V (<- Hint: numerical system) days ago I wrote an entry about how we can serve God better through trusting in Him. It has come apparently to me that we often sometimes "complicate" trusting in Him due to many factors. Today was also "V-day" apparently at the University where I used to study, as I always like to say "God is not a coincidence" or "God is not an accident..." I tried to finish most of it on #V/01/2009, but change of plans, not sure what date it'll post with when I finish it.
One such factor is just our society itself as I learned in class these semester. We like to be (as the infamous word goes) "rational" about everything. I recently shared about some of my more divine visions from God to an old friend and the feedback was I must have been possessed or something. Looking back, I don't believe I was indeed possessed haha... I still had control of my own actions, it's more like maybe Jesus had to take some things to the next level for me. In a sense it's kind of my fault, I was looking back at some events in my past life thinking "Ok, so you were confused about your calling, well look at what happened in the past [recalling specific events in this gap]; there's no way God could have made his calling MORE CLEAR!" Boy was I wrong and as the saying goes "nothing could have been further from the truth" as God has shown me even more divine inspiration than before. Thank you Father! I am not one to violate [quote reference to bible passage of Paul's about judging one of weaker faith], but let's just say I am not surprised that there are 'people' out there who sometimes doubt some of the things (or "other things") I am planning to do, who tell me things like to be more "rational" about this or that my trust in God is good, but "are you sure?" this is "the way"?
I believe in life all of us has a mission as well and Jesus Christ is like our commander. But it's not that simple as "killing all the old-selves" of the people around us. Even I have to admit that it does sometimes seem "complicated". To use a more popular analogy perhaps more people can relate to, being James Bond involves more than just having a license to kill. I mean yes, some people think ok, ya, it's a movie he's never going to die, it's guaranteed. But to assume that is to also assert that his ability to survive is controlled by some "higher purpose" is that not so? On the flip side if James Bond's ability to survive is not simply because the director cannot kill him off, then the alternative would likely to accept that he is utilizing perhaps "a license to survive" with apt personification of a TRUE secret agent. Alright alright, I know, it's "long" so where am I exactly going with all this? Like the nostagic Transformers slogan "more than meets the eye" is a good way of looking at our ministry as well. Even my prof put it best when he pointed out that growth of Christianity is currently the most stagnant in North America, especially in Canada and the United States. Not only is the Christianity in this continent NOT growing, but there is often pointed out a kind of reverse growth as well: "Could it be to drink from the cup of western theology is to drink from a poisoned chalice?" It sounds harsh, but we need to be honest with ourselves, even you "Christians". How often in your own Christian life (or even life in general) has maybe God done something which you attributed to just "coincidence" or "random occurence" and perhaps failed to see God's role in the picture. I still remember Somebody revealing to me once "You're God's gift to your mom..." and at first I was being too "rational" and didn't want to believe it, but now I do so THANKS! :) Furthermore, that person was not the only one to say so, but it is to my own shame that I didn't pray to God initially for discernment on that matter first without having Him needing to use others to stir me to give it a second thought myself.
Now I believe is a good time to contrast "the East and the West" and to expand upon some of the principles I mentioned in the first paragraph as well. [quote 'the way' note] In the West, particularly in America, Americans (yes, THAT country) one of the biggest issues is that we are (or want to believe we are experts at being) "rational" and we want justification for everything, "seeing is believing", we want everything to follow a logical pattern. If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. The preceeding two sentences are actually quoted from the NLT version of the HB. Wise words? What book is that? Is it written by someone really "smart" like Stephen Hawkin or perhaps someone who really knows their business like Ted Rogers (hopefully you don't think from beyond the grave) or Bill Gates perhaps. Not actually, a much more deceased and "ancient history" author, his name is Paul and most people don't even know his last name if he even has one. It may surprise you to know originally he wasn't even born as "Paul" but a different name instead. If you are confused about those two sentences, then my next sentence(s) will leave you even MORE confused. Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. Haha, also from NLT of the HB. So yeah, someone once asked what is the point of all my using other sources on my blog, why isn't there more of a personal touch? Well I don't personally believe in revealing too much in my personal blog, not because I don't want to connect with my readers, but I want this to be more of a forum based type of blog where people can be free to express themselves without worrying about potential retialation from me. "He killed all the readers man..." Haha... no... in fact even that reader is very much alive and still my friend, "like seriously". I don't really mind "killing you" if you are using the satrical analogy of humour as opposed to a physical violation of one of God's infamous ten commandments. However the use of the word "killing" is just one example where you may agree that mere words do not dictate the complete meaning behind even an action and an action in itself does not show the motive behind it. So just how does one look "beneath the surface" as you may have noted from the title of my blog. Alas though, that is not how "rationalism" was founded though, it was founded on the primary concern that surface things and things that can be measured and information derived and acquired from the senses alone (kinda "surface level") was part of the original definition of being "rational" and "rationalism". Now where am I going with all this? Well, for one, assuming that at least some of my readers here may be Christian, it means we ought not to downplay our true authority and identity in Christ as per my last entry. While I praise God for being able to serve Him in various ways even before I began my seminary education, to the point someone told me "You're just like the Father in my Catholic Church man". I am also on the flip side very much appalled at the other times when either myself or perhaps you know of some instances in your own life where you either didn't step up to do what was RIGHT or what your knew God wanted you to do (depending on where you are at spiritually). Maybe it was fear, maybe you were just trying to look at things "rationally", "there's no way God would want me to stop working/studying to do this..." or "no, God wouldn't use me to do that because I'm not 'trained' properly yet. Too often I feel Christians are being timid and measuring results the same way non-Christians do that they are afraid to step up to God's field and hit that home run that He is asking us to TRY to do, nevermind whether we will actually do it or not. I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Ok, now some of you might think of me being "mad" by that last sentence, but it again was not mine, but from NLT of the HB, just by a different author. Hehe, so how many authors are there of this mysterious HB book you may be asking? To be honest I never did an actual tally (although I should) but to me that is not what is most important at the moment. But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. Wow... what kinda God is this? The God of a cult? That hardly sounds fair? Oh is it really? Does God really force people to listen to Him or perhaps on the flip side, maybe He is always speaking but we shut him out through many different lenses that distort things and "rationism" isn't the only tool we in history have tried to use to deny the existence of not only God, but that there is a world beyond just the physical and scientific realm as well. So what does God have to do to prove he is there? Does He really have to "part the clouds" and even if He did, I doubt many of you would even see that as being God as opposed to another fallacy keeping us from faith "coincidence". As one of my spiritual-force masters Y_____da one put it "I don't believe in coincidence, I believe in God." Amen!
Moving on from external stimuli or circumstances, what about the "killed all the spirits man" from within? Where does one draw the line or distinguish between our own will and God's will? Can it not be as a cell group leader of mine put it that perhaps our will can be God's will as well? In short, I may have mentioned this in other blog entries, but I believe in neither totality of pre-destination or free-will in North American society. Anyhow it's debates like this that bring me to the next hinderance in North American or "Western" society that I feel is killing us spiritually, "tolerance". We need to accept people of other faiths, it is a total contrast to what it was like back in the day leading up to the Crusades when people were "going astray": "All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." [this also from NLT of the HB] And it was thought to be leading to the "damnation of one's souls" so we gotta stop it at with all means necessarily, even if that means killing the hertics literally/physically. This is similiar to what I was telling fellow members of my Sunday School class recently, that although Christians have the highest death toll in all of History, sometimes we kill each other as well. His-story as it is sometimes referred to as its root name is one way God can speak to us. We have learned that physical killing isn't the answer. But is "tolerance" the answer?
This now brings us to the final subject of my composition on the topic of whether God does anything in our lives or are we "left to wonder, all alone, eternally", not just wonder, but wander as well. Haha I'm sorry if that "as well" phrase is being overly used after a more personal revelation was made recently. Let's first look at the more "orthodox" worldview:
Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Psalm 33:10
The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
A while ago, when a good friend of mine ST told me that God is "in control" I was reluctant to believe her. I was undergoing a lot of suffering at the time and I didn't want to accept there was a higher power looking over us when in my mind the suffering was being caused by people following their "free-will" and not acting in ways which perhaps would have being OUR best, but not GOD's best. Understanding God and His will, His role in our lives isn't always easy. As previously stated there has been much bloodshed over misinterpretation of God not only among Christians, but between us and other faiths as well. Haha sorry there goes that "as well" again. Another friend from my University fellowship once tried to explain free-will "in context" of a deck of cards. That while we do have freedom to make decisions, even the wrong ones, it is God who defines which choices we have available to us even before they have become available. That is "logical" as well to some degree, because if I were some starving person in Africa right now without access to a computer, I would not be able to type/write this blog. To look at things on the flip side, just how much of a "choice" is it for me to have a computer or not when I live in a society where a computer is tool required in the majority of education and working conditions today. Here is a quote from another "Agent" made when he walks away from a "church":
Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget- those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust. I'll be carrying nothing from Gontranno but this lesson: never trust anyone and rely on your instincts. Forget the past. I'll never find peace here. So, I'll seek justice for myself. I'll choose the truth I like.
This worldview is more like our western world today. Or perhaps the viewpoint of the majority of Christians out there after the focus on individualism began in the early 19th century. This is far off from the previous millenia were people, especially Christians blindly followed their leaders. Now we have begun the "every man for himself" philosophy and there are some countries (especially in the west) were religious freedom is pratically a right as long as it doesn't violate the "law of the land". People are actually allowed as the above quote says "choose the truth" they like.
6"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father. [John 14:6, CEV]
Most people in North American society, especially those of other faiths reject the above statement. They see it as being "old fashioned" and perhaps even "barbaric" and some see it as a form of "religious intollerance". Well guess what, that's what Jesus said, not just what your Christian friend ____ said or I said, but this is our Lord and Saviour saying this here... I'm sorry if this God of mine isn't very "politically correct" or doesn't fit your standard of what God should be, I'm sorry if it seems "unfair" those who don't believe in Jesus Christ aren't going to heaven according to the biblical intepretation of the majority of Christian denominations. But I "always knew I didn't belong in this world.":
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." [John 15:18-19, NIV]
In our "modern" day society, we believe everything is relative and there is no absolute truth because many things we once believed to be positively true such as in science the atom being the smallest possible form of substance in composition is no longer the case. In fact I know at least one friend whom I had a longer talk with one time about spiritual matters who does personally believe "I'll choose the truth I like", he takes some elements of Christianity, but yet he also chooses to believe in doctrine from other "Eastern" faiths as well. This brings us to our final obstacle against a firm(er) belief in God (or even a belief at all to some people) "relativism", everything is relative, there is no absolute or constant truth in our world. What is true to someone today will likely not be true to someone else tommorow...Is that what our Jesus says?
3 “You must not have any other god but me.
4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20:3-6, NLT]
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6, NIV]
Lastly, even a Christian friend of mine was telling me recently that we are "master of our own destinities", it's a two folded philosophy I believe. But for the purpose of our discussion, it seems that we control our own "fates", we direct our own paths. So therefore there really is no God in the picture if we in fact have more control of our lives than He does right? What say you? How about the "bible"?
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [Isaiah 53:6]
Here are some words I 'stole' off another author:
i'm learning that you're bound by the impossible - but it's up to you to make things possible [this is more of a lesson i am learning this month...]
But where does that extra boost come in? Where do we go from realizing our own inability and our imperfections to just accepting Christ and being saved to possibly becomming something more? Should we just be content to be saved Christians and not worry about about trying to do more for God? Individualism tells us that we are "just one man" and we cannot save or change the world. Like that scene from the Watchmen movie:
Veidt: It doesn't take a genius to see the world has problems.
Blake: No, but it takes a room full of morons to think they're small enough for you to handle.
Blake: You know, mankind has been trying to kill each other off since the dawn of time, and now that we have the means...we can finally do it. Soon enough, the missiles will be going off and we'll all be dust. It don't matter squat because inside thirty years the nukes are gonna be flyin' like maybugs...and then Ozzy here is gonna be the smartest man on the cinder. Now, pardon me, but I got an appointment. See you in the funny papers.
(the scene ends with Blake or the Comedian burning the map of the United States becase he states there is no point trying to save the world when there is the threat of nuclear war going to kill everyone anyhow and even they are powerless to stop something like that)
Here is another quote:
Laurie Juspeczyk: Is that what you are? The most powerful thing in the universe and you're just a puppet following a script?
Doctor Manhattan: We're all puppets, Laurie. I'm just a puppet who can see the strings.
I for one refuse to just live a mediocre Christian life, there is another line from the same Watchmen movie I am going to quote:
Adrian Veidt: We can do so much more. We can save this world... with the right leadership.
My faith to do more as my famous hero line goes "Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh and cruel. That's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be." I would like to replace the word "Champions" with "Christians". As a Christian, you and me, we already have the ability to be a champion for God, to make a difference in our imperfect world. Futhermore we also have support and empowerment from a higher power "as well":
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." [Matthew 26:41, NIV]
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." [Matthew 17:20]
While we cannot save the world and our physical existence may yet still every much be doomed, there is hope in "the salvation plan" yet:
But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures,[b] ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! [this is also from the NLT of the HB!]
"Two days ago, I didn't believe in the existence of talking animals... of dwarves or... or centaurs. Yet here you are, in strengths and numbers that we Telmarines could never have imagined. Whether this horn [raises horn for all to see] is magic or not, it brought us together... and together, we have a chance to take back what is ours!" [Prince Caspian, The Chronicles of Narnia]
The Christian revolution... "an imperfect solution to an imperfect world..."
At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. [Matthew 27:51-52]
Goku: We have to find the Dragon balls before the eclipse.
The world is darkest right before the dawn, but "I tell you" the dawn of the Kingdom of Heaven is already here. In fact God's presence has been so strong for me at times lately I am beginning to theorize that the end times are comming soon, the tribulation forces are upon us "Use the (spiritual) force, Christian!" It's time to "save the world"!
26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[a] 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin[b]? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.
35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’[c]
37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
40 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. 41 If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God,[d] you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. [This is from NLT of the HB "as well" ;)]
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. [John 16:7]
Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because
the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. [1 John 2:8]
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Down in my heart
I’m gonna let it shine
Down in my heart
I’m gonna let it shine
Down in my heart
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Down in South America
I’m gonna let it shine
Down in South America
I’m gonna let it shine
Down in South America
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Ain’t gonna make it shine
Just gonna let it shine
Ain’t gonna make it shine
Just gonna let it shine
Ain’t gonna make it shine
Just gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
[http://www.songsforteaching.com/billharley/thislittlelightofmine.htm]
"Neo from The Matrix. He knows kung fu, he can dodge bullets, and he bears a striking resemblence to Keanu Reeves. Come on! He's definetly The One." -Eliza Baynes, Montreal, QUE
Goku: I'm not ready for this.
Master Roshi: You are the only one who can do it.
Are you also "starting to believe"? Want more information? Leave a comment or contact information on this entry.
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [Jeremiah 29:11-12]
15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."[b] [2 Corinthians 6:15-16]
