very much colloquial language consider the social and environmental needs first. That is verse 12 says “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

That is very difficult. But without the existence of resources, whether it is environment or society, we will not have any kind of welfare. So work for our welfare means work for the welfare of society and environment (God created Eden for the purpose of men, but their thought of consumerism, exploitation, drove them out), work with people to mend them to bring to this way of thinking. Means become a philanthropist and environmentalist.  It is very difficult, isn’t it? That is why Jesus advised them to enter the narrow gate which leads to life; the other one is wide but leads to destruction.

(God works behind the material world and control it, he doesn’t live in any material part but in human beings, according to Bible only human body is the temple of God) 

Environment And Bible

June 5^th is the ‘International Environmental Day’.  When we see phrases like this infiltrate to spiritual matters, we wrinkle our forehead; especially when we discuss Bible. The reason is that we believe Bible and faith have nothing to do with such social and environmental problems because those are out of the domain. But it is our prejudice or we like to run away from the facts and lead a comfortable life using the Bible as a device for the same.

            Most of us believe Bible is to read and to understand the content, but it is not like that.  We have nothing to do with the knowledge that we build up from Bible until and unless it provides us with a clear outlook. And if we have an outlook based on the Bible, we will see all the social phenomena; political, economical or environmental; through that outlook and approach facts accordingly. So, if anybody has a Biblical outlook, certainly he/she will not only have clear vision about environment and environmental problems but also have an approach accordingly.

            OK, if it is so, Shall we have any concern and opinion about the 1200 people who died in north India because of blistering heat, in last month, means in may 2015? Shall we think about the reason of this climate change? Of course we would have thought about this calamity. But many of us believe prayer is the only way according to Bible. No; it is a big lie, run away or hides things for selfish achievements. If anybody has a Biblical outlook, that person will not support any activities which exploit nature and environment like anything that results in such calamities as mentioned above. Do we have any incidents from Bible to point out or to justify this view? Yes, let us look some verses from Bible.

Genesis 3:

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,  she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Actually the greed, the lust for more, drives us to encroach and exploit nature and natural resources beyond the limits. The above mentioned verses, from Genesis chapter 3, point out this fact. Eve crossed the limit in utilizing environment and it was not a necessary but greed. Encroachment of Adam and Eve lead them to more and more needs or cravings, like the need for covering bodies. That resulted in further encroachment on nature for the fulfillment of new needs. In that intense encroachment and exploitation we neglect the righteousness that we have to maintain in relation with nature, from there begins the unrighteous life of human beings.  Every one of us, whether we have Biblical words in our mouth or not, like to have many luxurious facilities in our homes that really helps to accelerate environmental problems. We are praying for it, we are believers because God has to provide this kind of facilities for us (Nowadays I cannot make out who is spiritual and who is materialist). We become the victims of consumerism which is the out come of greed or lust for more.

One of the most dangerous tendencies is the extensive use of vehicles. Most of them are not needs, but desire and craving for luxury. What is the result? We run to find out more and more places to mine petroleum and coal, that has lead us today up to Arctic, a dangerous mission by the company “Shell”, to drill there in arctic that spoil the ice covering and will result in other environmental problems .By burning petroleum products, we contribute to carbon and carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which absorbs light reflecting from surface of the earth and increase the atmospheric temperature. This temperature has its own influence on echo systems and on ice layers that cover Polar Regions and the tops of high mountains. It will provide a high flood in future like one happened in the period of Noah, by melting ice coverings. Actually this is what happened in the time of Noah. People were extremely greedy and sinful that resulted in flood. Look into the verses:

Genesis 6:

 12And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Genesis 7:

17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

These verses clearly point out the activities of man is the one and only cause of environmental problems those lead him to extinction. So do we need to stand against the causes of environmental problems according to Bible? Should we stand in favor of environment according to Bible? Yes, no doubt! But what do we actually do?

Don’t think that there is a covenant of God with Noah so there will not be again a flood. Examine the covenant very carefully; there is something in it like this,

Genesis 9:

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

What it is? When he sees clouds and rainbow only he remembers the covenant, means there will not be a flood by clouds and rain. If there is possibility to have a flood without cloud and rainbow he will not remember the covenant.

What is Jesus’ environmental approach? Most of those who read Bible think Jesus doesn’t have an environmental vision. Is it true? No. A lot of incidents can be pointed out. At present I point out only one instant. Read the below verses.

Mathew 6:

25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

What does Jesus teach us in these verses? He teaches us that nature is a divine book from which we can read every divine principle we needed to lead our social life. He sees nature as another copy of Bible. He tells us to follow the way of nature or the laws we see in nature. But what we do? We try to make the nature follow our laws and regulations that spring up from our selfish greed. We attack nature and environment instead of obeying the principles they bring forth. Is it spiritual life? Jesus abstracted principles from material environment and used it in spiritual plane to enrich the spiritual life.  But what we do now? We destroy the resource that enriches our spiritual plane, to enrich our material life. How long can we enrich our material life like this?

Jesus loved nature and environment. He was also a good environmentalist. He was a good friend of nature that is why nature and natural phenomena like storms obeyed him. What’s our stand now? Whether believers should be environmentalists or should not be?

Mathew Chapter Seven

Mathew Chapter seven

Now, all over India, discussions and debates are going on about some court verdicts. One is about a verdict in a case in which an Indian film superstar involved; a ‘hit and run’ traffic case. In that case a man who was sleeping on foot path died. The concerned court sentenced the film star for five years imprisonment. According to the law of India; if anybody is sentenced for imprisonment for three years or more, he has to go to jail, means bail is not available till the judgment in appeal coming out. But in the case of this superstar’s case this matter was not considered by the higher court and gave bail. So, most of the public see this verdict with suspicion and they cannot see it as an impartial verdict or a verdict, a judgment, of justice. In the same way, the verdict, the judgment, in the case of ex-chief minister of Tamilnadu. Without much hearing, only of some minutes’ hearing and procedure, high court judged that the accused is innocent. But the lower court, after a long period’s trial and based on a lot of evident, sentenced the accused as guilty and punished for imprisonment. Here also Indian public sees the judiciary as a faulty one.
 
In both the cases now the judiciary is in the place of defendant. The public asks on what basis the judiciary passes judgment. What are the criteria to be considered in judgment? On what view a judgment should be passed? Means the judicial view and principles are in question now. Here whether the judicial stand is right or not is a legal question. But, in general, outlook of all judgment will be judged. That is a truth. How our outlook, view, is in our judgments, so we will also be judged.  This is the point to be considered here. Let us consider the verses 1 to 6 in this chapter

1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
6“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
 The other side of the fact is, as long as the person who passes judgment is visually impaired, holder of deformed principles or doctrines, he cannot make a sound judgment. So first every one need to make sure that his doctrines should be sound to make a sound judgment. A visually impaired can never be an ophthalmologist or optometrist. First he need the help of an ophthalmologist and make his vision perfect to become one who treats the visually impaired. A blind pretends as an ophthalmologist is another definition for hypocrisy. Without clear vision we cannot move ahead. Those who don’t have any vision cannot criticize or judge the visions of those who try to follow some.  You are what your vision and, what judgments and decisions you make. In chapter six verses 22 – 23 clear this fact. You are judged, measured, viewed or considered according to the judgment, measure, view, principles or doctrines you are using in your daily life.

We cannot provide a dog or pig with a view. We may train them to behave in some particular way, but provide them with some vision is not possible. So give everyone vision may be impossible, in some particular situations it might be dangerous as in the case of King Herod in chapter 2, he used it as the dogs and pigs do, trampled and attacked the provider.