{{2009_11_20_t1.jpg}} {{2009_11_20_t2.jpg}} {{2009_11_20_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2009_11_20|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_i|| Topics Collection i ]] ======Social Responsibility IV - Social Visions ...====== Friday, Nov 20, 2009. Does Christianity have a particular social vision? During the history of Christianity many different vision of society have been developed, for example by liberation theology. What is the biblical view on social visions? Does Jesus have a particular social vision? The bible is, in fact, extremely visionary. Reading the sermon on the mount with the beatitudes, the parables, the many images about "God's kingdom", we are confronted with far reaching ideas and images about how our community could be, how our interactions could work, how our social life could be changed. {{2009_11_20.jpg }} However, we also need to see clearly, that the bible does not have a particular social vision in the sense that a special society with prescribed rules would be anticipated. The bible does not initiate revolution in the worldly sense, it does not want to shift power from one human group to another or from one layer of society to another layer of people. No, in this sense we will not get a social vision from the bible. The apostle Paul even commands to accept and obey all authority given on earth - a revolutionary manifest would sound different! The social visions of the bible are one layer deeper, one layer higher, they are on a different level. The idea of interaction between humans, as Jesus talks about it constantly, is about love and truth. It is not about how to organize the next elections or whether you should pay inheritance tax or not. He wants our relations to be based on compassion and dedication, on humility, help, mutual appreciation and friendship. He wants our relations based on patience and sacrifice. By all this he will change society on a much deeper level than by changing some of the rules of politics or administration. The social vision of the bible is that power is shifted from me to God. When I start to relate to him, I give up my independence, I start to enter a world of love, where mutual dedication is the key feature. It is a dedication where the source of life, the eternal God, is the center of all activities. Everything is grouped around him. The social vision of the bible is a society, which is based on God's truth and God's love. It has already begun, it starts in our hearts and minds, it starts with the free decisions of millions of people who come to faith and change their life. There is a huge power behind the Christian message and faith. It is the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of people whose life is changed by the living God. In this sense, there are strong social visions which come out of Christianity; where faith starts, visions are bound to come. We will be passionate about each other, will be passionate about society and its development. With creativity we will work on the relations and rules which guide our life and interaction. Christian faith, the presence of the living God, is less a vision itself, it is a source of vision. It is a wunderful river flowing into this world - an old picture from the prophetic books of the Old Testament. It is a river, which changes every society on this planet, and will find its fulfillment in the new creation, which God has started with the resurrection of Jesus. [R.W.E.P., jesusnetwork.eu] {{ 2009_11_20_2.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_i|... more texts]]