12. Is daar in die Bybel ‘n duidelike reël vir elke probleem wat mag opduik?
Ons lewe in ‘n gebroke wêreld en het onvoldoende kennis en insig in die kompleksiteit van die wêreld - m.a.w. die natuur en die samelewing.
Die Bybel leer dit vir ons in 1 Korinthiërs 13:12:
“Want nou sien ons deur ‘n spieël in ‘n raaisel, maar eendag van aangesig tot aangesig.”
Daar is situasies wat as grys areas opduik. Kwessies waar die antwoorde nie klinkklaar is nie. Die res van 1 Korinthiërs 13 wys egter vir ons die rigting aan. Die eerste agt verse brei uit oor die aard en die krag van die liefde. Die laaste vers, vers 13, maak dit duidelik hoe krities belangrik die liefde is.
Die les hieruit te leer is, as ons kennis en insig nie vir ons duidelike antwoorde gee nie, dan moet ons biddend dit doen wat die liefde van ons vra - dit wat in die beste belang van almal betrokke en tot eer van God is (Matheus 22:37-40).
In die baie bekende Matheus 5:38-48 beskryf Jesus hoever die naasteliefde werklik moet strek. Draai die ander wang en stap die ekstra myl. Hierdie beginsels het soveel waarde in die praktyk dat dit selfs in ‘n sekulêre wêreld inhoud gee aan die sielkundige fondament van konflikbeslegting. Plaas jouself in die ander persoon se skoene - dan eers verstaan jy sy emosies en motiewe. ‘n Opregte verskoning berei die grond voor vir versoening. En die heel belangrikste reël is, soek saam na ‘n oplossing wat in almal se belang is.
Maar alle probleme het nie altyd maklike antwoorde nie. Soms moet ons wroeg oor ‘n besluit. Dit mag nodig wees om in situasies waar ons nie die lig sien nie, die saak biddend aan God oor te laat en te vertrou dat Hy dit op sy tyd en sy wyse sal aanspreek. Jesaja 49:8:
“…Op ‘n tyd wat Ek goeddink sal ek jou gebede verhoor, op die dag wat ek wil red, sal Ek jou help.”
Om oor na te dink: Watter probleme het vir jou nie ‘n duidelike antwoord nie? Wat van genadedood, die beëindiging van ‘n swangerskap wat risiko’s vir moeder en kind inhou? Wat dink ons van transgender kwessies? Is daar altyd klinkklare antwoorde? Beteken die lering van Jesus in Matheus 5:37-48 dat ek myself altyd moet opoffer? Waar trek ek die streep? Is dit nie dalk so dat as ek te opofferend is ek die ander persoon se wangedrag bevorder en uiteindelik daardeur ander mense ook benadeel nie? Vandag is voorbehoeding die norm, maar in die middel van die vorige eeu is dit as onchristelik beskou. Wat sou die beredenering hieragter gewees het? Hoe hanteer ons ‘n situasie waar ‘n kind of ander geliefde keuses maak waarmee ons ‘n beginselprobleem het? Verstaan ons dat ons nie alles kan beheer nie? Verstaan ons dat die liefde behoue moet bly en dat daar sake is wat ons in die hande van die Here moet laat? En dat ons moet nadink oor wat die Here moontlik vir ons daardeur wil leer. Dinge soos nederigheid, afhanklikheid van Hom, ‘n dieper empatie met ons naaste en sulke dinge.
12. Does the Bible Have a Clear Rule for Every Problem That May Arise?
We live in a broken world and have insufficient knowledge and insight into the complexity of the world — that is, nature and society.
The Bible teaches us this in 1 Corinthians 13:12:
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.”
There are situations that emerge as grey areas. Issues where the answers are not clear-cut. The rest of 1 Corinthians 13, however, shows us the direction. The first eight verses elaborate on the nature and the power of love. The last verse, verse 13, makes it clear how critically important love is.
The lesson to be learned from this is that when our knowledge and insight do not give us clear answers, then we must prayerfully do what love asks of us — that which is in the best interest of all involved and to the glory of God (Matthew 22:37-40).
In the well-known Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus describes how far love for one’s neighbour must truly extend. Turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. These principles have so much practical value that even in a secular world they give substance to the psychological foundation of conflict resolution. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes — only then do you understand their emotions and motives. A sincere apology prepares the ground for reconciliation. And the most important rule of all is: seek together for a solution that is in everyone’s interest.
But not all problems always have easy answers. Sometimes we must agonise over a decision. It may be necessary in situations where we do not see the light, to prayerfully leave the matter to God and trust that He will address it in His time and in His way. Isaiah 49:8:
“In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you.”
Something to reflect on: Which problems have no clear answer for you? What about euthanasia, the termination of a pregnancy that poses risks to mother and child? What do we think about transgender issues? Are there always clear-cut answers? Does the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:37-48 mean that I must always sacrifice myself? Where do I draw the line? Is it not perhaps the case that if I am too self-sacrificing, I enable the other person’s misconduct and ultimately harm other people as well? Today contraception is the norm, but in the middle of the previous century it was considered unchristian. What would the reasoning behind that have been? How do we handle a situation where a child or other loved one makes choices with which we have a principled objection? Do we understand that we cannot control everything? Do we understand that love must be preserved and that there are matters we must leave in the hands of the Lord? And that we must reflect on what the Lord may want to teach us through it. Things such as humility, dependence on Him, a deeper empathy with our neighbour, and such things.