Watu Wawili Walikwenda Hekaluni Kuomba

Ni mara ngapi tunasimama ili kufikiria kama sisi wenyewe tunakuwa kama yule mtu ambaye, alifunga mara mbili kwa juma na kutoa sehemu ya kumi ya vitu vyote alivyokuwa navyo, alipata sababu ya utukufu, si katika kujitenga kwake kwa Mungu, bali katika kutengwa kwake na wanadamu wenzake. . "Nakushukuru kwa kuwa mimi si kama wanadamu wengine." Ni maungamo mabaya kama nini kufanya. Katika kuwatazama wenzake, hakuona chochote cha kuiga, hakuna sifa au wema ambao angeweza kujitakia, bali ushahidi chafu wa uovu. Utawala wa dhambi na mauti ulikuwa jambo la kweli sana kwa Farisayo huyu, na kwa wema wa hali ya juu alijitenga na hayo yote na kumweleza Mwenyezi kwamba, akiishi katika ulimwengu mbovu na katikati ya watu wenye dhambi, hata hivyo hakuwa miongoni mwao. wala pamoja nao, na kwamba yeye, angalau, alikuwa mmoja ambaye elimu ya juu zaidi ya ndani ilimjia ambayo ilimfanya kuwa mshirika mzuri kwa Yule aliyekaa katika patakatifu pa ndani.

How often do we stop to consider whether we ourselves are becoming like the man who, fasting twice in the week and giving tithes of all he possessed, found cause for glory, not in his separateness to God, but in his separateness from his fellow men. “I thank thee that I am not as other men.” What a miserable confession to make. In looking upon his fellows, he saw nothing to emulate, no characteristics or virtues that he could desire for himself, but only the sordid evidences of evil. The reign of sin and death was a very real thing to this Pharisee, and with an exquisite nicety he carefully dissociated himself from it all and explained to the Almighty that, living in an evil world and amidst sinful men, he was nevertheless not of them nor with them, and that he, at least, was one to whom had come the superior inward knowledge which rendered him a fit companion for the One who dwelt in the inner sanctuary.

We read the story smiling pityingly at the vivid picture of this pompous Israelite, and mentally place ourselves with the publican standing afar off, as we continue reading. However, what of the lesson behind the parable? Is it not true that at times in the Christian life we find ourselves thanking God that we are not as other men? Does it not happen that this separateness to God, can degenerate into a smug, selfsatisfied separateness from the world? Worse still, at times the suggestion is made that in this latter day when the purpose of God in calling from the nations “a people for His name” seems to be on the brink of completion, a still more exclusive and narrow-minded outlook is called for, namely, that our mission as witnesses of Jesus and ministers one to the other must be abrogated in favor of individual contemplation of the sacred mysteries and a refusal to extend the privilege of’ fellowship and the Word of Life to all but a favored few who are accepted as being also, the “sealed of God.”

We read the story smiling pityingly at the vivid picture of this pompous Israelite, and mentally place ourselves with the publican standing afar off, as we continue reading. However, what of the lesson behind the parable? Is it not true that at times in the Christian life we find ourselves thanking God that we are not as other men? Does it not happen that this separateness to God, can degenerate into a smug, selfsatisfied separateness from the world? Worse still, at times the suggestion is made that in this latter day when the purpose of God in calling from the nations “a people for His name” seems to be on the brink of completion, a still more exclusive and narrow-minded outlook is called for, namely, that our mission as witnesses of Jesus and ministers one to the other must be abrogated in favor of individual contemplation of the sacred mysteries and a refusal to extend the privilege of’ fellowship and the Word of Life to all but a favored few who are accepted as being also, the “sealed of God.”

Ole, kwamba tunda la mwitikio wa bidii wa wakati mmoja wa "kutoifuatishwa na dunia hii" lisiwe badiliko kwa kufanywa upya nia, kwa nuru yote ya ufahamu wa kiroho ambayo mageuzi yanaweza kuleta, lakini mvuto hadi vilindi vya chini kabisa. ya ubaguzi, kujidanganya, na upofu wa kiroho ambao kujitenga na wenzetu lazima kumaanisha wakati hatujatengwa na Mungu. Haijalishi jinsi uzoefu wetu unavyokatisha tamaa na wale tunaowabebea Neno la Uzima; haijalishi ni jinsi gani juhudi zetu za kuwatumikia na kuwaimarisha ndugu zetu ni za kukatisha tamaa, hatupaswi kuwa finyu au wabinafsi.

Alas, that the fruit of a onetime zealous response to be “not conformed to this world” should be not a transforming by the renewing of the mind, with all the light of spiritual understanding that transformation can bring, but a gravitation to the lowest depths of bigotry, self-delusion, and of the spiritual blindness which separation from our fellows must mean when we are not separated to God. No matter how discouraging our experiences with those to whom we bear the Word of Life; no matter how disappointing our efforts to serve and strengthen our brethren, we must not become narrow or bigoted.

Tunahimizwa kuwa na uhakika wa msingi wetu na kuwa na sababu ya imani iliyo ndani yetu. Tunatarajiwa kuwa na mizizi na msingi katika ujuzi ambao umetujia, na tunaonywa tusivunje uelewa wetu wa Ukweli wa Kimungu kwa ajili ya upatano wa nje. Lakini, juu ya mambo yote, tunavutiwa mara kwa mara na ulazima wa kuendelea na maendeleo katika ufahamu wetu wa kibinafsi wa Ukweli. Kunaweza kuwa na mambo ambayo wanafunzi mbalimbali hawaoni macho kwa jicho. Na kwa sababu ya tofauti za mawazo lazima wakati fulani kuwe na mgawanyiko wa kimwili katika makundi kwa ajili ya ibada na huduma ya utaratibu. Lakini muungano huo wa ajabu wa pamoja unaowaunganisha wote wanaolitaja Jina la Kristo kikweli unavuka migawanyiko hiyo ya muda na kuonyesha kwa ushindi utimilifu wa sala ya Mwokozi, “Nataka wawe kitu kimoja.” Simama juu ya msingi huu ulio imara, nasi tutakuwa na sababu ya kufurahi, si katika matendo ya haki ambayo tumefanya, bali katika ule msimamo wa pamoja katika Kristo ambao ni fursa yetu na muhuri wa uwana wa Kiungu.

We are exhorted to be sure of our foundation and to have a reason for the faith that is in us. We are expected to be rooted and grounded in the knowledge that has come our way, and we are warned not to compromise our understanding of Divine Truth for the sake of outward harmony. But, above all things, we are impressed time and again with the necessity for continual progress and advancement in our personal understanding of Truth. There may be things upon which various disciples do not see eye to eye. And because of differences of thought there must upon occasion be a physical separation into groups for orderly worship and service. But that mystic common union which binds together all who truly name the Name of Christ transcends such temporary divisions and triumphantly demonstrates the fulfillment of the Savior’s prayer, “I will that they may be one.” Stand upon this sure foundation, and we shall have cause to rejoice, not in works of righteousness that we have done, but in that common standing in Christ which is our privilege and seal of Divine sonship.