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WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE
31 May 2006
I often hear comments that can be paraphrased like, "Religion is what you choose to believe, regardless of what the truth seems to be."
I find that impossible to stomach. If "religion" is like that, I certainly want no part of it, for it would be frivolous at best and self deceiving at worst. Such "religion" leads nowhere. How can anyone believe in anything other than the truth?
Hence, I find it most disappointing to find Christian shrugging their shoulders and allowing doubts of scriptural accuracy to fester in their minds and continue to "worship" God. To me, if the Word of God is not 100% reliable, neither is the foundation of my faith.
But how can we then reconcile the differences between what science, history, archeology and cosmology tell us and what the Bible says? One or the other has to be wrong and untrustworthy. Oftentimes, the Bible has won in its reliability over science, history and human understanding as new discoveries ablate old human theories and prove biblical accuracy which were once held to be erroneous. At other times, it seems the opposite.
As human knowledge and scientific methods improve, old theories are debunked. Evidence of today may be laughed at tomorrow as naivity. In the meantime, it is important for Christians to have that unwavering faith in the infallibility of God's Word. There is a wealth of new evidence that supports biblical accuracy. However, like all human "evidences", they too may be proven wrong in future. Human knowledge so the absolute truth is elusive.
We do not have a refined instrument to measure truth. Only God has.
Where is the weight of evidence for your belief?
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THE "GOSPEL" OF JUDAS
25 April 2006
Recently there has been quite a bit of a stir caused by the unveiling of what is popularly called the "Gospel of Judas". This controversial piece of work is not new. Written at about 200 years after the birth of Christ (based on Carbon dating), the document describes Judas not as a traitor but as a hero who sacrificed his own reputation so as to help Jesus bring about his own arrest in order to fulfill the prophesy in the scriptures.
It does not end there. The document professes a very different "gospel" from Church doctrine. It reduces the creator (God the Father?) to one that is not worthy of worship. It portrays Judas as one who is above the other disciples, singling him out for greater glory. It omits the crucifixion and downplays the resurrection.
Obviously, the "theology" of this document is incompatible with Christian doctrine. What then, is this "Gospel" of Judas?
First of all, the "authenticity" of the document as coming from about 200AD is not in question. But just because it is a genuine artifact does not make its contents accurate. In fact, it was obvious at the time of Jesus' ministry and the days of the early church that "alternative" ideas abound. And Jesus specifically warned us about "false teachings". It is therefore not surprising that such a document exist. In fact, I would be more surprised if aberrant teachings did not exist - then and now.
The "Gospel of Judas" is not a "Gospel". It is also not from Judas (he died more than a century before it was written). Its ideology is that of Gnosticism and not Christianity.
In that case, is its rightful place in the trashcan? I do not think so. Together with the multitude of "Gospels" and scholarly literature circulating at that time, it does offer us an insight into the social and spiritual atmosphere of an era. What happened then is also happening now, albeit adorned in different "clothes". Sometimes, seeing the weather outside helps us appreciate our home more!
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NEW DIRECTIONS?
12 January 2006
It has been a long while since I last wrote in this column and I apologize for the absence.
It has also been a long time since this website has been running and it has always been my concern that we remain relevant. While statistics show that we have a strong following, my team does not have a good idea of whether you are getting what you want from us.
We are now working on a revamp of our site and hope to receive some feedback so that we can better serve you. Please let us know what you'd like to see on our pages - information, articles or visuals. We look forward to hearing from you.
Here's wishing you a most blessed 2006! May God's peace and love abound in your life.
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JOY OF SERVICE
22 April 2005
One of my sad observations in church is the presence of people who come and go without really getting involved in church activities or ministries. Many of them go from church to church trying to find one that meets their needs. Sometimes, they find a series of sermons inspiring and they stay for a while. But needs change and so they move on.
I am of course, not referring to those who are led by the Holy Spirit to areas of ministry that require their presence elsewhere or those who need a "sabbatical" to receive ministry themselves after having served in a congregation for a long time.
But the depth of a person's involvement in the life of a church limits or extends his/her opportunity to grow and helps develop much needed bonding and with fellow church goers. It opens one's eyes to that which lies beyond his/her immediate "wants" and "needs".
Unless one becomes an active part of the body of Christ - whether it is an "ear" or a "finger" - he/she will never truly experience the full joy of God's Kingdom. Of course there will be pain and challenges dealing with other people. But the closeness one gets drawn to God in the process makes it all worthwhile!
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FOOD FOR ACTION
16 February 2005
Many of us like to read inspiring articles, literature and books. Unusual themes and ideas often stimulate us to think and broaden our appreciation. Sometimes, they incite anger, indignation and disbelief. Food for the mind. Food for thought.
The Bible is certainly one such book. Certainly not short on radical ideas, controversy and challenge, the Scriptures stimulate not only the mind but often lead to heated debate.
God's word is provocative. It has to be. It was given not to feed the world with what it wants but to turn it away from where it was headed. It is meant to change lives.
Like all good food, once we have tasted God's knowledge, we will yearn for more. We crave for more teachings in church, more courses, more equipping. But like good, rich food, we will get "obese" from overfeeding if we do not put it to good use and exercise what we learn. That would be such a waste.
So, do not just let God's word be food for thought. Let it be food for action. That is what it is intended to be.
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SO WHAT'S THE
MESSAGE?
8 January 2005
While many rush to help those affected by the Tsunami disaster in Asia, there are also a number of people quick to offer an "explanation" for the tragedy. I have heard many "interpretations" on why this has happened. Some say that God is punishing the sinners. Some say that He is sending the killer-waves as a warning to mankind. Many attempt to reconcile the cruelty of the devastation with the presence of an involved God.
There are many lessons for us in this disaster. There is most definitely a message from God for each of us. But those are not the same as "purpose". I wonder if anyone can conclude what that the "purpose" of the disaster is. Or confidently say that God caused the disaster to happen because of "such and such". Or even to be convinced that there is a purpose at all! But what I am sure about is that God is not cruel.
The God I know is merciful, kind and loving. While He does not guarantee that we be spared such adversity, He does care enough to go through our pain with us. Our prayers for all directly and indirectly affected goes right to His heart. That we must do.
I once heard a preacher remind his congregation, "If you see someone drowning, pull him to safety first. The "why" and "if" can come later." That to me is not only sound logic, it is also exactly the message and example of Jesus Christ.
Let us spend our immediate time and resources praying and helping those afflicted. If miss that.... we may miss the most important message of God - love.
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