Biblijna wizja uczestnictwa w życiu społecznym

Abstract

The biblical reorientation of moral theology after the Second Vatican Council involves the proposition to discover biblical foundations of the Christian morality. This also concerns reflections on the social dimension of Christian life. When one wants to understand properly the obligation to participate in social life, it seems necessary to pay attention to the biblical foundation of this participation. John Paul II through an analysis of the “beginning” ot man shows a biblical vision of the person. Man can be fully understood only in the context ot his ontological relation to his Creator, i.e. as a being whose essence includes also “being the image” of God. Man finds himself in the fact that he is “like” his Creator and in experiencing the communion - the “covenant” with God. With respect to other creatures he receives a mandate of power and he participates in the work of creation. Making the “image likeness” to God a reality also consists in man’s ability to communicate with another human person that is like him. The vision of man against the background of his relations to other people that is shown in the Bible contains fundamental principles ruling the social life. One should remember, however, that a Christian finds in the biblical message not only a certain definite vision of community life but first of all he discovers the special gift of the Covenant with God and with people. The Grace of Covenant which enables a Christian to participate in social life is for him also an appeal to be with others and to accept responsibility for others.