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exclusively a member of the covenant community. Instead, he is
everyman because to love the other as neighbour one must begin
with understanding that one is a neighbour to the other. In this
regard, the love of the covenant community reaches out to those
who are outside. The true confessors of the Shema‗ are not to be
defined by ethnicity or cult. Instead, they demonstrate that they are
the true people of Yahweh through love. It is important to
remember also that the Shema‗ connects the Christian Church with
the religion of the OT, and thereby preventing any form of
Marcionism from rearing its ugly head. Of course, the parable does
not fully explain how the work of Jesus of Nazareth is linked up
with the Shema‗ and the covenant. To do this, other passages must
be studied, especially that of the Last Supper. But that will be a
task for another occasion.
This modest offering is given in profound respect for the
contribution of Dr. Peterus Pamudji to Christian education and the
Christian witness in Indonesia. Confessing the Shema‗ and bearing
witness to the love of Yahweh as demonstrated in Jesus of
Nazareth are challenges of the greatest magnitude in a strife-torn
place such as Indonesia. But this is something he does so well, and
with the hallmarks of love for Yahweh and love for the neighbour,
including those outside the Christian community. In this regard,
trust and obey may be the phrase that sums up accurately his
ministry. Soli Deo gloria!