Conflict: Moving towards a solution

                                                                                                >----->Fr. Conrad Saldanha

In the last article, I focused much on the clergy–laity conflict that’s affecting many parishes and Dioceses. There is a leadership crisis; the frustrations are often felt by the laity, because their voices are not heeded by those who rule. In my previous article I have also pointed to some of the evils and the growing trend, in this area of sound doctrine.  The teaching authority of the Church is in crisis and hence the Clergy can no more exercise their leadership in a true Christian spirit.

It is true that one way to move towards a solution is to restore faithfulness to Scripture and tradition. Yet this restoration is not enough if tradition is restricted only to the intellectual sphere. Human confidence is his mind, which is normally set on the flesh and scripture refers to it as carnal and in opposition to God (Rm.8:7).

Today’s trend is, towards a world of knowledge and great emphasis is put on intellectual development.  Self- glory, pride and great accomplishment all attributed to self achievement is the order of the day.  Our education system and formation are oriented in the same direction.

We have begun to believe and that too strongly, that education is the solution to every problem. There are constant self-awareness exercises and programmes conducted by Government, Non-governmental organizations and the Church too has joined the bandwagon. 

Even our seminary formation for priesthood tends strongly in this same direction. The initial emphasis on philosophy and then a comprehensive formula, of including the human sciences, are steps in this direction. Those learning them do not know the significance of it and what role it is supposed to play in their overall formation.  Some even make the seminarians believe that these human sciences are either equal or greater than theology.

Is education a panacea for resolving every human problem?  As we grew up we may have often heard such statements: “You an educated person and behaving like this” or “I gave him a good piece of advice and now he will not behave badly.” Yet, the change in behavior pattern does not take place as intended with this ‘good’ piece of advice.

 In the same vein our world finds it more difficult to accept criminality in educated individuals.  The white collar criminals are treated more humanely than others.

This is written not to undermine the beauty and the great contribution of education, but rather that we may realize the limitations of education, and so do not put an obstacle to other avenues available to us, in the formation of sound character. However this article is written not to offer a perfect solution for character formation, but it definitely aims at an option, which is necessary and primary.  Yet, one must remember, that quite often, character formation in education, is largely accomplished in fear, or hope of rewards, rather than in voluntary acceptance.  I sometimes marvel at the fears that the educated lot manifest and how they sheepishly submit to the carnal desire of self satisfaction.

A correct diagnosis often leads to the right remedy.  Unfortunately, those who are expecting of me a right and perfect solution will stand disappointed. The Christian world view does not offer a perfect solution, in this our lifetime, to a complicated problem called humans.  There are many factors involved, both at the level of the individual and the larger society in they exist.  By offering a perfect solution one could be entering into an ideological arena. There are many in the world and in the church too who are working on this line; because they have failed to understand this reality and to live by the wisdom of the Gospel.  In ideological fashion they are building a kingdom of God; a kingdom of justice, peace and brotherhood. Ultimately ending up as humanistic terrorists, intolerant of the others who oppose their myopic vision of life!

Jesus never offered us a perfect kingdom here on earth nor did he ask his disciples to work for this sort of a kingdom where justice, peace and brotherhood will reign.  “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division…………….”(Lk. 12: 51-53). If what I write is shocking to you then I am not shocked at this your state. For one often hears it in many sermons and discourses about the need to build a kingdom of justice, peace and brotherhood in ideological zeal.  Does this mean that we work for division? No, rather the truth of the Gospel gains precedence over every human agenda and value. The effect of the transforming power of the Gospel over the individual is such that it creates a situation of divisiveness in society. There are some who will accept it and some who will reject it. Among the some who accept it they will be again some who will accept it whole heartedly and some who will accept it with shallowness of heart. (Sower and the seed: Mt. 13:3ff; Mk.4:3 ff; Lk.8:5ff). Based on this wrong world view some are building kingdoms for God; communities of love by destroying existing communities or suppressing God’s action.  

The greater and eternal good of humanity is in the Gospel. In the immediate vision it may even look bad or evil. We often reject it because our mortal abilities make us see only the immediate good. Our morality and action are based on the immediate good. The principle we live by is this: “the good is the useful”.

What is good is not always good. This requires foresight, and history has shown us that we as humans almost always seek the good that is immediate, even immediate gratification. The immediate good has a long term consequence. For example; the Marxist society was built on a good called equality; a corrupted understanding of the term. But the consequence was this: some became more equal than the others.

Community and unity is not the highest value for Jesus. He is the highest value.  There are some who have made community building and work for unity a priority and in the process have with persecuting zeal, distorted every sound doctrine that concerns Christ and his redeeming action: the reason for Christian unity. Every act of love does not necessarily leads to unity but could be to division. 

The early Christian Community came together on the principle of sharing what they had, with their brothers and sisters in Christ. It was not an imposed action but a voluntary act which was in response to the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ; whereby they became believers first by encounter. Audience which were not, are now made captive through the proclamation of the Gospel and by the action of the Holy Spirit. 

Now this proclamation was not just an intellectual exercise by the Apostles whereby people came together in communities to share. It was an exercise that was soaked in the word and prayer (Acts 6:2-4): an exercise in the power of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders.

My experience of learning theology as a layman with theologians, former Rectors and now bishops has only given me a false idea of proclamation.  For them proclamation meant thrusting the message forcibly down some one’s throat. No wonder they have produced some good feminist who are working towards a programme which immediately seems pro-women but is ultimately anti-women.  What community can one be building if their concept of proclamation is not right? What flock will they guide as shepherds?  Pseudo-intellectualism, that is not based on sound theological doctrine but a false concept based on loose sociological principles.  Hence it was a growing trend to send seminarians and even priests for Sociological studies on a priority basis.   Some schooled in it even fooled the masses that the service to which they were called to was social work and this proclamation has always been considered virtuous by the superiors and made them eligible to hold key positions of power by right or through patronage.  If the church has to be guided by these than its future is for all to behold!

The need of the hour is also to understand the difference between teaching (Greek: Didache) and preaching (Proclamation:  Kerygma). The impetus to teaching has always been there, it is the Proclamation element which has been dormant or suppressed and not given its rightful place in the church.  Some have even been fooling the congregation by talking about new and innovative pedagogical methods as having substituted the office of preaching or proclamation.  If the proclamation is understood in its true nature, and due precedence given to it, than it will purify the Church and those who are teachers in the Assembly of God’s holy people.  “for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”  Matt 7:29. How do our modern day scribes teach?

Remember, what is proclaimed is the good news of Christ and not a dead message. This message is proclaimed in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, hence with signs and wonders.  The Church as a whole just can’t hide behind sound doctrine and reject the other element of soundness, i.e. the power of God’s Holy Spirit with us to the end of times. (Mt. 28: 20).  Jesus, when he sends his Apostles, he sends them out to proclaim with power and signs. These signs are signs of the kingdom. It is not just sound character, but is deeds manifest in the power of the Holy Spirit; signs and wonders.

PRAYER: Lord, save your church and bless all those in authority that they may open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel of Christ and proclaim him in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  May they be servants of the Word, dispensing your word in all its wisdom and power.