Jesus was
crucified. He died, but he rose to a new life. This is the foundation of
Christian faith. If the historical evidences prove that He rose, and if we
accept it to be true and believe it, then we need to rehabilitate Him in our
midst, in the modern times. He needs to be ‘re-installed’ in the new updated
‘version’ of humanity today. The Christ in Jesus evolves, and this process
continues. So, too the ‘processor’ that has to process him, has to be upgraded
with new programming and coding. New wine must be put into new wineskin.
The present world process is full of violence,
divisions, injustices, inequality, injustice and hypocritical. Within the
religious circle, a large section of people does recognize the spiritual and
religious importance of Jesus, but his teachings are little known. Often
believers of other faith perceive the Christians
as "hypocritical" (50%), "judgmental" (49%) or
"arrogant" (32%), according to a
Ipsos survey (2022). In an era
dominated by the rapid dissemination of information through social media
platforms, where information spreads like wildfire and opinions clash
incessantly, the figure of Jesus Christ remains a subject of both reverence and
controversy, misconceptions and misinterpretations. While some uphold his
teachings of love, compassion, and forgiveness, others manipulate his image for
personal or political gain, leading to division and conflict. However, amidst
the chaos of the digital age, there is a pressing need to rehabilitate the
essence of Jesus's message of compassion and understanding, and revive the
pursuit of peace through justice and human Rights; and within the existing
noise of digital discourse, it is an opportunity to rehabilitate Jesus and
propagate his message.
As
the present generation is engaged in communicating through the social media in a
digital world, it must be engaged with religious
world as well for human spiritual progress. The AI-aided social media needs to
be used to ‘rehabilitate’ Jesus in the post-post-modern world, to make Jesus’
presence and his teachings felt. In an
age of swift communication, people –
believers, atheists, skeptics,– all over the world are very much aware of the
Church conflicts and confusion over abortion, homosexual couple’s blessings, clergy
sex abuse scandals, etc. Christian
fundamentalists, liberals, modernists and especially the hierarchy, have
tarnished the People of God (Church) and, “obscured the image of Jesus Christ”.
In the present reality of political
polarization, gender equality, poverty, immigration, ecological crisis, war,
terrorism, following the initiative
taken by the campaign "He Gets Us" (2022) – the Church as a whole,
needs to be relevant by trying to address different aspects of Jesus’ life
and his teachings through digital efforts. People must come to know that
the experience of Jesus’ living presence is relevant to the present society
infested with loneliness, anxiety, mental health issues, etc. All Christians
especially the young believers will have to engage social media, design and organize
them to evangelize the culture with Christ. Through these means they need to
connect with the Church and its teachings; clear doubts and disputes through dialogue and
debates; inter into inter-faith dialogues and discourse on religious freedom;
bring the Christian families together;
be aware of the divisive and diverse Christian denominations which draw
their identity from the single Christ and work towards reconciliation and
unity. A rehabilitated Jesus within the
present reality would embody the value of love, compassion, justice and peace.
The
AI-aided social media has revolutionized the way information spreads, enabling
instant communication on a global scale. Yet it is often fraught with
polarization, misinformation, and sensationalism. In such an environment, the
image of Jesus is frequently distorted through misinterpretation of his
teachings, seeking to promote their own agendas. True, the social media platforms
have made Jesus more accessible to people. His teachings, once confined to
sacred texts and religious institutions, are now shared, discussed, and
dissected across the digital landscape. But this accessibility allows both for
widespread dissemination of his message, and also opens the door to distortion.
One
of the primary challenges in rehabilitating Jesus, therefore, is navigating the
myriad interpretations and agendas employed for personal or political gain. The
religious fundamentalists and the atheists often deride him as a mythical
figure. Jesus is frequently reduced to a symbol that serves their interests. Yet,
at the heart of Jesus's message lies a call for love, understanding, and
reconciliation. His teachings emphasize empathy, kindness, and the pursuit of
justice. He championed the cause of the marginalized, healed the sick and
forgave even those who persecuted him. It is this message of hope and
redemption that needs to be reclaimed in the age of social media.
It is imperative, therefore, to emphasize
the core principles that underpin Jesus’ message. At the heart of his teachings
lies a profound call to love one another, to show compassion to the
marginalized, and to seek peace even in the face of adversity. Through
discernment a concerted effort is to be made to counteract the spread of
misinformation and hatred. It is essential to embrace the entirety of his
message which transcends narrow political or ideological boundaries. Instead of
engaging in divisive debates or using Jesus as a weapon to bolster one's own
beliefs, individuals can use their platforms to foster a culture of dialogue, bridge divides
and promote understanding, empathy and reconciliation. It can connect
individuals from diverse backgrounds and foster meaningful conversations. By
engaging in respectful discourse and listening with an open mind, we can
promote empathy and compassion. It certainly offers unique opportunities for
innovative forms of outreach and community-building inspired by Jesus' example.
Online forums, virtual gatherings, and social media campaigns can serve as
spaces for people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs to come together in
dialogue and mutual respect.
To truly rehabilitate Jesus in the age of
social media, it is imperative to embody his teachings in our everyday lives.
This means actively working towards peace, justice, and reconciliation in our
communities and beyond. Whether through acts of kindness, advocacy for the
marginalized, or efforts to promote social justice, each of us has the power to
make a positive difference. However, the task of rehabilitating Jesus in the
age of social media extends beyond mere online interactions. It therefore, necessitates
embodying his teachings through daily witness– to be agents of justice and peace
in a world plagued by division and strife.
To
conclude, Jesus Christ remains as relevant today as ever. As we navigate the
complexities of the digital age, it is incumbent upon us to rehabilitate him in
the world today. Christ’s
followers can rehabilitate Jesus if they use the social media to bring about
social change by communicating truth, hope, love, peace, light and life, which
Jesus himself bore witness to. By embracing his teachings to evangelize
cultures, and by fostering a culture of empathy and understanding, we can
strive towards a more harmonious world for the post-digital generations to
come.
