Changing_World
Changing the World
From the Writings of the Fathers of the Church
“Only a fool would attempt to change the world with a simple message of love and peace. So we can conclude that Jesus was a fool. Only fools would agree to follow such a man, and then continue his mission even after he had been killed. So we can conclude that the apostles were fools. Only fools would take seriously the message which a bunch of fools were preaching, and accept that message. All this is hardly surprising.. God did not choose a wise philosopher to proclaim the Gospel, but a humble carpenter. And for His apostles he chose fishermen and tax collectors. Can we claim to be any better? Of course not. Even those among us that have been educated know that in relation to the Gospel our education is worthless. So let all happily admit we are fools. Then we happily commit ourselves to trying to change the world. Yet weren’t those apostles cowardly and timid? Aren’t we equally afraid of trying to persuade strangers to change their lives? Doesn’t the crucifixion of Christ give us ample reason to be frightened? Yes, but His resurrection gives us superhuman courage.”
An excerpt from “On Living Simply” by The Golden Voice of St. John Chrysostom
As we approach the season of the Fast of the Apostles we must prepare ourselves for the great ministry and mission that Christ entrusted to us. Our Lord Jesus left us with the great responsibility of “feeding His sheep”. He commissioned us to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit., teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20). Christ’s final request to the disciples before He ascended to heaven was to “go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
Shamefully, it seems as though many people who call themselves believers consider it foolish to try and change someone. Many Christians in the present age seem to hold on to the apathetic philosophy of “minding their own business”. We often think our only responsibility is to care for our own souls, and even that great responsibility is hardly discernable among the many church members today. If those of the world were to look to the lives of those who are in the Church, would the virtue of love for one’s neighbors be evident? We live with the philosophy that we shouldn’t try to enforce our own beliefs upon others in order to remain “politically correct”. I thank the Lord that He sought my own soul and didn’t leave it up to me to figure it out on my own. He sent messengers to me to correct, instruct, and lead me to the true source of the true life. How many lost people are there in the world that experience the feeling of emptiness and cannot figure out the meaning of life? How many are there that cannot find their way to Christ? I believe it is our responsibility to the souls that are hungry to know Jesus. Yet, many of us don’t see the importance of turning a sinner from his way not realizing the amazing grace that God showed us.
St. Paul rebukes this attitude among believers who “counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insult the Spirit of grace”. (Hebrews 10:29) St. Paul taught his young disciple St. Timothy that Christ’s desire was “that all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth”. How disappointed Christ must be in the church that does not answer to the calling of leading the whole world to His love and to a new life in Him. The cause of this terrible sin among Christians is a result of the lack of understanding of the great debt that was forgiven us. We live as though what Christ had done for us was of little value.
There are millions of people in this world who are seeking truth and have no one to bring it to them. There are even hundreds of people that we come across every day in our own lives, including members of our family that are suffering from the sickness of life without Jesus and we just sit quietly and do nothing about it.
Though some of us do care about the lost of the world we do nothing about it because we don’t know where to start. We carry the same fear that the apostles had before the Resurrection. We realize that maybe our own walks with Jesus need to be polished a little bit. Our knowledge of His word is limited and so we hesitate preaching the word of God, even to those that ask us. In many instances at the core of our hearts, we actually think it to be a bit foolish to share the gospel with those who we perceive are already living “happy lives”. If we could only look into the heart of man and see the fear of life, the unsatisfaction of the heart, and the sting of sin, we would be anxious to bring the medicine of Christ’s love to all those who are in need.
A heart of love for our neighbors is what Christ requires. Christ set the example for us to learn from by revealing to us on the cross His love without limits. This He did by dying for those that showed Him no love and were undeserving. We ask ourselves, “Why should we care about those who perceive the followers of Jesus as fools?” Though others may think we are fools, let us say with St. Paul that “we have become fools for Christ’s sake.”
It is a matter of pride that hinders us from taking up the great responsibility of sharing the Gospel of peace with the world. Let us proclaim with St. Paul, “Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:16) St. Paul believed it to be of necessity to lead people to the truth. It is a sin on our parts if we neglect this calling of love by Jesus. For him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) “You are the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its flavor, how shall it then be seasoned? It is then, good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot y men.” “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13, 16)
We live in a world that suffers from wounds caused by the fiery darts of Satan. The apostles who were uneducated, untrained men were able to “turn the world upside down”(Acts 17:6). Let us put off our excuses, our fears, and our love of self and live in the power of the Resurrection of Christ. I pray that one day the world can say that the Church of Christ has turned the world upside down. Let us stand strong in courage that the Holy Spirit will use us to change the world and make it a world for Jesus.
