Interdependence of Human Beings Calls for Mutual Sharing of Burdens

2009 New Year Message from LWF General Secretary

The interdependence of human beings in bearing each other’s burdens, whether as nations or members of the Christian community, is the focus of the traditional New Year message from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

In the 2009 message released today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko invites the Lutheran communion to reflect on the Apostle Paul's calling to churches to bear one another’s burden in order to fulfill the law of Christ.

He points out that while all human beings carry burdens irrespective of the nature or size, society admires the "do-it-yourself" approach to life, prizing independence, and educating its members for self-reliance. Nations similarly aspire for security within their own borders and walls.

However, notes Noko, Paul's pastoral message to the Galatians challenges the way the kingdom of this world functions, and contradicts its culture and spirit with that of God’s kingdom in which 'independence' and 'dependency' are brought together into 'interdependence'. The general secretary underscores the apostle's insistence on interdependence as the hallmark of the church. "In this context, burdens are never borne in isolation, but rather in mutuality, as we are an integral part of the one body of Christ. Paul maintains that the law of Christ makes foolish the wisdom of this world, which sees independence as a strength and dependency as a weakness," he adds.

Injustices of various forms such as slavery and human trafficking would be overcome in a society shaped by the values of God's kingdom, Noko argues. He says recognition of human beings' interdependence "would also imply that one cannot throw bombs at another without destroying oneself. Similarly, denying any human being access to basic rights such as food, shelter and a life in dignity would find no place in the kingdom of God."

The LWF general secretary appeals for concerted effort in healing the wounds created by all kinds of unshared burdens, and in building bridges across visible and invisible lines of division and separation walls.
In this New Year, he adds, "as Christ’s disciples, we are called again to love our neighbors as ourselves."

Interdependence of Human Beings Calls for Mutual Sharing of Burdens

2009 New Year Message from LWF General Secretary

The interdependence of human beings in bearing each other’s burdens, whether as nations or members of the Christian community, is the focus of the traditional New Year message from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

In the 2009 message released today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko invites the Lutheran communion to reflect on the Apostle Paul's calling to churches to bear one another’s burden in order to fulfill the law of Christ.

He points out that while all human beings carry burdens irrespective of the nature or size, society admires the "do-it-yourself" approach to life, prizing independence, and educating its members for self-reliance. Nations similarly aspire for security within their own borders and walls.

However, notes Noko, Paul's pastoral message to the Galatians challenges the way the kingdom of this world functions, and contradicts its culture and spirit with that of God’s kingdom in which 'independence' and 'dependency' are brought together into 'interdependence'. The general secretary underscores the apostle's insistence on interdependence as the hallmark of the church. "In this context, burdens are never borne in isolation, but rather in mutuality, as we are an integral part of the one body of Christ. Paul maintains that the law of Christ makes foolish the wisdom of this world, which sees independence as a strength and dependency as a weakness," he adds.

Injustices of various forms such as slavery and human trafficking would be overcome in a society shaped by the values of God's kingdom, Noko argues. He says recognition of human beings' interdependence "would also imply that one cannot throw bombs at another without destroying oneself. Similarly, denying any human being access to basic rights such as food, shelter and a life in dignity would find no place in the kingdom of God."

The LWF general secretary appeals for concerted effort in healing the wounds created by all kinds of unshared burdens, and in building bridges across visible and invisible lines of division and separation walls.
In this New Year, he adds, "as Christ’s disciples, we are called again to love our neighbors as ourselves."

Interdependence of Human Beings Calls for Mutual Sharing of Burdens

2009 New Year Message from LWF General Secretary

The interdependence of human beings in bearing each other’s burdens, whether as nations or members of the Christian community, is the focus of the traditional New Year message from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

In the 2009 message released today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko invites the Lutheran communion to reflect on the Apostle Paul's calling to churches to bear one another’s burden in order to fulfill the law of Christ.

He points out that while all human beings carry burdens irrespective of the nature or size, society admires the "do-it-yourself" approach to life, prizing independence, and educating its members for self-reliance. Nations similarly aspire for security within their own borders and walls.

However, notes Noko, Paul's pastoral message to the Galatians challenges the way the kingdom of this world functions, and contradicts its culture and spirit with that of God’s kingdom in which 'independence' and 'dependency' are brought together into 'interdependence'. The general secretary underscores the apostle's insistence on interdependence as the hallmark of the church. "In this context, burdens are never borne in isolation, but rather in mutuality, as we are an integral part of the one body of Christ. Paul maintains that the law of Christ makes foolish the wisdom of this world, which sees independence as a strength and dependency as a weakness," he adds.

Injustices of various forms such as slavery and human trafficking would be overcome in a society shaped by the values of God's kingdom, Noko argues. He says recognition of human beings' interdependence "would also imply that one cannot throw bombs at another without destroying oneself. Similarly, denying any human being access to basic rights such as food, shelter and a life in dignity would find no place in the kingdom of God."

The LWF general secretary appeals for concerted effort in healing the wounds created by all kinds of unshared burdens, and in building bridges across visible and invisible lines of division and separation walls.
In this New Year, he adds, "as Christ’s disciples, we are called again to love our neighbors as ourselves."