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Pitanje: – Je li obredno pranje pri krštenju korisno i nužno ili je beskorisno i nepotrebno? U prvom slučaju, ako je korisno, zašto je ukinuto? A u drugom slučaju, ako je beskorisno, zašto ga je Ivan primjenjivao? |
Question.—Is the ablution of baptism useful and necessary, or is it useless and unnecessary? In the first case, if it is useful, why was it abrogated? And in the second case, if it is useless, why did John practice it? |
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Odgovor: – Promjena uvjeta, izmjene i preobrazbe su nužnosti suštine bića, a bitne se nužnosti ne mogu odvojiti od zbilje stvari. Tako je apsolutno nemoguće odvojiti toplinu od vatre, vlažnost od vode ili svjetlost od sunca, jer to su bitne nužnosti. Kako su promjena i izmjena uvjeta nužnosti za bića, tako se također i zakoni mijenjaju i izmjenjuju u skladu s promjenama i mijenama vremena. Na primjer, u Mojsijevo vrijeme, Njegov je Zakon bio potvrđen i prilagođen potrebama čovječanstva, te je stoga kasnije bio ukinut. Tako je Krist prekršio Sabbath i zabranio razvod braka. Poslije Krista četvorica Njegovih učenika, među kojima su bili Petar i Pavao, dopustili su uporabu hrane životinjskog porijekla koju je Biblija zabranjivala, osim jedenja mesa onih životinja koje su zadavljene ili su žrtvovane idolima, i njihove krvi.84 Oni su također zabranili blud. Održavali su te četiri zapovijedi. Kasnije je Pavao dopustio jedenje čak i zadavljenih životinja, onih koje su žrtvovane idolima, i krvi, a samo je održao zabranu bluda. Tako u poglavlju 14, stih 14, Poslanice Rimljanima, Pavao piše: “Znam, i u to me je uvjerio Gospodin Isus, da ništa nije nečisto po sebi; no samo onomu koji nešto drži nečistim, nečisto je”. |
Answer.—The change in conditions, alterations and transformations are necessities of the essence of beings, and essential necessities cannot be separated from the reality of things. So it is absolutely impossible to separate heat from fire, humidity from water, or light from the sun, for they are essential necessities. As the change and alteration of conditions are necessities for beings, so laws also are changed and altered in accordance with the changes and alterations of the times. For example, in the time of Moses, His Law was conformed and adapted to the conditions of the time; but in the days of Christ these conditions had changed and altered to such an extent that the Mosaic Law was no longer suited and adapted to the needs of mankind; and it was, therefore, abrogated. Thus it was that Christ broke the Sabbath and forbade divorce. After Christ four disciples, among whom were Peter and Paul, permitted the use of animal food forbidden by the Bible, except the eating of those animals which had been strangled, or which were sacrificed to idols, and of blood.84 They also forbade fornication. They maintained these four commandments. Afterward, Paul permitted even the eating of strangled animals, those sacrificed to idols, and blood, and only maintained the prohibition of fornication. So in chapter 14, verse 14 of his Epistle to the Romans, Paul writes: “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” |
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Također u Pavlovoj Poslanici Titu, poglavlje 1, stih 15: “Čistome su sve stvari čiste, ali onima koji su okaljani i ne vjeruju – ništa nije čisto, nego su im čak i um i savjest okaljani”. |
Also in the Epistle of Paul to Titus, chapter 1, verse 15: “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” |
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Dakle, do te je promjene, izmjena i ukinuća došlo zbog nemogućnosti usporedbe Kristova vremena s Mojsijevim. Uvjeti i potrebe u kasnijem razdoblju bili su posve različiti i izmijenjeni. Stoga su ukinuti raniji zakoni. |
Now this change, these alterations and this abrogation are due to the impossibility of comparing the time of Christ with that of Moses. The conditions and requirements in the later period were entirely changed and altered. The former laws were, therefore, abrogated. |
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Postojanje svijeta može se usporediti s postojanjem čovjeka, a Proroke i Glasnike Božje s vještim liječnicima. Ljudsko biće ne može ostati u jednom stanju: javljaju se razne bolesti od kojih svaka treba poseban lijek. Vješt liječnik ne daje isti lijek da bi izliječio svaku boljku i svaku bolest, nego on mijenja lijekove prema različitim potrebama bolesti i konstitucije. Jedna osoba može patiti od teške bolesti izazvane vrućicom, a vješt liječnik dat će joj lijekove koji hlade, a kad se nakon nekog vremena stanje te osobe promijeni i vrućicu zamijeni groznica, nedvojbeno će liječnik odbaciti lijek koji snižava vrućicu i dopustiti uporabu lijekova koji povisuju temperaturu. Tu je promjenu zahtijevalo stanje pacijenta i ona je očit dokaz vještine liječnika. |
The existence of the world may be compared to that of a man, and the Prophets and Messengers of God to skillful doctors. The human being cannot remain in one condition: different maladies occur which have each a special remedy. The skillful physician does not give the same medicine to cure each disease and each malady, but he changes remedies and medicines according to the different necessities of the diseases and constitutions. One person may have a severe illness caused by fever, and the skilled doctor will give him cooling remedies; and when at some other time the condition of this person has changed, and fever is replaced by chills, without doubt the skilled doctor will discard cooling medicine and permit the use of heating drugs. This change and alteration is required by the condition of the patient and is an evident proof of the skill of the physician. |
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Promislite može li se Zakon Starog zavjeta nametnuti ovom dobu i vremenu? Ne, za ime Božje! Bilo bi to nemoguće i nepraktično. Stoga je, zasigurno, Bog ukinuo zakone Starog zavjeta u Kristovo doba. Promislite također o tome da se krštenje u vrijeme Ivana Krstitelja koristilo da probudi i opomene ljude da se pokaju za sve grijehe i da iščekuju Kraljevstvo Kristovo. No, danas u Aziji, katolici i ortodoksna Crkva uranjaju novorođenu djecu u vodu pomiješanu s maslinovim uljem i mnoga djeca se razbolijevaju od šoka; u času krštenja bune se i negoduju. Drugdje pak svećenici svetom vodom poprskaju čelo. No ni kod prve, ni kod druge vrste krštenja djeca ne izvlače nikakvu duhovnu korist. Kakav se onda rezultat time postiže? Ostali narodi su zapanjeni i čude se zašto se dijete uranja u vodu, jer to nije ni uzrok duhovnog buđenja djeteta, ni njegove vjere ili obraćenja, već samo običaj koji se slijedi. U doba Ivana Krstitelja nije bilo tako; ne, prvo je Ivan običavao savjetovati ljude i voditi ih ka pokajanju grijeha i budio u njima želju da iščekuju objavu Krista. Tko god je primio obredno pranje pri krštenju i pokajao se za grijehe u krajnjoj poniznosti i blagosti, također je očistio i tijelo od izvanjskih nečistoća. Sa savršenom čežnjom, noću i danju, on bi neprekidno čekao Kristovu objavu i ulazak u Kraljevstvo Duha Božjega85. |
Consider, could the Law of the Old Testament be enforced at this epoch and time? No, in the name of God! it would be impossible and impracticable; therefore, most certainly God abrogated the laws of the Old Testament at the time of Christ. Reflect, also, that baptism in the days of John the Baptist was used to awaken and admonish the people to repent from all sin, and to watch for the appearance of the Kingdom of Christ. But at present in Asia, the Catholics and the Orthodox Church plunge newly born children into water mixed with olive oil, and many of them become ill from the shock; at the time of baptism they struggle and become agitated. In other places, the clergy sprinkle the water of baptism on the forehead. But neither from the first form nor from the second do the children derive any spiritual benefit. Then what result is obtained from this form? Other peoples are amazed and wonder why the infant is plunged into the water, since this is neither the cause of the spiritual awakening of the child, nor of its faith or conversion, but it is only a custom which is followed. In the time of John the Baptist it was not so; no, at first John used to exhort the people, and to guide them to repentance from sin, and to fill them with the desire to await the manifestation of Christ. Whoever received the ablution of baptism, and repented of sins in absolute humility and meekness, would also purify and cleanse his body from outward impurities. With perfect yearning, night and day, he would constantly wait for the manifestation of Christ, and the entrance to the Kingdom of the Spirit of God.85 |
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Da rezimiramo: mi smatramo da su promjena i preoblikovanje uvjeta i izmijenjene potrebe raznih stoljeća i vremena uzrokom ukidanja zakona. Jer dolazi vrijeme kad ti zakoni više nisu na odgovarajući način prilagođeni uvjetima. Promislite o tome koliko se uzajamno razlikuju potrebe prvih stoljeća Srednjega vijeka i suvremenog doba. Je li moguće danas sprovoditi zakone iz prvih stoljeća? Očevidno je da bi to bilo nemoguće i nepraktično. Na isti način, nakon isteka nekoliko stoljeća, potrebe današnjeg vremena neće biti iste kao potrebe budućnosti i zacijelo će doći do promjene i preinake. U Europi se zakoni neprekidno mijenjaju i preoblikuju; koliko li je samo zakona postojalo u organizacijama i sustavima Europe tijekom prošlih godina, a koji su danas preinačeni! Do tih promjena i preinaka dolazi zbog razlike i promjene mišljenja, uvjeta i običaja. Kad ne bi bilo tako, blagostanje čovječanstva bilo bi uništeno. |
To recapitulate: our meaning is that the change and modification of conditions, and the altered requirements of different centuries and times, are the cause of the abrogation of laws. For a time comes when these laws are no longer suitably adapted to conditions. Consider how very different are the requirements of the first centuries, of the Middle Ages, and of modern times. Is it possible that the laws of the first centuries could be enforced at present? It is evident that it would be impossible and impracticable. In the same manner, after the lapse of a few centuries, the requirements of the present time will not be the same as those of the future, and certainly there will be change and alteration. In Europe the laws are unceasingly altered and modified; in bygone years, how many laws existed in the organizations and systems of Europe, which are now abrogated! These changes and alterations are due to the variation and mutation of thought, conditions and customs. If it were not so, the prosperity of the world of humanity would be wrecked. |
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Na primjer, u Petoknjižju postoji zakon koji kaže da će tko god prekrši Sabbath biti ubijen. Nadalje, postoji deset smrtnih kazni u Petoknjižju. Zar bi u današnje vrijeme bilo moguće održati te zakone? Jasno je da bi to bilo posve nemoguće. Zato postoje promjene i preinake zakona, što je dovoljan dokaz vrhovne mudrosti Božje. |
For example, there is in the Pentateuch a law that if anyone break the Sabbath, he shall be put to death. Moreover, there are ten sentences of death in the Pentateuch. Would it be possible to keep these laws in our time? It is clear that it would be absolutely impossible. Consequently, there are changes and modifications in the laws, and these are a sufficient proof of the supreme wisdom of God. |
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Ovaj predmet zahtijeva duboko promišljanje. Tada će uzrok ovim promjenama biti očevidan i jasan. |
This subject needs deep thought. Then the cause of these changes will be evident and apparent. |
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Blagoslovljeni oni koji razmišljaju! |
Blessed are those who reflect! |