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Bible Study
The current Chairperson of the WSCF Asia/Pacific Region, Bishop Poulose Mar Poulose came and lived two days together with the HRD participants and conducted two sessions of Bible study.
He took for his first study the stern criticisms and warnings addressed by the great prophet Isiah in his Song of the Vineyard in Isiah 5: 1-7, and also in 3:13-15, 1:10-17, and 10:1-2. According to Isiah, "Justice" is not merely an abstract idea, but a process and an action - one struggles for justice; it is a dynamic thing. Justice is the obedient action of the people of God responding to what God has done for them. From who does God expect this response in particular? Isiah1s sermons show clearly that a special responsibility is on those in power and authority to do justice . However, the sermons also ask all people in general to respond to God by ensuring justice. Struggling for justice means that we take on the role of advocating the cause of the powerless in our world. The Bishop noted that Isiah mentions 3 categories of oppressed people: widows, orphans and the poor. These groups have in common the feature of being powerless in society - they have no power to redress their oppression. Thus the Prophet takes up the causes of those who are powerless to defend themselves. The general people and political leaders alike are exhorted to take up the cause of these powerless groups. "We often have the idea of God being an impartial judge or neutral mediator", the Bishop observed. "But Isiah's sermons show us that God acts more as the Prosecuting Counsel". This role of God as advocate becomes a reality in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. The arrival of Jesus comes as good news to the powerless.
The struggle for justice
demands the right vision of the
Brecht said, "We must
change the world, and then we change the changed world.
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In his second Bible study Bishop Poulose discussed Paul's criticism of the improper observance of the Lord's Supper by an early church community recorded in First Corinthians 11:17-34. The Bishop described the Lords Supper Practice as a sharing of people's needs and aspirations through a common meal (a kind of "pot-luck" dinner) as an expression of solidarity with each other. Food was shared and feelings were shared. However, the practice of the Lords supper ritual amongst the Corinthians was criticised by Paul for the selfish indifference of the affluent to the needs of the power. A correct understanding should make possible the use of this sacrament as an expression of unity. Today it is usually a highly mystified, ritualistic practice which, due to the removal of its true spirit, borders on idolatry. "We, as a community of Christians have hopes and aspirations, but do these aspirations reconcile with the aspirations of the vast masses of people suffering from oppression and deprivation?" the Bishop asked. The death <^- -of millions from hunger/deprivation is not a possibility of the future, but a horrible reality of today. We have to struggle hard against this suffering because there seems to be no alternative to acting thus. Peace without justice is not possible. A false call for non-violence or peace in the sense of giving up the struggle against injustice would amount to a betrayal of our own hopes and aspirations. For Christians to remain neutral in this context would be sin. "Not participating in the struggles of people for justice and peace is the greatest sin of our time", the Bishop declared. Remaining neutral would amount to condoning the violence inherent in the existing unjust structures of exploitation, oppression and marginalization, he warned. In discussion, the participants generally felt that "Violence or non-violence?" was in reality a non-question. This is so because we actually live in a violent situation, it was argued.