Journal #2

A) The key idea of Chapter 2 is making a difference in our world today just as Jesus did during His lifetime. This chapter presents many aspects of the world in which Jesus lived. First of all, Palestine was separated into the regions of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. Because the Jews of Judea thought they were greater than Samaritans and Galileans, much tension existed between the three regions. There was also a great separation in social classes. While there were classes of rulers, senators, and councilors, most people (about 90%) lived below the poverty line. A variety of religions existed during Jesus’ time as well, mainly in the form of cults. All of these cults promoted ideas that went against the Jewish religion, but they attracted many members because of the definite answers to life questions that they offered to their followers. People also turned to the philosophy of people like Epicureans, Cynics, and Stoics to learn how to live everyday life. However, Jesus resisted all the temptations of doing things like thinking himself greater than other when he lived I Galilee because he had been born in Judea or joining a mystery cult to get answers about life in the next world. I think it is important to remember Jesus’ resistance to society’s answers to life questions because it shows us that sometimes we have to stand out and possibly be ridiculed to do the right thing. To me personally, this chapter is sending me a message to not be afraid to be a little more extroverted to do the right thing. Usually I am not very social so it usually easy for me to resist society’s temptations because not many of them are presented to me. But if I continue not to speak up about the person I really am and that I am trying to fight society’s answers to life questions, then I am being anything but Christ-like. Jesus created a world of followers who live by His wise, loving actions and words. If I don’t attempt to speak about myself and my beliefs, then I won’t be able to affect the lives of those around me or be able to find out who I am as a person. This chapter is telling me that I have to make a radical change in my life and speak up so that I can grow closer to God.

B) The first major idea that I would like to remember from this chapter is that Jesus mainly preached to the poor and that He was also poor. This idea is important for me to remember because I can often underestimate other people based on my initial impression of them. I think it is really important for me to remember that Jesus didn’t look like what the Jews were expecting and that they probably underestimated Him a great deal. However, Jesus ended up being the Son of God who came to save us from sin. This idea of the chapter reminds me that God exists within all of us and I should not look down upon or underestimate others because of a quality they might have. In fact, the strange quality in a person may be God’s unique way of trying to come closer to me through that other person. If I am judgmental of others and devalue their ability to do good in my own mind then I won’t be able to develop a strong faith life that is supported by the people around me. There are so many things to learn about a person, and it definitely takes more than a first impression to discover all of their qualities. I definitely have to work on getting to know what kind of person someone better than my first impression suggests.
Another major idea that I would like to remember from this chapter is the list of common teenage excuses and Jesus’ responses through scripture. I often find myself using many of these excuses, especially “I’m afraid” and “I’m always worried and frustrated.” To hear Jesus respond by saying things like don’t let your heart be afraid and worrying doesn’t add anything to my life really makes me feel awesome because I know that Jesus understand what I am going through and wants to help me through it. This idea is especially important to remember when I am going through times when things are so bad that I doubt God’s existence, I can just think of how Jesus has all of the answers to my excuses and know that someone is looking out for me. I think that this idea from the book will stick with me for a long time because it helps me remember that God is always on my side to help me.

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4) Could Christianity and astrology be connected in any distant way because they both deal with similar numbers? (In Christianity, there are 12 apostles and tribes of Israel. Also, 7 is the Lord’s number. In astrology, there are 12 houses of the sun and 7 is considered a mystical number.)

5) In writing, describe in detail one social injustice. Describe in your essay something you can do to right this injustice-then do it-or or contact someone in authority who would have the influence to change this injustice.

The social injustice I decided to confront isn’t a big problem that would make the headlines in the news, but rather, it is a problem that I often find myself supporting. Talking badly about other people is not often seen as a terrible thing. If you go to see any comedy in movie theatres today, the movie is usually filled with bad comments about other people that can make you laugh. A lot of times, I find myself doing the same thing when I am around my friends. However, I have lately been questioning the idea of making fun of people to have fun with my friends. If my relationship is based solely on laughing at others, then can I really call them my friends? However, I have also noticed times with my friends when we just start laughing for no reason and have fun doing things to help others, like doing service at my youth group. I think that if I can strive to have more of those fun times when my friends and me are just being crazy or helping out, I can start to get rid of my idea of having fun by making fun of others. If I try not to talk bad about others and try to help me friends do so as well, no only do I think it would help us have even more fun together, but it would also help me get along with others better. From now on, I am really going to try to keep my mean opinions about others to myself, so that someday, they might disappear completely.