Genuine Love for a Divided World
In the last few days, our country’s mass media and social media have been abuzz with news of Pope Francis’ visit. The visit of Pope Francis the highest leader of the Catholic religion to our country is a unique phenomenon. This is because the number of Catholics in our country is only around 3% of the 280 million people of Indonesia. Our country is the country with the largest Muslim community in the world. Around 90% of our country’s population is Muslim. Therefore, Pope Francis’ visit has become a hot topic of conversation in our country.
The news in the media shows and emphasizes the simplicity practiced by Pope Francis. In addition to choosing to use a commercial plane rather than a private jet, he also chose to use a vehicle generally owned by the Indonesian people rather than a vehicle at the level of a head of state, usually a Mercedes-Benz. Pope Francis also chose to sleep in the Vatican embassy guest house rather than in a luxury hotel provided by the committee. Several journalists also reported that the watch that Pope Francis was wearing was estimated to cost less than 20 US dollars (several Christian influencers on Instagram and TikTok compared it to luxury watches worth thousands of dollars worn by several famous pastors in Indonesia). The simplicity displayed by Pope Francis fascinated most Indonesians. This is because the public recently learned that our President’s youngest son and his wife went to the United States using a private jet. Another interesting thing is that our President used a car similar to the one used by Pope Francis during his visit to our country. In his speech, Pope Francis, who was informed that our country has the largest gold mine in the world, responded to the information by saying that the most valuable treasure (for our country) is harmony amidst diversity. Pope Francis also visited the Istiqlal Mosque (the largest mosque in Indonesia) which is located across from the Jakarta Cathedral church. He walked through the tolerance tunnel that connects the two centers of worship belonging to Indonesian Muslims and Catholics. In his speech on peace amidst plurality, he said: “The emergence of violent conflicts in various regions is often due to a lack of mutual respect, an intolerant desire to impose one’s interests, one’s position, and a one-sided historical narrative by all means.” In his writing, Pope Francis mentioned Indonesia’s diversity as something that needs to be preserved and developed. He said, “Immersed in the beauty of this land, a place of encounter and dialogue between different cultures and religions, I wish the Indonesian people growth in faith, fraternity, and compassion. God bless Indonesia!” With his simplicity and wise advice, Pope Francis has left a deep impression on many people including prominent Muslim figures in our country. They praised Pope Francis’ authentic and honest manners and character, sincere and without fabrication.
When reading this week’s assignment book “Jesus and The Powers,” my mind immediately connected with what Pope Francis showed during his visit to our country. In my opinion, Pope Francis shows in real terms how divine love is practiced in real action. Pope Francis shows how to practice the politics of loving properly, as Wright and Bird write, “But we believe Christians should be committed to the politics of divine love, that is, love for God and love for neighbor. We are of the conviction that the kingdom means seeing people come to Jesus in faith, just as much as it means advocating for a world where everyone can ‘sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid.”[1]
Pope Francis also shows that he is not allergic to differences. He shows that he is willing to visit our country, where only 3% of Indonesians are Catholic. He even visited and had dialogues with people of different faiths, including with Muslim leaders in our country. There is one very interesting thing in Pope Francis’ visit to the Istiqlal Mosque, namely when Pope Francis accompanied by the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nassarudin Umar shook hands. Even Umar kissed Pope Francis’ head which was reciprocated by kissing Umar’s hand. What Pope Francis showed again wanted to state that Christians must be present and express divine love to anyone and anywhere. In line with that, Wright and Bird wrote, “Christians in a pluralistic and multicultural setting need to find unity in diversity, practice hospitality as a political discipline, and build for the kingdom by contributing to the common good of all.”[2]
Although he only visited for a few days, the presence of Pope Francis was seen by many as a blessing for Indonesia. Christian religious leaders in our country stated that what Pope Francis stated through his life example was to proclaim the Gospel or the news of peace for all creatures. I then remembered what Jesus said in the Acts of the Apostles, that we are given and entrusted with “power” from heaven to be witnesses for Him. Continuing from my writing in last week’s assignment post, may peace truly be realized between all conflicting parties. Peace arises because we as Christians truly do what is God’s will in our calling. As Christians, we are “supposed to be more like a boot camp for soldiers of Jesus who go out into the world wearing the full armour of God, preaching reconciliation with God, loving their neighbours, sowing good deeds in the soil of hurting hearts, and becoming the scourge of the corrupt and the champion of the weak. We undertake these tasks in such a way as to make clear that Jesus is worthy of our worship.”[3] Let us live out genuine love for a divided world as we answer call to love others sincerely.
[1] N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies (London: SPCK Publishing, 2024), 38.
[2] Wright and Bird, Jesus and the Powers, 170.
[3] Wright and Bird, Jesus and the Powers, 99-100.
About the Author
Dinka Utomo
Dinka Nehemia Utomo is an ordained pastor of the Protestant Church in the Western part of Indonesia (Gereja Protestan di Indonesia bagian Barat or GPIB). He has served for more than 15 years. The first five years of his ministry were in the remote area of East Kalimantan, including people from the indigenous Dayak tribe in the small villages in the middle of the forest, frequently reached using small boats down the river. For more than 15 years, Dinka has served several GPIB congregations in several cities in Indonesia. He has always had a passion for equipping Christian families, teaching and guiding them to build equal relations between husband and wife, maintaining commitment, love, and loyalty, creating a healthy and constructive Christian family atmosphere, and rejecting all forms of violence and sexual violence. Dinka's beloved wife, Verra, is also a GPIB pastor. They have two blessed children. Dinka and his wife and children love to spend quality family time, such as lunch or dinner, and vacation to exotic places.10 responses to “Genuine Love for a Divided World”
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Hi Dinka,
Thank you for sharing about Pope Francis and his visit to Indonesia. It’s wonderful to hear that Indonesians considered his visit a blessing, were touched by his simplicity, and message of peace amidst plurality. His interactions and the photos with Grand Imam Nassarudin Umar gave us a visual picture of “the politics of loving properly.” I really love that phrase! In practical terms, how might or is viewing politics as an avenue for loving properly be accomplished by the church in Indonesia? Thank you again for a thoughtful post!
Hi Jenny!
Thank you for your response. I appreciate it. Indeed, Indonesians feel how peaceful Pope Francis’ visit is. His choice to ride a non-bulletproof vehicle seems to say that he believes Indonesia is a safe country to visit.
Your question about what the church in Indonesia is doing regarding politics as a path to loving rightly, up to now my denomination, through our local churches, routinely provides special training for its members who are actively involved as politicians to guide them to become politicians who truly serve God and others above personal interests. Our denomination to this day continues to build interfaith networks by conducting various interfaith dialogues and collaborations, especially related to nature conservation, such as planting mangrove trees on the beach. Our denomination, in partnership with other denominations through ecumenical collaboration, frequently engages in similar things on a broader scale, including interfaith collaboration.
What a great posts Dinka, sharing the actions of Pope Francis is a great illustration of how the gospel can be felt and witnessed without anyone saying a word. I believe this is exactly what Bird and Wright are talking about with confident pluralism. A Catholic coming to a Mulsim nation in the peace and love of Jesus is beautiful.
Hi Adam!
Thank you for getting back to me. I really appreciate it. When I read Wright and Bird’s writing, I was greatly helped by the example shown by Pope Francis during his visit to our country. This proves that what Wright and Bird wrote is not just a dream but a concept that can be realized in reality. It is evident that what they wrote is based on the Bible, and what the Bible states, are the values that God wants Christians to have because He has given us the power to be witnesses of the greatness of His love.
Wow, Dinka, thanks for sharing about the Pope in your country. I love how he was so simplistic in his travels and words. How did the people in your congregation respond to him being in Indonesia?
Hi Todd!
Thank you for your brilliant response. I appreciate it!
Most members of our congregation responded positively to Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia. They respect his modesty and authenticity. His advances for interfaith dialog were considered as an important effort to establish peace in a plural society like Indonesia. As we are all from different traditions, we believe that his idea of unity and the way he would live simply is an ideal common value among denominations.
What fantastic timing to have Pope Francis visit. He seems to live out Jesus’ love, all while holding a very powerful position. Thank you for utilizing this experience in your country as you prepare to come to this one. What a difference. What do you think will be a short term impact on your church in regards to this visit, and what do pray or hope will be long term effects for your country?
Dinka, wow, I loved hearing about the Pope visiting Indonesia! It sounds like he really made a wonderful impression. I’m thinking about that last quote you used from the book, “As Christians, we are ‘“supposed to be more like a boot camp for soldiers of Jesus who go out into the world wearing the full armour of God, preaching reconciliation with God, loving their neighbours, sowing good deeds in the soil of hurting hearts, and becoming the scourge of the corrupt and the champion of the weak. We undertake these tasks in such a way as to make clear that Jesus is worthy of our worship.”’ I find it interesting they use militaristic language, “boot camp for soldiers of Jesus” “armour of God” and then turn it to say these “soldiers” are to be preaching reconciliation, loving our neighbors, championing the week, etc. I think they used that language on purpose to perhaps shift militant religion to one of love…just thinking about that.
Hi Kally!
Thank you for your bright response. I appreciate it!
Pope Francis’ visit has indeed left a deep impression not only on Christians, especially Catholics, but also on the majority of Indonesian society. This is due to the simplicity and sincerity he showed during his visit to our country.
Regarding the term “soldier of Christ,” in my opinion, the term is intended to emphasize the militant aspect of a Christian to obey and be faithful to the will of the Father in proclaiming God’s love for this world through the power He has bestowed upon us.
Hi Janna!
Thank you for your critical responses and questions.
In my opinion, the short-term impact for our congregation is the euphoria caused by the news about Pope Francis’ visit which can quickly disappear when the mass media and social media shift their focus to other things.
However, my prayer for the long-term impact of Pope Francis’ visit is to live in simplicity, sincerity, and honesty. This is important to combat the practice of corruption in our country which is still high. The second thing is peace and unity amidst diversity where all our citizens who have different backgrounds can live in harmony, respect each other, and love each other sincerely.