A theology that does not invite conversion to Christ -- or
that considers all religions as equal -- empties Christianity of its meaning,
warns John Paul II.
"To bear witness to Jesus Christ is the supreme service which the Church
offers to the peoples of Asia," the Pope said today to a group of bishops
of the ecclesiastical provinces of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. They
were ending their five-yearly visit to the Holy See.
Any "theology of mission that omits the call to a radical conversion to
Christ and denies the cultural transformation which such conversion will entail
necessarily misrepresents the reality of our faith," he said.
Our faith, the Pope said, "is always a new beginning in the life of him
who alone is the Way, and the Truth and the Life."
"In this regard, we reaffirm that interreligious dialogue does not replace
the 'missio ad gentes' but rather forms a part of it," he said.
"It must be noted that relativist explanations of religious pluralism,
which state that the Christian faith is of no different value than any other
belief, in fact empty Christianity of its defining Christological heart: faith
alienated from our Lord Jesus, as the only Savior, is no longer Christian, no
longer theological faith," he said.
"An even greater misrepresentation of our faith occurs when relativism
leads to syncretism: an artificial 'spiritual construct' that manipulates and
consequently distorts the essential, objective, revelatory nature of
Christianity," John Paul II added.
"That which renders the Church missionary by her very nature is precisely
the definitive and complete character of the revelation of Jesus Christ as the
Son of God. This is the foundation of our faith. It is this which makes
Christian witness credible," he explained.
A consequence of this fundamental truth of Christianity is a "correct understanding
of the relationship between culture and Christian faith," John Paul II
stressed.
"On your own Indian subcontinent you are faced with cultures rich in
religious and philosophical traditions. Within this context, we see how
absolutely essential is the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Son
of God," he said. "It is in this understanding of Christ's uniqueness
as the second person of the Blessed Trinity, fully God and fully man, that our
faith must be preached and embraced.
"Living with many people who do not know Christ convinces us ever more of
the need for the missionary apostolate."
"The radical newness of life brought by Christ and lived by his followers
awakens in us the urgency of missionary activity," he added. "This
demands an explicit proclamation of Jesus as Lord: a bold testimony founded on
his command -- 'go and make disciples of all nations' -- and sustained by his
promise -- 'I am with you always.'"