11. Kerk, Geloof en Samelewing
Is mense wat aan ‘n kerk behoort beter mense as dié wat nie aan ‘n kerk behoort nie? Is ‘n gelowige sakeman ‘n beter sakeman as ‘n ongelowige persoon?
Enige persoon, gelowig of ongelowig, kan ‘n goeie sosiale gewete hê, sy werk goed doen en goed wees vir diegene wat op sy pad kom. Geloof en kerklidmaatskap is opsigself ook nie ‘n waarborg vir goeie gedrag nie. Daar is baie voorbeelde deur die eeue van wangedrag deur kerke en kerklidmate. Dit was meestal omdat hulle geloofslewe ondergeskik geraak het aan wêreldse voorkeure en ideologieë.
Gelowiges is nie volmaak nie. Hulle maak foute en kan ook verlei word. Die essensie van die lewe van ‘n gelowige behoort te wees dat hy elke dag aan sy verhouding met die Here moet werk en daarmee saam gehoorsaam moet wees aan die volledige liefdesgebod. Hy moet sy medemens behandel soos wat hyself behandel wil word.
Om oor na te dink: Watter voorbeelde is daar van godsdienstige gemeenskappe wat liefdeloos, gewelddadig of moorddadig teenoor ander opgetree het? Wat was die dryfveer en hoe is dit geregverdig? Leef onsself die liefdesgebod volledig uit? Of fokus ons net op aanbidding? Is ons bereid om ons eie geloofsgemeenskap/kerk krities te ondersoek?
11. Church, Faith and Society
Are people who belong to a church better people than those who do not? Is a believing businessman a better businessman than an unbelieving person?
Any person, believing or unbelieving, can have a good social conscience, do their work well, and be kind to those who cross their path. Faith and church membership are in themselves also not a guarantee of good conduct. There are many examples through the centuries of misconduct by churches and church members. This was mostly because their life of faith had become subordinate to worldly preferences and ideologies.
Believers are not perfect. They make mistakes and can also be led astray. The essence of a believer’s life should be that he works on his relationship with the Lord every day and alongside that is obedient to the full commandment of love. He must treat his fellow human beings as he himself wishes to be treated.
Something to reflect on: What examples are there of religious communities that acted without love, violently, or murderously towards others? What was the driving force and how was it justified? Do we ourselves live out the commandment of love fully? Or do we only focus on worship? Are we willing to critically examine our own faith community/church?