Moralism vs. God's Word

How does it feel to now be worshiping differently than you used to, and differently than the people you used to worship with?

I am sorrowed in some way.

Today's passage for today's sermon was Acts 15:1-35. Eager to learn how to study the Bible and prepare myself for Sunday's message, I read and studied the passage earlier. To humble myself and be aware not to be critical and judgmental to the preacher. Sadly, there were things missed by the preacher which could really feed with God's Word to the church attenders. How to handle and resolve conflicts, however, was taught.

I was disappointed, not only because the preacher missed this most crucial part of God's Word, but that what he preached, we could learn that in many self-help books, good-living seminars, implied teaching in school/work (esp as a person would mature), etc.

Disappointed that I had a hard time understanding how to read Acts (ref. Gordon Fee-Douglas Stuart - How to Read the Bible for all its Worth), and this study really challenged me.

I learned that in reading Acts, know what's the point of the passage, how did it function to whole narrative of Acts, why did Luke include this passage, what was the INTENTION this passage was written. I also learned that the primary intention was the reason the passage was written, and the secondary intention was just incidental. Narratives weren't meant to be imperatives nor a "what must we do" narratives. Narratives weren't written for the hearers, but written so the hearers might know how God was working through the patriarchs of the narrative.

The primary intention I learned from Acts was that the gospel spread. In the passage, despite a wrong teaching of the gospel, the council stayed faithful to the true gospel and didn't grumble or retaliate against the wrong teaching. Yet they continued in encouraging the believers how the gospel had reached to the Gentiles.

But the message took focus on the second intention, how the conflict was resolved. I was even more sad that the part where the preacher mentioned to use biblical principles to resolve conflicts was short and, somehow, treating the bible as mere manual to solve people's problems, when in fact, it's God's Word. Sad, that the message wasn't preached as God's Word but as man's word.

Yes, I still learned from the preacher that in conflicts, we mustn't retaliate, grumble, and argue against those people who hold different views from us, but to promote unity, encourage/edify the brothers with God's faithfulness, to focus in the higher cause, and continue proclaiming God's power. Sad that the "bible", "higher/greater cause", "gospel" wasn't talked about so much.

And the conclusion was "How are you handling your conflicts?"

From my study I learned that to prevent these false teaching to happen, which harms the believers of God, was to watch out for these teachings and such people; to read, study, and stay faithful to God's word, to be grounded in sound doctrine; abide in Christ; be accountable to fellow believers; be in company of true believers; etcetera.

What's more? Before response prayer, I was thinking, "What could these friends of mine be thinking now? How are they worshiping that what was taught only on how to resolve conflicts? Repentance? Okay. What else? But I cannot seem to be in the same worship with them." During response prayer, I wanted to cry. I wasn't sure why, but my tears were wet. I tried to listen to the prayer and focus on that, and remember to just focus on what I learned from the incomplete message of the preacher.

During response song (One Voice), I couldn't sing in the same worship with them. I sang with them but my thoughts, "I learned from Acts to be faithful to God and his Word. How about them? What did they learn? To be faithful in themselves?" (My other thoughts in italics.)

Father, we ask of You this day
Come and heal our land (Father, really heal our land, they're missing a lot.)
Knit our hearts together
That Your glory might be seen in us
Then the world will know
That Jesus Christ is Lord (They just missed your Word.)

Let us be one voice that glorifies Your name
Let us be one voice declaring that You reign
Let us be one voice in love and harmony
And we pray, O God, grant us unity (I'm really not united with them in heart, mind, spirit.)

Now is the time for you and I
To join our hearts in praise
That the name of Jesus
Will be lifted high above the earth
Then the world will know
That Jesus Christ is Lord (How can this song be about conflict resolution?)

Father, I really don't know what to pray for, but I pray for this church, break them to pieces that they may know you. I pray that your Word would taken seriously, not just in "bible studies", but in Sunday worship, because worship is all about you and not us. Father, how joyous it would be to see a church zealous for your word.

photo from theresurgence.com

The Bike and Sam

This story may not mean anything, but it is a parallel of my experience with my walk with God. I am in a walk where disappointments come and go, that I have to read and study God's Word first and learn more about God while I really really really want to share this joy and enthusiasm. However, the reality is, I have to wait. I write this story as a form of my expression with my spiritual growth.

One day, Sam was in his room surfing the internet which he frequently did everyday. "What is Sam doing in his room in this beautiful afternoon," wondered his dad. Then Dad sneaked into Sam's room and saw what Sam was doing. Sam had been surfing the net and looking at pictures of bikes, and trying to learn all the bike parts and listening to videos of people talking about bikes.

When Sam was growing up, Sam had owned a lot of books and pictures of bikes. Sam loved reading about bikes. Sam kept asking his friends, teachers, and even strangers, who knew more about bikes, to teach him. However, despite them talking to him about bikes all the time, Sam was still not satisfied. Yet Sam had not given up, he kept looking.

Sam noticed his dad was standing beside him. Dad saw Sam was a bit sad. Sam then asked Dad, "Can you teach me about bikes?"

Dad was surprised Sam asked him this time. Dad finally decided to buy Sam a bike, but their was only one bike available in their city and it had to be assembled. Bikes were rare and a luxury and came with a manual. Bikes were bought un-assembled because only a few people knew how to assemble a bike. Dad, on the other hand, had assembled and owned a bike a long time ago.

Sam, still on the computer, heard two honks. Sam left his room and went to the door. Sam saw what Dad brought. A bike. Sam was very happy and couldn't wait. He took the package from Dad and ran to his room and opened it.

But Sam felt disappointed, he didn't know what to do. Dad came to his side, sat, and pulled out a huge manual from the box. Dad and Sam then read and learned together.

Months passed, Dad and Sam still studied the manual every afternoon, and the bike was almost done. However, news came that Dad had to leave the country for work right away, which then left Sam to learn the manual by himself.

Sam still didn't know what to do, so Sam went back to his computer and books to surf and read about bikes, and asked people who failed to satisfy Sam's questions and confusion about bikes.

Mom came to Sam, who was still distraught, and tried consoling Sam. Mom began helping Sam with his bike, and eventually they finished the bike. Now Sam was very happy, and couldn't wait to always show his new bike to his friends and neighbors.

Sam was about and ready to leave the house with his bike. However, he still didn't know how to use the bike, but he had read all those stuff in his books and the internet and what people had said, and he couldn't wait to show it already. Mom and Dad told Sam that he still had to read the manual and learn more before he went out with his bike.

Time had passed, Sam, still so full of energy and excitement, really really really wanted to show his bike, but Sam knew that if he left, things wouldn't look too good unless he kept learning and preparing himself before he could ride his bike on the streets. Sam just couldn't contain his enthusiasm; he sometimes failed in school and at home, sometimes failed to read the manual, and even tried to ride the bike and fell.

Sam just wanted to ride the bike and share his joy about bikes to people, but he had to wait.

(photo from etsy.com)

Religion Confusion

I watched a video of "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" (Muslim Version).

In the description, the author wrote,

"A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. This is not an attack upon Christians, so please don't take this as offensive, it's just a means of education and let people know what Jesus was truly sent with. Jesus is a Prophet of Islam, yet a God of Christianity. In Islam God is all Powerful, But in Christianity God was overpowered and crucified on the cross, how can the Almighty God be overpowered, these are just examples for people to think about, we are not forcing you to believe, just ponder and question. The Quran is the final testament, Muhammad is the final Messenger. Islam is the final religion, so no I dont Hate Islam. One God, One God only, He does not beget nor was he begotten, He is the GREATEST. And has no partners. (Holy Quran Ch 112)"

 First thing, I believe in Jesus as the Son of God. I respect the Muslims that they believe God (or Allah) as the only true God. I believe that the Muslims (Islam) have come from the line of Ishmael, the son of Abraham. Yet, I believe in Jesus' virgin birth, his works, death, resurrection, ascension, and promise of coming back; these things are also written in the Qur'an. I may not have read the Qur'an but I have read some parts. And I do not believe that Muhammad is the Last Prophet because Jesus is the last Adam to have gotten the covenant from God.

I am not a Roman Catholic. I do not carry a name of a famous theologian either. I do not believe in religion which are merely full of moralism. Yet, I am a child of God. That is all the title I carry, not Roman Catholic, Protestant, Calvinist, etc. I am a reformer, not a Reformer with the capital R. I do not idolize the Jesus, the author in the video is referring to. I despise the images the Roman Catholics are conveying to be an image of Jesus.

I love God's Word. I respect people who are truly believers of God. I respect my Muslim brothers. I love them a lot, just as I love the people who call themselves Christians but disobeys God by following their own principles about God and His Word. Yet I wish all of them to know God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. I still cannot fully express the joy and freedom Jesus (God) has revealed to me. I believe that God (Father), God (Jesus), God (Holy Spirit) is in Creation, which He has created. God is One. This Trinity doctrine is beyond our limited understanding; we all hardly can fathom.

Like the Jews, who rejects Jesus as the Messiah, I want to ask, do Muslims also wait for the Messiah? Why do you wait? For redemption? Whatever your answers are, it's all in Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

I am a Christian, I carry the name of Christ, but I am not the Christian today's world is referring to. I am a child of God, I carry the name of God. And as my gratitude to God's saving grace, I want to become like Christ and still want to learn more and more and more about God whom I worship. And that is found in Christ, in His Word (physically known as the Bible, having the very words of God).

John 1ff

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

My Spiritual Parents

I had a wonderful week last , May 5-12. I attended a conference for Christian leaders and potential leaders. I also learned a lot from my spiritual mom and dad. It was a week long of learning. Now, I'm back home, it's going to be a loooong process to apply the lessons from the conference speakers, friends, and my spiritual parents.

My last day was a memorable day. May 12 was Mother's Day, though I was away from my biological mother, I bought her a greeting card to give when I got back that afternoon.

The morning of May 12, my spiritual mum surprised me. We separated the night before and said our goodbyes. But that morning, I was waiting fro my spiritual dad downstairs for church. Then mum suddenly came from upstairs. I thought, "Where did she come from? Didn't we left her?" Though it was not the surprise my mum expected to happen, she was surprised I was already downstairs while she hid upstairs after arriving to my spiritual dad's house. I was really surprised. (I call my dad, Ahia, and my mum, Mamu.) Ahia said, "See how much she loves you." Mamu came to join us (and surprise me) because she's going to be busy for many weeks and might not be able to spend time with me (texting/calling).

The three of us went to church as my dad led the preaching. Before church, we first had breakfast, Ahia told me, "Have you greeted her Happy Mother's Day? She's your mother, she's your Mamu." Looking at my mum, "Happy Mamu's Day!"

After church, both my spiritual parents sent me to the airport. I hugged both of them goodbye.

I live far from my spiritual parents, I'm encouraged they pray for me and I pray for them; they answer my questions via SMS or email.

I gave both of them a gift with this verse written on it:

We ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you. Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

Here is a link about spiritual fathers and mothers:
Roger Barrier: http://www.preachitteachit.org/articles-blogs/ask-roger/post/archive/2012/june/article/how-do-i-become-a-spiritual-father-or-mother/
Spiritual Parents: http://shortdailydevotions.com/devotions/1-corinthians-414-15-spiritual-parents
Grace to You: http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1822

Prayer Undeserving

How come, Lord, that I don't seem to have joy?
How come, reading David in Psalms, he seems to have joy in you?
He is confident that you will vindicate him.

I thank you, Lord, that you will vindicate me; however, there is in me that I don't deserve your vindication, but rather I deserve punishment.
Somehow, I accept your punishment more than your vindication.
I'm not good. I don't have the integrity to be vindicated by you.

Lord, teach me.
What is sanctification?

Help me to be confident in you. Empower me. Take my life.
I really want to be with you. Let me know who you are.
Let me have joy.

It is my comfort that to "die is gain", but I still fear to lose you.
I still am not taking comfort, even understanding, that to "live is Christ".

Teach me, Lord.