Majority of men, women and children are actually Christians, or at least purport to be Christians. To be Christian should mean to be like Christ, and if we are like Christ or attempt to be like Christ, then we must in part if not wholly attempt to follow his teachings, the very pillars of the religion we subscribe to. The pillars of Christianity found in the new testament are not in tandem with the old testament as pointed out in part one of this discussion.
First is rejection of all forms of revenge epitomized in what has been called turning the other cheek. Christ wanted a world free of revenge for this factor is single handedly responsible for the never ending conflicts on planet earth. Revenge prolongs a would be small disagreement into some full blown conflict that lasts for years. He therefore rejected a tooth for a tooth of the Old Testament with love for enemies that is highlighted in the New Testament. Reluctance to accept this golden rule is what has plunged the world into a long era unending darkness.
Second, the Old Testament was based on family or filial ties, some sort of tribalism and in some cases racism. It was always we against them, and they against us. Jesus revolutionized this by pushing for and preaching universal brotherhood. He knew that universal brotherhood would only be realized if filial ties were rejected, hence his famous quote: Who is my mother and who are my sisters, who are my brothers, when told that his mother and sisters were outside waiting for him. We care so much for our blood relations at the expense of the common good, and this is the wrong that Jesus wanted to right. For this sole reason, families, clans, tribes and races have always fought each other, forgetting that we are all brothers and sisters, and that there is no them, or they, but one large Christian family.
The third unofficial commandment highlighted in the New Testament is the idea of selflessness. While the old testament seemed preoccupied with the idea of giving God ten percent, Jesus was for giving everything, hence the exaltation of the one old woman who gave all that she had in terms of offering. In deed the Christians of the early church used to sell everything they had and share this with the widows and downtrodden of their society, something that was later abandoned as materialism took charge of the church. This unofficial commandment has been misused by preachers to extort money from unsuspecting believers in the name of supporting the church, when the church is actually the very group of believers being extorted. The true Christian responsibility has been thrown out of the window! We have forgotten selflessness and want to amass all the wealth in the world. Preachers are competing for attention, they are competing for wealth, and we cheer them on as they destroy the very fundamentals upon which Christianity was to be built. Am still waiting for that man who will give up everything, carry the cross, and follow Jesus for I tried it and failed!
Fourth, and this is important, Jesus attempted to remove God from the temple, and into the hearts of men and women. To him, the man worshipping was more important than the place of worship. The Old Testament was more preoccupied with the outside of the cup and not the inside. Places of worship were sacred and not the worshippers. Jesus attempted to change and put the worshipper at the centre of worship. How many times have Christians been attracted to the size of the worshipping place and not the love in the hearts of the believers? How many times have we been attracted by the glittering adornment of the altar instead of running away from our heart’s darkness? So many times, though none would want to admit it. We have removed God from our hearts, returned him to the temple, shut its doors and continued pretending that he is still with us!
What then are we waiting for? If we can’t follow these commandments that should distinguish us from the rest of mankind, if we cant love and embrace our enemies, reject filial ties, give up our earthly belongings, and refocus on our hearts as the centre of our spirituality, we have no choice but to either reject Christianity and embrace Judaism which is based on the Old Testament or rewrite the bible, the very book that sets the rules!
THE END