My Thoughts, My World-View

    Category: Reflection

    • On Whose Authority?

      And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?

      Matthew 21:23 (NASB)

      The question posed by the Jewish leaders actually captures their religious mentality and mannerism at that time – spirituality is all about citing or referring to a particular rabbi or teacher: the more prominent the teacher, the “better” the teaching would be. In giving his own testimony of the conversion wrought in his heart, the apostle Paul would give evidence to the religious leaders of his own “religious grooming” and steady progression within the Pharaisical ranks by citing his honoured mentor, Gamaliel in Acts 22:3. Here was a culture not unlike our own, where prominence and power are weighed by the people “we know”.

      Thus, it was not surprising that the Jews, in general, were amazed that an “unknown” man (Jesus of Nazareth) was deemed a prophet, who had no “great person” authenticating and giving Him His credentials to preach and teach. This was an abnormality among the Jewish community. Jesus’ answer in Matthew 21:24-25 revealed the truth concerning ALL prophets of God – their authority came from God Himself, visible by God’s authenticating power working among them (visibly seen in prophets like Moses and Elijah). In Jesus Christ’s case, He is God, as He clearly explained in the Gospel of John, especially in John 8:48-59. This was evidenced by the manner of His speaking (with authority, Matthew 7:29) and by the effect it had on the people (through His miracles).

      The great tragedy that we see is the return of Modern-Day Christianity to the practices of the Jewish people 2,000 years ago. Preachers are more concerned with the “quotations” that they use and by the “camp” that they belong to, rather than pointing to the Self-authenticating and Innate Authority of the Word of God. In this, the modern church apes the academic world – citing the interpretation of this person and that, rather than trusting in the plain language of Scripture. Certainly, there are some things that are difficult to understand and some that will not be fully known until the Lord’s Return – nevertheless, what we have is clearly explained and constantly repeated throughout Scriptures. We should major on the things that God deems as important – this is by the repetition and clarity given. Likewise, we should minor (not specialise) in the things that are obscure and unique.

      The pursuit of “authority” beyond those of Scriptures give rise to the constant idol that is warned by the apostle Paul – that of the “institution of church” itself. The “man of perdition” is the man that usurps God’s place as the head of the Church –

      Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

      2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

      Historically, many have pointed the finger to the Roman Pope, but could the “man of lawlessness” be much closer? That document that is proclaimed by many (whether they be creeds or confessions or statements of faiths) as necessary has become the tool to subjugate and control the mind of well-meaning Christians into conformity with “people” rather than of God! We need to wake up from this “tradition” and come back to THE authority of Scripture. The heart is easily swayed by man’s own whimsical fancies without realising it.

      We need to check ourselves. Are we believing something because of the list of “celebrity preachers” who endorses such views? Are we attracted to a message because of that quote that ‘perfectly” captures the interpretation? Or are we hooked unto the words because they are God’s? This is what we need to recover. 500 years of Reformation and it seems to me, we are starting back at where we supposedly left. It is time for us to check our beliefs – on whose authority do we believe.

    • Losing Assumptions

      Bruce Wayne in “Batman Begins”, played excellently by Christian Bale, said these words to his future arch-nemesis (but at that time hidden):

      “I needed to understand the thoughts
      and feelings of those who stand in
      the shadows…

      The first time you’re forced to
      steal not to starve…

      …you lose many assumptions about
      the simple nature of right and
      wrong.”

      Sometimes a book, a comic book or a poem strikes through the haze of your thoughts and like a ray of sun, pierces through that fog and gets straight to your heart. Occasionally, not often, something else does the same – and in this case, it is Nolan’s epic trilogy – at this particular line, delivered while Bruce Wayne’s past experience flashes onscreen.

      There is truth in these words.

      We make assumptions based on our own personal experiences and as time goes, these assumptions morph into “principles” that not actually dictate our direction, but in reality, excuses our intentions. The problem is that no one actually cares to peel off the assumptions that we have built our decision-making on. We take on these assumptions due to circumstances; sometimes because it worked in the past, or because of our companions and the seeking of approval from them, or even from our natural inclinations (personality). Whatever the reason for its introduction in our lives, we make assumptions. Sometimes, these assumptions are “pragmatic” – helps us to navigate through certain difficulties and uncomfortable situations in our lives. But often, these assumptions are “dangerous” – as it turns us into “zombies” that are myopic in their behaviour.

      The worst type of assumptions are made in religion – in the dawn of the 21st century, we are again revisiting this recurring problem. Religious tensions are higher than ever, and conflicts that are religion-motivated have become the norm. All this from the sad simple truth – we have lost the ability to step into the other person’s shoes. Not only do you see such disparity between different religious groups, but this conflict is intensified within the same religion – among the different sects and groups. This is especially true in Christendom. It does not matter whether you are Protestant, Evangelical, Conservative, Fundamental and Reformed – there will be a line or verse that will set you off (trigger). Sadly, even within the same belief system, there will be intense disagreements with a practice or an action (noted that there is a margin of acceptance in ‘disagreements’, especially in certain non-essential beliefs). Why do we find it hard to drop our assumptions?

      We are afraid of getting into the other person’s shoes. That is what fundamentally “shocks” me with “Batman’s confession” above. It is when we take the courage to literally walk into the mind of the “other person”, that we start to understand the issues. But we do not. It is frightening to be in a new situation, with a new context and unpredictable outcomes. It is terrifying to face the unknown, and to lose the comfort of familiarity and more importantly, to lose the security of control. When we perceive to be in the passenger seat rather than the driver’s – we become afraid. That is the core problem – our pride does not want to let go of what we think we have. Listen to the other side, and our pride gets a shattering blow that begins to crack our wall of assumptions!

    • The Great Sin

      Did Adam and Eve really hide behind a bush, or a shrub or foliage?

      Genesis 3:7-8 – “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.“

      Many preachers would find unity in declaring the greatness of the Great Commission because it was the final command given before His ascension back to the heavenly realms in glory. Again, this logic and application are seen in the final words of the last book, Revelation, where the apostle John declares with much passion “Come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). Preachers rightly call upon the hearer to echo these words as we look forward to His Second Coming.

      However, when we come to the whole issue of “sin” (disobedience to God), the general Christendom seem to be taken in by human logic and traditional bias. Listen carefully enough and you will often hear that the “worse sins” that demands greater hellish flames are related to murder and homosexuality. Even those who are more evangelical would point their finger to ‘worldliness’ (from the evils of fictional books, to rock music, to dungeons and dragons and to Harry Potters…) decrying these as the sins that will destroy the local church.

      But what does Scripture actually say? Not the exceptional portions that are heavy on circumstances – which such “holier-than-thou” people would readily point out. At the very start of the Bible (Genesis), we have this introduced to us the moment the first man and woman sinned – they hid themselves from God, and covered themselves with their own paltry attempts at clothing. Rightly the preachers and teachers of old point to their attempt at self-righteousness – Adam and Eve were trying to justify themselves before God by the works of their hands. They sought not God but hid from Him, knowing that God would be rightly angry. That is the first exposure of the sinful heart in our First Parents.

      No wonder the Lord Jesus made these statements – the first in Matthew 10:15 – “Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” (here in regards to the instructions given to the disciples to herald the coming of the Lord Jesus to a town) and again in Matthew 11:23-24 – “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you”” (here when the privileged Jews in Capernaum rejected the presence and words of Christ). And to top it all off, the Lord Jesus scolds and declares woes upon the religious leaders in Matthew 23. This chapter is not short, but a long declaration of what offends Him – their hypocrisy. No wonder the Lord Jesus warns His disciples to be aware of the hypocrisy of the religious people. What is their hypocrisy? Basically, the religious leaders were touting their obedience to God when in reality they were obedient to their own self-made rules and regulations.

      This great denouncement can truly be traced back to what happened at the Fall in Eden! If only this was the focus of the Jewish leaders, things would have changed – but the sinful heart is deceptive above all things. But to only claim that this sin was present two thousand years ago is an ignorant claim: it exists today. Sadly, the brokenhearted and needy find no wounds bound because they are merely lightly bound by man’s own “religion”. We need Christ or we have nothing at all.

      This is the beauty and magnificence of Christ coming into the world – the authentication, seal and fulfilment of what God has promised to His redeemed from the beginning (Genesis 3:15). May we truly see the Great Sin in us, that we may turn to the Great Seed that came in the first and only Christmas two thousand years ago. Amen.

    • Marlon Brando on “Acting & Theatre”

      The first time I had ever heard of his name was from my dear mum. She would say “Marlon Brando” with a slight emphasis on the last “o”. There was a sense of girly delight in her voice every time his name was mentioned. I could not understand it, but Marlon Brando was THE actor of her time. This was a giant in the American movie-making industry, and even today, many are in awe of his acting skills and for others, his far-sighted views on social issues that were mostly ignored by the predominantly white-dominated industry.

      After so many years of hearing about him, from articles and books that seem to have so many things to say about him, I finally took the plunge and watched interviews (rare, apparently he does not like to make them) and I watched the entire 3 hours of the much-acclaimed “Godfather”! He is a most unusual man if you take the era which he lived in: he was articulate and has strong opinions on matters. Ironically, he seems to make a clear distinction about life as a human being and life on the silver screen. He never seemed to lose sight of that distinction.

      Marlon Brando Interview with Connie Chung, in the year 1989

      He chides the interviewer (in the embedded video clip above) for not realising that mankind slips into a “projected image” of their own creation (or one that suits the person’s audience) – it is natural for mankind to be “actors” or using the Greek equivalent: to be hypocrites. Unknown to the man, who was already in his mid-60s at the time of the interview, the later generation of a mere 50 years, would truly embody the fulness of his statement. Look around us and you will see a “filtered” society that only shows what they “want” to be shown. Relationships become “controlled” by “political correctness” that is a real filter determined by “the majority”. Woe on anyone who dares come out of this “filtered life” and tell it as it is – to say and do what they truly believe in. “Truth” has been traded for “movements” and “emotions” – not the reasonable, calculated, exercise of reason – no, that is too “fake” for this new generation. Actors rule the world now, and we would not have it any other way!

      There is much to be said about Marlon’s work in The Godfather, but I just want to put down my brief thoughts on his views, particularly, on the distinction he makes between acting in theatre and in movies. He passionately explains his hatred of theatre – not because of the medium itself – but what it entails when one is contracted to do it night after night, after night; the former requires utter discipline to tamper with the actor/actress’ emotions and psyche before each and every performance – it is difficult and exacting to make that change, a few hours before the performance, regardless of what circumstances the person has been in. Has the person been grieving or happy before the performance? He has to put aside those feelings, calm the emotions and condition the mind, before stepping to the limelight of real-time performance; that is theatre. The movie actor/actress does not require such discipline – theirs is confined to the production of the movie, perhaps for the length of the movie shootings. Even method actors who maintain their characters’ moods and personality will find the relief of ending production and putting away the “role” from “reality”. At times, there is that transitioning period – which differs according to individuals.

      In some sense, this is something that is equivalent to the demands of the Christian preacher at the pulpit. The preacher (the good one who takes the calling seriously) needs to put aside all distraction and focus on the Word of God – seeking to “speak” objectively and passionately within the confines and direction of the Scriptures. When the preacher fails to rein in emotions, the message (sermon) is peppered with personal opinions and feelings that jars the listener who is seeking divine guidance. Worst, the listener is swayed by the mortal and fallen counsel of the speaker rather than divine guidance that is from above.

      Though Marlon is obviously a person whose views lean heavily to the left (politically speaking), yet here is one who can teach our generation a thing or two. It seems that such is sorely lacking in an industry that has grown by leaps and bounds, year after year.

    • The Weight of Christianity

      The Lord Jesus warned and rebuked the self-righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees in His day. Many in modern-day pulpits are contented to think that this warning and declaration of woes are merely applicable to the past (particularly Matthew 23); perhaps to the Romish religion in the time of the Reformation. But that assumes that God’s Word has no eternal weight that is relevant and applicable throughout the ages.

      If we objectively look at the formation and development of this elite religious leaders, we will find many such traits in the modern-day setting. The chief characteristic seems to stem from the worship of human tradition, or if we were to paraphrase, the reliance upon human wisdom, numbers and dependence. A modern writer warned that these Pharisees were quick to “gang-up” with one another against a weaker “foe” – especially in cornering and badgering the poor victim with threats, insinuations and force of numbers (refer to the dealings they had with the healed blind man in John’s Gospel). Instead of allowing God’s Word to rule over them, we have human structures that centres on a man or a group of men – who gets to determine (authoritatively) the principles and applications of God’s Word. Although this may sound exactly as what the typical Evangelical church (bible-believing) touts, the problem is that there is no check and balances: there is essentially a pope or a few high-level individuals determining the Word of God.

      This is not to say that God’s Word is open to ANY and EVERY interpretation. To swing to the other extreme is the natural bane of our fallen human nature. However, there ought to be the openness and humility to counter personal opinions and inclinations rather than a finality set by a human figure(s). It is this very structure and reliance that dominated the Jewish society that was surrounded by a pluralistic society. Sadly, the same occurrence happens very often in the modern-day world – among the unsuspecting churchgoers.

      What then is the measure of a church that pleases the Lord and which edifies the soul? Is it in their bold claim of biblical faithfulness, accuracy or in the multiplication of activities and numbers? The apostle Paul sheds light on this through the inspired Word of Scriptures in 1 Corinthians 8:1-3  “Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him“. In dealing with the matter on eating food offered to idols, there were many arguments for and against. There were certainly those who were very argumentative and strongly opinionated – who could obviously give long answers to why a Christian can or cannot eat this or that. But is that the answer? Is that what Christianity hinges on… the ability and eloquence of an argument? No. It is not about “knowledge” or a “clever, thought-out argument”. It is about “love”. Not mere actions, but a heart that is warmed by the love, concern, grace that first comes from above. It is this type of heart that is able to discern what to do – by counting others better than themselves, that overlooks petty wrongs done to them and more.

      In an age where churches are becoming mega-organisations, it is not surprising that the Christian believer finds their comfort and identity in the local church identity that is carved by human traditions and human activities and human history, rather than the biblical church that is created and built up by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the task of the Christian believer to advance through dangerous terrain and look out for “Christianity” that is truly and fully scented with Christ – that love that better explains the Word of God than the thousands of creeds and books ever would! Let us lift that type of Christianity up; one that is unleavened and yet one that is growing into the tree that it is purposed for. Amen.

    • A Challenging Theology

      The Book of Job presents a challenging theology which is often controversial if investigated and yet one that is often overlooked; be careful how one interprets circumstances that happen to a person. The “friends” of Job were clearly “wise” among their peers but blindsided by their own experiences. They often chided Job for rejecting their worldview and interpretation of his circumstances; Job suffered because of his sin. Even though Job insists that he did not wrong, his friends were not able to accept this – for in their minds, “bad things” arise out as a consequence of personal sins.

      Certainly, there is some truth in their view – the Bible is clear that sin begets suffering. The actions of our forefathers Adam and Eve are evidence of this. Yet it is presumptuous to immediately insist that all bad circumstances are completely sourced from unconfessed sin or hidden sin. Likewise, the opposite view is equally dangerous: “good things” that come upon my life must arise out of something “good” that I have done. Those who have lived longer and with a more honest heart would immediately see how wrong this view is. The fact is that “evil” do prosper in their own way – in accordance with the standards and measurements of this fleeting world. Will the unrighteous go unpunished in this world? The psalmist receives revelation from God, now an open revelation to those who read the Psalms; God will at any time allow them to slip and fall to their eternal punishment!

      The type of theological system we allow ourselves to build in our mind will determine the type of life we live: a helpful, encouraging one, or one that is fraught with self-righteousness, always condemning and un-Christ-like. We can only hope that we meet with those with a mature theological system that is biblically grounded – those who exemplify Christ, sharing the balm that they have likewise been touched by. It is a great pity if those who claim to have Christ love is often found constricted, monitored, judged and the need to ensure that their “liberal” lives are separate from their religious one; the hypocrisy and power of the Pharisees (the leaven spoken of) is alive in all generations!

      Job had no one to comfort him, even in his “mysterious” malady, he had only more burdens poured upon him; none lifting their hands to unburden them. Yet to those who have trained eyes, we see the One that Job prefigures, One whose rejection by the people, betrayal, suffering were utterly unjust. Job in his utter grief cried out and cursed his existence! But the One that Job was foreshadowing opened not His mouth. Job cried out knowing his own innocence. Jesus Christ bore all the pain and suffering within His frail, bloodied body, as though He was truly acknowledging His “sins” (though He had none). Here is the comfort that Job did not know then, but perfectly upon his glorification when he breathed his last in this fallen world; Christ bore all the injustice he experience, once for all – vicariously. It is on the Cross that the sufferings of Job make sense. The end of the book tells us the same – Job was blessed with more than he had before, a symbol of God pleasure upon him. But wait… what did Job actually do to deserve all that? Nothing. Job still does not know of the heavenly, spiritual dealings that happened between God and the devil. And here is where we see the rights corrected – in God’s time and at the Cross.

      When the believer undergoes suffering, whether from personal sin or as a test, the whole experience makes sense and finds its closure when the believer turns to the Cross and when God reveals all in His time. It is wasted when the believer walks away from the Cross and when temporal comforts sought to “remedy” the circumstances.

      Challenging theology indeed. But one that is necessary.

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