I had hoped to escape the stereotype of a Christian woman writing solely about "micro" issues such as marriage and relationships - I had fully intended for my next writing "project" to be an exploration of faith vs works. However, recent conversations with young people around me convinced me that these "micro" issues need to be addressed just as much, perhaps even more urgently.
While my previous article was directed toward married couples, this is for those who are unmarried - either single, or in a relationship that hasn't progressed on to engagement or marriage. As I write this, I have been married to my husband for four years. It was not so long ago that I was single, praying and asking God to "prepare" for me my future "other half". Some of the issues that I have outlined below are issues that I myself have wrestled with - others have arisen from my conversation with people in similar situations.
What is Sola Scriptura?
Sola Scriptura is a slogan that was coined in the sixteenth century by the emerging Reformation in protest against the Catholic Church. Sola Scriptura means scripture alone - only the Holy Bible is to be viewed as definitive, prescriptive and divinely inspired. It means that we base our life and decisions solely on what the Bible says. It doesn't mean that we don't look to other sources to help us understand the Bible (indeed I will be using lots of dictionaries and commentaries to help write this series), but it does mean that scripture alone is holy writ.
Christian boy-girl relationships is a hot topic, as I have discovered, and everybody has an opinion. Almost everyone has some opinions on how it should or shouldn't be done - and the married couples are often quick to say: "Well, this is how we did it". It all gets very confusing. Sola Scriptura asks the question: what does the Bible say?
Some frequently asked questions:
(Click on the question you are most interested in. If there is a question that is not covered, contact me and I'll give it a go.)
I'm Christian and single, and I'm ready for a relationship. How do I "handle" my singleness?
- Is there a soulmate for me?
- Is there a "Biblical" way to meet someone?
- Does the Bible really say that I can only date other Christians?
- How do I "prepare" myself for a relationship?
I'm Christian and in a relationship, it's all going pretty well, but...
- How do I really know that he/she is the one God has prepared for me?
What does the Bible actually say about sex outside of marriage?
What does the Bible say about pornography?
If you have any other questions that are not covered above, then contact me via the comments.
God willing, I will move on to some "meaty" theological topics. Coming up next: faith vs works.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Monday, October 5, 2015
Eph 5:22-33- Christian marriages: Why headship is way more than you think, and submission is not a dirty word.
Ephesians 5:22-33 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Introduction
I felt moved to write this after my husband heard a sermon on this passage, and felt the explanation the preacher gave to be inadequate. I couldn't help but feel that Christianity (and the Church) has been poorly represented in the secular community due to poor exegesis. A quick reading of the above passage may lead someone to believe that the husband is the dominant authority in the household, and the wife is the passive, obedient one. You would naturally think that Christianity is to blame for all the misogyny, sexism, and domestic violence in the Western world. I felt moved to address this.
Moreover, serious, Bible-believing men and women may also become confused. A young man may want to be a good husband in the most biblical way possible, but does that mean he must become the "lord" of his household, dominating his beloved wife with his masculinity? A young woman may likewise wish to follow the Bible's teachings, but does that mean she must leave her personality, her intellect, and her individual opinions behind when she marries, and must relegate herself to become some sort of subordinate to her husband?
When we take the effort to approach this text more studiously, you will find a picture of marriage that is too beautiful and too romantic for even the most idealistic poet to imagine. This is going to be a bit of a long article, but I hope you can follow with me to that picture.
The context of the text
When we come to a text and consider its meaning, we should always resist the urge to take the text out of the context of the chapter and the book it is written in.
Ephesians 5:22-6:9 is a section where the author Paul discusses how different relationships should work between Christians, and the preceding chapters, chapters 1-4 explains the why. Paul spends the first three chapters giving a detailed discussion on Jesus - his lavish love for us, his gracious act of redemption for us, giving us life and immeasurable riches with Him. Chapter four tells us that we have unity with each other in Christ, and through Him we can put aside our old, selfish selves, and put on a new, Christ centred life. Chapter five then opens with:
Headship is more than you think
When we think of the man has the head of the family, we naturally consider a situation where the man is the "master" of his family. I grew up in such a family. If we ever sat around to watch TV, my father held the remote and decided what we were going to watch. If my mother bought any expensive food or rare fruit, the choicest, largest piece usually went to my father. (Sometimes it went to us kids, but he always got the better portion compared to my mother.) If ever we disagreed, he had the ultimate veto power, and he enforced his control by shouting, emotional manipulation, and, once in a while, by physical violence.
Jesus has a different idea of what headship and leadership means. In Luke 22, while seated at the Last Supper, the disciples start arguing over who was to be regarded as the greatest. Jesus didn't admonish them for their ambition for greatness, but instead offered an alternative definition of greatness:
Paul picks up on this when he says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her". How does Christ love the church? Perhaps I don't need to outline the lavish and sacrificial love Christ has for his beloved bride the church, the way he endured death and separation from God in order for the church to be redeemed to him. Paul demands that sort of love from husbands for their wives. And it's not just a theoretical "if a gunman ever comes I'll jump in front of a bullet for you" kind of sacrifice, but also in the mundane, day to day things that place your wife's needs above your own.
Next, we come to the goal of headship. It's important to see that the leadership of the husband is not in order to boost his ego, or so that he may have his way all the time, or assert his dominance. Instead, the aim is that:
There is so much more I could say about this, because the language in the text is so rich and loaded with imagery, but I feel we must move on, before this article becomes a novel.
Submission is not a dirty word
When we hear the word submission, we instinctively repulse against it - and with good reason. After all, submission is something we teach our children and our puppies. We imagine a wife who is a sort of subordinate to her husband, silently submissive to his will and command. We imagine a diminished woman who left behind her own ideas and opinions behind when she married, and is but a shadow behind her looming husband.
The text says: Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Ephesians 4:24. Sounds pretty submissive to me, right? But how does the church submit to Christ?
Well, certainly the church submits to Christ by accepting his love and sacrifice for us, as a start. The church puts absolute trust and faith in Christ's love, but certainly not in a passive, silent, leave-your-gifts-behind kind of way. In fact, those in leadership positions within the church are always looking for ways to make use of every available resource to bring glory to Christ:
What this looks like
Imagine a couple dancing a beautiful waltz. The man is dressed in a tux, his back straight and strong but not inflexible, the lady in a beautiful flowing dress, her steps and turns flowing seamlessly. They dance to the tune of Christ's love for them. The husband commits to loving his wife as sacrificially, selflessly, and courageously as possible, in all things seeking to make her more perfect, more holy, and more splendid. Not because of how great he is or how great she is, but simply because he has received the same love from Christ. In turn, the wife commits to honouring her husband, trusting in his love, and committing all that she has to make him more glorious. Not because of how wonderful her husband is, but simply because she first submitted her ultimate love and trust and obedience to Christ.
And thus, the couple dances through life, and each hurdle that comes their way. At times in their dance together one may dance more vibrantly than the other, and they may indeed follow each other's lead in different times. But the basic pattern remains the same, and all this with the love of Christ being their mutual goal, their joy, and satisfaction.
But what does it look like, really?
At this point, the reader might want to say, "Yes, that's a nice picture you have painted, but how does this work? Who holds the remote? Who controls the finances? Who does the cooking? Can the wife go to work? If the two disagree on something, who has the right to make the final decision?"
The bible offers guiding principles to help us navigate through life, but it doesn't didactically give specific laws about every single decision we've got to make. I would say that an approach that seeks to give specific, inflexible and absolute answers to the above questions would be legalistic and Pharisaical. When we married, my husband and I had slightly different marital vows. He vowed to "love, honour, and protect" me all his life. I vowed to "love, honour, and respect" him all of my life. While our marriage is not perfect, we fulfilled our vows in different ways as our situations changed. There was a time when I did most of the housework. Then there was a time when he did most of the housework. For the majority of our married life, as he pursued full time theological studies, I was the sole breadwinner. But I don't feel unloved, and he does not feel disrespected, as we seek to worship Christ together.
The other thing to note that Eph 5:22-33 is talking about duties of the husband and wife toward one another, and not rights. And the duties are Christ-centred. As soon as we begin to ask questions like "who has the right to make the final decisions", we are already starting off on the wrong foot. The focus is not on what is your right to expect from your spouse, but what is your duty toward your spouse.
Finally, a practical example
Jack and Jill are a young married couple, who are struggling financially and living pay-day to pay-day. Finally, they save up a sum of money, and disagree about what to do with it.
The rights-based, battle of the sexes approach
Jill says: "I have been so tired in the past few months, this year has been so stressful, I feel jaded and faded. I found this great deal on the internet for a relaxing holiday overseas, it's a great bargain. We can afford it, we've got the money, but Jack says no. Doesn't he realise that he is supposed to love me sacrificially and selflessly? I have been married to him all these years and worked hard all these years, how can he be so selfish? I have the right to feel loved, but he just isn't doing it."
Jack says: "Living pay-day to pay-day is so stressful for me, I'm always afraid that something unexpected would happen. What if the old car falls apart? What if one of our kids become really sick? This money gives us a buffer and helps relieve my anxiety, but she wants to throw it all away on some extravagant holiday. She's so impractical. Doesn't she know that she is supposed to submit to me, that I am the head of this household? I have the right to decide what to do with this money, but she just isn't submissive to it."
As the conflict escalates, the issue becomes more and more personal, and both parties feel injured and that their rights has been violated.
The duty-based, Christ-centred approach
Jill says: "I am tired and stressed and would love a holiday, but Jack says no. But perhaps I need not feel so tired and stressed? What is it about my life that is tiring and stressing me out? After all, in Christ I will renew my strength and have peace that transcends understanding. I feel unloved when Jack doesn't want to go on a holiday, but that's ok, because I know I am already loved by Christ, more completely and lavishly than Jack's love. But I am to submit to Jack. I still want to go on a holiday, but more importantly, how can I respect Jack in this conflict?"
Jack says: "Living pay-day to pay-day is so stressful for me, but why am I so stressed? I am trying to provide for my family, but I know that, ultimately, Christ provides for us, even in the unexpected circumstances. Perhaps I am trying to put my security in having a good bank balance - I need to reorient my security on Christ. I still don't think this holiday is a good idea, but I know that I am to love her, because Christ first loved me. So, how can I love her sacrificially in this issue?"
There is no right or wrong answer to how they will resolve this issue, but no matter what the conclusion is, Jill will try to make sure that Jack is respected, and Jack will try to make sure that Jill is loved. Neither focuses on their own rights, or even their own feelings - but instead they will try to love and respect each other out of the love and dignity they have received from Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Introduction
I felt moved to write this after my husband heard a sermon on this passage, and felt the explanation the preacher gave to be inadequate. I couldn't help but feel that Christianity (and the Church) has been poorly represented in the secular community due to poor exegesis. A quick reading of the above passage may lead someone to believe that the husband is the dominant authority in the household, and the wife is the passive, obedient one. You would naturally think that Christianity is to blame for all the misogyny, sexism, and domestic violence in the Western world. I felt moved to address this.
Moreover, serious, Bible-believing men and women may also become confused. A young man may want to be a good husband in the most biblical way possible, but does that mean he must become the "lord" of his household, dominating his beloved wife with his masculinity? A young woman may likewise wish to follow the Bible's teachings, but does that mean she must leave her personality, her intellect, and her individual opinions behind when she marries, and must relegate herself to become some sort of subordinate to her husband?
When we take the effort to approach this text more studiously, you will find a picture of marriage that is too beautiful and too romantic for even the most idealistic poet to imagine. This is going to be a bit of a long article, but I hope you can follow with me to that picture.
The context of the text
When we come to a text and consider its meaning, we should always resist the urge to take the text out of the context of the chapter and the book it is written in.
Ephesians 5:22-6:9 is a section where the author Paul discusses how different relationships should work between Christians, and the preceding chapters, chapters 1-4 explains the why. Paul spends the first three chapters giving a detailed discussion on Jesus - his lavish love for us, his gracious act of redemption for us, giving us life and immeasurable riches with Him. Chapter four tells us that we have unity with each other in Christ, and through Him we can put aside our old, selfish selves, and put on a new, Christ centred life. Chapter five then opens with:
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph 5:1-2 (ESV)This bit is important: as we approach the words of instruction to wives and husbands, we remember we do this because Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. When Paul gets to chapter five, he is writing to the Ephesian church assuming that they have read chapters 1-4, and have grasped the good news of the gospel, and living in Spirit-renewed unity... and he gives instructions to husbands and wives having set the foundation of the gospel. The instructions given to married couples has the expectation that they are both already Christians who understand the foundations set in chapters 1-4.
Headship is more than you think
When we think of the man has the head of the family, we naturally consider a situation where the man is the "master" of his family. I grew up in such a family. If we ever sat around to watch TV, my father held the remote and decided what we were going to watch. If my mother bought any expensive food or rare fruit, the choicest, largest piece usually went to my father. (Sometimes it went to us kids, but he always got the better portion compared to my mother.) If ever we disagreed, he had the ultimate veto power, and he enforced his control by shouting, emotional manipulation, and, once in a while, by physical violence.
Jesus has a different idea of what headship and leadership means. In Luke 22, while seated at the Last Supper, the disciples start arguing over who was to be regarded as the greatest. Jesus didn't admonish them for their ambition for greatness, but instead offered an alternative definition of greatness:
"Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is greater, the one who reclines at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves." Luke 22:26-27 (ESV)John 13 also records that, at the same supper, Jesus washed his disciples' feet to demonstrate the same lesson, and instructed them to do the same. So, we see that Jesus demonstrates his greatness not by displays of power or domination, but by being among us as one who serves.
Paul picks up on this when he says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her". How does Christ love the church? Perhaps I don't need to outline the lavish and sacrificial love Christ has for his beloved bride the church, the way he endured death and separation from God in order for the church to be redeemed to him. Paul demands that sort of love from husbands for their wives. And it's not just a theoretical "if a gunman ever comes I'll jump in front of a bullet for you" kind of sacrifice, but also in the mundane, day to day things that place your wife's needs above your own.
Next, we come to the goal of headship. It's important to see that the leadership of the husband is not in order to boost his ego, or so that he may have his way all the time, or assert his dominance. Instead, the aim is that:
"he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." Eph 5:26-27 (ESV)You see, according to the biblical model, my husband is to sacrificially love me because it leads to my sanctification. In other words, it leads me to grow more holy, more like Christ, and with more splendour. (I feel a little embarrassed even typing this. Me? Splendour? But hey, the text says what the text says.)
There is so much more I could say about this, because the language in the text is so rich and loaded with imagery, but I feel we must move on, before this article becomes a novel.
Submission is not a dirty word
When we hear the word submission, we instinctively repulse against it - and with good reason. After all, submission is something we teach our children and our puppies. We imagine a wife who is a sort of subordinate to her husband, silently submissive to his will and command. We imagine a diminished woman who left behind her own ideas and opinions behind when she married, and is but a shadow behind her looming husband.
The text says: Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Ephesians 4:24. Sounds pretty submissive to me, right? But how does the church submit to Christ?
Well, certainly the church submits to Christ by accepting his love and sacrifice for us, as a start. The church puts absolute trust and faith in Christ's love, but certainly not in a passive, silent, leave-your-gifts-behind kind of way. In fact, those in leadership positions within the church are always looking for ways to make use of every available resource to bring glory to Christ:
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21. (ESV)The bible is clear that the wife is not subordinate or a lower-class human compared to her husband (see Galatians 3:28, Genesis 1:27). However, the wife devotes herself to submission to her husband the way the church submits - not by suppressing her gifts and ideas and opinions, but by using them all to make him more glorious.
What this looks like
Imagine a couple dancing a beautiful waltz. The man is dressed in a tux, his back straight and strong but not inflexible, the lady in a beautiful flowing dress, her steps and turns flowing seamlessly. They dance to the tune of Christ's love for them. The husband commits to loving his wife as sacrificially, selflessly, and courageously as possible, in all things seeking to make her more perfect, more holy, and more splendid. Not because of how great he is or how great she is, but simply because he has received the same love from Christ. In turn, the wife commits to honouring her husband, trusting in his love, and committing all that she has to make him more glorious. Not because of how wonderful her husband is, but simply because she first submitted her ultimate love and trust and obedience to Christ.
And thus, the couple dances through life, and each hurdle that comes their way. At times in their dance together one may dance more vibrantly than the other, and they may indeed follow each other's lead in different times. But the basic pattern remains the same, and all this with the love of Christ being their mutual goal, their joy, and satisfaction.
But what does it look like, really?
At this point, the reader might want to say, "Yes, that's a nice picture you have painted, but how does this work? Who holds the remote? Who controls the finances? Who does the cooking? Can the wife go to work? If the two disagree on something, who has the right to make the final decision?"
The bible offers guiding principles to help us navigate through life, but it doesn't didactically give specific laws about every single decision we've got to make. I would say that an approach that seeks to give specific, inflexible and absolute answers to the above questions would be legalistic and Pharisaical. When we married, my husband and I had slightly different marital vows. He vowed to "love, honour, and protect" me all his life. I vowed to "love, honour, and respect" him all of my life. While our marriage is not perfect, we fulfilled our vows in different ways as our situations changed. There was a time when I did most of the housework. Then there was a time when he did most of the housework. For the majority of our married life, as he pursued full time theological studies, I was the sole breadwinner. But I don't feel unloved, and he does not feel disrespected, as we seek to worship Christ together.
The other thing to note that Eph 5:22-33 is talking about duties of the husband and wife toward one another, and not rights. And the duties are Christ-centred. As soon as we begin to ask questions like "who has the right to make the final decisions", we are already starting off on the wrong foot. The focus is not on what is your right to expect from your spouse, but what is your duty toward your spouse.
Finally, a practical example
Jack and Jill are a young married couple, who are struggling financially and living pay-day to pay-day. Finally, they save up a sum of money, and disagree about what to do with it.
The rights-based, battle of the sexes approach
Jill says: "I have been so tired in the past few months, this year has been so stressful, I feel jaded and faded. I found this great deal on the internet for a relaxing holiday overseas, it's a great bargain. We can afford it, we've got the money, but Jack says no. Doesn't he realise that he is supposed to love me sacrificially and selflessly? I have been married to him all these years and worked hard all these years, how can he be so selfish? I have the right to feel loved, but he just isn't doing it."
Jack says: "Living pay-day to pay-day is so stressful for me, I'm always afraid that something unexpected would happen. What if the old car falls apart? What if one of our kids become really sick? This money gives us a buffer and helps relieve my anxiety, but she wants to throw it all away on some extravagant holiday. She's so impractical. Doesn't she know that she is supposed to submit to me, that I am the head of this household? I have the right to decide what to do with this money, but she just isn't submissive to it."
As the conflict escalates, the issue becomes more and more personal, and both parties feel injured and that their rights has been violated.
The duty-based, Christ-centred approach
Jill says: "I am tired and stressed and would love a holiday, but Jack says no. But perhaps I need not feel so tired and stressed? What is it about my life that is tiring and stressing me out? After all, in Christ I will renew my strength and have peace that transcends understanding. I feel unloved when Jack doesn't want to go on a holiday, but that's ok, because I know I am already loved by Christ, more completely and lavishly than Jack's love. But I am to submit to Jack. I still want to go on a holiday, but more importantly, how can I respect Jack in this conflict?"
Jack says: "Living pay-day to pay-day is so stressful for me, but why am I so stressed? I am trying to provide for my family, but I know that, ultimately, Christ provides for us, even in the unexpected circumstances. Perhaps I am trying to put my security in having a good bank balance - I need to reorient my security on Christ. I still don't think this holiday is a good idea, but I know that I am to love her, because Christ first loved me. So, how can I love her sacrificially in this issue?"
There is no right or wrong answer to how they will resolve this issue, but no matter what the conclusion is, Jill will try to make sure that Jack is respected, and Jack will try to make sure that Jill is loved. Neither focuses on their own rights, or even their own feelings - but instead they will try to love and respect each other out of the love and dignity they have received from Christ.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Joy and Happiness in the Christian mindset
Recently, I saw a question posted by an acquaintance on Facebook: is it true that when non-Christians find happiness, they're not truly happy; they just think they are?
I thought it was a great question, and here is my rather long-winded attempt to answer it.
Happiness vs Joy
Joy is a word frequently used in the Bible to denote happiness and gladness. However, it is important to make a distinction between joy in the Biblical sense (I will call it biblical joy) and an emotional happiness.
Biblical joy is not just an emotional state, but a quality or a characteristic of the believer. The believer has joy at all times, in all circumstances, even in the face of great trials. (See Phil 4:4). The object of Christian joy is in the person of Christ Himself: whether our surroundings are good or bad, we recognise that He himself is sufficient for our needs, and we will never lose His love or faithfulness. Biblical joy is not something that we conjure up ourselves, through self-affirmation or pep talks - it is given by God (Rom 15:13), and is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Happiness is different. It is an emotion, not a character. Many things make us happy, usually for perfectly legitimate reasons. Roast on a winter's night, cold beer in a summer's eve, a lover's embrace, a baby's chuckle, the list goes on. A person (Christian or non-Christian) may very well live generally contented lives: enjoying prosperity, the love of their family and friends, content in their jobs and hobbies.
It is, I believe, imperative to make a distinction between Biblical joy and happiness. Without such a distinction, you may expect Christians to be happy all the time, and non-Christians to be always miserable - and this is simply not the case.
Some facts about joy:
1. Christian joy is joy in the Lord. (See Phil 4:4)
Christian joy flows from a relationship with Christ. We don't rejoice because Christ has given us a nice job, nice family, or a healthy body. We don't even rejoice even because Christ has saved us from hell. Christian joy is simply joy in the Lord - a simple recognition that Christ is all things great and glorious, Christ is great strength and great beauty all in one, and simply that we get to have a relationship with Him. We rejoice over the good news - the wonderful news - that for this relationship to be made possible great sacrifice had to be made, and He has made it. Thus, we rejoice over who He is, what He has done, and our bond with Him.
2. Christian joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
When we have a relationship with Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works in our lives in such a way that it gives visible results - or, to use the language of Galatians, bears fruit. It is important to note that these are not our fruit, but the Spirit's. Therefore, Christian joy can not be "produced" by some self-affirmation pep talk, nor by some self-applied cognitive behavioural therapy. You can not make a New Year's resolution to have more joy - it simply will not work. Instead, we take our eyes off ourselves, on to Christ, and joy naturally flowers and fruits.
3. Joy in all circumstances (Phil 4:12, James 1:2-4)
In Phil 4:12, Paul informs us that he has learned the "secret" of facing all situations, whether good or bad. Earlier in the same chapter, he gives us the key to the secret: we are to rejoice in the Lord, because He is at hand and He gives us peace. If we are to rejoice in the Lord, then we will indeed have surpassing joy - because Christ surpasses everything! In a world of uncertainty and change, Christ's nature doesn't change, the work of Christ on the cross doesn't change, and our relationship to Him doesn't change. What is most of value to us - above health and wealth - Christ Himself - will not be taken from us, although our health may fail and money flows in and out of our bank accounts almost as if it has a life of its own.
James gives us another reason to have joy in tough circumstances: because they produce steadfastness (James 1:2), or endurance in our faith. Our trials and sufferings produce a deeper, more steadfast faith in Christ, enriching and deepening our relationship with Him - and in this we rejoice! So, even in our trials, the source of our joy and the focus of our attention is still Christ.
OK... so how does this apply to me?
1. Does this mean that Christians should be happy at all times?
3 years ago, my father-in-law passed away after a swift battle with cancer. Our family was devastated - but particularly my mother-in-law. They had been happily married for over 30 years, lived through some terrible trials together, and was just starting to enjoy a more stable lifestyle. She was shattered. During those days, if somebody had come up to her and said, "Why are you sad? Christians should always be happy!", I might very well have punched them in the face.
The Bible does not teach that Christians should be stoical in all situations. Jesus was not a stoic - he wept, anguished, got angry, and sweated blood. In the passages of the Bible where it talks about rejoicing in all circumstances, there is a recognition that these circumstances causes grief and suffering. (See Romans 5:3-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7.) These books, often written during times where Christians faced terrible persecution, showed a raw and acute awareness of the devastation life can throw at us. However, these passages does give us encouragement and point us toward the object and source of our joy, Christ Himself. My mother-in-law is not perfect (which daughter-in-law will admit that?), but I do know that her ultimate comfort, and joy, came from Christ.
2. So, what should we say to non-Christians who seem to have it all?
A couple of years ago, my brother-in-law started doing some work placements inside a hospital, where he met many doctors. He was amazed - these doctors were smart, altruistic, compassionate, hard working, secure, and friendly. And none of them were believers. "They are happier than you are," he said to me, somewhat accusational in his tone, "and they laugh at Christians."
C. S. Lewis, in his book The Pilgrim's Regress, suggest that we are all searching and yearning for a place of absolute beauty, where all of our desires and needs are ultimately fulfilled. Various things in life give us an "image" of what that place is like - poetry, music, entertainment, food, and even love from our family and friends - all give us a faint taste, a little snippet, of that place of ultimate fulfilment. But these things are only good as sign-posts: when you pursue them for their own sake, the faint happiness you get from them disappears like a mirage, leaving behind only despair and addiction. (Think about the hypochondriacs who obsess about their health so much they lose their enjoyment of their health; the foodie who descends into bulimia; the doting mother whose happiness is so entangled in her son that both of their lives are a misery.) A non-Christian do not always have to fall into the extremes of addiction and despair - you can ostensibly enjoy a little bit of everything without being completely addicted to it. And certainly - the happiness that you get out of a hot roast or a cold beer, or your wife's embrace - is all very, very real.
But I would tell my non-Christian friends who live happy lives - that their happiness is but merely happiness, which is only a shadow or a mirage compared to the deeper, eternal joy that they could have in Christ. Examine each source of happiness, examine it closely and you'll see smoke and mirage. The fulfilment that we have in Christ - is so much bigger, more joyful, more fulfilling, more solid - and so much more freeing than any other happiness that we can have. We know, deep down, that this kind of fulfilment is impossible for us who are mere human - and yet Christ has made it possible. And that is the good news.
I thought it was a great question, and here is my rather long-winded attempt to answer it.
Happiness vs Joy
Joy is a word frequently used in the Bible to denote happiness and gladness. However, it is important to make a distinction between joy in the Biblical sense (I will call it biblical joy) and an emotional happiness.
Biblical joy is not just an emotional state, but a quality or a characteristic of the believer. The believer has joy at all times, in all circumstances, even in the face of great trials. (See Phil 4:4). The object of Christian joy is in the person of Christ Himself: whether our surroundings are good or bad, we recognise that He himself is sufficient for our needs, and we will never lose His love or faithfulness. Biblical joy is not something that we conjure up ourselves, through self-affirmation or pep talks - it is given by God (Rom 15:13), and is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Happiness is different. It is an emotion, not a character. Many things make us happy, usually for perfectly legitimate reasons. Roast on a winter's night, cold beer in a summer's eve, a lover's embrace, a baby's chuckle, the list goes on. A person (Christian or non-Christian) may very well live generally contented lives: enjoying prosperity, the love of their family and friends, content in their jobs and hobbies.
It is, I believe, imperative to make a distinction between Biblical joy and happiness. Without such a distinction, you may expect Christians to be happy all the time, and non-Christians to be always miserable - and this is simply not the case.
Some facts about joy:
1. Christian joy is joy in the Lord. (See Phil 4:4)
Christian joy flows from a relationship with Christ. We don't rejoice because Christ has given us a nice job, nice family, or a healthy body. We don't even rejoice even because Christ has saved us from hell. Christian joy is simply joy in the Lord - a simple recognition that Christ is all things great and glorious, Christ is great strength and great beauty all in one, and simply that we get to have a relationship with Him. We rejoice over the good news - the wonderful news - that for this relationship to be made possible great sacrifice had to be made, and He has made it. Thus, we rejoice over who He is, what He has done, and our bond with Him.
2. Christian joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
When we have a relationship with Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works in our lives in such a way that it gives visible results - or, to use the language of Galatians, bears fruit. It is important to note that these are not our fruit, but the Spirit's. Therefore, Christian joy can not be "produced" by some self-affirmation pep talk, nor by some self-applied cognitive behavioural therapy. You can not make a New Year's resolution to have more joy - it simply will not work. Instead, we take our eyes off ourselves, on to Christ, and joy naturally flowers and fruits.
3. Joy in all circumstances (Phil 4:12, James 1:2-4)
In Phil 4:12, Paul informs us that he has learned the "secret" of facing all situations, whether good or bad. Earlier in the same chapter, he gives us the key to the secret: we are to rejoice in the Lord, because He is at hand and He gives us peace. If we are to rejoice in the Lord, then we will indeed have surpassing joy - because Christ surpasses everything! In a world of uncertainty and change, Christ's nature doesn't change, the work of Christ on the cross doesn't change, and our relationship to Him doesn't change. What is most of value to us - above health and wealth - Christ Himself - will not be taken from us, although our health may fail and money flows in and out of our bank accounts almost as if it has a life of its own.
James gives us another reason to have joy in tough circumstances: because they produce steadfastness (James 1:2), or endurance in our faith. Our trials and sufferings produce a deeper, more steadfast faith in Christ, enriching and deepening our relationship with Him - and in this we rejoice! So, even in our trials, the source of our joy and the focus of our attention is still Christ.
OK... so how does this apply to me?
1. Does this mean that Christians should be happy at all times?
3 years ago, my father-in-law passed away after a swift battle with cancer. Our family was devastated - but particularly my mother-in-law. They had been happily married for over 30 years, lived through some terrible trials together, and was just starting to enjoy a more stable lifestyle. She was shattered. During those days, if somebody had come up to her and said, "Why are you sad? Christians should always be happy!", I might very well have punched them in the face.
The Bible does not teach that Christians should be stoical in all situations. Jesus was not a stoic - he wept, anguished, got angry, and sweated blood. In the passages of the Bible where it talks about rejoicing in all circumstances, there is a recognition that these circumstances causes grief and suffering. (See Romans 5:3-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7.) These books, often written during times where Christians faced terrible persecution, showed a raw and acute awareness of the devastation life can throw at us. However, these passages does give us encouragement and point us toward the object and source of our joy, Christ Himself. My mother-in-law is not perfect (which daughter-in-law will admit that?), but I do know that her ultimate comfort, and joy, came from Christ.
2. So, what should we say to non-Christians who seem to have it all?
A couple of years ago, my brother-in-law started doing some work placements inside a hospital, where he met many doctors. He was amazed - these doctors were smart, altruistic, compassionate, hard working, secure, and friendly. And none of them were believers. "They are happier than you are," he said to me, somewhat accusational in his tone, "and they laugh at Christians."
C. S. Lewis, in his book The Pilgrim's Regress, suggest that we are all searching and yearning for a place of absolute beauty, where all of our desires and needs are ultimately fulfilled. Various things in life give us an "image" of what that place is like - poetry, music, entertainment, food, and even love from our family and friends - all give us a faint taste, a little snippet, of that place of ultimate fulfilment. But these things are only good as sign-posts: when you pursue them for their own sake, the faint happiness you get from them disappears like a mirage, leaving behind only despair and addiction. (Think about the hypochondriacs who obsess about their health so much they lose their enjoyment of their health; the foodie who descends into bulimia; the doting mother whose happiness is so entangled in her son that both of their lives are a misery.) A non-Christian do not always have to fall into the extremes of addiction and despair - you can ostensibly enjoy a little bit of everything without being completely addicted to it. And certainly - the happiness that you get out of a hot roast or a cold beer, or your wife's embrace - is all very, very real.
But I would tell my non-Christian friends who live happy lives - that their happiness is but merely happiness, which is only a shadow or a mirage compared to the deeper, eternal joy that they could have in Christ. Examine each source of happiness, examine it closely and you'll see smoke and mirage. The fulfilment that we have in Christ - is so much bigger, more joyful, more fulfilling, more solid - and so much more freeing than any other happiness that we can have. We know, deep down, that this kind of fulfilment is impossible for us who are mere human - and yet Christ has made it possible. And that is the good news.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
What every worship leader must realise
This post is dedicated to all Christians who participate in the music ministry (or the worship ministry), but most of all to the worship leader, or the "song leader" as some churches call it.
1. Realise why you do what you do.
So you participate in the music ministry - you select a few songs, lead the worship, or perhaps you play an instrument in church. It is vital that you pause and ask yourself - "why do we have worship? why does our church sing songs? What are we trying to achieve?".
It is simply not good enough to say, "we sing worship songs because we have always sang worship songs". It is also not good enough to say, "I am leading worship because I am good at singing." It is definitely not good enough to say: "we sing worship songs because Pastor wants us to", or "we sing worship songs because all the other churches sing worship songs".
Now, I am not an expert in this topic, but I think we need to look no further than the Bible:
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvellous things
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
- Psalm 98:1
There are many other psalms that extol people to worship God through singing and making music (see Ps 66, 81, 89, 92, 95, 96, 100, 101, 105... and so on.) In all of them, the Psalmist calls us to sing and make music to God, as a response to what he has done for us, and to his greatness. (For the Christian today, worship therefore is a response to the gospel.) The psalmist used music for individual worship, and the nation of Israel used music for corporate worship. From time immemorial, people have been making music as an outpouring of love in response to God's outpouring of love over us. And if that isn't the reason you're singing, then you're doing it wrong.
2. Realise that the music doesn't matter. The worship matters.
Once, I took part in an Easter Friday prayer service, where the pastor simply played a music CD on speakers, and the congregation sang along to the CD. And yet, as the pastor lead us in prayer and in song, tears were flowing, confessions made, hands were raised in submission, and God was glorified. There were no singers, no band, just a CD on replay.
Worship is an act of adoration, an act of submission, in response to God's love. You can't make worship the way you make music, worship is something that just happens when people come to God with the right attitude. Your job as a worship leader is not just to make music, but to lead the people in worship. (Also, you can't make people worship by singing a great song, or by having the PA guy turn the volume higher. You lead people to worship. This means if you are not worshipping, people won't follow.)
There is no point in having a full symphony orchestra in your band, if you don't have the heart of worship. There is no point in making the singers harmonise their vocals, if that means their mind is too focussed on getting the harmony right to really set their eyes upon God.
3. Realise that your preparation shows.
There is a Chinese proverb that says: "ten years of training for three minutes on stage". In other words, you must put the hard work in to preparing, even if you will only be on stage for a few minutes.
My husband says that the stage is somewhere that really exposes who you are in Christ. And if you are not prepared, it will also show.
I am not talking about technical preparedness (such as practising the songs, preparing the chords, but that is important too), but spiritual preparedness. In order to lead God's people to worship, you must know how to worship, not just on stage but also in every day life. You can't lead people to relate with God if you yourself don't have a relationship with God. You simply can not lead people where you have not been yourself. If you don't worship God in private, no amount of musical practice will cover that up. It shows.
4. Realise that it is not about you. It's all about Jesus.
Your job as a worship leader is to lead people in adoration of God, in response to the Gospel. The psalmist says "Sing to the Lord because he is great", not "sing to the Lord because he gave you a really nice voice". Perhaps, inevitably in worship, people may notice that you have a nice voice, or that you're gifted on the piano. But if that is all that they notice, then worship didn't happen. True worship is when people hear the music, and get swept up in the great love story that is Jesus. It is not about you, or your instruments, or how well you harmonise. It is all about Jesus.
5. Realise that it is possible for God to reject your worship
In Amos 5:23, God says to the Israelites: "Spare me the sound of your songs. I won't listen to the music of your harps.".
The subject of unacceptable worship is a huge one, and I can't do it justice here. But realise that it is possible for God not to accept your worship, God is not obligated to be pleased. If you sing worship songs but the object of your focus is not God (for example, if your focus is on your voice, the music, or your image), then that is idolatry and God is not pleased.
Conclusion: worship done right
I remember many times in the past, when I have had a particularly tough week, I manage to hold it all together until the worship starts. When the music starts, and I am reminded of how great God is, His love sweep over me and the tears flow. It feels like a burden taken off your shoulders, as if God Himself is saying: "welcome home. Leave your burdens behind, and come sit at my feet."
Worship does that. It reminds us of our place in His salvation, turns our hearts towards the cross, and leads us to His courts.
This responsibility and ministry of worship was given to Aaron and his sons, taken up by King David and the psalmists, and now given to you. In the end, it is all about Jesus.
1. Realise why you do what you do.
So you participate in the music ministry - you select a few songs, lead the worship, or perhaps you play an instrument in church. It is vital that you pause and ask yourself - "why do we have worship? why does our church sing songs? What are we trying to achieve?".
It is simply not good enough to say, "we sing worship songs because we have always sang worship songs". It is also not good enough to say, "I am leading worship because I am good at singing." It is definitely not good enough to say: "we sing worship songs because Pastor wants us to", or "we sing worship songs because all the other churches sing worship songs".
Now, I am not an expert in this topic, but I think we need to look no further than the Bible:
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvellous things
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
- Psalm 98:1
There are many other psalms that extol people to worship God through singing and making music (see Ps 66, 81, 89, 92, 95, 96, 100, 101, 105... and so on.) In all of them, the Psalmist calls us to sing and make music to God, as a response to what he has done for us, and to his greatness. (For the Christian today, worship therefore is a response to the gospel.) The psalmist used music for individual worship, and the nation of Israel used music for corporate worship. From time immemorial, people have been making music as an outpouring of love in response to God's outpouring of love over us. And if that isn't the reason you're singing, then you're doing it wrong.
2. Realise that the music doesn't matter. The worship matters.
Once, I took part in an Easter Friday prayer service, where the pastor simply played a music CD on speakers, and the congregation sang along to the CD. And yet, as the pastor lead us in prayer and in song, tears were flowing, confessions made, hands were raised in submission, and God was glorified. There were no singers, no band, just a CD on replay.
Worship is an act of adoration, an act of submission, in response to God's love. You can't make worship the way you make music, worship is something that just happens when people come to God with the right attitude. Your job as a worship leader is not just to make music, but to lead the people in worship. (Also, you can't make people worship by singing a great song, or by having the PA guy turn the volume higher. You lead people to worship. This means if you are not worshipping, people won't follow.)
There is no point in having a full symphony orchestra in your band, if you don't have the heart of worship. There is no point in making the singers harmonise their vocals, if that means their mind is too focussed on getting the harmony right to really set their eyes upon God.
3. Realise that your preparation shows.
There is a Chinese proverb that says: "ten years of training for three minutes on stage". In other words, you must put the hard work in to preparing, even if you will only be on stage for a few minutes.
My husband says that the stage is somewhere that really exposes who you are in Christ. And if you are not prepared, it will also show.
I am not talking about technical preparedness (such as practising the songs, preparing the chords, but that is important too), but spiritual preparedness. In order to lead God's people to worship, you must know how to worship, not just on stage but also in every day life. You can't lead people to relate with God if you yourself don't have a relationship with God. You simply can not lead people where you have not been yourself. If you don't worship God in private, no amount of musical practice will cover that up. It shows.
4. Realise that it is not about you. It's all about Jesus.
Your job as a worship leader is to lead people in adoration of God, in response to the Gospel. The psalmist says "Sing to the Lord because he is great", not "sing to the Lord because he gave you a really nice voice". Perhaps, inevitably in worship, people may notice that you have a nice voice, or that you're gifted on the piano. But if that is all that they notice, then worship didn't happen. True worship is when people hear the music, and get swept up in the great love story that is Jesus. It is not about you, or your instruments, or how well you harmonise. It is all about Jesus.
5. Realise that it is possible for God to reject your worship
In Amos 5:23, God says to the Israelites: "Spare me the sound of your songs. I won't listen to the music of your harps.".
The subject of unacceptable worship is a huge one, and I can't do it justice here. But realise that it is possible for God not to accept your worship, God is not obligated to be pleased. If you sing worship songs but the object of your focus is not God (for example, if your focus is on your voice, the music, or your image), then that is idolatry and God is not pleased.
Conclusion: worship done right
I remember many times in the past, when I have had a particularly tough week, I manage to hold it all together until the worship starts. When the music starts, and I am reminded of how great God is, His love sweep over me and the tears flow. It feels like a burden taken off your shoulders, as if God Himself is saying: "welcome home. Leave your burdens behind, and come sit at my feet."
Worship does that. It reminds us of our place in His salvation, turns our hearts towards the cross, and leads us to His courts.
This responsibility and ministry of worship was given to Aaron and his sons, taken up by King David and the psalmists, and now given to you. In the end, it is all about Jesus.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Random thought #2: Social justice and the church
"These impious Galileans [Christians] not only feed their own poor, but ours also." - Julian the Apostate,
When people think of Christianity and the Church today, do they associate it with social justice? They certainly did early in the history of Christianity.
Julian the Apostate was a Roman emperor in the fourth century, given his rather impious title for his attempts to restore paganism to Rome, undoing the work of his Christian predecessors, and suppression of the development of Christianity. In other words, he despised the Christians, but nevertheless had to admit in his writing that under its church, Rome's impoverished were being looked after.
The early church was scoffed at for the demographic of its flock; the critics called it a religion for "the lower classes, the slaves, and the women." And little wonder - Christianity preached about hope for the future, the transient nature of present sufferings, equality of all men, and women as well. The Church fed the poor, looked after the widows and orphans, and preached that a man should love and honour his wife, and take up the cross for her if necessary. These were all very novel concepts to the ancient Romans. The pagan Romans were known for leaving unwanted newborn babies to die of exposure to the elements - this most often happened if the child was a girl. The church, on the other hand, were known to going out there and picking up these unwanted children, to be brought up and cared for. Though early Christianity was despised, it was also known for its love, justice, and mercy. No wonder Christianity flourished.
Christianity is inseparable from social justice, just as faith is inseparable from works (James 2:14-26). In the Old Testament, when God saw the oppression of the poor and the widows and orphans being forsaken by the nation of Israel, He seethed with anger, and refused to accept their fasts, feasts, or music (Isaiah 58; Amos 5).
What is the reaction of our churches today, when we look at modern injustices such as human trafficking, poverty, inequalities in access to education and medical care? What about the problems in our own backyard? Is our church complacent and sitting on its hands when looking at its global and local responsibilities? Or does the sight and thought of these injustices stir in us a Godly seething anger?
When people think of Christianity and the Church today, do they associate it with social justice? They certainly did early in the history of Christianity.
Julian the Apostate was a Roman emperor in the fourth century, given his rather impious title for his attempts to restore paganism to Rome, undoing the work of his Christian predecessors, and suppression of the development of Christianity. In other words, he despised the Christians, but nevertheless had to admit in his writing that under its church, Rome's impoverished were being looked after.
The early church was scoffed at for the demographic of its flock; the critics called it a religion for "the lower classes, the slaves, and the women." And little wonder - Christianity preached about hope for the future, the transient nature of present sufferings, equality of all men, and women as well. The Church fed the poor, looked after the widows and orphans, and preached that a man should love and honour his wife, and take up the cross for her if necessary. These were all very novel concepts to the ancient Romans. The pagan Romans were known for leaving unwanted newborn babies to die of exposure to the elements - this most often happened if the child was a girl. The church, on the other hand, were known to going out there and picking up these unwanted children, to be brought up and cared for. Though early Christianity was despised, it was also known for its love, justice, and mercy. No wonder Christianity flourished.
Christianity is inseparable from social justice, just as faith is inseparable from works (James 2:14-26). In the Old Testament, when God saw the oppression of the poor and the widows and orphans being forsaken by the nation of Israel, He seethed with anger, and refused to accept their fasts, feasts, or music (Isaiah 58; Amos 5).
What is the reaction of our churches today, when we look at modern injustices such as human trafficking, poverty, inequalities in access to education and medical care? What about the problems in our own backyard? Is our church complacent and sitting on its hands when looking at its global and local responsibilities? Or does the sight and thought of these injustices stir in us a Godly seething anger?
Friday, July 13, 2012
Random Thought on Church History
I've been doing some reading/study on Church History in the past few days, and, I must say, it has been interesting.
Over the next few days, I will present some of my random thoughts as I study this topic. They will be presented in no particular order.
A disclaimer: I'm a doctor of medicine, not a theologian nor a historian. The views presented here have a high chance of being incorrect. And pardon my poor prose; it has been a very long time since I last wrote something other than medical records and shopping lists.
Random Thought #1: Persecutions
"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church; the Church has thrived on persecutions." - Tertullian (AD 116-225).
For the first nearly 300 years of Christianity, its followers were routinely persecuted and killed, its Scriptures and other writings sought out and burnt. How did it then thrive to become the widespread religion that it is today?
When we think of persecutions of Christians today, as it applies to us in the Western world, we think of somebody making fun of our faith. Not so for the early Christians: those persecutions were not mild. Roman citizens faced execution by sword, but non-Roman citizens (which was most of the Roman empire) were killed by various and rather creative means - fed to wild beasts in the gladiatorial arenas, seared with hot irons, crucifixion, as well as other forms of public torture. Christians who were not being tortured were forced to watch the proceedings of others. Knowing that the Christians believe in resurrection of the body, the Romans burnt the bodies of the martyrs and scattered the ashes into the rivers. No Christian that was caught was spared - irrespective of sex, status, wealth, or age. Polycarp was 86 when he was burnt alive; Agnes was 12 or 13.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that He will build the Church on Peter the "rock" - and 'the gates of hell shall not overcome'. Certainly some of the executions the Romans thought up were quite hellish. There can be no doubt that something divine was moving amongst the believers in those first 300 years, and has continued to move in the church as Christians faced persecutions in Asia and Africa in later centuries, and even now as Christians are facing the unspeakable in the Middle East. It is heartening to know that, in this period of crashing economies and whole nations facing bankruptcy, there is one institution that will never fall.
Over the next few days, I will present some of my random thoughts as I study this topic. They will be presented in no particular order.
A disclaimer: I'm a doctor of medicine, not a theologian nor a historian. The views presented here have a high chance of being incorrect. And pardon my poor prose; it has been a very long time since I last wrote something other than medical records and shopping lists.
Random Thought #1: Persecutions
"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church; the Church has thrived on persecutions." - Tertullian (AD 116-225).
For the first nearly 300 years of Christianity, its followers were routinely persecuted and killed, its Scriptures and other writings sought out and burnt. How did it then thrive to become the widespread religion that it is today?
When we think of persecutions of Christians today, as it applies to us in the Western world, we think of somebody making fun of our faith. Not so for the early Christians: those persecutions were not mild. Roman citizens faced execution by sword, but non-Roman citizens (which was most of the Roman empire) were killed by various and rather creative means - fed to wild beasts in the gladiatorial arenas, seared with hot irons, crucifixion, as well as other forms of public torture. Christians who were not being tortured were forced to watch the proceedings of others. Knowing that the Christians believe in resurrection of the body, the Romans burnt the bodies of the martyrs and scattered the ashes into the rivers. No Christian that was caught was spared - irrespective of sex, status, wealth, or age. Polycarp was 86 when he was burnt alive; Agnes was 12 or 13.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that He will build the Church on Peter the "rock" - and 'the gates of hell shall not overcome'. Certainly some of the executions the Romans thought up were quite hellish. There can be no doubt that something divine was moving amongst the believers in those first 300 years, and has continued to move in the church as Christians faced persecutions in Asia and Africa in later centuries, and even now as Christians are facing the unspeakable in the Middle East. It is heartening to know that, in this period of crashing economies and whole nations facing bankruptcy, there is one institution that will never fall.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Top 5 Reasons Christians Should Read The Bible
Last year, I wrote an entry named "Top 5 Reasons Non-Christians Should Read The Bible". At the time, my brother-in-law (who at that time was not yet my brother-in-law) suggested that I write one to exhort Christians to read the bible. He reasoned that too many people professing to be Christians are very unfamiliar with the Bible, its contents, and what it really espouses. I couldn't agree with him more. I have met too many Christians whose only study of the bible occurs at Sunday service or in cell groups. Although they appear to have a strong belief, yet the foundations of their faith are all too easily shaken. I have, since then, wanted to write something like this, but it has taken me a long time.
This is an exceptionally difficult post to write... if we were going to talk about the Bible and why it is important... gosh, where do I start? Do I talk about my own experiences? Do I talk about the intellectual or the emotional ways that the Bible helps us in our faith? Do I go into the theology of scripture - concepts like inspiration of scripture, the birth of the canon, inerrancy of the canon, etc? I hope to write a short, concise, yet compelling and motivating treatise. The emphasis here is on short, something that is easier said than done. Here is my attempt, after many trials and errors. Hope this works.
1. The Bible is God's Story, and if you are a Christian (and therefore believes in God), then it makes sense for you to read it. It is a biography of God and His involvement with His creation. The entire book - even those parts that are not narratives - weave together to tell the story about a perfect God, imperfect and tainted mankind, and His attempts to love us. You can't afford to miss out on this story.
2. Get your theology right.
What do you say if somebody starts attacking your faith? What do you think if someone presented you with what seems like quite a compelling message (in a leaflet, book, or sermon) that sounds good and doesn't seem to deviate too much from Christianity? If ever you were in that situation, would you even know what are the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith? On that vein, what does the Bible really say about abortion, extramarital sex, homosexuality, euthanasia, etc?
It is imperative that the everyday Christian is clear about their theological beliefs, rather than just relying on their leaders and pastors. Firstly, your pastor isn't necessarily going to be around when you are attacked... Secondly (and God forbid that you should meet these), not every compelling "speaker" or "leader" is going to be theologically sound. In the early church, medieval and middle ages, literacy was not widespread among the populace, and people were easily lead by anybody who had good oratory skills. Not so our generation! Read the Bible because you can, and get your theology right.
3. The Bible is practical
What is the best way to make money? What is the best way to relate to people around you? How do you build a relationship with your spouse? How do you bring up your children? How do you deal with life when poverty, persecution, or loneliness comes? What exactly is wisdom, which choices are wise? The Bible does not beat about the bush when it comes to these practical problems that trouble us. Aside from being an epic large scale romance and a theological doctrinal treatise, it is also a practical guidebook of life-money-marriage-parenting.
4. Know what God promises
I believe that what we believe about God and His nature and promises has a profound effect on our values, attitudes, and even our life vision. "Theology dictates living", theologian Dr. S. Donald Fortson III once said. If you know God and what He promises, how will you live differently?
The Bible contains countless promises that God gives us, and without reading it we don't really have an understanding of what they entail. Not only do we need to read the Bible for the promises that are recorded, but we need to keep reading it to remind ourselves, and even memorise it for a time when we can use it to encourage others.
5. Jesus read the Bible. Actually, that's not strictly true - the Bible didn't exist in Jesus' day - many books were in fact written after Jesus' death. However, Jesus was familiar with the scripture that was available to him - the prophets, the laws, and psalms in the Old Testament. He knew them well, committed them to memory, and often made references to them in his teaching.
If you profess to be Christian, and follow Jesus, it makes sense to follow his example!
In closing, you may notice that I didn't include reasons like "God talks to you using the Scriptures". Sometimes it is true that, whilst reading the Bible, a certain verse just jumps out at us, comforts our hearts and directs our steps, as if a personal revelation. Many people have experienced it, myself included... indeed on numerous occasions. However I didn't include this as one of the five reasons, because I don't think we should have a "mining" approach to reading the scriptures, as if we are reading in order to "find" a revelation or to somehow "channel" God to talk to us this way. If you take this attitude to your scripture reading, you may find yourself frustrated after reading 10 chapters of Leviticus and nothing jumps out at you, and you may consider Leviticus 'useless'.
My husband, who is usually permissive about these things, once remarked that regular reading of the Bible is compulsory for anyone who seriously wishes to love and serve God... and we all learn this, sooner or later.
(I'm sure there are a thousand other reasons that I've not presented here, even now I can think of heaps that didn't make this list. If you can think of heaps more, I would love to see your comment.)
This is an exceptionally difficult post to write... if we were going to talk about the Bible and why it is important... gosh, where do I start? Do I talk about my own experiences? Do I talk about the intellectual or the emotional ways that the Bible helps us in our faith? Do I go into the theology of scripture - concepts like inspiration of scripture, the birth of the canon, inerrancy of the canon, etc? I hope to write a short, concise, yet compelling and motivating treatise. The emphasis here is on short, something that is easier said than done. Here is my attempt, after many trials and errors. Hope this works.
1. The Bible is God's Story, and if you are a Christian (and therefore believes in God), then it makes sense for you to read it. It is a biography of God and His involvement with His creation. The entire book - even those parts that are not narratives - weave together to tell the story about a perfect God, imperfect and tainted mankind, and His attempts to love us. You can't afford to miss out on this story.
2. Get your theology right.
What do you say if somebody starts attacking your faith? What do you think if someone presented you with what seems like quite a compelling message (in a leaflet, book, or sermon) that sounds good and doesn't seem to deviate too much from Christianity? If ever you were in that situation, would you even know what are the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith? On that vein, what does the Bible really say about abortion, extramarital sex, homosexuality, euthanasia, etc?
It is imperative that the everyday Christian is clear about their theological beliefs, rather than just relying on their leaders and pastors. Firstly, your pastor isn't necessarily going to be around when you are attacked... Secondly (and God forbid that you should meet these), not every compelling "speaker" or "leader" is going to be theologically sound. In the early church, medieval and middle ages, literacy was not widespread among the populace, and people were easily lead by anybody who had good oratory skills. Not so our generation! Read the Bible because you can, and get your theology right.
3. The Bible is practical
What is the best way to make money? What is the best way to relate to people around you? How do you build a relationship with your spouse? How do you bring up your children? How do you deal with life when poverty, persecution, or loneliness comes? What exactly is wisdom, which choices are wise? The Bible does not beat about the bush when it comes to these practical problems that trouble us. Aside from being an epic large scale romance and a theological doctrinal treatise, it is also a practical guidebook of life-money-marriage-parenting.
4. Know what God promises
I believe that what we believe about God and His nature and promises has a profound effect on our values, attitudes, and even our life vision. "Theology dictates living", theologian Dr. S. Donald Fortson III once said. If you know God and what He promises, how will you live differently?
The Bible contains countless promises that God gives us, and without reading it we don't really have an understanding of what they entail. Not only do we need to read the Bible for the promises that are recorded, but we need to keep reading it to remind ourselves, and even memorise it for a time when we can use it to encourage others.
5. Jesus read the Bible. Actually, that's not strictly true - the Bible didn't exist in Jesus' day - many books were in fact written after Jesus' death. However, Jesus was familiar with the scripture that was available to him - the prophets, the laws, and psalms in the Old Testament. He knew them well, committed them to memory, and often made references to them in his teaching.
If you profess to be Christian, and follow Jesus, it makes sense to follow his example!
In closing, you may notice that I didn't include reasons like "God talks to you using the Scriptures". Sometimes it is true that, whilst reading the Bible, a certain verse just jumps out at us, comforts our hearts and directs our steps, as if a personal revelation. Many people have experienced it, myself included... indeed on numerous occasions. However I didn't include this as one of the five reasons, because I don't think we should have a "mining" approach to reading the scriptures, as if we are reading in order to "find" a revelation or to somehow "channel" God to talk to us this way. If you take this attitude to your scripture reading, you may find yourself frustrated after reading 10 chapters of Leviticus and nothing jumps out at you, and you may consider Leviticus 'useless'.
My husband, who is usually permissive about these things, once remarked that regular reading of the Bible is compulsory for anyone who seriously wishes to love and serve God... and we all learn this, sooner or later.
(I'm sure there are a thousand other reasons that I've not presented here, even now I can think of heaps that didn't make this list. If you can think of heaps more, I would love to see your comment.)
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