If We Believe

Christianity is not the world’s biggest religion,  even after more than 2000 years of vigorous propagation efforts. This is probably because it preaches the difficult and the humanly impossible. For instance, Christians are told to treat kindly those that treat them with cruelty.

Loving others as one loves oneself has been a most widely ignored Christian precept. And, even if touted to be the way to attaining eternal life, it just does not seem to work with many to waive life in the present in favor of an uncertain hereafter. This is especially true with those who have to wrestle hard to get by in this life.

People have to compete for limited resources. Competition means “oneself above others,” even if that means the destruction of the other fellows. Their survival instincts make people naturally selfish, making self-preservation their utmost interest.

Man’s superior intellect makes him capable of foresight. Thus, he looks after his needs not only in the present but in the future as well. When he saves and stocks provisions for the security of his own future, it is not sin but simple economics. Others around him may die of hunger and deprivation, but it’s not his fault – it’s called reality.

The gospel declares poverty as a virtue. “It would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for the rich to enter the gates of heaven.” However, for one who had bypassed youthful pleasures in order to attain certain comforts and security in later life, it’s insane to let go of one’s accumulated lifetime holdings just when he needs it the most.

People were all endowed with benevolent hearts as children. But they lost it when experience taught them to be shrewd for their own survival. Then, at some point, they were told this was not the way it should be. It just didn’t make sense!

“Not a single leaf will fall from the twig of the tree if not by the will of God.” Therefore, nothing ever happens without God’s sanction. Thus, it is also He that allows things to go wrong. Why then are we to be held accountable for our actions?

God puts desires in our heart and holds us solely responsible for our resulting conduct. He allows in us the feeling of anger and hatred towards our enemies and, at the same time, tells us to love them instead. It is hard to understand God’s ways.

Why are we given this natural ability for intelligent thinking and for making our own smart decisions if we were meant to simply follow commandments? Why are we told to throw back bread at those who throw stones at us when that defies our sense of justice and our instinctive tendency to get even?

God made life tough for us. He gave us talent and a rational mind to be able to deal with this harsh world on our own. Then will He please let us be what He made us to be! Where there is scarcity, He should allow us to hoard. Where there is cruelty towards us, He should allow us enough enmity to hit back at our aggressors. Where there is temptation, He should allow us to sin. He should make it easy for us to follow Him.

But God prescribes what is right for us – not what is easy. We are already seeing what happens when we’re entirely left to our own choices. We are very capable of our own self-destruction.

Obeying God’s commandments is our biggest challenge in life. And it is becoming increasingly difficult in the midst of our modern ways. But perhaps we just need to learn to rely on God’s all-knowing wisdom. It is said that with God all things are possible. Maybe we just have to believe so.