The Theme Of How Did God Shape The Hebrew Culture

Reynaldo Teves
Culminating Assignment – Religious Poster Everyone, no matter how strong or weak, needs another person to have a relationship with. When one experiences the loss of a loved one or goes through a traumatic injury, they would desire to have a person to be there with them. In order for someone to be there in a person’s time of need, one has to develop a relationship with him or her. Without having relationships with other people, one can feel isolated. Through the teachings of the Holy Bible, one can learn how to have better relationships with others and God, preventing isolation. The five themes that have been chosen explains how people can learn to become better people through one’s relationships with others and God. The first
of the five themes is titled, “Why do we need each other,” and it explains how relationships with others are vitally important. Firstly, people are meant to have a relationship with others. God created humans as social beings and has given people the desire to make strong and loving relationships. Through the companionships and friendships that one has, one can learn how to be happier and better persons in society. Secondly, the feeling of being alone crushes the human spirit. For example, one of the worst forms of punishment that society has created is solitary confinement (Christ and Culture, 14). Being completely isolated from the outside world for extensive periods of time can drive a person crazy and eventually damage their mentality and spirit. The damaged spirit can lead the person to commit dark deeds such as suicide, which is the killing of one’s self. Lastly, living in relationships makes people better humans. For instance, Pope John Paul the second, encourages young teenagers to join together in solidarity with all nations and races, so that it is possible to change the world and have a better future (Christ and Culture, 19). When people are together in relationships, one satisfies the need to love and to be loved. The love that one feels is the driving force that makes it possible for the world to change. Therefore, relationships play a crucial role in the world and without it the world will fall into complete chaos. The second of the five themes chosen is named, “How did God shape the Hebrew culture,” in which the theme demonstrates how God became closer to His Chosen people.
Firstly, God strengthened His relationship with the Hebrews through liberation. God specifically chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and into the promise land. Through God freeing the Chosen people through Moses, the people have a stronger faith in God, which started a stronger relationship. Furthermore, God made the relationship with His Chosen people by giving Moses a revelation. God revealed His Holy Name to Moses at Mount Sinai, in which the Name is so sacred that the Holy Bible only gives four consonants, YHWH, which means, “I am who I am.”(Exodus 3:14) This Holy Name of God was the almighty power that liberated the Chosen People out of Egypt. The Name is so divine that it alone shaped the Hebrew slaves into a nation. Through this sacred account, it reveals that God truly is with His people. Lastly, the Israelites accepted to be God’s Chosen people, when He liberated them out of enslavement. With the Israelites’ acceptance, God made the First Covenant with His people, the Ten Commandments, which states how they are to live with each other and with Him peacefully. This Holy Covenant shaped the Hebrew culture and forever established a relationship with God and His Chosen People. Therefore, in this chosen theme, God shows that He will always be with His Chosen people and has a desire for a relationship
with them. The third theme chosen is titled, “How did Jesus reveal God to us?” and explains how the relationship between God and people became more intimate when Jesus came to earth. Firstly, Jesus taught about God in a more personal way. Jesus says, “And whoever sees Me sees Him who sent Me.” (John 12:45) With His teachings, His own example, and His very being, Jesus reveals to people who God truly is. Secondly, Jesus teaches about God in a very unexpected way. For example, He compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. Jesus uses parables and metaphors to help people understand how God acts and for people to get a glimpse of how mysterious and glorious the Kingdom of God truly is. Thirdly, when Jesus came to earth, He brought with Him the new covenant. The new covenant is the same as the old covenant, but is more intimate and more personal. Jesus reveals the new covenant relationship with God through His very being. This new covenant makes it possible to have a closer relationship with God than ever before. With Jesus’ own life and examples, one can know that they are never alone as God truly is with His people. The fourth theme chosen is called, “Friendship” and it shows how friendships are more important than common relationships. Firstly, friendships are more than just common relationships because one has the freedom to choose their friends. For example, one chooses to be friends with someone who understands them and not someone they dislike. They put more time and effort into people who are their friends, than people who they only have an acquaintance type of relationship with. Secondly, friendships are built on more trust and love than a common relationship. Society itself will not succeed or even function without people knowing and trusting one another. Without the trust that bonds people together, the world would be in total chaos and become destroyed. Thirdly, friendships come with love and sacrifice. For instance, Jesus proclaims, “Greater love has no one on this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Through His sacrifice at the cross, Jesus reveals a friendship that contains unconditional love, which is the strongest type of relationship. Therefore, friendships are vital to people and without it the world will eventually fall into darkness. The last theme chosen is “Intimacy, sexuality and love.” Firstly, when two people decide to become more intimate, the relationship demands more than just a friendship.
This more intimate relationship calls upon the sacrament of marriage. Marriage is when Eros, the sexual type of love, and Agape, the charity type of love, come together in perfect harmony. The love that a husband and wife have is unconditional meaning that no matter what they go through, they will face it together. Secondly, sexuality is important to have in a relationship. Sexuality is the driving force that lets people be creative in response to life. This powerful force makes it possible for people to be in communion with each other. However, when sexuality is abused, the driving force can turn ugly and cause a person to become selfish and unhappy. One must be diligent when it comes to their sexuality, for it can determine their relationship with one another. Thirdly, the intimate relationships and one’s own sexuality is a gift from God. It can lead both married couples and single people to go into a deeper relationship with God. Some are called into the married and family life, while others are called in for service with another. Whether one lives in marriage or remains single, one is called into holiness. Therefore, with intimacy and sexuality, it can take a friendship into a relationship that is greater and
stronger. All of the five themes chosen all focuses on one thing: relationships. Through one’s relationship with God and others, one learns how to become a better person and how to prevent the feeling of isolation. The relationships that people have with another can make it possible for the world to change. When people join together in solidarity, the common goal of peace can be achieved in all parts of the world. In conclusion, relationships are the driving force that makes people want to change for the better and with the relationship come peace and love.