Hidup Di Tengah Budaya Dekristenisasi

Britain’s Leaders Warn of the Loss of Common Values

By Father John Flynn, LC

ROME, JULY 5, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The decline of Christianity and moral values in general is reaching new lows in Britain. While the number of faithful has been decreasing for some time now, warnings about the situation are starting to come from all quarters.

Britain is no longer a Christian nation, affirmed Anglican bishop, Paul Richardson, in an article published Jun. 27 in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

The Anglican prelate was also critical of his fellow bishops for not understanding just how serious the change is in contemporary culture, and for their lack of action in dealing with this serious crisis of faith.

Only around 1% of Anglicans attend Sunday services on average, according to Richardson. "At this rate it is hard to see the church surviving for more than 30 years though few of its leaders are prepared to face that possibility," he warned.

He also noted that out of every 1,000 live births in England and Wales in the period 2006-07 only 128 were baptized as Anglicans. This compares to 609 per thousand in 1900.

Just the day before, in the Times newspaper, Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, deplored the lack of a shared moral code in Britain.

Reflecting on the current financial crisis and the recent revelations of scandals over Parliamentarians' expenses, he commented that these and other problems have resulted in a loss of trust in society.

There is an underlying problem, however, that is much more serious, he said: the loss of the traditional sense of morality.

We are very moral in some things, such as world poverty and global warming, the rabbi contended, but these are remote and global. Sacks declared that when it comes to matters closer to our own lives we have lost our sense of right and wrong regarding our personal behavior.

"Instead, there are choices. The market facilitates those choices. The state handles the consequences, picking up the pieces when they go wrong," the Jewish leader observed.

It's no use just treating the symptoms with more laws and surveillance systems. "Without a shared moral code there can be no free society," Sacks argued.

Who's that?

While opinion polls have limitations, a couple recent surveys provided confirmation of the warnings by religious leaders. A study carried out by Penguin books, albeit in conjunction with a promotion of a recent book on the topic, said that nearly two-thirds of teenagers do not believe in God.

According to the Jun. 22 report in the Telegraph newspaper the study of 1,000 teens showed that 59% thought religion has a negative influence on the world.

The survey also revealed that half of those questioned have never prayed and 16% have never been to church.

A week later the Independent newspaper published the results of a survey about Bible knowledge. The Jun. 29 article reported that many are ignorant of the stories and the people who are fundamental to the history of Christianity.

According to preliminary results of the National Biblical Literacy Survey, carried out by St. John's College Durham, as few as 10% of people understood the main characters in the Bible and their relevance.

About 60% were unaware of the story of the Good Samaritan and figures such as Abraham and Joseph were also foreign to many.

According to the Independent's article, Anglican priest David Wilkinson from St John's, said the consequences of such ignorance go well beyond just being unaware of the Bible. Knowledge of these stories and persons in the Bible is essential in order to understand our history and culture, and not least art, music and literature, so much of which is bound up with religious themes, he observed.

This is an ignorance that the well-known proponent of atheism, Richard Dawkins, is trying to promote. A Jun. 28 article published in the Guardian newspaper reported that he is organizing an atheist summer camp this year in England.

Camp Quest UK, will be "free of religious dogma," the article added. Apparently the five-day camp, subsidized by a grant from the Richard Dawkins Foundation, is fully booked

Drifting

The recent warnings from religious leaders followed on the heels of similar expressions of concern. On April 5, Anglican bishop Michael Nazir-Ali published an article in the Telegraph newspaper on the occasion of his resignation as bishop of Rochester.

In his nearly 15 years there he said: "I have watched the nation drift further and further away from its Christian moorings."

This has led, he continued, to a loosening of the ties of law, customs and values, and also to a loss of identity and cohesiveness. Similar to Rabbi Sacks, he commented that society needs a "social capital of common values and the recognition of certain virtues which contribute to personal and social flourishing."

"Our ideas about the sacredness of the human person at every stage of life, of equality and natural rights and, therefore, of freedom, have demonstrably arisen from the tradition rooted in the Bible," he added.

Bishop Nazir-Ali observed that the Anglican church is growing rapidly in places such as Africa. Perhaps they have a lot to teach the Western churches, he concluded.

Selling its soul

The new Catholic leader of England and Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols addressed the same topic shortly before becoming the archbishop of Westminster.

In an article published by the Telegraph newspaper on Mar. 29 he affirmed that Britain has sold its soul b y pursuing a purely secular reason over religion.

As a result, faith is now confined to a purely private pursuit and values are drawn from secular and material sources.

Not only do Britain's politicians live in a purely secular and material world, but they also do not allow for a mature consideration of the key role of religious belief in society, he contended.

The affirmations by Archbishop Nichols were published in a recent book of essays titled "The Nation That Forgot God."

In common with the other religious leaders Archbishop Nichols also pointed out the lack of social cohesion that results when there are no shared moral principles and values. The secular, liberal view of the human person is mistaken and simply won't work, he argued.

Unfriendly

His predecessor, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, was of similar views. In a report last Dec. 6 by the Telegraph newspaper he commented that Britain has become an "unfriendly" p lace for religious people to live in.

His comments also came from a contribution to a book of essays, "Faith in the Nation."

The rise of secularism has resulted in a society hostile to Christianity, and in general, religious belief is looked upon as "a private eccentricity."

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor also noted that atheism is now more aggressive and that there is now a vocal minority who argue that religion has no place in modern society.

Statistical evidence backs up his concerns. The number of marriages being celebrated in Catholic churches in England and Wales has fallen by a quarter over the last decade, the Telegraph reported, Jan. 8.

In the year 2000 there were 13,029 Catholic marriages, compared to 9,950 last year. Only one in three marriages in England and Wales are now in the form of a religious ceremony, according to the Telegraph.

Evidence abounds of the severe decline in religion in Britain, and the repeated declarations by church leaders point to a growing awareness of the urgency of the situation. What is more elusive is identifying how to turn the trend around.

Vatikan Terbitkan Arsip Baru Tentang Galileo Galilei

VATICAN CITY, JULY 2, 2009 (Zenit.org).- A new edition of the investigations into the Galileo case has been released by the Vatican Secret Archives.

The volume, "I ducomenti vaticani del processo di Galileo Galilei” (Vatican Documents From the Galileo Case), has a 208-page introduction, one of the novelties with respect to the last edition of the work, published in 1984.

That edition was released before Pope John Paul II's statements at the close of the 1981-1992 investigation into the Church's handling of the Galileo case.

The prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, Bishop Sergio Pagano, oversaw this newest volume, which was presented today in a briefing at the Vatican press office. Its publication comes in the context of the International Year of Astronomy, declared by UNESCO.

Bishop Pagano offered his perspective on the Galileo case, saying that "it teaches science to not presume to teach the Church in matters of faith and sacred Scripture. And at the same time, it teaches the Church to approach scientific issues -- also those related to, for example, modern investigation on stem cells -- with a lot of humility and circumspection."

The prelate noted the testimony offered by Galileo himself: "He died as a Catholic and a penitent. After having heard his sentence, Galileo said, 'I ask two things: to believe in my upright faith and in the Catholic faith.'"

The new volume includes documents uncovered from the archives of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as new bibliographic material spanning from the denunciation to the condemnation.

Paus Benediktus XVI Mensahkan Mujizat Cardinal Newman

VATICAN CITY, JULY 3, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Today, Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of decrees recognizing miracles, martyrdom and heroic virtue in several causes for canonization.

A Vatican communiqué reported that the Pope received in private audience Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, and authorized the congregation to promulgate the following decrees.

Miracles attributed to the intercession of the following:

-- Blessed Cándida Maria de Jesús Cipitria y Barriola (1845-1912) (born Juana Josefa), Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus.
-- Servant of God John Henry Newman (1801-1890), English cardinal and founder of the Oratories of St. Phili p Neri in England.

-- Servant of God Angelo Paoli (1642-1720) (born Francesco), Italian professed priest of the Order of Carmelites of the Strict Observance.
-- Servant of God Maria Alfonsina Danil Ghattas (1843-1927) (born Soultaneh Maria), cofounder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem.

The martyrdom of the following:

-- Servant of God José Samsó i Elías (1887-1936), Spanish diocesan priest, pastor and archpriest of Santa María de Mataro, killed during religious persecution in Spain.
-- Servant of God Teófilo Fernández de Legaria Goñi (1898-1936) (born Beniamino), and four companions, professed priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, killed during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

-- Servant of God Georg Häfner (1900-1942), German diocesan priest, killed in the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany.
-- Servant of God Zolt an Ludovico Meszlenyi (1892-1951), Hungarian titular bishop of Sinope and auxiliary of Esztergom, killed at Kistarcsa, Hungary.

Proclamation of the heroic virtue of the following was also approved:

-- Servant of God Engelmar Unzeitig (1911-1945) (born Uberto), German professed priest of the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill.
-- Servant of God Anna María Janer Anglarill (1800-1885), Spanish founder of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Family of Urgell.

-- Servant of God Maria Serafina del Sacro Cuore di Gesu Micheli (1849-1911) (born Clotilde), Italian founder of the Institute of Sisters of the Angels.
-- Servant of God Teresa Manganiello (1849-1876), Italian laywoman of the Third Order of St. Francis.

Makam St.Paulus Telah Ditemukan

Pope Says Scientific Analysis Seems to Confirm Tradition

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 28, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The tomb of St. Paul may indeed contain the remains of the Apostle of the Gentiles, Benedict XVI affirmed in his homily at the closing of the Year of St. Paul.

The Pope presided at first vespers this evening for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, which marked the conclusion of the Pauline Year. The celebration took place at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where it has traditionally been believed St. Paul was buried.

"An authentic scientific analysis" conducted on the sarcophagus conserved in the basilica, the Holy Father said, "seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul."

"A tiny hole was dri lled into the sarcophagus -- which over many centuries had never been opened -- in order to insert a special probe, which revealed traces of costly purple colored linen fabric, laminated with pure gold and a blue fabric with linen filaments," Benedict XVI explained.

"Grains of red incense and protein and chalk substances were also discovered," he continued. "There were also tiny bone fragments, which were sent for carbon-14 testing by experts who were unaware of their origin. These were discovered to belong to a person who had lived between the first and second centuries."

St. Paul is said to have been beheaded at Aquas Salvias -- where the Church of Tre Fontane was then erected -- while he was buried at the place where the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls now stands, and where two basilicas -- one ordered by Emperor Constantine and the other the so-called basilica of the "Three Emperors" (Theodosius, Valen tinian II and Arcadius) -- were constructed during the fourth century.

Despite the fact that the original tomb of St. Paul had been the object of profound devotion on the part of pilgrims from the beginning, over the centuries it disappeared from view and eventually could no longer be identified.

During the reconstruction of the basilica, which had been destroyed by a fire in 1823, two marble plaques dating from the time of Pope Leo the Great (440-461), which contained the barely visible inscription "Paolo Apostolo Mart" ("Paul the Apostle Martyr"), were discovered beneath the "confessio" altar.

The first archaeological inspections, which took place in 2002-2003 in the area of the "confessio," permitted the identification of the remains of the Constantinian and Theodosian basilicas.

Between May 2 and Nov. 17, 2006 excavations were carried out that brought to light a marble sarcophagus 2.5 meters long and about 1.2 meters long, which rested on layer of clay floor dating from 390, the time during which the Constantinian basilica was expanded.

Beginning in 2007, visitors were allowed to enter below the basilica's altar to pray before the tomb of the Apostle.

Gandum Vs Ilalang

Matius 13: 24 - 30 : Yesus membentangkan suatu perumpamaan lain lagi kepada mereka, kata-Nya: "Hal Kerajaan Sorga itu seumpama orang yang menaburkan benih yang baik di ladangnya. Tetapi pada waktu semua orang tidur, datanglah musuhnya menaburkan benih lalang di antara gandum itu, lalu pergi. Ketika gandum itu tumbuh dan mulai berbulir, nampak jugalah lalang itu. Maka datanglah hamba-hamba tuan ladang itu kepadanya dan berkata: Tuan, bukankah benih baik, yang tuan taburkan di ladang tuan? Dari manakah lalang itu? Jawab tuan itu: Seorang musuh yang melakukannya. Lalu berkatalah hamba-hamba itu kepadanya: Jadi maukah tuan supaya kami pergi mencabut lalang itu? Tetapi ia berkata: Jangan, sebab mungkin gandum itu ikut tercabut pada waktu kamu mencabut lalang itu. Biarkanlah keduanya tumbuh bersama sampai waktu menuai. Pada waktu itu aku akan berkata kepada para penuai: Kumpulkanlah dahulu lalang itu dan ikatlah berberkas-berkas untuk dibakar; kemudian kumpulkanlah gandum itu ke dalam lumbungku."

Inilah prolog suci dari Tuhan kita tentang post-modernisme dunia. Saat ini dunia semakin diinvasi oleh pandangan-pandangan mulai dari relativisme ke ekstrimisme, dari spiritualisme ke agnotisme, dari kolektivisme hingga ke individualisme radikal. Pemikiran kontemporer ini semakin gencar menyerbu masyarakat seiiring kemajuan teknologi dan kebebasan demokrasi. Tak terkecuali umat Kristen, kita semakin terombang-ambing diantara berbagai pemikiran-pemikiran kontemporer yang membonceng nilai-nilai new age.

Seringkali keyakinan Kristen ditentukan oleh dominasi pemikiran kontemporer yang membuat kita tidak sadar untuk mulai meragukan iman kita. Yesus seakan-akan mulai dijauhkan dari berbagai sendi kehidupan. Ia kini mulai menjadi semacam bahan literatur dan sejarah masa lalu. Dampak-dampak seperti ini akibat semakin semaraknya produk-produk modern yang memenuhi hasrat sesaat kebutuhan manusia. Ini juga tak terlepas dari berbagai macam publisitas media melalui kreasi seni tinggi, penuh trik, anti kemapanan, dan bersifat self-sufficient.

Lalu apa yang mau disampaikan dalam tulisan ini? Saya ingin kembali mengajak pembaca menghadirkan kembali Yesus di hati kita secara berkesinambungan. Kesibukan aktivitas bekerja, bersosialite, mengejar karier, berbisnis, dan berbagai macam kegiatan mencari material hidup membuat kita tidak mempunyai ruang untuk Tuhan. Bagi sebagian orang di kota-kota besar mungkin kita tidak punya waktu lagi untuk bertemu secara akrab dengan Sang Pencipta. Yesus bahkan seringkali hanya dijumpai pada sisa waktu kita yang sedikit.

Gejala yang saya sampaikan di atas adalah pertempuran antara Gandum Vs Ilalang yang telah disampaikan oleh Yesus ketika Dia masih menjadi daging. Pertempuran ini bukan lagi pertempuran antara kaum kafir vs kaum agamawan seperti jaman dulu tapi dunia ini dihadapkan pada pertempuran non kasat mata, yakni pertempuran batin yang halus tapi menyesatkan. Ilalang dalam dunia modern adalah ajaran-ajaran dengan kekuatan idealis yang meminggirkan Allah dari kehidupan kita. Sebagai contoh : umat Kristen kini dihadapkan degnan banyaknya film, buku-buku yang menggangap remeh Yesus Kristus bahkan menghujatNya. Kita tahu bahwa film-film atau novel-novel karya Dan Brown adalah sebuah permulaan dari rencana si jahat untuk membingungkan umat Kristen akan imannya. Sebagian orang memandang itu hanya novel atau ”just a movie” yang tidak berpengaruh bagi iman si pembacanya. Tapi sebenarnya apa yang kelihatannya tidak berbahaya justru itulah yang patut diwaspadai. Apa yang diserang oleh novel-novel kontemporer seperti itu adalah ketidaktahuan kita tentang iman kita, tentang Siapa Juru Selamat kita itu. Dua ribu tahun umat Kristen saat ini berjarak dengan Yesus Daging akan mengakibatkan munculnya efek keterpisahan dan irelevansi dari Yesus Iman. Ini bisa semakin memuncak apabila banyak sekali himpitan dalam hidup kita baik berupa kesulitan ekonomi, pengangguran hingga tingginya budaya permisif korupsi di negeri ini. Kurangnya keteladanan dari pemimpin kita serta tidak adanya ”role model”, ”success story” akan kepemimpinan yang bersih dan jujur akan mengakibatkan umat Kristen akan semakin apatis dan cenderung bingung memilih jalan yang benar.

Industrialisasi Pemikiran

Potret kekinian masyarakat kita ini ditunjang oleh merasuknya pola industrialiasi tanpa batas. Industrialisasi sudah menyebar ke segenap ranah hidup manusia baik di Indonesia maupun di dunia. Industrialisasi inilah yang dipakai oleh kekuatan si jahat sebagai mesin penyebar ajaran yang aneh, membingungkan dan sesat. Kita bisa lihat dari jutaan kopi buku Harry Potter yang segera diserbu oleh anak-anak remaja sebagai bacaan ”wajib” dan menggairahkan. Industrialisasi nilai-nilai seperti ini berubah menjadi industrialisasi pemikiran yang berbahaya ketika iman tidak lagi penting. Pasar menjadi ukuran yang diikuti oleh masyarakat yang bisa mengarahkan mereka kepada pemenuhan hidup sehari-hari. Efeknya adalah munculnya eskapisme masyarakat dari kekeringan jiwa yang alih-alih seharusnya kembali ke Tuhan, malah sekarang masuk ke selera pasar yang sudah terindustrialisasi oleh nilai sekuler tertentu.

Belum lagi kita melihat pada perilaku masyarakat saat ini dimana masyarakat sudah mulai secara lambat-laun diperkenalkan pada gaya hidup homoseksual. Diimbangi dengan semakin menjamurnya perumahan dan apartemen yang modern yang menawarkan gaya hidup modis, individualis dan kosmopolitan yang mengarah pada konsumerisme. Begitu juga industri musik dan film yang saat ini semakin dikejar rating dan mendongkrak popularitas artis yang ujung-ujungnya mendapatkan keuntungan materi yang sangat besar sehingga seringkali terjebak dalam plagiarisme. Gejala-gejala budaya kontemporer ini semakin mengerucut pada hilangnya prinsip-prinsip nurani dan iman.

Daya Dukung Lingkungan Yang Hilang

Ketika kita bicara perilaku hidup yang terindustrialisasi yang berujung penguasaan kapital oleh kelompok pengusaha kelas berat berkolusi dengan oknum birokrat yang korup maka yang muncul saat ini adalah lingkungan hidup yang terdegradasi. Jutaan hektar hutan dan lahan hijau ”disulap” menjadi pemukiman, mal, bangunan dan bermacam-macam manufaktur tanpa melihat daya dukung yang ada. Sungguh mengerikan melihat kolaborasi paham kontemporer yang sekuler-materialistis dengan pasar sebagai mesin penggerak. Pada akhirnya bumi menghancurkan dirinya sendiri karena ulah kita. Banjir dimana-mana bahkan terjadi di daerah tak pernah banjir sebelumnya, air bersih sulit dikonsumsi di kota-kota metropolitan karena direbut oleh gedung-gedung pencakar langit, kemacetan jalanan yang semakin parah, polusi udara, hilangnya keanekaragaman hayati dan punahnya kawanan hewan di hutan semakin menambah runyam masalah lingkungan di negeri ini. Bahkan khusus Indonesia, menurut para ahli, pemanasan global bukanlah prioritas pertama yang harus diantisipasi melainkan perusakan lingkungan secara sistematis oleh stakeholder terkait lah yang menjadi isu utama negeri ini. Yach, masalah lingkungan adalah ujung (akibat) dari pangkal (sebab) iman yang lemah karena ”ilalang” yang menancap ke batin manusia di negeri ini. Sadar atau tidak sadar itulah yang terjadi.

Solusi: Ketika Yesus lahir kembali di hati kita

Bagaimana kita mencabut ilalang-ilalang hidup ini? Pertama, ilalang tidak pernah akan hilang, sesuai titah Yesus Yang Maha Tahu. Kedua, kuncinya adalah memperbanyak gandum hidup dalam masyarakat kita. Gandum ini pertama-tama harus tumbuh berakar di hati umat Kristen. Bagaimana caranya? Resepnya sbb:

1. Umat Kristen harus sadar dan realistis bahwa Yesus itu benar-benar ada secara historis dan benar-benar Tuhan secara Iman maupun historis. Ini untuk melawan ajaran-ajaran sesat dari kalangan intelektual muda, yang karena pintar berorasi dan menemukan kunci idiosinkratik pada alkitab, akhirnya runtuh imannya. Takjub pada perbedaan idiomatik pada teks-teks di keempat Injil dalam Kitab Suci, mereka akhirnya menghujat Yesus bahkan menurunkan Yesus selevel dengan nabi-nabi lain. Jangan khawatir, terlalu banyak saksi mata pada saat Dia Hidup yang mengetahui dengan pasti bahwa Yesus adalah Allah. Apa yang dikerjakan Yesus selalu bersifat publik, banyak orang menyaksikan mujizat-mujizatNya, Dia tidak diam-diam (gerakan bawah tanah), dan Aksi-aksiNya juga sering dilihat oleh kaum farisi.
2. Umat Kristen patut melatih doa-doa kontemplatif. Doa adalah obat paling ampuh dari segala kesulitan hidup. Ditambah unsur kontemplatif, yakni berdoa dengan hati, menyelaraskan kata-kata batin dengan wajah Yesus Yang Maha Kudus maka kita akan menemukan damai Tuhan dalam diri kita.
3. Membaca alkitab dan tulisan-tulisan orang suci lainnya dapat membantu kita menjalani hidup ini dari kacamata Yesus yang penuh kasih, berbobot, berakar dan bernilai tinggi. Inilah pahala kita dalam hidup sehingga kita bisa menghasilkan buah-buah Roh.
4. Jadilah garam, tidak perlu menjadi ”terang”. Maksudnya kita dapat menggarami orang lain secara halus tanpa kita harus terlihat peranannya. Tidak perlu menjadi ”terang” dalam pengertian untuk menghindari kita dari publisitas yang berlebihan yang bisa mengakibatkan kesombongan rohani karena efek ”over-joyous”-nya. Maksudnya karena kita pintar berkotbah, punya karunia menyembuhkan kita berisiko terlalu gembira dengan rahmat-rahmat tersebut sehingga tanpa pengendalian diri yang ketat kita akan jatuh dalam ”okultisme” diri.
5. Kerajaan Allah ada dalam jangkauan kita. Kerajaan Allah semudah kita mengangkat jari ke arah langit. Dia malah lebih dekat daripada yang kita sangka. Kerajaan Allah adalah Gereja tempat kita mungkin pernah dibaptis, tempat kita mungkin pernah mengaku dosa, belajar sidi dan lain-lain. Kerajaan Allah adalah Gereja itu sendiri. Bukan gedung fisik semata-mata. Kerajaan Allah adalah Allah sendiri yang hadir di situ dan hadir pula di hati kita melalui Sabda-sabdaNya yang disampaikan oleh pendeta atau pastor. Dia menembus ke batin kita dan itulah yang kita bawa pulang sebagai ”oleh-oleh” buat keluarga kita, buat sekeliling kita, akhirnya buat masyarakat kita.
6. Mencintai Yesus dan mencintai lingkungan karena Yesus. Kita tidak bisa hanya mencintai Yesus dan sesama tetapi kita lupa mencintai lingkungan hidup ini. Lingkungan hidup dengan kekayaan alam, vegetasi, hayati dan satwa adalah anugerah dari Yesus seperti Dia menganugerahkan keturunan bagi kita. Tentunya kita akan memberikan yang terbaik buat anak-anak kita bukan? Begitu juga dengan lingkungan yang adalah rumah kita bersama, ”keturunan” bersama, milik kepentingan umum. Oleh sebab itu kita wajib memeliharanya secara berkelanjutan. Tidak ada gunanya kita mengklaim mencintai Yesus tetapi lingkungan kita rusak melalui aktivitas kita sehari-hari. Mencintai Yesus bisa dilakukan dengan menjaga alam sekitar sebagai ungkapan rasa syukur kepada Sang Firman itu sendiri. Dia memberikan udara gratis, sinar matahari, sinar bulan, musim yang berganti secara gratis untuk kita ”kuasai” secara benar dan bertanggungjawab.

Inilah ”gandum” sejati umat Kristen untuk melawan pengaruh ilalang-ilalang kontemporer saat ini. Musuh kita adalah mereka yang mengaku bukan musuh melainkan kawan modernis yakni si setan lewat paham-paham kontemporernya. Bersatulah dengan Yesus meskipun kita harus terus menerus berlatih rohani. Tapi jangan takut, Dia menerima kita adanya. Datanglah kepadaNya tanpa kita harus menjadi orang sempurna/orang kudus dahulu. Dia akan mengajar kita dan merawat luka-luka kita. Dia adalah Kasih Yang Maha Luhur. Dia adalah Kesempurnaan Cinta itu sendiri.

Penulis : Leonard T. Panjaitan