Post-resurrection there is a great interest in what the apostles have to say about the Christ. People who had heard vague stories about Jesus, now hear directly from the apostles and are convinced of what they hear. And so the obvious question: "What should we now do?"
Peter's reply, "Be baptised. Repent for your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." How did he and the early Christians zero in on this baptism? That Peter was calling for repentance is understandable, since he attributed the death of Jesus to the Jews. And therefore, the prescription for atonement for this sin, appears logical. Whatever way the Holy Spirit inspired them, the sorrow of Jesus' death and his absence would surely be part of their present state of mind.
Am wondering what if Peter had responded to that zealous question of the Jews with a reply of this sort: "Love God and one another as Jesus taught and showed us!" First things first! Baptism initiates one into the Christian faith, but is not the cornerstone of Jesus' life and teaching. If only we had really emphasised the essence of Jesus' message (love) from the beginning, we would have had less of rites and rituals and focussed more on our existing expression of love. This is not to say that Christianity has not really trodden the path of love all these centuries. It certainly and very visibly has. Only that at times we have let the rubrics define what Christianity is rather than a genuine love - and this is mostly the fault of us, priests and religious!
Peter's reply, "Be baptised. Repent for your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." How did he and the early Christians zero in on this baptism? That Peter was calling for repentance is understandable, since he attributed the death of Jesus to the Jews. And therefore, the prescription for atonement for this sin, appears logical. Whatever way the Holy Spirit inspired them, the sorrow of Jesus' death and his absence would surely be part of their present state of mind.
Am wondering what if Peter had responded to that zealous question of the Jews with a reply of this sort: "Love God and one another as Jesus taught and showed us!" First things first! Baptism initiates one into the Christian faith, but is not the cornerstone of Jesus' life and teaching. If only we had really emphasised the essence of Jesus' message (love) from the beginning, we would have had less of rites and rituals and focussed more on our existing expression of love. This is not to say that Christianity has not really trodden the path of love all these centuries. It certainly and very visibly has. Only that at times we have let the rubrics define what Christianity is rather than a genuine love - and this is mostly the fault of us, priests and religious!
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