Occasional Green Pastures and Quiet Waters: sin

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Porn: The Deadly Friend

12:17 AM | Labels: Christian living, sin

How lonely sits the city

that was full of people!
How like a widow has she become,
she who was great among the nations!
She who was a princess among the provinces
has become a slave.

She weeps bitterly in the night,

with tears on her cheeks;
among all her lovers
she has none to comfort her;
all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
they have become her enemies.

Judah has gone into exile because of affliction

and hard servitude;
she dwells now among the nations,
but finds no resting place;

her pursuers have all overtaken her
in the midst of her distress.

These are the mourning words from the book of Lamentations, bemoaning the desolation of Jerusalem by Babylon because of the people's sins.

Left alone and distraught the people of Judah cry because they looked else where for their satisfaction besides the God who had rescued them and built them up. Those they once turned to for their political stability now turn around to mock and accuse them.

These poisonous friends are much like using pornography. They promise ecstasy sans intimacy and sans the messiness of relationships which come with sex the way God intended it to be. Yet at the end, all it does is leave the gnawing longing for intimacy unsatisfied, and the stark loneliness augmented as you come to the realisation that you're still alone as ever. The very thing you turned to for comfort now stands, having shoved you head first into the mud, laughing at your shameful state.

Like a good friend always tells me, "tell the truth and shame the devil". Know pornography for what it really is - a cheap, twisted imitation of a rich, good thing, and shame the devil. Pursue instead, healthy relationships founded on the gospel, where you can be open about your struggles; where you can encourage each other in your struggles; and where you can rebuke one another. Take courage also, in knowing that the fight is not a futile one. You can keep standing up to fight after each knock-down because the Holy Spirit is with us, empowering us to say no to worldly passions.

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Grace in Our Judiciary System

1:42 PM | Labels: Christian living, culture, doctrine, faith, Gospel, grace, sin, theology, thoughts

Two incidents have recently caught my eye. The first is the acquittal of a Malaysian national bowler from statutory rape charges on the account of him having a bright future. The second incident, which happened not too long after, is the similar acquittal of a 22 year old school dropout from statutory rape charges, also on the account of his future. Notably, there are differences in the two cases which have to be noted: in the latter case, the sexual act was consensual between both parties, while in the former, the man pleaded guilty.

However, what I found to be most interesting was not the cases themselves, but rather, the reaction towards these cases where offenders walk free from incarceration; and of all the reactions, the ones which strike me most are responses from Christians.

Many Christians were outraged at the fact that these offenders were allowed to walk off with less than a jail sentence, I myself included. What perversion of justice! How unfair to the victim! What was the judge thinking?! And then I realised something - I, of all people, as a Christian, should refrain from such outrage at the walking of such people. For was I not as they were, guilty? My charge was greater than what they were charged with. I was charged with rebellion against the King of Kings, for insubordination, for mutiny - of which I am deserving of death. I had no 'future' to appeal to, and even if I did, it was far from 'bright', but yet the Judge showed me grace in His mercy, and declared me righteous on the basis of his Son's substitutionary atoning death.

My thought is but this: If as Christians, we were shown such clemency, should we not expect such extra-judicial grace in our shadow of a judiciary system? Should we cry in outrage when one we deem to be guilty is pronounced by the judge to be otherwise? Then should we not cry in outrage at our own salvation? Should we not cry because we were not charged with what we deserved?

However, it is important to note that this picture is but an imperfect allegory of salvation. This is but a pale shadow of what true forgiveness is. True justice still demands for a price to be paid - somebody has to be punished for the crime. The Godhead did what no Earthly judge could do for any prosecuted - tear himself, a being who has been in perfect relationship with each other since eternity, apart to pay himself what the prosecuted could not pay. True justice is not lost in mercy, but instead is met together at the cross where Jesus dangled dying.

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How Doth Your Garden Grow?

2:25 PM | Labels: Gardening, grace, sin, theology, thoughts

About two months back, I had started working on this piece of land the Natheniel's had so kindly loaned to me. Looking back, I can't believe has only been two months. It's felt like it has been a much longer time. All the hard work of digging up the ornamental plants (1), and reworking the soil (2), and the disappointments of finding the garden waterlogged, all seem like a distant nightmare when I look at the garden now (3). Two green amaranthus crops down the road, I have to say, I am quite pleased with the how the garden is progressing (carrots are in the ground and 1 week away from germination!).

Thoughts on the garden? I have to say, as a Christian, this garden has been a theological experience for me. It made quite real the curse God judged Adam with -

...cursed is the ground because of you;
     in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
    and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
    you shall eat bread,

till you return to the ground...

Yet at the same time, the garden in all its bounty, served as a reminder of God's common grace to us all. Although we had rebelled against Him and were thoroughly worthy of being denied all life and pleasure, He still lovingly gifts us with such variety and abundance of food crops. I mean, God could well have just given us only brussel sprouts (bleargh) to eat.'Tis indeed a sobering thought.

And therefore rightly so, for the small mercies God has gifted us with, and for the biggest mercy He could ever give, I give thanks for this garden.

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Ever had that feeling?

12:47 AM | Labels: grace, sin, sovereignty of God, theology, thoughts

Know that feeling when you sorta kinda guess you've screwed up, and you're trying your best to ignore it, and then somebody tells you the stark cruel truth: you've screwed up?

Yeah... That's pretty much how I feel now.

I've spent three good hours figuring out where I screwed up, how I screwed up, and why I screwed up. It's quite cool finding out that my screwed up-ness may stem from childhood trauma, but it doesn't change the coldness of reality: I still screwed up, and nothing is ever going to change that.

There's still hope, you say? Yeah, right. Same probability the KL tower has of being the target of a terrorist attack. 'But it will work out for good...' you quote the Bible. That's easy for you to say, especially if you're God. You've arranged everything to your wisdom and for your pleasure. From the human perspective, this sucks. Big time.

The hardest part, knowing that God is indeed in control, and that all things do eventually work for the good of those who love him, is actually trusting God to work things out in his wisdom, as well as accepting the outcome even if it isn't what we want.

Makes you realise how powerless you actually are to do anything...

Funnily enough, there's great comfort knowing that God isn't apathetic to the shit we go through. Jesus being fully human while being fully God, experienced the same shit we are faced with. The same, if not worse troubles, the same, if not worse, temptations. By doing so, he understands how shitty it is to be human, and can have compassion on us.

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I know what I should do, but...

1:03 AM | Labels: grace, hope, sin, theology, thoughts

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16-18

The Spirit and the flesh in a constant wrestle, with no breaks. The flesh wants one thing, the Spirit showing you the will of God, which is in total opposite to the flesh. Though I now am in the Spirit, sometimes the call of the flesh is so strong. The time and place just seems so right. I could just go ahead and find some way to justify my actions.

But can I?

In the face of the amazing grace which God has shown me? In spite of the death Jesus had to go through to secure my forgiveness?

Can I turn away from all that and follow my flesh? You in your seats may say 'absolutely not!' with great zeal, but have you any idea how hard it is to pry my heart away? Do you know how far away and faint the will of God seems to me now? Unconsciously, that's just how I want it. Far away from living under Christ's authority.

Yet, I know that I have a hope in my redeemer, Christ Jesus, for I do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with my weaknesses, but I have one who has been tempted in every way, just as I am—yet he did not sin. I know that I can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).

One part of me screams out for gratification, the other silently pushes towards obedience. At the end of the day, only one side can win.

Pray that I will cling tightly on to that hope and not let go.

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Shimron’s Testimony of God’s Grace

12:12 AM | Labels: faith, Gospel, grace, sin, testimony, thoughts

I grew up in a Christian family. My father was the pastor of the Reformed Baptist church in Melaka, while my mother was the MYF leader while she was growing up in the Methodist church. The bookshelves in my house were littered with Bible commentaries, Koine Greek and Hebrew lexicons, and a vast array of theological material. Names like John Stott, Peter Masters, Charles Spurgeon and J.I. Packer were household names to me. I faithfully attended every single camp my church organised, sometimes with a little coaxing from my parents, while at school, I zealously defended my faith. I tried very hard to be polite and well mannered, helping old ladies across the busy street, and I loved small cute animals. This was my pedigree. As far as me and my understanding of what being a Christian was all about, I was convinced that I was definitely a Christian, and a very good one too.

Despite my religious self-image, there were things which I thought about, and did which were strikingly different from whom I thought I was. I was comfortable telling the most outrageous lies; I’ve even made my mother cry out of rage. I hated my brother and sister with a fierce passion, and I thought I was always right. All these and more I denied and swept under the carpet. Thinking about them made me uncomfortable. I am a good boy. Good boy = Christian.

In 2007, I left for Japan. While I was there, I was placed in a host family whose mother was (and still is) highly critical of the Christian faith. During my stay there, she pressed me hard with arguments about Christianity frequently, hitting hard on the differences in my behaviour and my version of Christianity. Her questioning made me ask myself this: “What does it really mean to be a Christian?” I had no idea! My understanding of what a ‘Christian’ began to crack and slowly crumbled.

When I got back in 2008, I was reeling in confusion. My self-image as a ‘Christian’ has shattered completely, and my life was a mess. The things I did then only just served to widen the gap between my behaviour and my version of Christianity.

Yet, all was not lost. There was no sudden conversion, no flash of light, no voice from heaven, but God was at work in a series of events which led to my “ah-ha!” moment. After college, I spent some time deciding on which university to attend, and it was then when I had the time to speak to my dad about what it meant to trust in Jesus. Later on in HELP, I had the opportunity to attend a conference by the Gospel Growth Fellowship where I managed learn a little bit more. It was during a bible study series which I went through with my friends, Pastor Peter Kek and Aaron Liu when it all came together.

I realised that despite all my good ‘Christian’ work, I had been rebelling against my loving God who had created me. I had consciously rebelled against His plans on how to approach Him and told Him ‘Shut up and get lost! I decide how I want to come to you.’ This self-sufficient attitude of mine was exactly what the Bible defines as sin, and this sin is what God is going to judge us all for. No amount of ‘being Christian’ or ‘talking Christian’, even all the good I had done could pay for my rebellion and set me right with God.

The magnitude of my rebellion made God’s love so much more beautiful. This was what He did: He sent His own son to this world to take the punishment (death) on our part. Jesus took the full force of God’s justice on himself so that people like me could be forgiven. Even better, Jesus didn’t stay dead! God raised him from the dead and is He’s now God’s ruler of the world and will come back to hold us all accountable for our actions. But I know that when He comes back on that day, I will now be acceptable to Him, not on the basis of any of the good works that I’ve done but because Jesus has died in my place.

After so long, I have finally found the answer. Being a Christian is not about being good and living right so that I can go to heaven. It’s about trusting in Jesus’ sacrificial death for my complete forgiveness and then living under Jesus’ authority in response to the love He’s shown.

Question now is, where do YOU stand in your relationship with Jesus? =)

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No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand

7:21 PM | Labels: faith, grace, sin, sovereignty of God, theology

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:27-30, ESV)

I've heard of people who tell me that salvation can be lost. I know disillusioned Christians who aren't so sure anymore. So how exactly affect our outlook on living as Christians if salvation can be lost? Let's take a look.

If salvation can be lost, how sure can you be that you are saved?

If salvation can be lost, what can we do to ensure that we don't lose it?

If salvation can be lost, what assurance do we have in the death of Jesus Christ?

If salvation could be lost, I think we would be working very hard to keep our salvation, without ever knowing whether what we are doing is ever good enough. How different would it make us from our musl!m cousins?

What does the Bible have to say about salvation?

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:13-14, ESV)

What we see here is that when we are born again, we receive the promised indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that is God's guarantee that He who began a good work in us will complete it (Phil 1:6) In order for us to lose our salvation after receiving the promised Holy Spirit, God would have to break His promise or renege on His “guarantee,” which He cannot do. Therefore the believer is eternally secure because God is eternally faithful.

At the same time, what of people who claim to have believed in Jesus Christ then eventually turned away, even to the extent of denying the existence of God? Will they lose their salvation? At first glance, it would seem so.

What does the Bible have to say about this?

Jesus said that that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21-22). This shows that not everybody who professes to be a Christian, really is. 1 John 2:19 puts things into perspective for us: They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. What we see here is that these people have not lost their salvation, but rather have not even been saved!

Now having see that we have an assurance in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the He will never let anything separate us from God, we don't have to live in fear of screwing up because of the hope we have: ... you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. We will be conformed to the image of Christ through sanctification (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV). When a person is saved, the Holy Spirit breaks the bondage of sin and gives the believer a new heart and a desire to seek holiness. Therefore a true Christian will desire to be obedient to God and will be convicted by the Holy Spirit when they sin. They will never “live any way they want” because such behavior is impossible for someone who has been given a new nature.

How awesome is this assurance?!

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Final Destination

10:34 PM | Labels: death, faith, grace, hope, sin, theology

What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?

Psalms 89:48

From the 21st of December until the 24th, youths from all over Malaysia, and Singapore gathered for the 8th annual Reformed Baptist Youth Camp in El Sanctuary, Melaka. The theme of the camp was Life's Final Destination and the topic of Heaven and Hell was covered in 4 sessions.

Facts About Death

Luke 16:19-31

19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

In this passage, we see a contrast of the two classes seen in the world: the rich and the poor, yet the conclusion for both classes is that they all still have to die.

Facts about death:

1. Death is certain - you don't know when you will die, but it is certain that you will die.

2. Death is common - all sorts of people die, and death respects no man.

3. Death is not the end - our body turns to dust, but the soul is judged and goes to either Heaven or Hell.

Are you prepared?

Hell is Real

Evidence of Hell:

1. Jesus' crucifixion.

Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross was so that our sins could be forgiven, and this is so that we would not have to be punished for it in Hell. If Hell wasn't real, Jesus would not have died.

2. Man's conscience.

Unconsciously, we know there is a hell. Looking at religions and traditional practices all around the world, the element of hell is prevalent.

3. Jesus taught that there is a Hell.

Matthew 5:21-22 (click here)

Matthew 10:28 (click here)

Matthew 13:40-42 (click here)

Misconceptions of Hell:

1. Annihilation - the soul is not punished, but destroyed.

What the Bible has to say: Souls of those did not know God and did not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ will be punished with everlasting destruction. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, click here)

2. Second chances - God being a merciful God, will give us a second chance.

What the Bible has to say: There is no crossing over once you're in Hell, no more redemption there. (Luke16:26, click here)

3. Purgatory - A Roman Catholic idea where believers who were not perfect are cleansed here before they can go to Heaven.

What the Bible has to say: Nothing. There is no scriptural support for this idea.

4. Good works will keep you from Hell - self-explanatory

What the Bible has to say: Our righteous acts are like filthy rags, so by God's standard, you still will be going to Hell. (Isaiah 64:6, click here)

What is Hell like?

It sure won't be a fun place 'cos Elvis and all the cool people will be there. It will be a place of anguish and torment. (Mark 9:48; Matthew 8:12, 13:42; Revelation 19:20)

Is There a Better Place?

Revelation 21:1-4 (click here)

What is Heaven?

By Biblical definition, there are three meanings:

1. The atmosphere.

2. Space, as in the galaxies and planets kind.

3. Heaven, where God is.

Why does Heaven Exist?

Heaven does not exist for our sake, not to make us happy, but primarily for God's glory, as Heaven is always equated to God in the Bible, as seen in Luke 15:21.

What does Heaven mean?

Heaven is not a place where you wear robes, sit on clouds and play harps all day. Going to Heaven means being with Jesus; in fact, in the entire New Testament, you read nothing of believers going to Heaven, but rather, going to be with God!

Implications:

Since Jesus=Heaven, therefore, going to Heaven is the comfort that one day, we will be with the Lord.

What is Heaven Like?

Perfect in all aspects. Our bodies will be risen up in Glory and in power, while relationships will be made perfect, so that there will no longer be a need for marriage. We will also be enjoying fellowship with God.

Who Will be in Heaven?

Not everyone is in Heaven, or will go. (John 14:5-7, click here)

The Passport and the Ticket

John 14:1-6 (click here)

I can't give you what the speaker said on this topic as I was out sick, but I shall give it to you as I understand it.

Mankind is fallen and will never attain Glory on their own, therefore we need the forgiveness of God, and this forgiveness is made available in Christ Jesus who says that He is the Way, the Truth and the Light, and that NO ONE comes to God except through Him. He is our passport and ticket to Heaven.

Yet, it does not mean we shall all commit suicide just so we can be with God. We are called to be the light and salt of this Earth, working God's glory in this sad and dreary World.

Note: All underlined text except for the titles are links to the Bible verses, so click on it for reference.

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Porn: The Deadly Friend

Grace in Our Judiciary System

How Doth Your Garden Grow?

Ever had that feeling?

I know what I should do, but...

Shimron’s Testimony of God’s Grace

No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand

Final Destination