Fanaticism
is Not Part of The Legacy of Jesus Christ
Everyone talks about fanatics but no one admits being one. Perhaps it
is because we do not understand what fanaticism really is. The best way
fanaticism can be illustrated is using three key examples of human
behavior which most people are familiar with.
[1]
The world [and the translations of the New Testament] keep
perpetuating the concept that "the Jews crucified Our Lord Jesus
Christ". No one stops to think that Jesus, His Mother - the Virgin
Mary, Joseph - her spouse, John the Baptist, Zacharias, Elizabeth,
Jairus, Joseph of Arimathea, Gamaliel, etc., etc. were all Jews.
The Jews did not crucify Jesus - the religious fanatics of
the time
did! (1)
[2] The anti
abortion movement has acquired fanatical overtones, yet a far more
devastating and quite prevalent moral disorder is child sexual abuse.
However, the latter is swept under the proverbial rug while we keep
yelling louder and louder against abortion.
We must evaluate these issues within a Scriptural context: Child Sexual Abuse vs Abortion - Which Is
the Greatest Transgression? (2) Then we
will begin to understand how zeal, bordering on fanaticism, may blind
us from recognizing related, but more devastating, sins.
Make no mistake! We are not
condoning or justifying abortion under any circumstance - up
to an including when the life of the mother is at stake.
[3] The anti
homosexual movement spearheaded by a certain segment of the Christian
community has almost surpassed the definition of fanaticism. Yet, in
their desire to be more Christian than Christ, the most basic tenets of
His teachings are trampled upon (3).
Again, we must evaluate this issue under the bright light radiating
from the Gospel. We will then come face to face with another case where
fanaticism, destroys human dignity and taints the beauty of the Good
News personally delivered to us by Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Although the Word of God does
not justify homosexuality, it does not encourage the
verbal and physical abuses may fanatics use towards homosexuals.
Fanatics - Beware! Being zealous for the Lord of Hosts [1 Kings 19] is not the same
as being a fanatic. Fanaticism is a serious spiritual
dysfunction (4).
NOTES
En Español: El Fanatismo no forma parte del Legado de
Jesucristo
Reformatted and added Links on
October 28, 2010 - European Union
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