We normally judge our own self-worth at any point in time by the surrounding circumstances.
In the merger of the 2 media companies, Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao termed the artistes who had been retrenched as 'the rapidity of the fall from being Singapore's darlings to joining the unemployment ranks...'. This underscores how society deemed the real worth of a person by the fortune, fame and occupation of the person at the point of seeing a person.
If that is the case, do we then judge Mr Sim Wong Hoo, CEO of Creative Technology, as worthless, a parasite of society during the 1980s when he's desperately broke and trying to do research on a shoe-string budget for his company?
Should the real worth of a person be judged in this way?
But look at the worth of each individual in God's sight:
- John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
- 1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
- Isaiah 44:2 "he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you"
- Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"
The worth of each individual is priceless in God's sight, it is covenantally true no matter our current economic status, whether our human relationships failed/betrayed us, whether we are ugly or sick... God loves us no matter how we look and how many times we have failed Him, simply taking us as we are, seeing us as lovable through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Have you taken hold of God's love for you today?
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
A Fresh Perspective on Christianity / 基督教全新一观
Original English version:
Taken from the back cover of my copy of 'Mere Christianity' by C.S Lewis:
".... Mere Christianity....a radical faith whose adherents might be likened to an underground group gathering in a war zone, a place where evil seems to have the upper hand, to hear messages of hope from the other side." - Kathleen Norris
From Book 2, Chapter 2 - The Invasion, Page 45
"Christianity agrees ... that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.
Enemy-occupied territory - that is what this world is, Christianiy is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church, you are really listening-in to the secret wireless from our friends...."
华语翻译：
C.S Lewis, ‘基督教的根基’ 书后版第一段叙：
“。。。基督教的根基。。。一个极端信仰：他的使徒就像一个在打仗期间的地下组织，在一个邪恶以经占上风的局面，聆听另一方希望的信息。”
第二书，二章 - 侵略，45篇 :
“基督教认同。。。这宇宙是在打仗。但它不是两独立、权力均衡的实力的拔河。是内仗、反叛，而我们就居住在反贼统治的地区。
这世界-就是敌人统治的地区，基督教是叙述真正帝王的降临，你能说是侨装降临，传呼我们参与他的行动。教会福音，其实是听从益友机密无线的音信。。。"
Taken from the back cover of my copy of 'Mere Christianity' by C.S Lewis:
".... Mere Christianity....a radical faith whose adherents might be likened to an underground group gathering in a war zone, a place where evil seems to have the upper hand, to hear messages of hope from the other side." - Kathleen Norris
From Book 2, Chapter 2 - The Invasion, Page 45
"Christianity agrees ... that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.
Enemy-occupied territory - that is what this world is, Christianiy is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church, you are really listening-in to the secret wireless from our friends...."
华语翻译：
C.S Lewis, ‘基督教的根基’ 书后版第一段叙：
“。。。基督教的根基。。。一个极端信仰：他的使徒就像一个在打仗期间的地下组织，在一个邪恶以经占上风的局面，聆听另一方希望的信息。”
第二书，二章 - 侵略，45篇 :
“基督教认同。。。这宇宙是在打仗。但它不是两独立、权力均衡的实力的拔河。是内仗、反叛，而我们就居住在反贼统治的地区。
这世界-就是敌人统治的地区，基督教是叙述真正帝王的降临，你能说是侨装降临，传呼我们参与他的行动。教会福音，其实是听从益友机密无线的音信。。。"
Pitfalls of Romantic Love / 男女爱情的绊脚石
English version:
I am starting to see why it is worthless labour when bringing a person who is romantically attracted to you to hear the word of God being preached.
Their number one priority in coming to your church is to have time with you. Thus he is oblivious to EVERYTHING that happens in between the conversation the two of you have had. Even the simplest things simply pass right over his head.
I know so because on asking for feedback once after a sermon, his answer gave me the feeling he simply have had no clue of what was spoken except in very general terms.
So will I continue bringing people who are romantically attracted to me to our church? I think so although it will not be my priority. Who knows what the Holy Spirit can wrought in his heart by listening to the word of God preached simply and fearlessly? It is my previlege to just pray for him as well as others around me that God will soften their hearts and have the gift of eternal life accepted. I can only pray that I may be used for His glory, and not to force others to come to Him because that is not His will.
If you have great tips on how you were used successfully for evangelism, do let me know by replying with your comments.
Have a great day!
华文版：
开始觉得带对自己有特别意思的朋友来教会听神的话语是在浪费我的精力。
他们来教会的第一目的是和你相伴。因此他们对周遭的事务全然不知 - 只把精神放在你们的谈话。就连最基本，小孩子都知道的沟通都一耳进，一耳出，完全没放在心里。
这点我明确的知道因当我问他听完传道后的感想，他只能以非常肤浅的词应变我的问题。
我会带对我有意思的人来教会吗？如果有机会，这不会是我的焦点，但是肯定的。想想看，普通人能够猜想圣灵的操作吗？谁会知完整、简单的福音会有着 样的回应 呢？为人祷告，祈求神对罪人施恩，能得永生是我的恩惠。我只能祈求我能被神用于他的荣耀，不能强求人来他跟前，因这不是他的旨意。
如你有好的传道建议，请在这板上留言让我知道。
愿你有快乐的一天！
I am starting to see why it is worthless labour when bringing a person who is romantically attracted to you to hear the word of God being preached.
Their number one priority in coming to your church is to have time with you. Thus he is oblivious to EVERYTHING that happens in between the conversation the two of you have had. Even the simplest things simply pass right over his head.
I know so because on asking for feedback once after a sermon, his answer gave me the feeling he simply have had no clue of what was spoken except in very general terms.
So will I continue bringing people who are romantically attracted to me to our church? I think so although it will not be my priority. Who knows what the Holy Spirit can wrought in his heart by listening to the word of God preached simply and fearlessly? It is my previlege to just pray for him as well as others around me that God will soften their hearts and have the gift of eternal life accepted. I can only pray that I may be used for His glory, and not to force others to come to Him because that is not His will.
If you have great tips on how you were used successfully for evangelism, do let me know by replying with your comments.
Have a great day!
华文版：
开始觉得带对自己有特别意思的朋友来教会听神的话语是在浪费我的精力。
他们来教会的第一目的是和你相伴。因此他们对周遭的事务全然不知 - 只把精神放在你们的谈话。就连最基本，小孩子都知道的沟通都一耳进，一耳出，完全没放在心里。
这点我明确的知道因当我问他听完传道后的感想，他只能以非常肤浅的词应变我的问题。
我会带对我有意思的人来教会吗？如果有机会，这不会是我的焦点，但是肯定的。想想看，普通人能够猜想圣灵的操作吗？谁会知完整、简单的福音会有着 样的回应 呢？为人祷告，祈求神对罪人施恩，能得永生是我的恩惠。我只能祈求我能被神用于他的荣耀，不能强求人来他跟前，因这不是他的旨意。
如你有好的传道建议，请在这板上留言让我知道。
愿你有快乐的一天！
Monday, December 13, 2004
Fundamentalism and the Charismatic Mind
Had the opportunity to bring a friend attending a charismatic church to my church service. My past experience with his charismatic church gave me the feeling that his church is convinced that they are getting direct revelation from God and cracking wisdom within the bible (for a dynamic, exciting service and worship experience) that is not known till now.
His answer to my question asking for his feedback about the service was an annoying and dismissive "Christianity 101". Open to the possibility that I may really be in the presence of a theology giant who is so grounded in all these he really doesn't need to know more, I asked him for his understanding of what it means that Christ is the firstborn from among the dead (Col 1:18) which was explained during the sermon. I got a long pause, before he asked, "So what does this mean?"
I am doing my best not to generalise, and I believe that there are charismatics who are very aware of their reasons for choosing to be Christians and the full knowledge of what Christianity means. My experience with the average charismatic though is that the focus on experiences and revelation had corroded their priority of understanding God's Word as it is and in context.
No doubt 'fundamentalism' is becoming a dirty word today after the 9-11 incident. If you sit down and seriously think about it, why should something that is fundamentally good turn out for ill in society? Dirty word or not, in the charismatic's quest for excitement, that new 'close encounter with God and His Spirit', it is even more important to ground ourselves in the FUNDAMENTALS of His Holy Word, the understanding of His work on the cross; its implications and understanding for ourselves His overarching Will.
Why is this so urgent and important for the average Christian? It is because the RIGHTEOUSNESS which we are given by Christ's death came at a great price - it caused great pain and took the very life of our Lord, the perfect lamb; the righteousness we easily obtained by mere confessing that He is our saviour of our lives through the cross.
All religions and all spiritual beliefs can have 'oh-so-exalted', 'flying-in-the-air' ecstasy that comes from direct contact with spiritual forces, all religions and all spiritual beliefs can have exciting worship experiences that brings feelings of excitement that will bring you brief periods of inspiration and feelings of peace. Christianity is unique, in that we have a real, historical event of a Son of God humbling himself to take the form of man, to die a humiliating death on the cross, so that all man can be free from the bondage of sin.
How could we forget or disdain to know more of such great love in our lives?
It is sad when a person who claims to be a Christian were to shut off his ears when the basic gospel of Christ's death and resurrection as well as its implications on our lives is preached.
It is heartbreaking when a Christian is no longer excited about what Christ had accomplished on His cross and only pursues that 'oh-so-exciting' personal contact with God.
It is frustrating when faced with a blind Christian who THINKS he sees - and really chooses to blind himself to the truth right in front of his eyes.
Proverbs 3:7 "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil."
I pray that we (especially me) will know the Lord with all reverence and that we will find fulfillment in fully knowing what Christ had done for us on His cross through His Holy Word - the bible. I also pray that in saying all this, that I am not pointing to the speck in a brother's eyes and forget the plank in mine. I pray that I will always be given the discernment to know and hate even more the sin in my own heart that cost my Lord His life.
May God be with you.
His answer to my question asking for his feedback about the service was an annoying and dismissive "Christianity 101". Open to the possibility that I may really be in the presence of a theology giant who is so grounded in all these he really doesn't need to know more, I asked him for his understanding of what it means that Christ is the firstborn from among the dead (Col 1:18) which was explained during the sermon. I got a long pause, before he asked, "So what does this mean?"
I am doing my best not to generalise, and I believe that there are charismatics who are very aware of their reasons for choosing to be Christians and the full knowledge of what Christianity means. My experience with the average charismatic though is that the focus on experiences and revelation had corroded their priority of understanding God's Word as it is and in context.
No doubt 'fundamentalism' is becoming a dirty word today after the 9-11 incident. If you sit down and seriously think about it, why should something that is fundamentally good turn out for ill in society? Dirty word or not, in the charismatic's quest for excitement, that new 'close encounter with God and His Spirit', it is even more important to ground ourselves in the FUNDAMENTALS of His Holy Word, the understanding of His work on the cross; its implications and understanding for ourselves His overarching Will.
Why is this so urgent and important for the average Christian? It is because the RIGHTEOUSNESS which we are given by Christ's death came at a great price - it caused great pain and took the very life of our Lord, the perfect lamb; the righteousness we easily obtained by mere confessing that He is our saviour of our lives through the cross.
All religions and all spiritual beliefs can have 'oh-so-exalted', 'flying-in-the-air' ecstasy that comes from direct contact with spiritual forces, all religions and all spiritual beliefs can have exciting worship experiences that brings feelings of excitement that will bring you brief periods of inspiration and feelings of peace. Christianity is unique, in that we have a real, historical event of a Son of God humbling himself to take the form of man, to die a humiliating death on the cross, so that all man can be free from the bondage of sin.
How could we forget or disdain to know more of such great love in our lives?
It is sad when a person who claims to be a Christian were to shut off his ears when the basic gospel of Christ's death and resurrection as well as its implications on our lives is preached.
It is heartbreaking when a Christian is no longer excited about what Christ had accomplished on His cross and only pursues that 'oh-so-exciting' personal contact with God.
It is frustrating when faced with a blind Christian who THINKS he sees - and really chooses to blind himself to the truth right in front of his eyes.
Proverbs 3:7 "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil."
I pray that we (especially me) will know the Lord with all reverence and that we will find fulfillment in fully knowing what Christ had done for us on His cross through His Holy Word - the bible. I also pray that in saying all this, that I am not pointing to the speck in a brother's eyes and forget the plank in mine. I pray that I will always be given the discernment to know and hate even more the sin in my own heart that cost my Lord His life.
May God be with you.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
耶稣能拯救/Jesus Saves
（从谁与从什么？）
If you can only understand English, please come here.
耶稣是历史最重要的人物。他是神形于体（约翰福音1:1，14；歌罗西书 2:9），肉体里复活，主（路加福音24:34，约翰福音2:19-21）救赎者（使徒行传5:30-32）。他为罪人死（罗马书 5：8）以便从神正直的忿怒拯救出来。
你是罪人吗？
你是罪人吗？你曾撒谎，偷窃，贪恋，或对人有无理的动怒吗？如答案是肯定的，你已触犯了神的戒律。神吩咐过：“不可撒谎，不可有别的神；不可杀，。。。，”（出埃及记20）。他已给于我们正义的标准；如你触破了神任何的戒律，就配不上他的标准，免不了的他的审判。死后，得面对他，在他再降临的时候，被处罚。
如你不喜欢这个教诲，把圣经丢了，背弃基督，因这就是神的重点 - 耶稣为罪人而死，从神的审判里拯救人。
你唯一所需是耶稣。他独一。不凭你所为 (罗马数3：10-12；以赛亚书64：6）；你的诚意；你的行善。除了罪恶，你什么都没有献给神。只有在耶稣与他的回祭才能找到神的爱与恩，避免因触犯戒律而引起神正义忿怒的后果。从神，耶稣拯救了你。
神忿怒在审判日针对罪人
审判时神会审判所有罪人，针对触犯他的罪恶。所有撒谎，偷窃，欲望，屈辱父母，等等都被审判。因他是圣洁、正义的，他得处罚罪人。神不可以也不愿意忽视触犯他正义戒法的人。戒法反映了他的性格。所以，触破他戒法的人就触犯他也否视了他的圣洁。他得政法，他得审判。
圣经说所有世人犯了罪也亏缺了神的荣耀（罗马书 3：23）。这表示你的罪恶使你与神有了隔阂（以赛亚书59：2），结果是死亡（罗马书 6：23）与忿怒（以弗所书 2：3）。唯一得救方法就是信靠基督 （以弗所书 2：8-9；罗马书 5：1）。你得倚靠耶稣在十架上所行的，赫免了你的罪，不靠其他，包括诚意与行为。只有耶稣能够让你避免神对于罪人的审判。
福音
福音就是耶稣为罪人在十架死，被埋葬，并从死亡里复活了（歌林多前书15：1-4）。他的死回避了神的忿怒 （约翰一书2：2）。他是能达到天父的唯一途径（约翰福音14：6）。只有他显现了神（马太福音11：27）。他拥有了天上、地下所有权柄 （马太福音28：18）。只有通过他才能避免神的忿怒（以弗所书 2：3）。他能赫免你的罪（路加福音 5：20；马太福音9：2）。他能除去你灵魂上的罪恶感。耶稣能松除带给你绝望的罪恶捆绑。他能做到因他身体在十架上背负了罪 （彼得前书2：24），让信任他的人得救。
如你不是基督徒而想从（因罪恶引来的）神正义审判中得救，来到他-为罪恶的世人所死-的跟前（马太福音11：28）。不再犯罪，相信并倚靠耶稣。接受神形于体的、从死里复活的耶稣，承认他是救主（歌林多前书15：1-4）。祈求他原谅你的罪，接受基督（约翰福音 1：12）。只有他能洁净你的罪，也只有耶稣能赫避圣洁永恒神正直的审判。向耶稣祷告，寻他，祈求他救你。他会的。
郑重声明，Mormonism的耶稣（魔鬼的兄弟），Jehovah's Witnesses的耶稣（天使被造的人），New Age的耶稣(跟崇高意识有联系的人），等等，都不能拯救你。只有圣经叙述的耶稣才能。耶稣是神形于体，是造物者。神是三合一，耶稣是这的第二体。
如果你已祷告，祈求耶稣赫免你的罪并从神的忿怒里被拯救，请电邮给我们让我们知道。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)