(Henri Jules Jean Geoffroy. The Children's Class. Source)
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(Henri Jules Jean Geoffroy. The Children's Class.
Source)
You certainly got, at some point of time during your studies, a homework assignment such as: "Read such a novel, and describe the main character in X words". It's such an ordinary homework that we don't even think about it. Nevertheless, according to some Atheists and some anti-Christians, that type of homework is a mortal sin!
Do you believe everything that is written in the Gospels? Maybe, maybe not. Were you in Jerusalem about 2000 years ago? Me neither! On the other hand, one thing at least is certain: the Gospels exist, and their main character is called Jesus of Nazareth. Should we encourage children to treat the Bible as some plain novel? In my opinion, no! But Atheists who constantly vomit their hatred of Christianity should be forced to do a small homework:
"Dear schoolchildren, take a sheet of paper and draw a long vertical line down the center. Then, read the Gospels. Take note in the left column the vices of the main Character, and in the right column His virtues.".
Based on the Gospel's text, we can say Jesus has many virtues:
2.1) Manual labor. Jesus didn't sit on his backside while waiting for his Welfare cheque. He spent the first 30 years of His life working as a carpenter [Mt 13:55].
2.2) Literacy and simplified English. Jesus didn't have enough money to subsidize municipal libraries, but He nevertheless dedicated His whole public life to education. He went teaching from town to town [Lc 4:31; Lc 13:22]. Not only did He give courses, but He avoided incomprehensible university jargon. He talked about simple things that people could understand, like mustard seeds [Mc 4:31], vines and branches [Jn 15:5], the good shepherd and his sheep [Jn 10:11], etc.
2.3) Paying taxes. Jesus is a model citizen. He paid all His taxes without complaining [Mt 17:27], and encouraged people to respect the Government: "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." [Lc 20:25].
2.4) Care of the handicapped. Jesus spent a good part of His public life curing the handicapped (blind, deaf, paralyzed, etc.). Not only did He let Himself be bothered by the handicapped [Mc 2:4; Lc 18:39-40], but He continued to take care of the handicapped, even when the authorities threatened Him [Mc 3:2].
2.5) Courage. Even when He knew they would crucify Him, Jesus listened only to His courage and continued His mission, without backing down in front of obstacles [Lc 13:33].
2.6) Defense of women's rights. The Mother of Jesus has a little rebel side [Lc 1:52], and Jesus obviously listened to her lessons, since He rejected sexist prejudices of His time, like the interdiction of speaking to a Samaritan woman [Jn 4:9], or the stoning of adulterous women [Jn 8:5].
2.7) Struggle against consumerism. Not only did Jesus live in poverty all His life [Lc 2:7], but He rejected the consumerist society [Mt 5:3], and encouraged people to put material wealth into perspective [Lc 16:20-23].
2.8) Temperance. Jesus knew how to party [Jn 2:2], but you won't find any drug or alcohol abuse in His life. As a teenager, He did once run away from His parents for a short while, but it wasn't to go smoke marijuana [Lc 2:43]!
2.9) Chastity. No sexual scandals with Jesus. He didn't abuse children, He didn't commit adultery, and journalists didn't surprise Him in a stripper bar. His chastity is not only exterior, but interior and deep: "But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." [Mt 5:28].
2.10) Ecology. Jesus had a very ecological lifestyle. He lived voluntary simplicity. He didn't travel in a big SUV (Sports-Utility Vehicle), but on foot or on a young donkey [Lc 19:35]. Even in abundance, He condemned wastage, because after having multiplied the loaves, He told His disciples: "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." [Jn 6:12].
2.11) Altruism. Yes, we could always mention in passing the small detail about this whole salvation thing, with Jesus taking upon Himself all the punishment we deserved because of our sins, so we could be saved. It's true it was nice of Him to have thought of us. He didn't have to do that, and we must admit that caused Him a temporary annoyance (a small flagellation, a way of the cross that kind of dragged on, a smidge of pain during crucifixion, etc.).
Etc...
Hum, sorry Miss Schoolteacher, I didn't find any.
Should Atheists and other anti-Christian people vociferate against Christians? For some very bad Christians, yes! (I certainly do!) But certainly not for THE Christian: Jesus Christ. On the contrary, all reasonable Atheists should say, with great nostalgia: "Ah! If only Jesus could really be God, as the Catholic Church teaches!" All reasonable Atheists should say: "Ah, if only all Catholic Priests were like THE Catholic Priest, Jesus Christ, as the Catholic Church orders them to be!" All reasonable Atheists should say: "Ah, if only all Catholic faithful could imitate their Model, Jesus Christ, as the Catholic Church teaches them to do!"
But the unreasonable and lazy Atheists, those who refuse to do this simple and easy homework, while simultaneously vomiting their hatred of Christianity, should get their fingers rapped by the Schoolteacher's ruler!
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