Would Jesus have Apostatized? /// Bug Olsen

 

            This is one of the main questions Rodrigues asks himself when forced to confront the image of the fumie. To justify his behavior, Rodrigues claims that Jesus would have apostatized himself to save these people, and in fact was even telling him to do the same. Personally, I do not believe this is the case, although I have no hard feelings towards Rodrigues for doing what he did, and I do not think that this necessarily compromises his faith.

            Essentially, Rodrigues ultimately apostasies to save those around him from suffering. Jesus is faced with this same predicament numerous times throughout the gospel, as the Pharisees and rulers continually try to get him to give up his ‘act’ and admit he is not the Messiah. Obviously, Jesus never does so, but Rodrigues may argue that this is because Jesus was not faced with someone else’s life being on the line for his actions, and he did not have to directly see the persecution and death he causes. However, I argue, as any Christian should, that Jesus did in fact know and see this, as he directly tells his followers that they will suffer because of him and their belief in him. If he wanted to keep these people from suffering in this physical sense, he would not have spent time with them proving who he was so that they would not be later tortured by the authorities. Of course, this is a different scenario, as Jesus is the Son of God and he did this so that all mankind could be saved.

            I also argue that we cannot know for certain if Rodrigues ever officially lost his faith, and I personally believe that he did not. His ultimate reasons for apostatizing were not necessarily due to a heart transformation of faith, but rather what he thought was best for the faith. As long as he inwardly retains his faith, which seems to be proven through some of his inner monologue provided, he is saved. Much like how Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Christ still used him to build his church. Once again this is a different scenario, and we are given evidence of Rodrigues continuing to betray other Christians that may argue the opposite, but without an in-depth inner look we can not be certain that he has truly inwardly apostatized.

I commented on Abigale Bell's and Emma Landry's posts.

Comments

  1. Jessef LeslieApril 19, 2022 at 10:46 AM

    I have to agree with you man. I think that faith is bound to far more than words and physical symbols. Burning a flag, ripping a picture, or something as small as stepping on the fumie, while symbolic, do not define ones position on a faith. One becomes affiliated with faith through prayer, meditation and practice. I think that the same methods are needed to truly apostatize.

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