God's Smuggler

I recently finished 'God's Smuggler', a book that vividly depicts the life of Andrew van der Bijl, better known as Brother Andrew. I highly recommend reading this book, as it no doubt leaves you challenged, inspired and totally in awe of our awesome God!

Brother Andrew is the founder of Open Doors, an organisation that supports persecuted Christians around the globe. Last week marked 60 years since the first time he smuggled Christian literature into a no bounds country - communist Poland. Brother Andrew refers to his ministry as "combative, confrontational, controversial...[and] compassionate" He is driven solely by love - love for God, His Word and for His people. He is a man of controversy, faith, courage, prayer and discipline; I believe there is a lot we can learn from him and his heart for God. In this post, I'd like to share three 'Brother Andrew qualities' I'd like to see every Christian replicate (myself included!)

DISCIPLINE

One of the first things that struck me about this Dutch man was his unwavering discipline when it came to spending time with God.
I struggle finding the 'right time' to have a quiet time - even when I allocate a time, I end up compromising. I used to have it at 10pm but during the holidays, it is hard to keep my nights free. I tried having it at 5am but my sudden love for sleep has made it rather impossible to wake up...but here is a man who is 87 and never once missed his 2 hour long quiet time at 5am! Folks, this is dedication at its finest!
Brother Andrew doesn't just understand the importance of prayer in personal spiritual edification, but in global spiritual edification. It wasn't his fearlessness that has helped us cater to the needs of our persecuted family, neither was it his prowess, it was God working through Him because he put God first, come rain or shine. Here is a man living out the words of Oswald Chambers when he said, "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work"

Behind every breakthrough, there is prayer.
Behind every miracle, there is prayer.
Behind every revival, there is prayer.
Prayer brings us closer to our Father; it tunes our hearts to beat with His and better acquaints us with the voice of His Spirit in us.
We want to see our nation saved. What is stopping us from pursuing a healthy, consistent prayer life? If it truly mattered to us, we will make time for it.

DEPENDENCE

There have been moments in my life where I've been helpless, situations only God could help me out of. We are taught to secure our lives, be it our futures or finances; none of us choose to be helpless. However a sense of security can often lead to pride or self-reliance; it can also make us vulnerable to fear. To trade that for helplessness eases the fear as we solely depend on God. His strength is made complete in our weakness.
Brother Andrew is a man who intentionally made himself helpless, to ensure all glory belonged to God alone. In his book, he speaks of times he had to queue, waiting his turn at some thorough security checks, in a car literally bursting at its hinges with Bibles:

"Lord," I went on, "I know that no amount of cleverness on my part can get me through this border search.  Dare I ask for a miracle?  Let me take some of the Bibles out and leave them in the open where they will be seen.  Then, Lord I cannot possibly be depending on my own stratagems, can I?  I will be depending utterly upon You."

While the last car was going through its chilling inspection, I managed to take several Bibles from their hiding places and pile them on the seat beside me.

It was my turn. I put the little VW in low gear, inched up to the officer standing at the left side of the road, handed him my papers, and started to get out.  But his knee was against the door, holding it closed.  He looked at my photograph in the passport, scribbled something down, shoved the papers back under my nose, and abruptly waved me on. 

Surely thirty seconds had not passed.  I started the engine and inched forward.  Was I supposed to pull over, out of the way where the car could be taken apart?  Was I ... surely I wasn’t...I coasted forward, my foot poised above the brake.  Nothing happened.  I looked out the rear mirror.  The guard was waving the next car to a stop, indicating to the driver that he had to get out.  On I drove a few more yards.  The guard was having the driver behind me open the hood of his car.  And then I was too far away to doubt that indeed I had made it through that incredible checkpoint in the space of thirty seconds.

My heart was racing.  Not with the excitement of the crossing, but with the excitement of having caught such a spectacular glimpse of God at work!

This is complete surrender, and one of my favourite parts of the book!

 

FAITH

“In the years of living this life of faith, I have never known God's care to fail.”

Jesus said that a mustard seed of faith can move mountains. I often struggle to even have an iota of it as I am blinded by doubts, logic and reality. Faith is a spiritual gift that goes hand in hand with dependence; I seek more of it in my life, hence I admire how full of faith Brother Andrew was (and still is!).

 

In missionary school, he was taught to uncomplainingly depend on God for his every need. He speaks of how he prayed, knowing God will but not knowing how He will. From providing daily necessities and meeting his fees, to answering his prayer for seeing eyes to be made blind to the Bibles he carried, he clung to God with child-like faith.  

“That's the excitement in obedience, finding out later what God had in mind.”  

Such faith helps us stand firm in the face of adversity, as we are assured of God's sovereignty. It leads to unquestioning obedience, as we can be certain that whatever God asks of us, wherever He calls us, He will be with us and work it for our good.

 

 

There is a lot more I want to share, but I don't want to spoil the book for you. I urge you to read (or even re-read) 'God's Smuggler' for yourselves - you can ask for a copy here, or if you prefer a comic, here.

May we, like Brother Andrew, be driven by love, to walk the paths God has etched out for us.

If you'd like to know more about the work of Open Doors, here is a little film they've just released:

Images credit: Open Doors Youth UK

Holy Green Eye

I love meeting passionate Christians who love God so much that you see it in their understanding of scripture and drive to share the good news...but I recently noticed that although I loved meeting them, I often failed at loving them freely, as people. That was when God showed me that I suffered from the 'Holy Green Eye'.

In Mark 9:38-41, we see John complaining to Jesus about a man (who was not one of Jesus' disciples) driving out demons in the name of Jesus. Why does John complain? He gets the 'Holy Green Eye'. Earlier on in the chapter we see that a man complains to Jesus that His disciples couldn't drive the demon out of his son, so it is no surprise that the disciples were a bit jealous of this other man, who was not one of them, performing such signs! I don't know about you, but I can definitely relate! Here comes the best bit, Jesus' response, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me. For whoever is not against us, is for us."

"For whoever is not against us, is for us" - these words echo in my head every time I'm on the verge of contracting this spiritual illness!

Spiritual jealousy, or as I like to call it, the 'Holy Green Eye', stems from an insecurity that you are of little use to God than another, or from a possessiveness towards Him and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is a toxin that encourages superiority and creates divisions in a body that is called to be united.

Romans 12:4-6 - 'For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly...'

Do they have a better understanding of God's word? Continue spending time with Him, and you too will get there.
So they speak in tongues! So they lead worship! So they're well read! So they're eloquent! So they're outgoing! So what!
Just because you are not like them, doesn't mean you are useless! We're all given different gifts, called on different journeys, each specifically designed for us and the people in our lives. It is wrong to compare our spirituality and our gifts with others. We might serve differently, but we're part of the same team, trying to achieve the same goal: pointing people to Christ!

Our Christian life isn't a competition. That is a concept alien to my Asian blood! God loves us all, and we have done nothing to earn that love. Instead of fighting for God's favour (which by the way, you already have!) cheer other Christians on, spur them on to serve better, be inspired and challenged by their lives - as wise King Solomon states in Proverbs 27:17, sharpen each other like 'iron sharpens iron'.
Our gifts, or level of Christian maturity do not define our usefulness to God; all He seeks is a willing heart. He qualifies the unqualified! Therefore, the next time you sense yourself developing that 'Holy Green Eye', remember Jesus' words, "For whoever is not against us, is for us".

Where art thou, O City on a Hill?

This week was pretty exciting! On behalf of the Christian Union, my friend and I debated the Atheist, Secularist and Humanist society on 'Is Christianity a force for good in the world?'. It was a great opportunity to share the Gospel. Soon afterwards, I was made aware of a public survey that stated that only 2 in 5 people believed Christianity was a force for good in the world. To say I was sad, would be an understatement, but it did get me thinking, a lot!

Christianity is about God's love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, hope, redemption and reconciliation - when the world is well aware of the doctrine, why do they dismiss it? I'm afraid we are to blame! At the debate, the opposition's arguments were primarily centred on Christians, who in my opinion were not very Christian. Christianity is a term that describes the teachings of Jesus Christ, but the world can only acknowledge these teachings if we, who wear the name tag, 'Christian', practise it. They have a point! After all, they are judging us by our fruits...which are evidently not very alluring!

Recently God's been emphasising the importance of genuine, deep love. From a friend's brilliant article, 'Outrageous Love' to passages from the New Testament as part of the 21 Day Challenge, everywhere I turn I am challenged to love like Jesus did...but what does that look like? Prayerfully consider the verses below:

Luke 3:8 - Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

 

Mark 12:30-31 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbour as yourself". There is no commandment greater than these.

 

Isaiah 29:13 - "These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teaching are merely human rules."

 

Matthew 23 - '...you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness...you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.'

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

 

1 John 4:8 - Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

The early church didn't care about the legalities or get caught up in trying to sway the government. It flourished in one of the most ungodly empires because it stood out! The world no longer sees people living out the Gospel they preach. They see people who cry out, 'I've been changed' but live lives pretty much like everyone else. They see people who rant about the love of God but seldom express it. They see disputed people, caught up in controversies and arguments on what's right and what's wrong, public slurs and hateful judgements. Is that what Jesus died for? Is that what Jesus meant when He asked us to be salt and light?

Church, the world has cried out, 'we don't see it'! It is our duty to accept the challenge! Let us refuse to pass judgement. Let us channel the grace and mercy shown to us. Let us be people who make the lives of those around us that little bit bearable. Instead of making a public spectacle of the divisions between us, let us focus on being the Gospel. Let us live like Jesus - focused on pleasing God, loving deeply and opening our hearts to the sinner - let God transform them.

Jesus said, 'a city on a hill cannot be hidden' - let us be that city by loving outrageously, pursuing holiness, serving faithfully and believing passionately! If we did all that, who wouldn't see us?

Why we need a bit of persecution

I've become a Youth Advocate for Open Doors, an organisation that supports persecuted Christians around the globe. I had the opportunity to spend a weekend with other like-minded Christians, to make us more aware of the struggles faced, and how we can be the voice for our many silenced brothers and sisters in Christ.

The weekend challenged my prayer life for my persecuted family. For much of my Christian life, I viewed this duty as a calling 'someone out there' had, but I was convicted about my responsibility towards the persecuted church. 1 Corinthians 12 reminded me that the church is not my local Christian family with whom I commune, but the global body of believers - we are all part of one family, one body, hence 'if one part suffers, every part suffers with it.'

The conviction did not stop there! I was led to question my ardour and faithfulness in my walk with God, and the apathy I found myself in, shamed me. I know I am not alone, Western Christianity itself has been stunted by this; we are too complacent, too apathetic, too comfortable, and as a result our churches are diluted by counterfeits! This is why I believe we need a bit of persecution.

Persecution renews our appreciation for Christian fellowship

One night during the weekend, we had an opportunity to meet in a field like the secret church. What started off with excited laughs, was soon taken over by fear and sympathy. We worshiped in silence, braved the chilly temperature to read God's Word and pray together. Our discomfort seemed insignificant to the potential torture our brothers and sisters faced for just meeting together. We feared rowdy guys and insects (well I did!), an unjustifiable fear compared to that of being caught, tortured or even killed for believing in Jesus Christ - yet, my persecuted family remains fearless!

According to various surveys published, although more than 50% of the British population claims to be Christian, less than 25% identify themselves as 'churchgoers'. Sad! Fellowship is a fundamental part of Christian life, needed to encourage, instruct and support us.

Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not neglect meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

When those who can potentially die for meeting together are able to do so, how much more should we! Too tired? Too busy? Too bad! No excuses!

Persecution refines and waters the church

Like fire is to a metal, persecution is to the church. It purifies us by burning off the contaminants to make us glow brighter than we ever could. Persecution has the power to repel the counterfeits until we are left with one passionate body.

If you take time to read the touching accounts of persecuted Christians, you see that the presence of the Holy Spirit was often most tangible during the tough times. When we are persecuted or on fire for God, we depend on Him - we are teachable and shaped by the Spirit to walk like Jesus and see the Word through His eyes. You see, metals are heated to be moulded.

We take freedom for granted, seldom remembering the price many paid for it. This attitude has damaged the church. Christianity is increasingly a cultural thing 'we do', rather than a personal thing 'we are', thus unattractive. Hea Woo, the North Korean lady imprisoned for her belief in the Lord, managed to start a revival in one of North Korea's labour camps. How? Her radical (Note: not 'radicalism' or 'fundamentalism') faith that drove her to help her fellow prisoners despite her own physical pain. Heat causes metals to expand and glow, likewise persecution exposes our passionate love for our Saviour, so passionate that it is irresistible! This is the Christianity I long to see in Britain!


There is a lot we can learn from our persecuted family. Their passionate, fearless lives must challenge us, as well us move us to uphold them in prayer and action.

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecution is not a recent problem, since the time of the apostles Christians have been tortured, murdered and ridiculed for their faith, but as Tertullian wrote, 'the blood of martyrs' has proved to be 'the seed of the church'. Nevertheless, I cannot imagine my right to express my belief in Jesus being stripped from me. Persecution is an injustice hence I will never wish for it; what I wish for however, is the rebirth of a radical Christianity in the West - full of passionate belief, pursuing holiness and putting faith and love in action. If that is what we looked like, who would want to look away?

Church History - Montanists

I developed a recent interest in church history, no that's a lie - I've always been interested in it but this summer I decided to do something about it. I do agree with George Santayana that, 'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.' One of my church leaders lent me 'Church History - A Crash Course for the Curious' by Christopher Catherwood. I am only a couple of chapters in, but I have already learnt a lot - about evangelicalism, various denominations that have risen and died through the ages, and how the church has stood the test of time. It's a great book that I highly recommend to all you 'curious' folk! One of the early, and now extinct denominations that caught my attention was Montanism, so I decided to dig a little deeper.
There are not that many sources around that have documented the practices, doctrines and the demise of this community. Moreover, there seems to have been sects within the Montanist church confined to various localities, and these sects had varied doctrines, again details that are not well documented. I am going to share my findings - but if you would like to correct or add anything, you are most welcome.

The Montanist Church was founded by Montanus - a young Christian convert who is said to have been a priest of Apollo or Cybele - in 2nd century AD. It started in Phrygia, Asia Minor, hence it's followers were also referred to by the names, 'Cataphrygian' or 'Phrygian' which literally means 'out of Phrygia'. Montanus travelled with two female assistants, Prisca and Maximilla - they preached their doctrines and were known for their ecstatic prophecies. It was a sect that placed a lot of emphasis on the Trinity, fidelity during persecution and esteemed chastity, penance and spontaneous reliance on the Holy Spirit.

They were protestants of sorts, as they believed in salvation through Jesus Christ and consecutive repentance. Their doctrines focus primarily on John 14 and 16, chapters that document the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that we can obtain as a result.
John 14:12 - whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things
John 16:14 - He [Spirit of Truth] will glorify me [Jesus].
They preached that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are bestowed through grace and not 'deeds' of righteousness or spiritual superiority; and also that the Spirit provided prophecies to both men and women alike.
Moreover, they propagated a belief in 'The Four Ages'

1. NATURAL AGE - innate understanding of God, through personal revelation and nature. This was the period before the Law i.e. Noah, Adam .etc.
2. LEGAL AGE OF THE FATHER - This age is the age of the Law. From Moses until the period of Jesus, covering all the prophets.
3. GOSPEL AGE OF CHRIST - This is the New Testament period pertaining to the life and ministry of Jesus.
4. REVELATION AGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - They believed that this period, after Christ, was established by Montanists and that it supersedes the age of Christ - WHAT? Supersede? I thought the Spirit was meant to 'glorify Jesus' - moreover, their primary form of teaching is by revelation and NOT via Scripture...sounds a bit dodgy to me!

Montanist meetings are said to have a period of TERROR - I am not quite sure what that meant or constituted. This was followed by a period of QUIET and PASSIVITY IN MIND, where they empty their minds completely to be taken over by the 'spirit' - I am a bit weary about this, hence I have not capitalised it. The 'spirit-filled' state is known as the ECSTATIC STATE, where members of the congregation prophesy in first person, out of the control of one's own will. This varied from the prophecies in the Bible which are characterised by calmness and free will, but this difference was justified as a 'new, higher order' - but weirdly, this was exactly how Montanus is said to have prophesied as a priest of Apollo or Cybele!
In addition to all this, they were pre-millennial - they believed that Jesus' second coming would happen before 1000 AD. They were also quartodeciman - celebrated Easter according to the Hebrew calendar - who wore make-up (Note - make-up was a sign of harlotry) , paid preachers and believed to posses the authority and power to forgive sins.

According to my research, which involves mainly Catholic and Reformed sources, these were the beliefs of the majority, but like I said before the doctrines changed between localities. For example, the famous historian Tertullian, is said to have converted into Montanism, although he remained on records, a Catholic. He wrote that the Holy Spirit did not supersede Jesus but only 'affirmed ambiguities in the Bible', not introducing new doctrines. His teachings resulted in Tertullianism which spread to the West. No matter where it spread, all forms are known to have met their demise by 6th century AD. What caused this sudden decline in a movement that captivated many?

Looking at what they preached and practised, it is clear to see why many had a problem with them - it was not so much that they were exercising the gifts of the Spirit or prophesying, it was more so the manner in which they did it. Can the Spirit of God result in violent or 'ecstatic states'? I don't know, but I see no examples in Scripture! Just because they exercise these gifts, which some believe stopped with the Apostles (I am not here to debate that, although I do believe that they continued), they're wrongly linked to modern day Charismatics or Pentecostals! Just, no! There must surely be demonic spirits that counteract the Spirit of God - how do you discern the two, if you rely on spontaneous revelation, without affirming it with the Word of the Lord? Jesus Himself did not come to overthrow the words of the Father but to clarify them. The deal breaker for me however, was looking at the actual prophecies, as we are asked to 'test the Spirit' - and guess what, they had numerous that did not come to pass. Their prophecies were very 'end-time' oriented (e.g. One of their prophecies stated that Christ would return to New Jerusalem, which will be located in Pepuza or Tymion; they apparently also gave a date - this obviously never happened, and we see their followers declining from this point on) Jesus said He'd come like a thief! Never believe anyone who tells you otherwise, but be ever prepared!

I know that there is a wealth of knowledge out there on Montanism, that I am ignorant to, but with what I have at hand, I certainly see this as a heresy. What scares me though is how much truth it actually holds - much truth that totally loses it's value because of the odd lies and misconceptions that decorate it. These people appeared to be on fire for God, moved and used by the 'spirit', but that was all a lie - doesn't that scare you? The thought that a demonic spirit can imitate the Holy Spirit? There is a spiritual world out there, believe it or not! It reminds me of Matthew 7:15, where Jesus says that false prophets, referred to as wolves, come 'dressed in sheep's clothing' - the false doctrines always contain elements of truth to ease you into it. This calls for us to be vigilant, not only towards attacks of sin that can mar our walks with God but also towards what we're feeding ourselves with. A deluded mind is worse and often harder to correct than an unbelieving one.

Antinomianism - A Big Mistake!

Many of my posts feature the word: 'Antinomianism' - sadly my usage of it, I have learnt recently, has been terribly wrong! I apologize for this error and felt compelled to dig a little deeper into the roots of this misleading word...here is a summary of my findings.

Antinomianism stems from the Greek word meaning 'against the law' or 'lawlessness'. It is a concept that branched out of the Christian doctrine of 'Sola-Fide' (which states that salvation can only be attained by faith in Jesus Christ) shortly after the reformation, budding from Germany and penetrating every nation and generation of Christians to have ever lived. Its proposal that Christians are under no obligation to follow the moral laws due to faith in Christ, is a fallacy of the greatest kind; sadly, perhaps due to its appeal, it still lingers amidst us today, and as Christians it is our duty to rid evangelism of it and undo the damage it has caused.

Sadly this concept is used by many in the Catholic church to accuse Protestants. It's also not surprising  that unbelievers refer to it as a common cause of deterance - who can blame them when many evangelists seem to purely focus on 'Jesus loves you as you are!' swallowing perhaps the most important part... 'But He loves you too much to leave you unchanged!'

Surprisingly, antinomianism isn't a recent concept, it is an age old issue that can even be found battled against in Acts 21. However the Bible is very clear on what Salvation is, how it can be attained and the life that should follow as a result. Just like the apostles, we ought to address it too, and do so quickly. 

Salvation is indeed the outcome of faith but that's only part of the picture...
In Paul's letter to the Galatians he writes:

'...know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.' 
'...by observing the law no-one will be justified.' 
Why?

'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law'
So who has kept everything written in the Book of the Law? 
No one! 
Because 'there is no one righteous, not even one', and we can testify to that with our own lives!

Then what is the purpose of the law?
'...the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith'
The law serves as a pointer, to highlight our need for a Savior. 

However, just because salvation is a matter of faith, you cannot happily gallop off into a whirlpool of sin! Repentance is key! Jesus Himself said in the sermon on the mount, that a man is known by his fruits. Moreover, James reminds us lucidly that 'Faith without works is dead' - good works justify before men our faith after salvation. These good works result from a change of heart and an observance of God's holy law. 
Salvation DOES NOT give us a licence to sin but highlights our liability towards our sin; it DOES NOT overthrow the law, but perfects it! Antinomianism is classic case of 2 Peter 3:16 where the 'ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.'

As I am a novice, I should probably stop ranting, hence I'll leave you to ponder on this Facebook status posted by a friend and young pastor, Ryan King:
'Antinomianism: the sacrifice of godly purity on the alter of 'gospel' passion. It twists propitiation into permission, expiation into an excuse, liberty into licence, and freedom into foolishness. By effectively turning our redemption by Christ's substitution into reason for Christians to sin, it perverts God's grace, denies Christ's Lordship, profanes Christ's blood, and grieves the Holy Spirit. If you want to be truly passionate about the gospel of Christ, you won't go here!'

Do You Read Your Bible?

While speaking to some of my Christian friends, I realized eventually that they do not read their Bible - while some regretfully blame a busy schedule, there are others who don't feel they need to! Although they consider themselves to be Christians, they do not regard the Bible as God's word, as God inspired, as infallible or as inerrant! 

It's just a book written by a bunch of men right?

Men are flawed, thus so are the words and claims it makes.

Those men lived in ancient times, they wrote for their culture, not ours, thus it is irrelevant.

It saddens me that those who belong to the Christian family, hold such views! They have certainly missed the point!

What is the Bible?

The Bible is God's word.

It is His manual to us on how to have a relationship with Him; a manual to find the purpose of our life. The God who loves His creation, who is responsible for our existence and the existence of the world, will surely not leave us - the masterpiece of His design - in ignorance of His purpose, our purpose and laws that'll bring us peace, joy and everything good that we've been striving to acquire as mankind! He wants us to know His plans, He wants us to learn and find what this world is all about, what better way than to leave a tangible 'instruction book' - a divine revelation of the 'basic needed knowledge' that man is incompetent of finding for himself?

It was not written BY men but THROUGH men, BY GOD. Men were merely the 'pens' or 'instruments', if you wish, that God used, to convey and record His word. It's a compilation of 66 different books of various genres - covering a vast spectrum of literature like history, science, poetry and so on. It was written over a period of 1500 years, obviously differing in cultural practices, by over 40 different writers - each from different walks of life, from doctors to tax collectors! To baffle and amaze you further... It was written in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, in three different continents!

Although these authors differed in so many ways - they addressed many controversial issues - from sexuality to atheism, yet they provide EXACTLY THE SAME advice, moral values and laws on these - NO CONTRADICTIONS. How harmonious! This is firm evidence of its divine origin and nature - only if the author was the same, could these diverse selection of writers agree on such controversial matters.

It is a book that contains numerous scientific facts and truths, from physics to biology - it has been at the forefront of modern discoveries and advancements, however scientists seldom recognize it or fathom the truth stated. In addition, it is a historically sound and accurate literature with numerous accurately fulfilled, detailed prophecies - the one book that predicted in advance, the rise and fall of specific nations and governments, and reveals the destiny of humankind. 

If that doesn't convince you of its inerrant nature, its infallibility and the fact that it is GOD BREATHED...I don't know what will!

No mere humanly inspired book could have revealed these amazing events. Such prophecies must have been divinely inspired. It is the book that has changed and touched the most lives, yet is the least understood and most misunderstood! A universal best seller, a book owned by more people than any other, yet one that sadly, NO BODY KNOWS!

Why bother reading it?

If the above section failed to convince you to pick up your Bible and read it, let me reiterate its importance!

While many dismiss reading the Bible, on the basis of cultural irrelevance, they fail to realize that the Bible is not about 'culture'. It is a book about OUR LIFE and not an ancient culture! Yes, it contains stories and records of a variety of cultures and societies, however that isn't the basis - each story or account is designed to help us learn about how we can get closer to God, it serves as an analogy for a greater purpose, we seldom grasp. 

There are many who feel God is harsh or unjust, yes I mean Christians! I've been there! Shocking right! This is purely due to the fact that they have not known God or what He is like; they've never really begun to understand God's word. I have learnt that just because you struggle to understand it, it doesn't make it false or irrelevant!

I hear it being read at church every Sunday, why read it again?

The priest or minister has dedicated his life to understanding and teaching it, I cannot know more than him! 

As I mentioned before, the Bible is the most misinterpreted book - it has been misrepresented and twisted - sadly, by those who profess to hold it dear. Instead of teaching and expounding the obvious, simple, intended meaning, we now have throngs of human interpretations, numerous of which are 'compromised' versions of the truth. Instead of acknowledging the truth, men justify their own ways by perverting it. They fear what people say instead of what God's word says. Cutting a long story short, they yield to the fear of man, to guide them, instead of the fear of God.

If you speak to those who have concentrated their lives with God's word, they would honestly tell you about something truly remarkable! EVERY TIME you read a passage, you gain a different understanding - something that no other book offers! The words don't change, but the message they carry is far beyond our competency to fathom; it is filled with enigma! By restricting yourself to Bibles on Sundays, you're only exposing yourself to the preacher's interpretation - what they've understood. Sadly, that is not enough! God wishes to commune with YOU, INDIVIDUALLY! He wishes to speak DIRECTLY to you. 

How will you ever know what He wants to reveal to you through His word, if you don't take the time to pick it up and read it?

Furthermore, there are many misinterpretations lurking around in our society - each possessing a fraction of the 'real thing' but totally manipulated. How do you expect to know if you are being fooled? How will you know if you are really fed the truth, or if you are dedicating your life to something that'll merely assure your peril? Like the Berean Jews, God wants us to 'receive the message with great eagerness and examine the Scriptures everyday to see if what [was being] said was true' (Acts 17:11). We are called to test what we hear; we are called to have a speculative approach to God's word.

How to start?

I know that starting off isn't easy! There is always a confusion as to where to begin reading. For more than five years, I was stuck to Genesis chapters 1-20...I never got past them because I never understood them. I would read it, then realized I understood nothing and would rewind back to 'In the beginning...'

I would suggest starting off from the Gospels, preferably John - they're not only easy to understand but contain the key to life, thus the most important part - the first step in beginning a relationship with God. Once you are comfortable with the New Testament, begin to explore the Old - although tricky, it is still applicable and as important as the New. Most importantly, I would strongly encourage you to start your Bible reading with a short prayer, asking God to guide, lead and speak to you. I was amazed by the difference that made! 

While I completely agree with the King James version being the closest to the original, it can at times confuse a person and even bore some! Thus, I recommend reading the King James alongside a credible modern translation, such as the New International or the English Standard, to help you relate to the text. Also, I personally benefit from having a Bible commentary, to help me dig deeper into scripture, especially while reading those head-scratching Old Testament passages where you lose track of what is happening! Finally, remember to read each verse in relation to the chapter, the book, the whole Bible, the culture and then to your life; this will help you discern well and avoid common misinterpretations.

The Bible will mean more to you if you fully fathom its vital relation to your life and its direct connection to current world events, by viewing its history, teachings and prophecies from the vantage point of your current life.

While most people consider reading the Bible as a dull, irksome and uninteresting task, I challenge you to take the first step - read it out of a real desire to learn more and a love for God. Once you begin, and start to understand the Bible, you will find it the most fascinating, the most interesting, as well as the most profitable and enjoyable study of your life! Come on, let's get cracking into God's word! You don't want to miss out do you?

Get Your Multicolored Coats On!

Listening to a sermon by Jentezen Franklin, my soul was stirred...

What made Joseph the object of reproach, scorn and hate, in the sight of his brothers?

His dazzling, gorgeous, vibrant, loud, multicolored coat!

Why?

It made him different; unique and special - thus, stand out from the crowd.

That's exactly how we ought to be as Christians! Our lives should be like the multicolored coat...
We ought to challenge and let go of status-quo! Quit trying to fit in, quit trying to be like everyone else!

1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.


What does it mean to be different?

Ideologies, practices that are obviously sinful, have become fashionable and society's norm - drunkenness, lust, sexual immorality, foul speech...name it! Seriously, do you want to be a part of that? Do you want to be associated with all that filth?
Our Savior has given up His life to save us from our sinfulness, how much do we value the price He paid? We merely insult it, if we willingly take pleasure in indulging in it!
If everyone else spends their weekend getting drunk, say NO, resist yourself. Silence and rebuke the urge in yourself to indulge in sinful talk or behavior. Say NO!
Shouldn't there be a tangible, audible, visible difference in the lives of those inside and those outside the church?

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.


The devil has got to HATE you - hate you for not following the crowd; for not conforming to the repulsive, world pattern he has integrated into our society.

Moreover, Joseph's brothers wanted his coat, they were jealous - they longed for the coat to the extent that hatred sprung from their deprivation.
Live a life that dazzles others, baffles others...a life that others want, a life that reflects your Savior and how much you value His sacrifice. Let us pray that God strengthens and equips us to stand out from the crowd, make Him proud and not to give in to external and internal pressures we continuously face.
If there isn't a change in yourself - a vibrant, loud, eye-catching change in the way you live your life - ask yourself, WHY?

If you're not hated, you're not living right!

John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Dare to be different to make a difference!

Get your multicolored coats on!

Should the Church influence politics and the government?

My views have changed since I posted this. Of course I believe God and His Word are important in government and the laws that we make. However I do not believe that a 'Christian state' is possible - 'Christian' is a word that is largely misused, and strikes the church in that state with apathy. The early church thrived under a secular government, they never sought to create a Christian country, however they sought to create a society with such values not by force, but the transforming power of the cross. That is what we should be aiming for.



During a very interesting conversation on the bus with my friend, the issue about the state and the Church working together was raised. As its a very interesting topic and one I feel strongly about, I have decided to share what I believe here...

Should the state be secular? No!
Should the Church influence politics and the government? Definitely! I am not trying to advocate a denominational superiority or bias in the values and laws enforced by the government, however I believe in the greater Church body's absolute influence - values derived from the word of God directly and not mere doctrines preached only by a particular denomination that is contrary to the word and will of God. Values that Christianity is built upon and not what a particular type of Church is built upon or advocates, and certainly not the compromises made by some denominations sadly on some of the key, basic, clear principles God wants us to exercise.
Why?

1. 'In God we trust.' You might wonder what difference this would make! It makes A LOT of difference! 
Lets look at Israel - their battles with Palestine ended victoriously, when their trust was placed fully on God. David, a young lad, beat Goliath, a giant more than double his size, purely by relying on God as his strength and trusting that he will be delivered.
The Six Day War:
When Israel faced opposition from all its neighboring countries and aloofness from the world, it beat the well armed, thousands or millions with its humble insufficient troops and man power in six days - can you believe it? Just six days! As our jaw drops in wonder, and before we give all the credit to Israel, let us remember that this is a miracle. Any rational mind will understand that Israel would've been extinct if it weren't for some divine, supernatural intervention. How did they succeed? Well, while the neighboring countries trusted their heavily armed troops, while the world waited to hear about Israel's swift downfall, Israel hoped and placed its trust in one person, God! They took courage in and exercised Moses' words in Deuteronomy 31:6
'Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; He won't leave you.'
How awesome are these words! Every single one of them true! God won Israel's battle miraculously, He was with them. There have been records of Arab troops, thousands, advancing up a hill, towards six (just six) Israelites with minimal supplies of bullets that were running out; the Arab troops fled back, withdrawing and yelling "Ibrahim" out of fear. They report seeing a giant, magnificent, holy figure standing behind these men. My guess is, it was not Abraham, but the almighty God. The One who promised to be with His people when they trust in Him. This is a real incident, actually reported! Thus, a country that trusts in the One True God, will never be put to shame, will be a victor, as long as they pursue the Lord's will and  abide in His ways.

2. A country built on Biblical values and principles pleases and wins the favor of God.
If we take time to analyze the evolution of the law, we can see that the once Bible-based, God centered law has been compromised to please various groups of people and also to give ourselves more freedom to quench the thirst of our sinful, evil desires.
For example:
a) Abortion - Once when life was valued was totally wrong and considered murder. Now, although life begins at conception, we call the baby inside the womb, 'a ball of cells' or a 'developing piece of tissue' - Just to be permissive towards the idea of abortion. Yes, it does make it easier to say 'I'm removing a ball of cells or a piece of tissue' than to say, 'I am murdering a God-given child' or 'I'm killing a baby'. Sometimes, abortion becomes essential, for example to save the life of the mother .etc - however, the fact is, once permitted, without strict conditions, it has become a part of life, not a serious decision that requires a lot of prayer and must be avoided at all costs - Do you see the difference? Do you see the evolution?
b) Homosexuality - The Bible is CLEAR about homosexuality being a sin. A homosexual is on the same level as a liar, thief, blasphemer or a murderer .etc. i.e. a sinner. There are two popular views different denominations take on this issue - 'Its natural, you can't help it, God loves homosexuals, thus you can be one.' or 'Its a sin, really bad, we hate all homosexuals.' Both views are ridiculously polarized, partly Biblical but primarily a twist of words to please a certain group of people and to appeal to the 21st century.
Yes, homosexuality is a sin. A homosexual is as bad as us, not worse, he/she is a sinner and so are we, all of us indulge in different sins but are ultimately, in God's eyes, branded as one - 'A sinner' (that's why liars and homosexuals are spoken about together, both have the same fate!). Once again, we can see the evolution of the law on this topic too, the law was once really strict but now, it is highly liberal, enabling people to indulge in this sin deeper freely, instead of warning them about the eternal consequences of it; it does not understand and dismisses the Bible's core message.
Returning from the digression, why is it important to build a country that is centered on godly values and principles? From the Old Testament, we see that Israel's kings who rejected God and led the country into sin were not only harshly punished by God but also, were responsible for the downfall of the country. However, kings who made God and obedience to Him, the priority of the country, found favor in the eyes of God and were delivered from distress. Remember, all of God's promises to the Israelites and to us, had and have a condition, that we follow His commandments and obey Him. Thus the law needs to support a person's relationship with God and make it easier for them to focus and please God, by doing so they win the favor of God - that is worth it!

3. A praying country succeeds
I was saddened to recently read that a much loved tradition, of saying a Christian prayer before a council meeting, was stopped in a council in Britain due to opposition on equality grounds. Ridiculous! Isn't this depriving Christians of equality? Yes, in deed! What is so unequal about seeking God's guidance and saying a prayer before a meeting, even as a tradition, in a supposedly Christian country?
This would certainly sadden William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a member of the then British Parliament who said that Britain's hope rested "not so much on her navies and armies, nor on the wisdom of her rulers, as on the persuasion that she still contains many who love and obey the gospel of Christ, that their prayers may prevail." My favorite part is "...that their prayers may prevail." I love it as it is so true, once, when Britain honored God and trusted and called on Him through prayer, she was victorious and full of splendor, but as she rejects God, fails to seek His guidance through prayer and watches her communication with her Maker and Keeper deteriorate, she herself slips lower and lower, from the position God intended and wants for her. That is truly something to be sad about!

There we go, this is not all there is, I could go on reasoning my point, which is very valid, however it would result in a lengthier post; I have picked my top three points as to why the Church needs to influence politics. (Let me re-phrase it to avoid confusion: '...as to why God should be the center of politics.')Yes, the present situation does seem bleak but there is hope. We see in the Bible that Israel also turned away from God, we all do! But they had people in authority who feared God and spoke His word to them. They had people like Wilberforce who made Israel understand the root of her success and helped diminish the pride that blinded their eyes from seeing God. Pride and self-righteousness result in godless laws, values and societies. People depend on their intellect and selfish desires and practice hatred towards godly things - once we see a revival, we will be able to see a change and God at work in our countries more, lifting us up and supporting us. He needs to be the foundation our country rests upon.

What can we do now?
We can stand up for Biblical values and principles! We can also pray! Pray for people like Wilberforce to rise up and speak out. Let us pray that God touches and softens the hearts of those around us, so that our country seeks and trusts Him, and thus be able to serve and glorify His holy name. Remember, when God did miracles and delivered Israel, the countries around feared the Lord, the God of Israel, the one true God.

Lets be Authentic Christians!

While many don't want to be associated with Christianity or  fall away from it due to the unauthentic lives led by Christians, we forget and ignore the various, genuine acts of kindness many Churches and Christians do to impact their communities and share God's love. Here are two of my favorite...

A Church in America has seen many unfruitful evangelistic attempts. The hearts of those in their community were just really hard. Once a TV was given to the Church but was forgotten about, until the Pastor of the Church had a great idea during the football season. They decided to invite many people who lived in their community, from those who felt neglected and rejected to those who were very amicable to watch football and have some food. Many came along and were able to experience God's love in action and see the authenticity in the lives of these preachers, who clearly practiced what they preached.

In another part of America, during hard times and economic depression, a Church decided to organize a free medical camp for their community. With the help of many volunteers, the Church was able to provide medical services to a lot of people, and reach some of the most needy people in their community.

These Churches, put God's love into action. They found a way to connect with people and bridge outward differences and touch the heart, they showed their community that they care and love them because God loved them first; they made people feel special and accepted. In addition, these Churches have seen their numbers grow drastically, mainly because people wanted to see the reason behind the love these Christians showed.

Lets be authentic Christians, who joyfully practice what we passionately preach and flee from apathy and hypocrisy. God wants us to care for those around us, we as Christians have a responsibility, to overcome evil with those little good things that make an impact in lives. We are not perfect, but we are made and will be made perfect by Him who is perfect. Whoever came up with the saying 'Actions speak louder than words', is certainly 100% correct.

'Sermon on the bounce' - METRO

The above article from the METRO (released on the 25th of August 2011), really thrilled me! This shows the sheer determination of a Priest in Russia. While the congregation's plan to build a Church building was constantly thwarted by authorities, the Priest's friend decided to help him out with this innovative and eye catching idea!
What I love about this 'Bouncy - Church' is that, it is exactly like a church inside, and it not only provides these people with a place of worship, but also serves as an evangelistic tool. Many will be curious and would want to have a look, and as a result would get the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Wow, hats off, not only for this unique innovation but also the determination found in this community to meet as God's people, no matter what opposition arises!