My friend recently posted this on this Facebook status.
" Live well, stay healthy, faithful to your partner, family and friends. Eat well. Laugh often and do good. That is my religion"
This is not a cult that he formed. Far from it, it is the officially cited and sometimes non-cited 'religion' of many, many people in the world today; particularly in the West or from those who are influenced by the mores of Western behaviour and thought. The faith of their fathers is archaic, irrelevant and downright nasty in some cases. We, as modern people, are now enlightened and see that there is no God.
Essentially, it means that you are the Captain of your own ship, you own the ship too and you are totally responsible for steering the ship to get to your destination. And there is no one else who is involved or present that you should be accountable for. It is a religion based on the worship of one god: Yourself
How would the Christian respond?
I wouldn't bother with a lengthy response. Scripture doesn't even bother with pages upon pages trying to prove the existence of God. It simply says:
"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God" (Psalm 14:1)
Notice that the key term is "in his heart". Not with his mouth, although that may be assumed. Not with his actions, or a Facebook post, although that may be assumed as well. But deep down, in the hidden bowels of his heart, he has already decided that there is "no God". So, all the counter arguments to a certain extent will make about as much dent as a sprinkle of water on the Sahara. His heart is barren of the living waters of the Holy Spirit, which means that he is as lifeless and as bereft of life as the aforementioned desert itself
In other words, at times, there is no arguing with a dead man. Dead is dead. And should God choose to revive and regenerate the heart at a later stage, may you be the one to bring the Gospel to such a person so that they may be rejoicing in Heaven. But right now, he is dead to the Word and in fact, ready to counter your efforts because he has already decided, and he is a fool for doing so.
Where do we see another usage of the term "Fool"? It's in Luke 12:19-20 where Jesus relates the parable of the rich fool.
"And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, 'Fool!'. This night your soul is required of you and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?"
The sad thing is that he is not a fool for just denying the Lordship of God. The tragic uninmaginable horror is that the fool will get for eternity what he has seeked for in his time on earth:eternal separation from God. But by then, it will be too late to repent. The door has closed forever
That is the real essence of foolishness.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
How does 1 Corinthians 13 apply here?
Here's something to ponder:
If you are serving at church already..
1) How many ministries are you serving in?
2) Are you currently being asked to serve in more?
3) Have you noticed, once you said "yes", that suddenly there are more meetings you have to attend, more issues to solve, more deadlines, more expectations and more responsibilities?
4) Now, when you first started serving, did you have passion in your heart and a smile on your face?
5) Is it stil there now?
6) Do people appreciate you serving? Is there support, love and compassion for your needs as you take care of other people's needs?
If you are serving at church already..
1) How many ministries are you serving in?
2) Are you currently being asked to serve in more?
3) Have you noticed, once you said "yes", that suddenly there are more meetings you have to attend, more issues to solve, more deadlines, more expectations and more responsibilities?
4) Now, when you first started serving, did you have passion in your heart and a smile on your face?
5) Is it stil there now?
6) Do people appreciate you serving? Is there support, love and compassion for your needs as you take care of other people's needs?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tell me where the punchline is
Have you ever noticed how so much of church life seems to be dominated by the need for everyone involved to laugh? Or to have fun? Rarely does a sermon start these days in the modern church without a few jokes from the pastor to 'warm' the congregation up. Or how the selection of a speaker for a cell group, conference or camp is determined by whether he can make the audience laugh and feel good.
I sense in this a dangerous precedent. One in which the carnal desire of gratification is satisfied through the intense need to joke and laugh about things. In other words, too much seriousness is not a good thing. Let's keep it light.
It has been described that this is now the way of the world. This is a generation that has never known any wars, hunger, poverty or great upheavals. It's a generation that has been remarkably prosperous like no other time before in history and one which has ample resources and time to spend on leisure activities, consumer goods and programs to satisfy one's own's desires. Sadly, this is reminiscent of the period in history known as the fall of the Roman empire, which occurred at a time when the empire was relatively peaceful and wealthy, which then led to the society becoming weaker over time as they forgot how they got there and concentrated more on satisfying their wants through gluttony, displays of barbarism and cruelty in the circuses and debauched acts.
All this is another word for superficiality and a slide down the slope away from the gospel. This is not to say that there is no joy in the Gospel. Far from it, the Gospel is a picture of the greatest joy possible - that of God redeeming you from eternal condemnation. If that doesn't fill your heart with joy, I don't know what will.
However, the joy that is seen these days in the current church is a far cry from that. It is a fleshly distraction from the Gospel and to satisfy the need for ears to be tickled. What happens then when you hear a sermon on sin? Or the fact that those who continue sinning and never repent are going to Hell? Is this a laughing matter?
The more we veer towards inappropriate hilarity at the wrong time and place, we steer away from talking about those issues. And the Devil will have made a gain there. There is a time and a place for humour, and it can even emanate from the pulpit; but the underlying principle is that it cannot detract one ounce of attention away from Jesus Christ and the Gospel
So the moment I become Pastor standup comedian, I forego my responsibilities as a steward of the Bride of Christ. As soon as I bow to sulky and bored faces during Bible study and inject a round of conversational topics that gets everyone laughing gayily, I have won the hearts of men (and women) to myself but not Jesus Christ and the Gospel
We decry the lack of awe and reverence during Holy Communion. There is ranting about the lack of respect and passion in the youth in their commitment to Christlike discipleship. Then we look at how we approach worship, the message, Bible study and prayer - is it any wonder why what we get is something of our own doing and not to be blamed on anyone else?
If you are not getting any yucks from the sermon - too bad. When Bible study seems boring to you, suck it up and do some study before the study. Life isn't a never ending laugh track and the church isn't here to make you happy or entertain you. Learn to live life with more discernment, soberness and judgement. And above all, bear in mind the God who gave his Son up as a perfect sacrifice to die painfully and horribly on a Cross for your sins.
See if you can laugh about that.
I sense in this a dangerous precedent. One in which the carnal desire of gratification is satisfied through the intense need to joke and laugh about things. In other words, too much seriousness is not a good thing. Let's keep it light.
It has been described that this is now the way of the world. This is a generation that has never known any wars, hunger, poverty or great upheavals. It's a generation that has been remarkably prosperous like no other time before in history and one which has ample resources and time to spend on leisure activities, consumer goods and programs to satisfy one's own's desires. Sadly, this is reminiscent of the period in history known as the fall of the Roman empire, which occurred at a time when the empire was relatively peaceful and wealthy, which then led to the society becoming weaker over time as they forgot how they got there and concentrated more on satisfying their wants through gluttony, displays of barbarism and cruelty in the circuses and debauched acts.
All this is another word for superficiality and a slide down the slope away from the gospel. This is not to say that there is no joy in the Gospel. Far from it, the Gospel is a picture of the greatest joy possible - that of God redeeming you from eternal condemnation. If that doesn't fill your heart with joy, I don't know what will.
However, the joy that is seen these days in the current church is a far cry from that. It is a fleshly distraction from the Gospel and to satisfy the need for ears to be tickled. What happens then when you hear a sermon on sin? Or the fact that those who continue sinning and never repent are going to Hell? Is this a laughing matter?
The more we veer towards inappropriate hilarity at the wrong time and place, we steer away from talking about those issues. And the Devil will have made a gain there. There is a time and a place for humour, and it can even emanate from the pulpit; but the underlying principle is that it cannot detract one ounce of attention away from Jesus Christ and the Gospel
So the moment I become Pastor standup comedian, I forego my responsibilities as a steward of the Bride of Christ. As soon as I bow to sulky and bored faces during Bible study and inject a round of conversational topics that gets everyone laughing gayily, I have won the hearts of men (and women) to myself but not Jesus Christ and the Gospel
We decry the lack of awe and reverence during Holy Communion. There is ranting about the lack of respect and passion in the youth in their commitment to Christlike discipleship. Then we look at how we approach worship, the message, Bible study and prayer - is it any wonder why what we get is something of our own doing and not to be blamed on anyone else?
If you are not getting any yucks from the sermon - too bad. When Bible study seems boring to you, suck it up and do some study before the study. Life isn't a never ending laugh track and the church isn't here to make you happy or entertain you. Learn to live life with more discernment, soberness and judgement. And above all, bear in mind the God who gave his Son up as a perfect sacrifice to die painfully and horribly on a Cross for your sins.
See if you can laugh about that.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Communion - some thoughts (2)
Just how is communion seen in Malaysia? It's a tough one to answer. I have heard how some people see the sacraments as magic infused talismans. One person told me that a parishioner wanted to take the bread back to his ill wife so she could take it and be healed. I want to laugh but at the same time, realise that behind that mistaken notion is a genuine need for people to see a manifestation of God; in whatever form, even if it is in the form of a wafer
This need is real. Even the most hardened intellectual somewhere is crying out for a display of divine presence, even if the aim is just to disprove it; a laughable notion if there ever was one. But it is real and it is because we were made in the image of something larger than ourselves.
Thus, communion can be seen as a time when the gap between us and God is closer. I have to be careful how I say this. It is the death and resurrection of Jesus that brings us into God's family and confers on us an adopted status. An act performed by laity or priesthood with some food objects and utterances is not an incantational act that miraculously brings into a 'special place', so to speak. The blood of Christ that washes your sins away gives you that status
But in a sense, it does bring us closer because each time we take the sacraments, we are reminded not only of the time in the upper room where Christ shared himself with his disciples, but a hint of foreshadowing a far greater time. A time when he would die and be resurrected forevermore. And a time when he would come again once and for all to rule over the earth in his rightful place as King Jesus
Therefore, communion is not just a celebration of an event in the past, or in the present. It is both. But it is also the expected hope of things to come and both a sad and joyous occasion wrapped into one. It is best likened to the hope of an expectant mother, anxious and waiting nervously for the child to come, thinking about the pain of labour but ultimately, every tear will be worht it and wiped away when the baby come.
So it was in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. So it will be some time in the future, but it will not be a baby that comes but a sovereign, omnipotent, just and loving King.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus - and take your rightful place on your throne.
SDG
This need is real. Even the most hardened intellectual somewhere is crying out for a display of divine presence, even if the aim is just to disprove it; a laughable notion if there ever was one. But it is real and it is because we were made in the image of something larger than ourselves.
Thus, communion can be seen as a time when the gap between us and God is closer. I have to be careful how I say this. It is the death and resurrection of Jesus that brings us into God's family and confers on us an adopted status. An act performed by laity or priesthood with some food objects and utterances is not an incantational act that miraculously brings into a 'special place', so to speak. The blood of Christ that washes your sins away gives you that status
But in a sense, it does bring us closer because each time we take the sacraments, we are reminded not only of the time in the upper room where Christ shared himself with his disciples, but a hint of foreshadowing a far greater time. A time when he would die and be resurrected forevermore. And a time when he would come again once and for all to rule over the earth in his rightful place as King Jesus
Therefore, communion is not just a celebration of an event in the past, or in the present. It is both. But it is also the expected hope of things to come and both a sad and joyous occasion wrapped into one. It is best likened to the hope of an expectant mother, anxious and waiting nervously for the child to come, thinking about the pain of labour but ultimately, every tear will be worht it and wiped away when the baby come.
So it was in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. So it will be some time in the future, but it will not be a baby that comes but a sovereign, omnipotent, just and loving King.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus - and take your rightful place on your throne.
SDG
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Communion: Some thoughts (1)
Malaysia is one of those places where Communion is becoming increasingly inclusive. Years ago, you had to be a card carrying certified baptised member of your denomination to take communion. And like some credit cards, these were not transferable. If I was baptised at a Methodist church for example, I was allowed to take the bread and wine (or grape juice) at any other Protestant church but not a Roman Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox church
In some cases, this stringency has been relaxed. If you profess to put your faith in Christ as your Lord and Saviour, then you are more than welcome to participate. Communion is both vertical and horizontal. By the act of taking communion, the former entails partaking in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. It is an act of communion between you and God.
On the horizontal level, when we take communion as a church, we are effectively saying that although you and I are different in appearance, race, background, gender, etc...we are bonded together in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, and thus, we celebrate this communal communion. This on the horizontal level
Now, here begs the question:
Is everyone who takes communion your brother or sister?
The answer is dangerously simple, and scary all at once. Not all who profess a faith in Christ are saved. Even if they have done the catechism, membership or prepatory classes. Not even if they've been dunked in the Jordan river itself, three times over for good measure. Now this means (at the risk of sounding like a line from a dramatic war movie) ,that the next time you all line up at the rail to take the sacraments, you should take a good look at the person to your right or left; they may not be spending eternity with God. Heck, take a good look at yourself first! You may not be spending eternity with God in the first place.
This is an important issue because I believe that we have all taken salvation for granted, including myself. And an easy trip up the aisle to take the wafer and wine only serves to reinforce a possible delusion that we are saved, while all this while, our names are not in the book of Life.
Check yourself. Look at your brother and sister. Ask them to check themselves. Seek repentence for yourself, and them. Bring them and yourself to the foot of the Cross first, to Christ all else before doing so. The bread and wine are not magical items that confer you entry into the Kingdom of God. Christ's life, death and resurrection has already done that. He has paid the penalty for you. You need not do anything else but believe onto him.
Then, the walk up the aisle will thus have true meaning. Where you now understand and believe that Christ alone died for your sins while you were dead in your transgressions, to satisfy the wrath of the father, and through his grace and mercy, you now have new life.
SDG
In some cases, this stringency has been relaxed. If you profess to put your faith in Christ as your Lord and Saviour, then you are more than welcome to participate. Communion is both vertical and horizontal. By the act of taking communion, the former entails partaking in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. It is an act of communion between you and God.
On the horizontal level, when we take communion as a church, we are effectively saying that although you and I are different in appearance, race, background, gender, etc...we are bonded together in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, and thus, we celebrate this communal communion. This on the horizontal level
Now, here begs the question:
Is everyone who takes communion your brother or sister?
The answer is dangerously simple, and scary all at once. Not all who profess a faith in Christ are saved. Even if they have done the catechism, membership or prepatory classes. Not even if they've been dunked in the Jordan river itself, three times over for good measure. Now this means (at the risk of sounding like a line from a dramatic war movie) ,that the next time you all line up at the rail to take the sacraments, you should take a good look at the person to your right or left; they may not be spending eternity with God. Heck, take a good look at yourself first! You may not be spending eternity with God in the first place.
This is an important issue because I believe that we have all taken salvation for granted, including myself. And an easy trip up the aisle to take the wafer and wine only serves to reinforce a possible delusion that we are saved, while all this while, our names are not in the book of Life.
Check yourself. Look at your brother and sister. Ask them to check themselves. Seek repentence for yourself, and them. Bring them and yourself to the foot of the Cross first, to Christ all else before doing so. The bread and wine are not magical items that confer you entry into the Kingdom of God. Christ's life, death and resurrection has already done that. He has paid the penalty for you. You need not do anything else but believe onto him.
Then, the walk up the aisle will thus have true meaning. Where you now understand and believe that Christ alone died for your sins while you were dead in your transgressions, to satisfy the wrath of the father, and through his grace and mercy, you now have new life.
SDG
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Remnant: Holding the primacy of Scripture
This morning, I started a course called "Bible Overview". It's a 10-week course that is part the Moore College external studies Certificate in Theology. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will blog more about it, but for now, I want to say that my initial impression of it is one of great joy and hope.
Why? Not because God has granted me the opportunity to do it, but because there is something I saw today that has raised my spirit regarding the modern church and the lamentable state it has fallen in.
I say young people - university youth, some from high school, eager to learn, study and appreciate God's Word. For a while, others have told me that Bible study is boring, the youth will never take to it,that they need experential, fun filled activities, relevance etc etc. Well, so much for that load of compost.
These were young people who were realising that it wasn't about them or their felt needs. It was about God. And it was about reverence for his revelation that is found in Holy Scripture. It also warms my heart (there ya go, a Calvinist using an Arminian phrase! :-) )to see that these Caleb and Joshua's are still around. They are the remnant
In every dark period where the church has been assailed, ripped apart and generally discredited; a remnant always remains. They are true to God, his sovereignity and sense of his true character. They remain faithful to his Word, relying on his grace and knowing that they are justified by faith alone in Christ alone.
This is a beautiful thing.
My prayer is that through the beauty of Sola Scriptura (solely by scripture), more young people will see the Bible as the primary means of understanding who God is, his past, present and to be revealed will, and his plan of redemption in Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross.
SDG
Why? Not because God has granted me the opportunity to do it, but because there is something I saw today that has raised my spirit regarding the modern church and the lamentable state it has fallen in.
I say young people - university youth, some from high school, eager to learn, study and appreciate God's Word. For a while, others have told me that Bible study is boring, the youth will never take to it,that they need experential, fun filled activities, relevance etc etc. Well, so much for that load of compost.
These were young people who were realising that it wasn't about them or their felt needs. It was about God. And it was about reverence for his revelation that is found in Holy Scripture. It also warms my heart (there ya go, a Calvinist using an Arminian phrase! :-) )to see that these Caleb and Joshua's are still around. They are the remnant
In every dark period where the church has been assailed, ripped apart and generally discredited; a remnant always remains. They are true to God, his sovereignity and sense of his true character. They remain faithful to his Word, relying on his grace and knowing that they are justified by faith alone in Christ alone.
This is a beautiful thing.
My prayer is that through the beauty of Sola Scriptura (solely by scripture), more young people will see the Bible as the primary means of understanding who God is, his past, present and to be revealed will, and his plan of redemption in Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross.
SDG
Sunday, May 30, 2010
What's Christian camp for?
Imagine that you have signed up for a tennis camp that says it will turn you into the next Roger Federer, Nadal or Sharapova (or at least try to). So you eagerly go there with your racquet in tow and your best tennis sneakers ready to learn how to hit scorching forehands down the lines and the intricacies of a serve-and-volley game
Now, assume that when you get there this is the schedule you get:
1) 3 hours on the badminton court..
2) A trip to the closest town to buy souveniers...
3) Loads of fun in a swimming pool, and a seminar on aqua aerobics..
4) An intense 3 hour session on how a tennis ball is made, plus a trip to a tennis ball making factory
And so on...
You would feel pretty ripped off, woudn't you? Presumably, the time spent might be fun, enjoyable and relaxing..but it's not what you're supposed to be doing.
None of those things make you a better tennis player.
The prime reason you wanted to go for this camp was to have hours of gruelling sessions hitting thousands of balls. You needed seminars on court tactics with your double's partner. And everyone wanted to attend those talks on better body mechanics on a service motion. Essentially, you wanted to become a better tennis player, and you payed money and sacrificed time for the opportunity to learn to be one
By now my point is pretty clear. Christian camps that don't do what they are supposed to do, that is - preach the gospel, make disciples of men and women and teach them how to be more like Christ should not be in the game of holding Christian camps. You can call it a motivational, spiritual, get to know your inner hurt child camp but once you remove the 'Christ' from the 'Christian' part..it's as good as if you never put that in the first place
All those points in 1 to 4 are in themselves relatively benign, or even good. But they are not what part of those things that should constitute a tennis camp because they add nothing of value. It's like what one of my tennis coaches used to say to me when I asked him how to get better. He said:
" Hit balls. Lots and lots of balls."
So, this is one of the way to become a better follower of Christ. Read the Word. Lots and lots of the Word. Pray to God. Pray lots and lots to God. And this is what you should be getting in a Christian camp. Lots and lots of what you should be getting
SDG
Now, assume that when you get there this is the schedule you get:
1) 3 hours on the badminton court..
2) A trip to the closest town to buy souveniers...
3) Loads of fun in a swimming pool, and a seminar on aqua aerobics..
4) An intense 3 hour session on how a tennis ball is made, plus a trip to a tennis ball making factory
And so on...
You would feel pretty ripped off, woudn't you? Presumably, the time spent might be fun, enjoyable and relaxing..but it's not what you're supposed to be doing.
None of those things make you a better tennis player.
The prime reason you wanted to go for this camp was to have hours of gruelling sessions hitting thousands of balls. You needed seminars on court tactics with your double's partner. And everyone wanted to attend those talks on better body mechanics on a service motion. Essentially, you wanted to become a better tennis player, and you payed money and sacrificed time for the opportunity to learn to be one
By now my point is pretty clear. Christian camps that don't do what they are supposed to do, that is - preach the gospel, make disciples of men and women and teach them how to be more like Christ should not be in the game of holding Christian camps. You can call it a motivational, spiritual, get to know your inner hurt child camp but once you remove the 'Christ' from the 'Christian' part..it's as good as if you never put that in the first place
All those points in 1 to 4 are in themselves relatively benign, or even good. But they are not what part of those things that should constitute a tennis camp because they add nothing of value. It's like what one of my tennis coaches used to say to me when I asked him how to get better. He said:
" Hit balls. Lots and lots of balls."
So, this is one of the way to become a better follower of Christ. Read the Word. Lots and lots of the Word. Pray to God. Pray lots and lots to God. And this is what you should be getting in a Christian camp. Lots and lots of what you should be getting
SDG
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