Are You Still An Ekklesia*?

Are we still an ekklesia? The question comes up along with the changes of eras and time. Christian values as the life guide of every believer face hard challenges because life keeps changing. On one side, worldly life offers pleasures and hedonism that is easily accessed by anyone, and on the other side, there are still seriously problems among the community, such as injustice, poverty, fanaticism, environment neglect, etc.

The word ‘ekklesia’ in Christian life commonly means to be called out from darkness into the light of Christ to enlighten the darkness of the world. Christians, especially young people need to reflect whether Christian values are still their guide? Is spiritual life and daily life are two separate parts? Have the Christian values embodied in young Christians’ daily life? This was the starting point of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta to hold Christianity training program, 10-12 March 2017 at Wisma PPS UKDW Seturan, Yogyakarta.  Thirty-two student participants from many regions in Indonesia and from various universities in Yogyakarta joined the training.

In the opening session Rev. Bambang Sumbodo conveyed Romans 1: 16-17: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first of all the Jews, but also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." These words reminded young people to return to God's Word, grace, faith and the word of God embodied in everyday life.

Ariani Narwastujati, the Executive Director of Stube-HEMAT said that Stube-HEMAT as institution mentoring students encourages young people, especially college students to improve their knowledge and experience in answering the challenges of both local and international. Their ability is eventually expected to be useful for others around them. So far, Stube-HEMAT is established in Yogyakarta and Sumba, and nowadays there is a Multiplication Program of Stube-HEMAT in Bengkulu.

The history of Christianity and church reform undertaken by Martin Luther influenced many regions of Europe and also affected Asia and even Indonesia. One of them is the variety of Christian denominations in Indonesia. This was explained by Pastor Dr. Jozef MN Hehanusa, a lecturer at Post graduate of Duta Wacana Christian University in Yogyakarta. In addition, young people were reminded about the challenges of church to answer the context of the current problems based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2015 – 2030, such as: poverty, food security, healthy life, inclusive and equitable education and gender equality.

Achmad Munjid, a lecturer at Faculty of Cultural Science, Gadjah Mada University revealed that the relationship of Muslims and Christians sometimes did not happen because there was 'barrier' or obstruction, i.e prejudice that emerged between Muslims and Christians themselves. On one hand there is a prejudice among Moslem about a motive to convert people to be Christians, while on the other hand Christians have a prejudice about the establishment of Islamic state. Prejudice arose because they have no experience in interacting together intensively. According to Munjid, the spaces to meet each other should be created so that prejudices will be eliminated and replaced with mutual understanding.

The Christian young people's attitude to the nation was criticized by Brigadier General (Ret) TNI Noeryanto. Christian young people should look back to the past history of the nation and be brave to hold the truth even it has its risks. He revealed his challenge while still serving as army and explained the principles of leadership that should be owned by young people, such as piety, ing ngarsa sung tulada, ing madya mangun karsa, tut wuri handayani, waspada purba wasesa, ambeg paramarta, prasaja, satya, gemi nastiti, blaka and legawa. The meaning are: a leader should set an example, encourage, and give freedom within the corridor, leaders must always be vigilant, humble, modest, loyal, not wasteful, honest and brave to admit mistakes.

Then, the participants were asked to work in group to formulate Christian values and real problems that occur around them, and then made a reflection whether Christian values could answer it? Further they thought what they can do as light (ekklesia) to answer these problems?

Rut Merani, a student participant of STAK Marturia, a theology Institute, from OKU Timur, South Sumatra, said, "I got new knowledge that motivated me to do something in this training. Although I was not so active in the process, the training built my confidence to dare to tell you about myself and my region. I want to do something good for my region."

The  auto-critic to Christian youth in Indonesia is to live inclusively among pluralistic society, open to the differences, establish cooperation with everyone and take part in any efforts to solve problems of Indonesians. Youth, keeps yourself as an ekklesia. (TRU).