"Do to Others as You Would Have Them Do to You" Analysis of Luke 6:27-36. A Theological Challenge to Tribalism, Injustice and Poverty In Burundi

Abstract

After some years here in Tangaza College studying theology, I am interested in the Bible. What has struck me in the Bible is Jesus' teaching about love. He summarizes the commandments in two main ones: love of God and love of neighbour. In John's Gospel Jesus makes love the criterion of discipleship as he says: "this is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35). Unfortunately we experience in the world things which are quite different from what Jesus taught. Jesus' teaching about love and the actual situation in Burundi have inspired me to choose Luke 6:27-36 as my final work. There is so much hatred, injustice, greed, selfishness, poverty and civil war even among Christians. Compassion, tolerance, joy, faith, forgiveness, peace, prosperity, love, humility, and justice, are virtues found in the Bible. However, it is not so easy to practise all these virtues. Why are they so difficult to put into practice? Is it because human beings cannot change, or is it because Jesus is asking us something which is impossible? All these ideas about love in the Bible and especially Luke 6:27-36 have motivated me to choose this topic.