The uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth and the future of the human race

Abstract

English: This thesis addresses the fundamental problem of whether Jesus Christ can still be thought to be that very decisive, absolute and unsurpassable revelation of God. And you may rightly ask: If this is the case, then what has gone so drastically wrong about that which was taken for granted for so long in the Christian world? The truth of the matter is that today Christianity is remembered mostly by its systematic destruction of the other-me than by its perennial preaching of love of neighbour. Yet only yesterday Christianity seemed to make the whole world go round as “the only reliable religion” capable of answering adequately the very deep spiritual recesses of the human heart and human finitude in general. Today that privileged position has drastically changed. Christianity’s traditional bold claim of being a unique kairos moment in human affairs, in which God’s self-communication cannot be surpassed in anyway by any other religion, is seriously challenged. But lovers of this religion or this “New Way of Life”, with their immense faith; and in their hope against hope, refuse to throw in the towel no matter the cost. They are now doing their level best to save authentic Christianity from the systematic and rigorous onslaught, which opposes the Christ event as a “very specia l and absolute” theological locus classicus in human affairs. While these concerned, honest and committed Christians try to restore the healing face of the Christian faith, critics of religion (with their many faces), especially those of the Democratic Rule, give them sleepless and anxious nights. Indifference among the latter towards “who Jesus Christ is” is well pronounced; while confusion, divisions and scandals among the former about how Jesus Christ ought to be understood, are today well documented and are making headlines on regular intervals in the media and even within churches themselves. This research joins these lovers of Christianity by proposing an alternate route in answering the perennial double question: “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” (cf. Mk 8:27-30). This alternate route is built on God’s Promises to Abraham without whom the universal uniqueness of Jesus the Christ = the Messiah would be concealed, disfigured and seriously betrayed. God’s Promises to humanity through Abraham are the historical theological foundation of human salvation in all its mysterious beauty. And within this amazing mystery of God’s Plan of our salvation, Sarah, Hagar, Mary, and Khadija 1 , equally play a crucial role. In addressing this problem of Jesus’ uniqueness in the totality of human history, this thesis contrasts and juxtaposes three pillars of authentic revelation namely, the reality of our fallen human nature, the incarnation of the Christ = the awaited Messiah in Jesus of Nazareth, and Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), to date, as the last Witness (Prophet) of God’s revelation. These trinitarian pillars of our salvation are firstly pressed and shaken together, and are then put into a serious healing tension with each other for the enrichment of all peoples of the human race. The thesis argues strongly that the universal salvific truth lies in the fact that the theological watershed of human salvation has already been sealed irreversibly between God’s covenant with Abraham and God’s covenant with humanity at Pentecost; and that Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) is the last reliable Testament/Witness of this universal, historical truth. Constantinian Christianity, in its many faces, is here held responsible for corrupting this universal truth up to our own time. Byzantine, papal and colonial evangelism will go down in history as the most heretical and corruptive Christian traditions that have ever emanated from that Constantinian Christianity. This thesis concludes by calling all Christians of goodwill from Orthodox, Protestant and Roman catholic communities firstly to authentic acceptance of Kubler-Ross, and then repentance of John the Baptist in order to stop the further corrupting of Jesus’ name where it is still being used to mean anything, everything and nothing today and beyond. The sin of Supersessionism, the sin of Hagarism and the sin of ecclesiastical timocracy (idolatrous sin of seeking first the kingdom of the Church), are here exposed as heresies and setbacks in the universal enrichment of all peoples of the human race. These are sins that have systematically concealed, disfigured and seriously betrayed (like Judas) the true universal meaning of “who Jesus of Nazareth really is” concerning the salvation of every human being from primordia l time of the Fall to our generation of today and beyond.

Afrikaans: Hierdie proefskrif handel oor die problematiek aangaande die stelling dat Jesus Christus as die deurslaggewende, absolute en onomwonde openbaring van God beskou moet word. Indien dit nie so is nie, mag ons dan vra: Wat het dan so verkeerd geloop dat dit so lank deur Christene nie bevraagteken is nie? Inderwaarheid is dit so dat die huidige Christendom beter geken word as die stelsel wat die ander-ek sistematies uitgeroei het eerder as die onophoudelike prediker van naasteliefde. In die nabye verlede het dit voorgekom asof die Christendom die wêreld gedryf het, dat dit die “enigste daadwerklike godsdiens” was wat die diepste geestelike dors van die mens kon les en die vrae aangaande menslike beperktheid kon beantwoord. Op hede bestaan daardie bevoordeling nie meer nie. Die Christen toeëiening van daardie enige kairos oomblik in die menslike geskiedenis waarin die selfkommunikasie van God nie geëwenaar kan word in enige ander godsdiens nie, kom nou as vermetel voor. Die wat hierdie godsdiens liefhet, die navolgers van hierdie “Nuwe Lewensweg”, met hulle diepsinnige geloof, met hulle deurgronde hoop; weier, desondanks die koste, om tou op te gooi. Hulle vermag alles om outentieke Christendom te red van die sistematiese en deurgronde aanval teen die Christusgebeurtenis as die “spesiale en absolute” teologiese locus classicus in die menslike geskiedenis. Onderwyl hierdie betrokke, eerlike en verbonde Christene poog om die helende gelaat van die Christengeloof te herstel, gee die kritici van godsdiens (met hulle menigvuldige gelate), veral die aanhangers van die Demokratiese Reël, vir hulle slapelose en angsgevulde nagte. Onverskilligheid tenoor “wie Jesus Christus is” is goed gevestig onder diesulke kritici. Terselfdertyd is daar die verwarring, verdeeldhede en skandale in Christenkringe oor hoe Jesus verstaan behoort te word, wat op hede geboekstaaf word en dikwels as opskrifte in die media en die kerke voorkom. Hierdie navorsing skakel in by die wat die Christendom liefhet en stel voor ‘n alternatiewe weg om die gedurige dubbel vraag: “Wie, sê die mense, is Ek?” en “Wie, sê julle, is Ek?” (vlg Markus 8:27-30) te beantwoord. Hierdie alternatiewe weg is gegrond op God se belofte aan Abraham, sonder wie die universele inslag en enigheid van Jesus die Christus (die Messias) verborge sou bly, verwronge en verloën sou wees. God se beloftes aan die mensdom deur Abraham is die geskiedkundige en teologiese fondament van menslike verlossing in sy volle geheimenisvolle skoonheid. Dit is vanuit hierdie geheimenis van God se verlossingsplan dat Sarah, Hagar, Maria en Khadija2 ewe belangrike rolle speel. Deur die problematiek van Jesus se enigheid in die geheel van die mens se geskiedenis aan te spreek stel hierdie verhandeling teenoor mekaar die drie boustene van egte openbaring, naamlik, die werklikheid van ons in sonde gevalle wese, die menswording van die Christus, of die verwagte Messias, in Jesus van Nasaret, en Muhammed (vrede wees met hom), tot nou toe, die laaste Getuie (Profeet) van Goddelike openbaring. Hierdie drie-enige boustene van ons verlossing word eers langs mekaar gestel, dan geskommel, daarna word hulle in ernstige, dog helende, spanning teenoor mekaar gestel ten einde die verryking van alle volke van die mensdom te bewerk. Die verhandeling stel dit sterk dat die universele redelike waarheid daarop rus dat die teologiese waterskeiding vir die mens alreeds onomwonde verseël is tussen die gelofte wat met Abraham aangegaan is en die gelofte met die mensdom met Pinkster; en dat Muhammed (v.w.m.h) die laaste geloofwaardige getuie of testament tot hierdie universele, geskiedkundige, waarheid is. Konstantynse Christendom, met sy menigte gelate, word hier verantwoordelik gehou vir die besoedeling van hierdie universele waarheid, tot en met ons eie tyd. Bisantynse, pouslike en koloniale evangelisasie sal in die geskiedenis geken word as kettery en die mees korrupte Christelike tradisies wat uit die Konstantynse Christendom voortgespruit het. Die verhandeling sluit daarmee af deur alle Christene met goeie wil, hetsy Ortodoks, Protestant of Rooms-Katoliek, op te roep tot ‘n egte belydenis en bekering, eerstens volgens Kubler-Ross en dan volgens Johannes die Doper, tot ‘n beëindiging van enige verdere korrupsie van Jesus se naam, waar dit nog uitgebuit word om, vandag en in die verdere toekoms, alles, enigiets en niks te beteken nie. Die sonde van Supersessionisme, die sonde van Hagarisme en die sonde van kerklike timokrasie (die lasterlike sonde van om ten eerste die koninkryk van die kerk na te strewe), word hier oopgevlek as ketterye en terugslae teen die universele verryking van die mensdom. Hierdie ernstige misdrywe het tot die sistematiese verberging, skending en verloëning (nes Judas) van die ware, universele, betekenis van “wie Jesus van Nasaret inderdaad is” met betrekking tot elke mens, vanuit die oertyd van die Val tot ons huidige geslag, en ook verder die toekoms in, bygedra.