Dear…
'So the wall was finished….and it came to pass when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.'
Nehemiah 6:15-16
In my short sojourn in Washington last month, there was a little uproar when an atheist group took offense at the placement of the Nativity scene and all things Christian at the Government House and decided to place their own retort or more like atheist beliefs on placards juxtaposed to the Christian symbols. Their rationale was that public places should have no place for any display of religion. But interestingly, is not secularism a set of belief, which should qualify it as a religion(difference being man plays god or gods here) much as the self avowed atheists might think otherwise? Is it right for the secularist to impose their views or more like religion on others by their public protestations and claims that public ground should be secular?
'I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.'
Isaiah 65:2
Interestingly, on my first day back home, a friend forwarded me an article in the local papers about how the good intent of a financial institution to raise funds for a local charity for children, was vehemently opposed by a vocal few who took offense with the Christian origins of the charity home. One is entitled to one's personal belief, for we are a pluralistic society, however, to impose that attitude upon others and especially a stance that does not necessarily reflect the views of the silent majority is a tyranny of the minority, but the reality of the world is that if you are few but loud, people listen.
'But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand.'
Isaiah 64:8
I always find it fascinating that the media in the States loves to hype up a story to its maximum. In the East Coast of the States I was, but in the West, ie California, they just passed a law banning same sex marriage and here I was with my son in the Kingdom of childhood innocence, aka Disneyland in Orlando waiting with my son for our next joyful ride, but what else but to see this volumous couple, not voluptuous for the latter is for the fairer sex, not the fatter Adams holding hands and engaging in mouth to mouth resuscitation and we are not talking about the traditional Maori greetings here. Birds and bees have to be reorientated in the land of the free.
'And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out…and shut the door after him. And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.'
Genesis 19:5-7
From the old school I might be, but I believe God made Adam and Eve and the traditional family as the cornerstone of life on Earth. The man is the spiritual head of household and children are a blessing from the Lord, and not cooked up in the test-tube. Imagine how confused the child must be in the test case court case now ongoing in the States where two ladies decided to end their relationship, and though the child was fathered by one, using donated sperm, the other decided to fight for the custody of the child.
God never mean't life to be that confusing.
'Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it…….'
Psalms 127:1
The views just shared is a personal view that to a large extent was determined by one's cultural and societal orientation. It is normal to have differences of opinions and lifestyle choices, for from the day Adam took a bite of the apple, men's imperfect understanding have set the tone for their imperfect and sinful life, but anarchy will prevail when everyone goes their own way and so society has to have some broad parameters of acceptable norms and behaviour.
Western society in the last few hundred years was rooted upon Judeo-Christianity. But with time, values will evolve and be adjusted and that is perfectly acceptable, for society must reflect the views of the majority.
Continental Europe today is very much secular, where one rest on the belief of individualism and material gratification. That is the religion of Europe today and not Christianity whose vestiges resides in the beautiful but empty Cathedrals.
What about the United States of America, whose roots started from the Christians from old Mother England. America is still deeply religious in parts of the country, but clearly on the national level, it is moving towards secularism. It might be a matter of time before the phrase "in God we trust" will be removed from its currency, for just as the value of the US$ is being devalued by the relentless printing of paper to solve its problems, the moral value of American society at least in the political and corporate world, is no longer the same as a couple of generations back.
'Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
2 Peter 3:4
"till the cows come home" is probably an apt phrase to describe the futility of defending one's personal belief against the set intent of its detractors. The world is increasingly under siege by the tyranny of the determined and vocal and growing minority, who advocates a lifestyle quite aptly described by our Lord in Mark 7:21-23. But to a great extent, the problem lies not with them, but with the silent and apathetic majority.
'For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murdurs. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these things come from within, and defile the man.'
Mark 7:21-23
Salvation is given by the Lord, but we are asked to live our faith. We are not asked to impose our belief upon others, nor are we asked to condone sinful behaviours. We are also asked to be responsive as God leads, be bold where He calls, be submissive as He leads, but always with love and grace, and never judgemental but also never compromising the will of our God.
Seems like a pretty tall order to fulfill, especially in today's world where secularism equals materialism, and where gods are formulations of men's desires be it for wealth, health or stealth.
Is there truly a place for a Sovereign God, Whom we must let go of our own desires and let Him?
'In God is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God……God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God..'
Psalms 62:7-11
Much as Christians do feel the urge to call to arms, to defend our values against an increasingly vocal and aggressive diverse group of detractors, the Crusade of old has shown the folly of men, even Christians, when they play God instead of letting God lead.
God commands us all to seek Him with our very all. That is the starting point, which unfortunately, many self professed defenders of the faith have not given nay a thought to, and where many are more like the Pharisees than being Christlike.
'…This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me….'
Mark 7:6-8
God commands us to love others as much as ourselves. It is hard to love our detractors. It is not possible on our own strength, but as we begin to love God, His Spirit will imbue in us the strength to be patient, much as our detractors are not, and maybe to correct the wayfarers with love garnished boldness, as HE leads.
Love is not about looking the other way, when clearly men have sinned. It is not about being silent for troubles should best be left to others to handle. It is about us living right, so that the glory of our Lord will shine forth in our lives that even its very detractors will know that all glory belongs to the Sovereign God.
'What then? Are we better then they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved ….that they are all under sin'
Romans 3:9
The Americans had their revolution when they could not agree with their brethrens from old England. The sheer will of power and strength and all things human determined the outcome of that great war that led to the independence of the American colonies and the bequeathing of one Statute of Liberty, a French lady as a symbol of liberty. But that is another story, but Evolution is what one must be very cognizance of.
All us little Adams, since the first bite of the apple have in our genes, the right to self determination based on our finite understanding. God has by the sacrifice of His only beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is what Christmas is all about, literally made us all a clean slate,wiped free of our sins, but whether we will evolve or rather transform into His likeness or do we continue to sink back into the old monster we were is a matter of choice, ours.
What about our children and loved ones?
Society is evolving and sadly, sins and all things distasteful are tightening its grip but despair we will not, if we as parents despair not our Father in Heaven, but be repentant of our sinful ways and come back unto His presence. Change has to come from us, not from us changing others. Much as this present economic coundrum has been a set back for many, it is also a time of reflection, a needed time-out for one to realize how far you have moved away from God, and how close we have evolved to the likeness of the devil, that many have unknowingly or maybe even willingly move towards in their pursuit of the rewards of the present world.
Not exactly what Charles Darwin mean't for he was looking at the outward, God looks at our heart.
Deprivation is good for the soul, if it can give us that resolve to let our whole be focussed upon the Lord our God.
'Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation..,…that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.'
Numbers 27:16-17
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(23 Dec 08)
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