While perusing a Reddit post, I stumbled upon a thought-provoking comment, which I’ve reproduced below:
Upon delving into the Gospels, one encounters a portrayal of Jesus that diverges significantly from the rendition often espoused by various branches of Christianity. Nevertheless, I’d like to offer a nuanced rebuttal to the commenter, particularly concerning the assertion that the reward-punishment paradigm is exclusive to other religions and absent in Christianity.
The Pursuit of Ultimate Purpose:
In Islam, the pinnacle aspiration is attaining Jannah (Paradise). A devout Muslim endeavors to lead a life of unwavering faith and virtuous deeds to secure this eternal reward.
Buddhism extols the achievement of Nirvana, a state of profound liberation marked by freedom from suffering and the relentless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Hinduism’s ultimate objective is Moksha, symbolizing liberation from the perpetual cycle of existence, coupled with the merger of the individual soul with the transcendental reality.
Conversely, Christianity presents a distinctive perspective. Though its ultimate goal may appear analogous to those of other faiths, it stands apart fundamentally. John 17:3 articulates, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Likewise, in John 14:9, Jesus asserts, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Paul further reinforces this notion in Colossians 1:15, proclaiming, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
Thus, the paramount objective in Christianity is fostering a profound relationship with Jesus Christ, as a way to the Father. As evident, the prerequisites for a believer in Jesus are notably minimal.
The Significance of Benevolent Acts:
Across various religious traditions, the promotion of altruistic deeds as a pathway to salvation or liberation is ubiquitous. Whether it entails securing entry to Paradise or breaking free from the cyclic continuum of life and death, the underlying message resonates uniformly. However, Christianity introduces a distinctive perspective. In Christianity, establishing a relationship with Jesus necessitates no prerequisites. As elucidated by Paul, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
An illustrative anecdote underscoring this paradigm shift is the encounter at the cross, recounted in Luke 23:39-43. Here, a thief, merely expressing faith, implores Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” In response, Jesus unequivocally assures him, “Today you shall be with me in paradise.” This narrative epitomizes the profound simplicity inherent in the Christian message of salvation through unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.
In Christianity, the emphasis on benevolent acts is akin to the natural byproduct of one’s faith in Jesus. It is not a prerequisite for achieving reconciliation with God.
A Democratized Community:
In envisioning the community of Christ, Jesus conceived a fellowship devoid of gatekeepers, hierarchies, or restrictive frameworks. Rather, all were deemed as Jesus’s companions, fostering an ethos of inclusivity and egalitarianism. His vision was one of societal inversion, where the first would be last and the last would be first, a radical departure from the conventional religious paradigms of his time, which remains disruptive even in contemporary contexts. Regrettably, as Christianity proliferated, attempts were made to impose control, reintroducing elements reminiscent of archaic customs and traditions. However, such deviations diverged from the essence of Jesus’s teachings as depicted in the gospels.
As Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate, aptly remarked, “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Although Jesus did not bequeath a written text, his teachings were meticulously recorded by the apostles and those closely affiliated with the early believers, ensuring an accurate portrayal of his message. To realize the true essence of Jesus’s vision, we must return to the blueprint outlined in the gospels and authentically embody the principles that Jesus intended for his followers.
