Sorry for writing another serious post today.
I have mentioned before that our church DUMC is on a 21 day fast and prayer to align our selves to be in tune with God before moving into the DUMC Dream Centre next month.
Throughout the last week I have seen the blessings and the grace of God, and I have been challenged in so many areas of my life. Perhaps I’ll share all these once the 21 days is over.
During the last weekend I have felt God work in my heart, and gave me a new perspective on one of the thing that I was very unhappy with.
I felt very disappointed and disillusioned at what’s going on around the country. I have a sense of fear due to the rising crime rates, hopelessness at the lack of strong leadership and anger at the many injustices that I read about in the alternative media.
If you read Malaysian blogs, you will sense that I am not alone in how I feel about our country.
On Saturday morning, pastor shared with us that there is a need to be aligned to authority. Without authority, there will be no freedom because there will be lawlessness, leading to chaos and destruction. The authority here applies to the church authority as well as the authorities in our families and our nation.
During the quiet journaling time, I prayed and God pointed out to me that I have been looking at the problems in our nation with the wrong perspective. I have not been aligned to God’s way of looking at our nation.
I have been complaining, quietly rebelling and very disgruntled. I was saying that this person is bad, that person is unjust, and that person is not a good leader.
I realized that my responsibility as a Christian is to pray. It doesn’t mean that I will not use my vote in the next elections, but I’m saying that I have better things to do in the mean time.
During Sunday sermon pastor mentioned that the church is to blame when a country is in disarray. We are supposed to be the salt and light of the nation! He called for us to pray for our nation, and for us to be an influence to make a positive change.
I would like to humbly suggest to my fellow Christian bloggers to pray instead of complain about our nation.
It seems very ambitious and idealistic to say that we can make a difference to our country, but I just want to have faith that God can turn things around.
By the way, I also got an idea for a Bloggers Christian Fellowship. What do you think?
Photo By: “urujart”
August 20, 2007 at 09:19
Adino: I have a lot of ideas but I usually don’t take any action. We’ll see how the response is hehe
August 20, 2007 at 10:54
I’m definitely in. I think it’s good to have one. Not some sort of “club” or “gathering” per se, but a group of bloggers who can pray together (if not, er, online, then in our own quiet time).
Oh, and there’s no need for any apology for serious posts
Adino: Yeah, there’s a good suggestion. We don’t actually have to meet physically. That would make things easier because everyone is so busy as it is.
August 20, 2007 at 12:31
I dont know if I qualify but you wrote “I have a sense of fear due to the rising crime rates, hopelessness at the lack of strong leadership and anger at the many injustices that I read about in the alternative media.” my sentiments exactly
Adino: I think many many people feel the same way. Most bloggers don’t dare to write anything against the government (including me). It’s worse now that blogs are being monitored. I guess nobody wants to eat curry rice.
August 20, 2007 at 12:43
Still got hope…. as long as we never give up. Pray, keep praying…..
Adino: Yeah, the only thing we can do is pray, influence our community and remember to vote!
August 20, 2007 at 14:22
And.. one more disappointed…
Adino: Don’t lose hope! I believe in a powerful God.
August 20, 2007 at 14:28
That is an excellent approach. I know I am sometimes guilty of complaining and not turning to God instead.
Adino: I’m still trying too… my natural tendency is to complain and blame.
August 20, 2007 at 18:27
Adino,
You have brought up an interesting issue: What is the response of authentic Christians to our nations’ woes.
4 points i would like to share:
(i am sharing off the cuff, so dont sue me if I am off-the tangent)
1. Allignment to authority
Christians are to submit to all authorities over them because our theology is that all authorities are placed by God.
Now, what if the authority is evil? Still submit because it is placed by God.
But what if the submission requires us to obey what is wrong in God’s sight?
Then we need to submit but not obey. You see a difference? Read Daniel’s response to the issue of worshipping the King then.
For me, this is a non-issue in relation to principle issue of our response as authentic Christians.
You see, we would not want a state of anarchy. We want the rule of law to be enforced. We are just concerned that we dont have the laws enforced!
That isnt rebellion, that isnt insubmission. We just want the government to do what it is authorised to do.
So, i dismiss this as a relevant issue.
2. Complains vs prayer
I do agree that we complain much more than we pray for the good of the nation.
Then again, I believe in a forum like this (blogosphere) - we should complain. We should highlight the injustice, discrimination and evil. We do so as Christians who love to see justice, equality and good.
Why? Not just because God is like that, but because we authentic Christians must love the world we live in if we are to be salt or light.
We must love/care/be concerned about the state of the evil, injustice manipulation, or corruption in our world. Because God loves this world.
Bringing it Down to earth - if we are to love our fellow man fellow citizens fellow neighbours - we must be concerned about the sphere that affects their rights (our rights).
So for me - complains is important in this arena. But it must be in order that we stir one another to do good!
There is a collary to this.
There is a view among “declaration” Christians that we should say less of the negative and more of the positive because our tongue can bring death or life.
I have read this teaching and I do believe in it to a certain extent. Since as people of faith, we should declare to being what God intends. It is a form of prayer.
But to not speak of the injustice, or evil is to be an hypocrite and at best a camel head hiding under the sand.
There is a balance to all things. And this is one of them.
3. Complains vs participation
I believe the problem with most Christians is that we complain but dont participate in the process of change.
Some of us, would rather hide in our prayer rooms and pray for change - than to be the agent/media of change.
We just want to pray and not participate in politics. We pray for activists but we dont become activists.
Jesus by the way was an Activist.
Again, i see no point in pointing out the problem of complain.
4. Blame who
Finally, who is to blame for the state of our nation.
As pointed out Pastor, (which I have heard countless times) it is the fault of the church.
And so I do agree. But for me it is not the CHURCH organisation alone. But Christians who are not engaged in change- because we view it as dirty polictics, or of this world. We draw the line between secular and sacred not seeing that this world (this nation) belongs to God and needs to be redeemed (won back).
And so, who is to blame? We are selves. We need to participate! We need to blog more! We need to be involved more.
We are not just soldiers on our knees but also soldiers on our feet!
Adino: Thanks Josh for sharing. I’m going to need some time to digest all this! But from my initial reading you got 4 good points there, especially not just praying but getting involved.
August 20, 2007 at 18:34
eh your server no good leh coz many times i cannot log onto your blog!
Adino: Sorry… I tried complaining to ExaBytes so many times but they say no problem and blame my own internet connection. Sigh…
August 20, 2007 at 22:21
hey there,
do believe that dreams can be made come true if we put in effort and work towards it.
it’s a good idea you have there.
=)
Adino: Thanks for visiting!
August 21, 2007 at 13:54
I came from My Longkang’s blog and wish to share what I posted on his blog over here as it is related to this posting as well.
I notice that many Christians adopt the turn the other cheek reaction. For me, I take it upon myself to bring some awareness because God has blessed me with the ability to write and express. For e.g. I took up the KMPU posting on their site, translate it into English and somehow or other, that little piece was picked up by Tony Pua and he even made a police report on the insinuations made against Christians. To me, that’s a little step to make our voices heard. Ultimately, in the current situation, we can make a difference, if we pray and reflect. The Lord will guide us and shelter us. Like He said, all who have ears, hears. We bloggers are the instruments, aren’t we?
Adino: Hi Lilian, I read your blog so I know about that
Thanks for sharing your insight.
August 22, 2007 at 08:28
I’m in favour of a fellowship. Or a blogring. Or something like that.
Adino: Yeah, BengBeng told me about your suggestion for an alliance of sorts. I will think more about how to implement this properly. But like I told BengBeng, I’m fine if you or Josh would want to take the lead in this.