non-conformity (Jn. 15: 18-21)
The world loves it’s own and the world hates those who do not belong to the world. A Christian does not belong to the world.
We reflect today on non-conformity.
Notice the logic of the world. "Since everybody is doing it, we also do it." This is the logic of the world. Since it is done in Taiwan, or in China, or in Pagbilao, we also do it. Since everybody gives bribes to make things easy, we also do it. Since everybody steals anyway, we also do it. Since gambling is an everyday occurrence and everybody does it, we also do it, better still, let us legalize it. This is the logic of the world!
A Christian however is a non-conformist in relation to the world because he or she conforms only to the values of Christ. For John it is that – as clear a distinction as black and white. That is why when John was writing this gospel Christians were hated because they acted differently from the rest. Their values were different from the majority. Their principles were not swayed by convenience or needs as the majority would have theirs. That was the reason why they were hated by people because the world suspects people who do things differently. In effect Jesus is saying to these people caught in a dilemma of being ostracized – “if the world hates you, realize that it has hated me first.”
The basic demand for a Christian is that he or she should have the courage to be different, when things and events demand that he or she should take a different stand.
We reflect today on non-conformity.
Notice the logic of the world. "Since everybody is doing it, we also do it." This is the logic of the world. Since it is done in Taiwan, or in China, or in Pagbilao, we also do it. Since everybody gives bribes to make things easy, we also do it. Since everybody steals anyway, we also do it. Since gambling is an everyday occurrence and everybody does it, we also do it, better still, let us legalize it. This is the logic of the world!
A Christian however is a non-conformist in relation to the world because he or she conforms only to the values of Christ. For John it is that – as clear a distinction as black and white. That is why when John was writing this gospel Christians were hated because they acted differently from the rest. Their values were different from the majority. Their principles were not swayed by convenience or needs as the majority would have theirs. That was the reason why they were hated by people because the world suspects people who do things differently. In effect Jesus is saying to these people caught in a dilemma of being ostracized – “if the world hates you, realize that it has hated me first.”
The basic demand for a Christian is that he or she should have the courage to be different, when things and events demand that he or she should take a different stand.
Comments