Ignorance carries no danger, as long as aware of being ignorant. Similarly, knowledge carries no danger, as long as applying what one knows best. The danger lies in always assuming to have knowledge where ignorance exists, or assuming ignorance where knowledge exists. In other words, all troubles are not in any other condition, except in the mixture of knowledge and ignorance. In short, this describes the grey conditions between white and black.
Scientifically, this can be likened to the effect of mixing negative and positive electric currencies, producing disastrous consequences. The negative currency on its own cannot be effective in producing the deadly explosion. Neither is the positive currency effective in generating a deadly explosion, without the negative contact. Electric engineers are fully informed of this reality. Through the apostle John, Jesus highlighted this same datum, concerning Christianity.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:14-17 NIV).
The above passage remains enigmatic to most Christians. It is only comprehended by those aware of the danger, associated with mixing dichotomies. Careful people are cautious when handling matters of potential danger. The apostle Paul also alluded to this reality. Apparently, the behaviour of the Corinthian Church also portrayed what currently prevails.
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be their God, and they will be my people. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
This is one of the Scriptures that invalidate ideas of a Trinitarian doctrine. How do the advocates of the Trinity explain the principle of God’s children being excluded from the Trinitarian equation? A truthful individual can easily observe the inapplicability of Christianity when yoked with unbelievers.
The definition of an unbeliever includes failure to comprehend; or assuming impossible, for physical humans to be God’s children. Jesus was killed by unbelievers who could not assimilate that physical humans could become God’s Children. On zealously attacking Jesus, the Pharisees behaved as projecting righteous indignation. But the opposite was true.
“I and the Father are one.” Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them ‘gods’? to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, I am God’s Son? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does” (John 10:30-37 NIV).
The above Scripture exposes unbelievers, to be those invalidating Jesus’ words. Those Jews were “unbelievers,” whose definition remains misunderstood in orthodox Christianity. The only condition, authenticating true Christianity, is being similarly treated as Jesus was treated. Don’t be fooled. Jesus’ words are unbelievable to ordinary people of this world?
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me” (John 15:19-21 NIV).
The most profound exposition is that false Christianity is distinguishable in those zealously defending Christianity. True Christianity does not need defenders. The Biblical character who sought to defend Christianity was Simon Peter. This was during the darkest hour at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Simon Peter “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus (John 18:10-12 NIV).
If Jesus was defenseless, why are Christian defenders considered highly religious? There is no need to attract sympathy among Bible-believers, when standing up for the truth. Recently, Zimbabweans observed how Dr Nevers Mumba of Zambia got ridiculed for advancing truth, concerning Zimbabwean elections. His critics even touched on his inclusion of religion in his political career. The castigation was by those identifying themselves as “Christians.”
In justifying their disdain, they also castigate Nelson Chamisa for abusing Christianity, on political matters. Interestingly, it is in politics that ordinary people get abused. In their reasoning, those charlatans suggest that God is too holy to be involved in politics. I suppose they have a fictitious god, which is different from the God of the Bible.
God is concerned about people’s lives. He is grieved by human suffering. He does not personally defend the abused, but uses those willing to be used by Him to advance His goodness. Those protesting against ill-treatment of fellow humans are under God’s influence. Hence, Jesus taught His disciples to pray as follows:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-12 KJV).
Kingdoms are, actually, politically established. People rejoice, as long as good leaders take control. They moan, as long as bad leaders are in control. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2). The petition for God’s Kingdom is followed by requesting: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”
How can one pray for God’s Kingdom to come when not enforcing its reality? In other words, how can one be comfortable when observing the injustice practiced by nonbelievers? By praying for God’s Kingdom to come one commits himself to represent God’s Kingdom. The price is extremely high, but that is what Christianity entails.
If God cannot be observed on earth, the petitioner commits himself to represent the effects of God’s Kingdom on earth. He would not be a coward, fearing for his life, just as Jesus and the early apostles were not cowards. That person would exist physically, to express the lamentations of God, against wickedness.
In olden times, such lamentations were advanced by prophets, like Jeremiah and others. However, in our times, Christianity ought to have taken over, as long as truly representing God’s will. God is not enigmatic any more, after the establishment of Christianity. The only disturbing thing is that we have false Christians more than true Christians, in our environments.
Christianity is not for easily accessing desirable commodities. It requires confronting evil in one’s environment. Jesus did not confront outsiders, about His mission, but the Jewish community. Those were the people who eventually killed Him. What plays here is that Jesus did not avoid representing God’s Kingdom in His relationship with those Jewish pretenders.
He represented His Father, in everything He did and said. For Him, there was no time for physical enjoyment. Wherever He was, Jesus maintained the subject of God’s Kingdom. This exposed Him to harassment by the Jewish nonbelievers. I suppose His close relatives must have found Him to be very unacceptable. Who wants to be associated with a degraded person?
Jesus represented God’s Kingdom on earth, just as His disciples, who later became the apostles, represented God’s Kingdom. Earthly life is physically unbearable, for true Christians, but not regrettable for those standing up for Jesus. Representing God’s Kingdom is a special honor, but viewed as degrading by those of this world. True Christians were actually viewed as mentally unbalanced by those of this world. That stance has not changed, even today.
One cannot talk about God’s Kingdom and continue receiving respect from those of this world. The dichotomous nature between God’s Kingdom and worldly kingdoms remains in polarity. One cannot experience physical comfort, when confronting evil, in this world, just as Jesus confronted such evils.
Jesus stated: “Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38-39). This statement is tougher than ordinarily assumed to entail Christianity. Our Zimbabwean environment portrays the assumption that being Christian requires avoiding danger in politics.
Any Christian becomes estranged when taking a bold decision to confront the political landscape. However, God calls upon Christians to realize the responsibility that goes with Christianity. No-one should define Christianity except Jesus. The disciples were told that they were being sent out as sheep among wolves, protected only by God’s grace.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes
“A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father” (Matthew 10:16-28 NIV).
Those verbally given the above discourse, died before Jesus’ Second Coming, as promised in verse 23. This reveals that the message was not necessarily to the physically observed disciples, at that time, but inclusive of those of today. That message was as effective as it is today. The only warning is that it was never meant to be workable to ordinary humans, except the called out ones.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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