Unlike Cain who killed his brother Abel and said, “Am I my brother’s keeper,” (Genesis 4:9), we need to be like John the disciple, who stood at the foot of the cross as a sign of comfort during the painful moments of Jesus. No wonder, Jesus entrusted his earthly mother Mary to him. Miracles happen in our society when we do our responsibilities to our fellow brothers and sisters who are in need. The harvest (need) is plenty” is what I can say about interior villages in the Sunderban islands. Kids are not able to study properly for lack of good schools. But every good thing has to begin somewhere. So Charis Seva Mandal (CSM) has chosen this particular school to help.
Charis High School
The past visits my husband and I have made to this school have only increased our love towards it. The workers of this school have a high level of commitment. They live in houses similar to the poorly facilitated houses of the school kids. There are eight teachers who are graduates and three non-teaching staff. They do not get paid for their work. The school has no funds because it receives no fees from children. Cyclone “Aila” has devastated both the school building and the houses of the kids. There are 228 children, from class V to class X. Sixty percent are dalit children. They do not have an uniform dress for school. They do not have any mid-day meals program. Fathers of the children work as daily waged labourers and mothers work from homes by making and selling fishing nets.
"Aila" affected school building
Poor facilities at school
No wonder Aila swept this village!
Fathers do such jobs
Mothers make fishing nets
Charis Seva Mandal (CSM) is working towards making the school a government recognized one so that the school can avail facilities from the government. It would also do the following side by side: improve the existing building with an attractive structure and pay a decent salary for the teachers and the staff. Though this appears to be a mammoth task, we know with God all thingsare possible. It is he who brings in human rope holders.
People are willing to pay fees for a well facilitated school. Since computer training centres are a craze in the villages in the Sunderban islands, CSM plans to have a computer training centre in this school which can help the community both in learning and it would also be a source of income to the school. The existing management is willing to give the school in its entirety to CSM. They have accepted to rename the school as “Charis High School.”
Charis Institute of LeadershipExcellence (CILE)
CILE is the training wing of CSM. The second leadership training took place in the NF centre, Dakshin Barasat during 16-18 April, 2011 with thirty participants. Rev Noel Prabhuraj is a proud addition to the resource team of CILE. The following courses had their kick-starts: Old Testament, Prayer and Life-style Evangelism. We had two translators for the three days. The first day training went until midnight! Having worked in West Bengal earlier for nearly ten years I can only say “It’s God’s time for the Sunderban Islands!” The curiosity of the learners was appealing. The way they learnt for the Bible quizzes in the book of Genesis and the gospel of Luke was encouraging. They have now taken homework to prepare for quizzes in the books of Exodus and Acts.
April training session by CILE
Charis Churches
We also visited two house churches in the islands that are in need of a building. The locals have cheerfully donated lands for church buildings. The leaders of these house churches are getting trained through CILE.
A Charis house church
CSM welcomes the readers to suggest ideas through feedbacks, pray for the work at both Charis High School and CILE. You may support the needs in the following ways or even more:
Support a child in Charis High School for a year for Rs. 6,000.
Make a one-time endowment to renovate the Aila affected school.
Donate computers and other school needs.
Sponsor a monthly CILE's Leadership Training for Rs.20,000.
Sponsor to build a Church for Rs 300,000.
You may draw your cheques or DD’s in favour of “Charis Seva Mandal” payable at Coimbatore. For more information please feel free to contact us:
Loving my enemy is the hardest counsel to follow. It is easy to curse my opponent immediately and retaliate sooner or later when situations are in my favour. So, how then can I love my enemy?
Love your enemies by not rejoicing during their misfortunes
Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.” How can one hold from not rejoicing? In David we see a good model. King Saul attempted many times to kill David his sub-ordinate. He hunted for David’s life like how one hunts a partridge in the mountains (1 Samuel 26:20). But Saul failed every time he tried to kill David. However David did not rejoice when King Saul’s life came under the mercy of him in two different occasions (1 Samuel 24 & 26). He spared his enemy’s life. We do not find an iota of rejoicing during the troubled times of his enemy Saul. Even when King Saul died in a war, David was not happy about his death. He lamented for the death of his enemy (2 Samuel 1).
On the contrary Edom rejoiced when his enemy had a fall. The two nations that came out of Isaac were Edom and Israel. These brother nations remained enemies all through. On the day the capital city of Israel fell to the Babylonians, Edom prayed a wrong prayer, “Tear it down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7) This is condoned as a serious sin by God. He spoke through prophet Obadiah saying that the Edomites would be judged because they looked down its brother nation in the day of their destruction and boasted in the times of their enemies’ trouble (Obadiah 1:10-14).
So like David, I can choose to love my enemies by not rejoicing during their misfortunes.
Love your enemies by providing their needs
Jesus teaches us to do good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27). How is it possible? The older brothers of Joseph nearly murdered him but for the intervention of the grace of God in his life. But there came an opportunity in the life of Joseph when he became the ruler of Egypt, the number one nation of the then world. The brothers and their families had to look towards Joseph even for their basic need of food. Joseph did not retaliate in such a situation but provided for their needs. He said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them (Genesis 50:20-21).
The Bible teaches, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus defines a neighbor as a person who is in need through the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus even points out that this person in need could be his enemy. The “Good Samaritan” helped his injured neighbor who happened to be his enemy, a Jew. He provided for the immediate need of his enemy by caring for him, paying for his hospital expenses and gave him also a word that he would help him further. Proverbs 25:2 reiterates this counsel: If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. The next verse says that when we do so we would heap burning coals on his head and the Lord would reward us for this good deed!
So like Joseph and the Samaritan, I can choose to love my enemies by providing for their needs.
Love your enemies by praying for them
In Matthew 5:44 Jesus asks us to pray for our enemies. Apostle Paul counsels to bless a persecutor even (Romans 12:14). How can we pray and bless a persecutor? Jesus prayed for those who physically and mentally tortured him on the cross saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). A follower of Jesus, Stephen prayed the same when he was put to death unjustly. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." (Acts 7:59-60)
So like Jesus and Stephen, I can choose to love my enemies by praying for them !
The Bible expects us not to retaliate our enemies even when situations are favourable for us like we have found in the above examples. The above counsels from the Bible are not that easy to follow. But Jesus did not ask us to do things which he did not model. True followers have abided to the “Upside Down” teachings of Jesus over the years. Bitterness towards our enemies can melt away only by allowing the Spirit of God to work through us. I only ask for his grace to help me to abide by the teachings of the Bible.
The story of the blind men and the elephant is a good learning for any one who wants to look at "the big picture" in various circumstances of life. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and they asked, "Who is this?" (Matthew 21:10) This has also been the question asked by people through the generations in different contexts in different periods of time. I am attempting here, therefore to look at the big picture of Jesus from the story of the triumphal entry of Jesus.
Jesus- the Greatest Prophet
To the question, "Who is this?" the crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee" (Matthew 21:11).Was Jesus then, merely a prophet? Not only Jesus, there were prophets even in the Old Testament who told the truth of the past, the present and the future of individuals and communities.The Samaritan woman was astonished when Jesus pointed out her past and the present. She identified Jesus as a prophet (John 4:19). Some even said later that Jesus was Elijah the prophet. And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."(Mark 6:15) Hebrews 3:3, however says that Jesus was more than a prophet , even more than Moses.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says that, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” So to me, Jesus is the greatest prophet of all, who can not only tell about my life but can transform my life! He did that to the Samaritan woman! He did that to me!
Jesus-the King of Kings
Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem in a donkey. The people took palm branches and went out to meet Jesus, shouting, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!"(John 12:13). Such a welcome was usually given to a king who returned back to his country after a victory in a war in those days.The kingdom of Israel was then a remnant community spared from exile. They were ruled by Romans. In their despair they wanted Jesus to be a king who would dethrone the Roman rule and liberate them from their oppression from the Romans.
Even today some people want Jesus to be their king, who would deliver them from bondage of sickness, poverty, oppression and so on. How did Jesus react when people wanted him to be king? Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself (John 6:15). Jesus did not prefer a crown of gold but he preferred a crown of thorns. The good news is: Jesus took the death on the cross to die for our sins. He rose on the third day as a winner of the power of sin in one’s life (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). So to me, Jesus is king of kings who can deliver me from my sinful oppression, which no one else can do!
Jesus-More than a Miracle-worker
The third response of the crowd is seen in Luke 19:37. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they received from him. (food miracles, healing miracles, resurrection miracles and so on) This is so true even today that people choose Jesus for their daily livelihood needs like food and physical healing. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." (John 6:26-27)
Jesus was the bread broken for us on the cross. He is the bread of life. Jesus still works miracles of all kinds for his glory. Howeverto me Jesus is more than a mere miracle-worker of physical needs. He works on my spiritual needs leading me to eternal happiness, which he only can do. Physical miracles may or may not happen. But the greatest of all miracles is the salvation of a soul which is guaranteed when an individual calls out to Jesus.
Zechariah in chapter 9 verse 9 prophesied rightly about the ride Jesus took on the streets of Jerusalem well ahead of time as a SAVIOR- KING: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” I am reminded of the whole picture of Jesus whenever I read about the triumphal entry of Jesus in the Bible.Jesus is more than any historical King. He is more than any historical prophet. He is more than any historical miracle worker. Because it is only Jesus who can heal me from my guilt of sins, can give me hope for this world and the world to come! No one else! He only is the sum total of all to me! Who is Jesus for you?
“I should not have married you!” is one agonizing accusation from a spouse anywhere in the time line of a married life. Some even would go further and say, “I should have married that person!” Such words make marriages a hell. “This should have never happened in my life”- is yet another repeated quote in our conversations. What can one do in unloved or adverse situations in life?
Jacob had to marry Leah, the “not so” beautiful girl whom he did not love. Poor Leah had to lead a life unloved by her husband. Proverbs 30:23 says that the earth cannot bear up a woman who is unloved by her husband. The marriage of Jacob and Leah grew worse because Jacob also married Rachel, the beautiful girl, his original lover who was also Leah’s sister. Because of his mad love for Rachael he gave fourteen years of hard labour for his father-in-law. In such a situation, how did Leah survive her marriage with Jacob? Did the increasing number of babies born out of their unloved relationship ever help Leah to win the love of her husband? Every time she named a baby, she had something to say to the world about her attitude.
Leah had a turning point in her life only at the birth of Judah, her fourth son. It was then she stopped being negative in life and started to talk positive words. The naming of the first three children carried meanings wanting her husband to love her and get attached to her (Genesis 29:32-34). But she named the fourth son saying, “This time I’ll praise the Lord” (Genesis 29:35). Praising the Lord while she was still not successful in earning her husband’s love was that positive turning point. We need to have a comparison of Rachael at this point who was very desperate to have a child, since she did not have one for her yet. A very negative statement arises from her conversation to Jacob, “Give me children or I’ll die!” (Genesis 30:1). We also see Rachael following the prevalent culture of the time, giving her own maid to Jacob to somehow get a child. When her maid gave birth to a son, Rachael said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister and have won!” (Genesis 30:8). Now turn to Leah! She would not give up either! She too followed the same cultural practice by giving her maid to beget children through Jacob. While naming the new arrival she bubbled with joy, “How happy I am. The women will call me happy!” (Genesis 30:13). While it was a “struggle” for Rachael to get a child, for Leah it was a happy event. Speaking positive words have power. The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21) SPEAKING POSITIVE WORDS BY TRUSTING AND PRAISING THE LORD HELPS IN UNLOVED/ADVERSE SITUATIONS!
A positive attitude to life enabled Leah to talk pragmatic too. With the birth of the next son she said, “This time my husband will treat me with honour” (Genesis 30:20). Her expectancy from her husband had changed in the long-run. She understood that her status as a honoured one was better than an unloved wife. Though love is an important factor in a marriage, I believe that the most important and practical thing in a relationship is respect and honour for one another. Turning to Rachael we find that, her very longing for a child took her life! She named that son Benjamin meaning, “son of my sorrow” and then died (Genesis 35:18). She was beautiful, got all of her husband’s love but had struggles in getting children. In those biblical times the places of burial of a person had a connection to honour ascribed to the dead person. While Rachael died during a journey and had to buried on the way, it was Leah and Jacob who were laid together in their family tomb after their deaths! Those who believe in the Bible can also understand the fact that Leah in eternal glory came to know a progressive fact that she was the honourable mother of Levi (the priestly class) and Judah (the royal class) and Jesus, the God incarnate. Thinking practical (it has to be ethical too!) yields eternal dividends! Thinking impractical leads us to troubles and struggles. ‘Why do you want to set your eyes on that which is not?” (Proverbs 23:5) We are immortal beings headed to two destinations, either heaven or hell! THINKING PRACTICAL OF WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN IN THIS LIFE AND LIFE AFTER DEATH HELPS IN UNLOVED/ADVERSE SITUATIONS!
Being content in their situations (either Leah’s or Rachael’s) would have been ideal. Leah lacked beauty and her husband’s love, but learnt to talk positive and think practical. This shows that she was content in her life. Rachael had beauty and her husband’s love, but struggled for children! It was Leah who learnt to feel pleased in an unloved situation! We worship a God who is sovereign and who controls the lives of his children. So may we too say like Paul, “….. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11) FEELING CONTENT BY TRUSTING IN THE SOVEREIGN GOD IN UNLOVED/ADVERSE SITUATIONS HELPS!
We are humans with our real feelings in unloved relationships and adverse situations. Who then gives strength for such humanely impossible attitudinal changes? Paul tells us the secret of such a strength. He says, “I can do everything through God who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13) The God who gave Leah the needed strength to survive an adverse situation can truly give the same to a true worshipper of Yahweh! I realize that any human love is insecure. But I have found that there is a secure love in Jesus. So I would suggest: Seek Jesus! He would help any one to live a happy and content life in unloved, adverse situations.
Few years back, I was shocked to know that the “Miss India” title in India was won by the daughter of a pastor and his ministry minded wife of a reputed church. Why does one contest for beauty? How do you measure beauty? What do you look for in a person? What is our world view on beauty? Why do many girls (more than boys!) lose their value in the marriage market in India and elsewhere, only because they are not “beautiful?” And can one look as beautiful as they are, forever?
What does the Bible tell about the beauty of a person? I find that just like any progressive revelation in the Bible “the beauty theology” is also progressive. In the Old Testament in many places we find men and women being described as beautiful and handsome. Following are few examples: Bible describes Rachel as one who was lovely in form and beautiful (Genesis 29:17). Esther is being described as fair and beautiful (Esther 2:7). Even men were measured for their looks in the Old Testament. 2 Samuel 14:25 says: “In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.” It would be incomplete if I do not mention the following verse also, which concludes the beauty issue in the Old Testament. For, Proverbs 31:30 says “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Is not the fear of the Lord more important than the outward beautiful look?
Now coming to the New Testament, is there any mention of a Mary or a Paul being described as how they looked? Has Jesus ever been described as how handsome he looked either? Jesus, hanging on the cross on the contrary has been described as one who had no beauty or majesty to attract one to him. And there was nothing in his appearance that one should desire him (Isaiah 53:2). We find Peter the apostle, who rightly concludes the beauty issue this way: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.” (1 Peter 3:3, 4)
So what’s the priority -“the inner beauty” or the “outer beauty?” The Bible tells us that our body is the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore it is our bounden duty to keep our bodies healthy and good looking. But we are not called to prioritize that by risking our inner beauty. The inner beauty of ours is achieved by a genuine fear of God. To fear the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13) How do we hate evil? It is only possible by yielding our inner self to a God who is capable to help us hate evil. I believe that my inner beauty is offered by Jesus. He offers it to all who ask for it. I wish to grow in the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight. The beauty theology also offers me and the believers of the Bible, a paradigm shift in our thinking about the existing world view of what beauty is all about!
யாருக்கும் கஷ்டம் கொடுக்காமல் மரிக்க வேண்டும்-என்பது பலரது ஜெபமாக இருக்கும். வேதத்தில் ஒரு மனிதன் இவ்வாறாக ஜெபம் செய்தான்: "நீதிமான் மரிப்பது போல நான் மரிப்பேனாக." அவன் நீதிமானாக மரித்தானா? வேதத்திலே பலர் நீதிமான்களாக வாழ்ந்ததாகவும் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. நீதிமானாக மரிக்க ஜெபித்தவனைப் பற்றியும், நீதிமானாக வாழ்ந்த ஒரு சிலர் பற்றியும் வேதத்திலிருந்து காண்போம்.
பிலேயாம்
"நீதிமான் மரிப்பது போல நான் மரிப்பேனாக" என்று ஜெபித்தவன் பிலேயாம் (எண்ணாகமம் 23:10). ஆனால் அவன் நீதிமானாக மரிக்கவில்லை." இஸ்ரவேல் புத்திரர் பாலாம் (பிலேயாம்) என்னும் குறி சொல்லுகிறவனைப் பட்டயத்தால் வெட்டிப் போட்டார்கள்" என்று யோசுவா 13:22 கூறுகின்றது. அவன் மரித்து பல வருடங்கள் கழித்து பேதுரு அப்போஸ்தலன் "அநீதத்தின் கூலியை விரும்பினவன்" என்று பிலேயாமைப் பற்றிக் கூறுகின்றான் (2 பேதுரு 2:15). யூதா தான் எழுதிய சிறிய நிருபத்தில் பிலேயாமை "கூலிக்காக வஞ்சகம் செய்தவன்" என்றுக் குறிப்பிடுகின்றான் (வ்.11). பெர்கமு சபையிலே பிலேயாமின் தவறான கொள்கையை கைக்கொள்ளுகிறவர்களை இயேசுக் கிறிஸ்து வெறுப்பதாக யோவான் எழுதி வைத்துள்ளான் (வெளிப்படுத்தின விசேஷம் 2:14).
பிலேயாம் இயேசுக் கிறிஸ்துவின் முதல் மற்றும் இரண்டாம் வருகையைப் பற்றி முன் மொழிந்தவன் ஆவான் (எண்ணாகமம் 24:17). "யாக்கோபிலிருந்து ஒரு நட்சத்திரம் உதிக்கும்" என்ற அவனது தீர்க்கதரிசனத்தை வைத்து, பாலன் இயேசுவை ஞானியர் காண வந்தனர் என்று வேத அறிஞர் கூறுகின்றனர். "பொய் சொல்ல தேவன் ஒரு மனிதனல்ல; மனம் மாற அவர் ஒரு மனுப்புத்திரனும் அல்ல," (23:19) என்று வசனம் பேசியவன் இப்பிலேயாம் தான். "யாக்கோபுக்கு விரோதமான மந்திரவாதம் இல்லை. இஸ்ரவேலுக்கு விரோதமான குறி சொல்லுதலும் இல்லை" என்று வல்லமையாக முழங்கினவனும் இவனே. அப்பேர்ப்பட்ட பிலேயாம், மோவாபிய ராஜாவாகிய பாலாக், இஸ்ரவேல் ஜனங்களை சபிப்பதற்காக பேசிய பணம், மற்றும் வசதிகளுக்காக அவர்களை பாவம் செய்ய வைக்கிறான். இதைப் பற்றி வெளிப்படுத்தின விசேஷத்தில் இயேசுக் கிறிஸ்துவே கூறுகின்றார். "விக்கிரகளுக்குப் படைத்தவைகளைப் புசிப்பதற்கும், வேசித்தனம் பண்ணுவதற்கும் ஏதுவான இடறலை இஸ்ரவேல் புத்திரர் முன்பாக போடும்படி பாலாக் என்பவனுக்கு பிலேயாம் போதனை செய்தான்"(வெளிப்படுத்தின விசேஷம் 2:14). இப்பாவங்களை செய்ததால் கர்த்தரிடத்திலிருந்து தண்டனைப் பெற்று, வாதையால் செத்த இஸ்ரவேல் புத்திரரின் எண்ணிக்கை 25,000 என்று வேதம் சொல்லுகின்றது (எண்ணாகமம் 25:9). "நீதிமான் மரிப்பது போல நான் மரிப்பேனாக" என்று ஜெபித்த பிலேயாம் நீதிமானாக வாழாமல், அவன் வாழ்ந்த காலம் துவங்கி ஆதித்திருச்சபையான பெர்கமு சபையின் காலம் வரை பலர் இடறிப் போக காரணமாகி விட்டான்.
நியாயத்தீர்ப்பின் நாளிலே, "கர்த்தாவே, கர்த்தாவே, உமது நாமத்தினாலே தீர்க்கதரிசனம் உரைத்தோமல்லவா?" என்றுக் கேட்போருக்கு "நான் ஒருக்காலும் உங்களை அறியவில்லை" (மத்தேயு 7:22,23) என்று இயேசுக் கூறும் நபர்களில் பிலேயாம் போன்றவர் அடங்குவர். பிலேயாம் வாழ்விலிருந்து நாம் கற்றுக் கொள்வது என்ன? ஒருவர் ஜெபிப்பதாலோ, தீர்க்கதரிசனம் உரைப்பதாலோ, வசன ஊழியம் செய்வதாலோ நீதிமானாக மாற முடியாது. நீதிமானாக மரிக்க நீதிமானாக வாழ வேண்டும் என்பதே உண்மையாகும்.
ஆபேல்
ஆபேலை இள வயதிலேயே அவன் சொந்த சகோதரனான காயீன் கொலை செய்து விடுகின்றான். அநியாயமாய் கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட இந்த ஆபேலை இயேசுக் கிறிஸ்து "நீதிமான்" என்றுக் குறிப்பிடுகின்றார் (மத்தேயு 23:35). எபிரேய புத்தக ஆக்கியோன், ஆபேல் காயீனை விட மேன்மையான பலியைச் செலுத்தினதாலே நீதிமான் என்று சாட்சிப் பெற்றதாக விளக்கம் கொடுக்கின்றான் (எபிரேயர் 11:4). அப்போஸ்தலனாகிய யோவானும் ஆபேலின் கிரியைகள் நீதியானவைகள் என்றுக் குறிப்பிடுகின்றான். பொல்லாங்கனால் உண்டாயிருந்து பொல்லாத கிரியைகள் புரிந்த காயீனைப் போல் இருக்க வேண்டாம் என்று நம்மை எச்சரிக்கின்றான் (1 யோவான் 3:12). காயீனுடைய வழியும், சபைகளிலே கள்ளப் போதர்களின் வழியும் நல்லதல்ல என்று யூதாவும் எச்சரிக்கின்றான் (யூதா 1:11).
இப்படியிருக்க, இச்சகோதரர் வாழ்விலிருந்து நாம் கற்றுக் கொள்வது என்ன? செயலில் நீதிமானாக வாழ்பவனே நீதிமான் அல்லவா? ஒருவனை நீதிமான் என்று மற்றவரும், குறிப்பாக ஆண்டவரும் சாட்சி கொடுக்க வேண்டும் அல்லவா?
நோவா
"இந்த சந்ததியில் உன்னை எனக்கு முன்பாக நீதிமானாகக் கண்டேன்," என்று நோவாவைக் குறித்து ஆண்டவரே சாட்சிக் கொடுக்கின்றார் (ஆதியாகமம் 7:1). ஆதியாகம புத்தக ஆக்கியோனும், "நோவா தன் காலத்தில் இருந்தவர்களுக்கே நீதிமானும் உத்தமனுமாயிருந்தான்," என்று அறிமுகம் செய்து வைக்கின்றான் (6:9). எபிரேயப் புத்தக ஆக்கியோன் நோவா நீதிமானாக கருதப்பட்டதன் விவரத்தை இவ்வாறு கூறுகின்றான்: விசுவாசத்தினாலே நோவா......தேவ எச்சரிப்பு பெற்று பய பக்தியுள்ளவனாகி தன் குடும்பத்தை இரட்சிப்பதற்கு பேழையை உண்டு பண்ணினான். அதினாலே அவன்..... நீதிக்கு சுதந்தரவாளியானான் (எபிரேயர் 11:7). அப்போஸ்தலனாகிய பேதுரு, "நீதியைப் பிரசங்கித்தவனாகிய நோவா" என்று நோவாவை பிரசங்கியாராக விமர்சிக்கின்றான் (2 பேதுரு 2:5). உலகின் முதல் பிரசங்கியாரான நோவா, இவ்வுலகம் முழுவதையும் ஆதாயப் படுத்துவதில் தோல்விக் கண்டாலும் தன் சொந்தக் குடும்பத்தை ஆதாயப்படுத்திக் கொண்டான். அதினாலே அவன் நீதிமான் ஆகின்றான்.
இன்று உலகம் முழுதையும் ஆதாயம் பண்ணுவதில் நாட்டம் காட்டும் பலர் தங்கள் சொந்தக் குடும்பத்தை ஆதாயம் பண்ணிக் கொள்ள முடியாமல் போவது ஏன் என்று சிந்தித்துப் பார்ப்பது நலம். நீதிமானின் குடும்பம் அந்த நீதிமானால் இரட்சிக்கப்பட்டு நித்திய அழிவினின்று காக்கப்படும் என்பது நோவாவின் வாழ்வு நமக்கு கற்றுக் கொடுக்கும் உண்மையாகும். நீதிமானின் கூடாரங்களில் இரட்சிப்பின் கெம்பீர சத்தம் உண்டு (சங்கீதம் 118:15) என்பது உண்மையன்றோ?
முடிவாக தங்களை நீதிமான்களென்று எண்ணி, மற்றவர்களை அற்பமாக எண்ணுவதும் தவறாகும். அப்படிப்பட்டோருக்கு இயேசுக் கிறிஸ்துவின் தீர்ப்பு பற்றிய அறிவு அவசியம். அவர் நியாயப்பிரமாணம் முழுமையும் கைக்கொண்ட பரிசேயனை நீதிமான் என்று அழையாமல், "பாவியாகிய என் மேல் கிருபையாயிரும்" என்று ஜெபித்த ஆயக்காரனையே "நீதிமான்" என்று தீர்ப்பு செய்கின்றார் (லூக்கா 18:9௧4). இலவசமாய் கிடைக்கும் தேவ கிருபையை விசுவாசத்தினால் பெற்று, பாவத்திலிருந்து விடுதலைப் பெற்று பரிசுத்தமாய் வாழ்பவர்களே நீதிமான்கள். அப்படிப்பட்டோர் தான் நீதிமான்களாய் மரித்து நீதியின் கிரீடத்தைப் பெற முடியும். நீதிமானாக மரிக்க நீதிமானாக வாழ வேண்டும் அன்றோ?
Children are looking for role models today. For them a role model could be a film star, a sports star, or sometimes a popular personality like a teacher. But how many would say that their parents are their role models-is a question to be bothered. Out of the crowd Jesus brought a child to the centre and said, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.”(Matt 18:6 [NRSV])
The “little ones” could literally mean a little child or could mean spiritual babes who are growing in faith. "Stumbling blocks" are the sins of ones which make the young ones in turn to sin. The judgment Jesus offers to such offenders is so severe. Now that indicates the seriousness of being a stumbling block in young people’s lives.
I wish to open up the parental problem of being stumbling blocks to children from the lives of Eli and David in the Bible.
Eli was a stumbling block (1 Samuel 2-4)
Eli, a priest of the temple that day can portray a pastor or a spiritual leader today. His sons Hophni and Phinehas coveted the offering that came to the temple treasury. They coveted also women who came there for offering service in the temple. The sons of Eli exploited such women sexually. Eli reproved his sons initially but to no effect (1 Samuel 2:23-25). But the truth was: the whole of the priestly family fattened themselves by exploiting the offerings. In this way Eli honoured his sons more than God (1 Samuel 2:29). Though Eli knew the consequences of such sinful acts, the Bible tells, he failed to restrain his sons who made themselves contemptible (1 Samuel 3:13). Eventually the consequences for such grievous offences were so severe. The following incidents took place on one single day (1 Samuel 4):
The sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas died in a war.
The pride of the nation, “the ark of God” was seized by the enemy nation.
Hearing the death of his sons and the seizure of the ark of God, old Eli fell off his chair, broke his neck and died.
On hearing the news of the death of Phinehas, his pregnant wife who was nearing her delivery time, delivered child. But she died.
This is why Jesus said, “Woe to the man by whom the stumbling block comes!” (Matthew 18:7)
David was a stumbling block (2 Samuel 11-19)
David misused his power as a King and sexually exploited Bathsheba. In this self-indulging pursuit he plotted the death of her husband, Uriah, a righteous man. David repented for his sins and did not repeat them again. But as consequences of his sin there was chaos in his family. He became a stumbling block to his own children in the following situations, which fully went out of his control:
The child born out of David’s sin with Bathsheba died.
Amnon raped Tamar, an innocent girl and drove her out mercilessly. (David was the father of both, but their mothers were different)
This triggered Absalom, brother of Tamar. He became ferocious and murdered Amnon.
David’s effort to bring justice aggravated the situation. Absalom rose against his own father.
David had to walk away from his palace bare footed to escape the fury of his son.
David’s sin with Bathsheba was in secret. But Absalom did the same offence in open with the concubines of David in broad day light.
Except for a few, the whole nation rose against Absalom. The army of David chased Absalom in a battle. In an attempt to save his life, he fled in his mule. His long hair got struck to a tree. While he was hanging, the army commander speared him to death.
Because of his sin, David did not have control over the life of his children. His children suffered blood-shed, deaths and unjust events. He became a stumbling block in the lives of his children.
Jesus not only said that such offenders needed to be drown in the depths of the sea, but also goes to the extent that the bodily organ which causes to sin say, hands, feet, eyes be removed, according to Matthew 18:1-9. Can Jesus be that unkind to an offender? Jesus loves sinners. That was why he took such offences on his behalf and died on the cross. So Jesus is one who hates sin but one who is kind to the sinners. Jesus concludes the subject, “It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire.It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire” (Matthew 18:8-9). David received grace for he trusted in the saving power of God and in eternal life. Now, what is that I want to be – a stumbling block or a stepping stone in one’s life?
