1. Prophet Amos is very much relevant even today. The world of today also will not be able to bear all his words. (Amos 7: 10). Amos criticizes the social structures which has favoured the rich and oppressed the poor.
2. He is not a retreat preacher or a politician but a prophet who spoke the inconvenient truth. There was no much time left for Israel. They need radical conversion.
3. There are still Amoses today but the Church which represents the ancient Israel brands these prophets as agents and paid reactionaries seeking money and gain for themselves.
Israel and India
4. A lot of parallel can be drawn between Israel of old and India of today. Whenever a nation achieves economic prosperity it also brings about social inequalities and crimes of injustice against the poor. It happened at the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II and now it is very rampant in India. (India is shining)
4. A lot of parallel can be drawn between Israel of old and India of today. Whenever a nation achieves economic prosperity it also brings about social inequalities and crimes of injustice against the poor. It happened at the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II and now it is very rampant in India. (India is shining)
5. Christians are a minority in India like the Jews in the ancient Orient. India will accept Christianity only if we preach the crucified Jesus along with our lifestyle that shows solidarity and sympathy with human suffering. It is not the westernization of Christianity that the people hate but the Church’s self –enhancement or glory and its dependence on the money from the west.
Amos on Israel’s social life
6. Amos wants the society to practice justice and righteousness. The greatest crime of Israel consisted in turning justice to wormwood and in casting down righteousness to the earth.
6. Amos wants the society to practice justice and righteousness. The greatest crime of Israel consisted in turning justice to wormwood and in casting down righteousness to the earth.
7. The rich take the advantage of the poor and treat the fellow humans as slaves to the extent of selling them for a small pittance like a pair of shoes. They comfortably forget the Law of Moses which repeatedly speaks of justice and righteousness.
Amos and Indian Society
8. The Church instead of standing against the unequal power structures enhances the existing systems and powers for its own advantage. She conveniently preaches meek and non-violent Jesus to support her stand. She is added to the few who enjoy all the benefits of the society without actually deserving it.
8. The Church instead of standing against the unequal power structures enhances the existing systems and powers for its own advantage. She conveniently preaches meek and non-violent Jesus to support her stand. She is added to the few who enjoy all the benefits of the society without actually deserving it.
9. The Church’s laws on family planning, adultery, pre-marital sex, abortion, divorce, campaign against drinking find their victims only in the poor and the rich have ways and means to escape these laws. Church cannot speak of social disorder because her own house is in total disorder.
Amos against the Cult in Israel
10. People of Israel took shelter in their cultic practices and Amos was faced with the task of undermining the stupid, self security of their faith. God hates feasts, sacrifices, music, devotion etc because he does not crave for any of these. It the manifestation of the cravings of the few rich who abuse the poor to extract money and wealth.
10. People of Israel took shelter in their cultic practices and Amos was faced with the task of undermining the stupid, self security of their faith. God hates feasts, sacrifices, music, devotion etc because he does not crave for any of these. It the manifestation of the cravings of the few rich who abuse the poor to extract money and wealth.
11. Amos asks all of us to stop going to the Church (Do not seek Bethel do not enter Gilgal (5: 4-5), not because it is wrong in itself but devotional practices without practicing justice and righteousness is a humbug.
Judgment on Israel’s religious superiority
12. Israel was boasting them to be the chosen nation. Amos compares Israel with Philistines, Syrians and marginalized Aethiopians.
Judgment on Israel’s religious superiority
12. Israel was boasting them to be the chosen nation. Amos compares Israel with Philistines, Syrians and marginalized Aethiopians.
13. Israel’s life did not reflect the goodness of Yahweh. Instead of taking care of the poor and the weaker classes they became their oppressors.
Pride and cult in the Indian Church
14. Indian Christians recite many prayers, frequent Sunday Mass and sacraments, their family life is good because it is old, and their theologians do not produce many heresies. They cannot take pride in all these, simply because they do not come from the goodness of their lives. The Christians in the west live a far more better life that the Indian atleast by rendering their help (financial and material) to the poorer countries. Their theologians do not produce heresies because they do not think deep enough.
15. The gospel would have been accepted by many more millions of people if the church had returned to its sources. Unless the Church empties herself of all her vain glories and luxuries, it cannot have impact on the people’s lives. Indians are equally if not more culpable than Israel for neglecting the poor and the oppressed.
Pride and cult in the Indian Church
14. Indian Christians recite many prayers, frequent Sunday Mass and sacraments, their family life is good because it is old, and their theologians do not produce many heresies. They cannot take pride in all these, simply because they do not come from the goodness of their lives. The Christians in the west live a far more better life that the Indian atleast by rendering their help (financial and material) to the poorer countries. Their theologians do not produce heresies because they do not think deep enough.
15. The gospel would have been accepted by many more millions of people if the church had returned to its sources. Unless the Church empties herself of all her vain glories and luxuries, it cannot have impact on the people’s lives. Indians are equally if not more culpable than Israel for neglecting the poor and the oppressed.
No comments:
Post a Comment