Iustitia Dei

The central teaching of the Christian faith concerns the reconciloiation of man with God in the person of Jesus Christ or teh doctrine of justification. This doctrine is often interpreted with cultural overtones although it is independnent of culture. The church is not only interested in the what man must do to be right with God, but also the process and consequences of such a new relationship. The doctirne is also center of the Christian theological system and teh existence of the church hignes on it. The doctrine of justification has to do with the transformation of sinner into a 'justified' person; changing a man without God to one with God, for God and before God. It is the ultimate expression of the Church's conviction of the work of Christ and tied closely to the historical revelation of God. It defines the conditions under which man can be reconciled to God.Hence, Christ is known through his work and as the locus in which Gdo reconcile the world to himself. It is this soteriological context which provides the framework for teh discussion of the doctrine of justificaiton. The discussion of this doctrine must be distinguished from the discussion of teh concept of justification. The concept has to do with God's saving action toward his people as revealed in the Bible, while the doctrne concerns the method thgrough which man can be reconciled to God. The doctrien of justification is independent of Biblical origins and absent from the NT.It is interesting to note that in the discussion of justification as we hear it today is quite independent of its Pauline origins and its origin lies in an anti-Judaising polemic quite differnet from today, it is still interesting to discover why of all metaphors, justification is singled out for the explication of soteriology.It is an inccident fo history that justification instead of other soteriological methaphor cna be creditted to the following factors:1. The rise of Pauline scholarship during the 12th Century2. High regard for classical jurisprudence3. semantic relationship between iustitia and iustificatio gives rise to the rationalizing of the divine dispensation towards mankind in terms of justice4.Luther's theological difficulties concerning teh Righteousness of God as Gospel, which tied the Reformation closely to the doctrine fo justification5. reconciliation is discussed under teh ageis of doctrine of justification in teh council of TrentIt is only within the west that the doctrine of jsutification has its sphere of influence. The east talks about the concept of deification rather than justification. This is due to the difference in the understand ing of the work of the Holy Spirit, influence of neo-platonism in the east and the west's interest in Roman Law which naturally placed interest in justification.(Alister McGrath, Iustitia Dei 2nd ed., 1-4. )

Spiritual Warfare & Eph 6:10ff

Ephesians 6:10ff talks about putting on the armor of God for a warfare against the opposing forces. This passage has been misused by charismatic militia to support the idea of spiritual warfare. Attributing all wars to spiritual dimension is a way fo escape to engage in the reality of the material world, an escapist best defence for being passive in a world of injustice.True enough our struggle is not with fellow human being but with the rulers, powers, world forces of this dark world and the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies. Every organization and personnel that engage in work of wickedness and injustice are the lackey of these forces. They are the physical and tangible manifestation and expressions of these forces. The spiritual warfare idea is a distraction to Christian from engaging in the tangible expression and manifestation of God's salvation in the world. We are afraid to be outright in our words and actions and choose to retreat to spiritual fanfare. The declaration and fanfare of the spiritual warfare camp is interesting and entertaining with the 'passionate engagement in fervent prayer, loud declaration of victory chant, strenous praying in tongues, waving of banners, spiritual dance, prayer walking, claiming ground and territory for God'. These are but substitue for the courageous and real struggle with the forces.The armor of God is not some spiritual adornment that we put on in prayer every morning. But the real demonstration of those character of God in our daily living. Definitely we need the power of God to help us as we face the challenge ahead of us and He has given us that power - the same power that he exerted upon christ when he raised him from the dead - the power to overcome injustice and unrighteousness. The injustice suffered by christ at the hands of the authroities is reverted when God declare him just by raising him from the dead. Thsi power of Gdo is given to us that we may stand against injustice and wickedness in our world.The different pieces of the armor is not spiritual quality but things taht we should be exhibiting in our lives.
1. Belt of truth - we need to walk in truthfulness, just like God who is Truthe itself and there is no lie in Him. To put on the belt of truth means we must live a life fo truthfulness, in every area of our life, whether in relationship, business, studies, transactions, words and deeds. This defeats the enemy who is teh fatehr of lies. Teh christian church with all its pompous display of spiritual warfare are not able to overcome the enemy becaus ewe are not living in truthfulness toward each other and toward the world.
2. Breastplate of justice - we need to uphold the justice in places where there are injustice. How many of us stand up for injustice in our society, workplace, school, church, government policies etc? We would rathe rsave our own skin than to risk our neck so that the abused and misused can be freed from injustice.
3. Shoe of the rpeparation of the Gospel of peace - we must be peacemaker in a world where talk of war is more than the talk of peace. Are we always ready with the Gospel of Peace - the reconciliation of ethnic groups, countries, minorities with the majorities, man with God? Is the church an arena of war or peace? Do we seek to keep the bond of peace or destroy peace? This calls for wisdom. How to reconcile the need to fight for justice and o keep peace?
4. Shield of faithfulness - the need to trust is growing ever greater in our world today but how many is trustworthy? God is faithful and will always be faithful to his creation. But are we faithful to each other? If christian can even be faithful with each other and keep faith with each other, how can we stand against the world and the forces that belittle faithfulness. What is important is what you get from it; faithfulness is valueless.
5. Helmet of salvation - What is salvation here? Is it the salvation of our soul? eternal life? Maybe it is not. If the armor is God's, then the salvation here may refer to God's act to save those that are oppressed and imprisoned. The church has more often been the place of oppression than salvation.People may have moved from one form of bondage (sin) to another (autotarial spiritual oppression). We are to be God's agent to bring news of salvation not oppression to a world drowning in oppression and abuse and injsutice, not to add another millstone to their neck.
6. Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God is to bring release and hope to people but often it has been a word of death and oppression and control. Instead of proclaiming freedom and release, the word we declare seek to bring people under bondage, and we disguise such bondage with beautiful and religious jargon to make it soudn spiritual and nice.
Spiritual warfare is real but not in the form of the classical spiritual warfare advocate. We must in deed struggle with these forces but not in the heavenlies. It should be done here, where you move and live and have your being. The war in heaven leave it to God and his mighty angels. Let us concentrate on the war on earth. The line between a coward in the face of injusice and wickedness and true trust in God is a thin one. Do not spiritualize your cowardness but rise up to the occassion and take up your armor tostand against the tide of darkness.Will you fight or flight? Will you break heaven with prayer but not stretch out your neck for the oppressed and abused with a word?

I am reading this book, ‘AQUAChurch 2.0’, and the author talks about our tendency to search for the ‘saviour map’ or recipe for successful ministry or life. However, he reminds us that ‘Jesus gave us and signposts, but not maps’. We can’t depend totally on maps because they are usually: (1) not full representations of reality, (2) not current, (3) directed by the focus of the map-makers, and (4) won’t get you to your destination. It is the same for our own lives. Each person needs to chart his/her own journey as he/she sails through the sea of time. “You can’t reduce God’s way of working with any biblical figure to a cute formula or a colourful map.’ Each person’s map of the world is peculiar and the final pieces come in only when we have reached the other shore.
Today we can read St. Paul’s map because he has finished his journey, not because he had it at the beginning. He sailed through life under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-10). God did not give him a map nor instructed him to search for a ‘saviour map’, but to heed the signposts erected along his paths (life and ministry). We, too, are to be sensitive to the signboards God places along our paths that direct our purposes in life. The same goes for the Children’s Church, may we as one people seek out these signboards and follow its directions, instead of imitating and replicating the successful churches (heroes) – their journey is not ours.

Last few days I was reading Aristotle’s On Sleep and Waking which deals with the topic of sleep. It was interesting that he ended the treatise with this statement, “swvzei gar h; ajnavpausi~” which means “For rest saves (or heals)”. Interestingly, the word used in Genesis 2:3 “He (God) rested from all His work which God had created and made” for ‘rested’ is katapauvw, a synonym of ajnavpauw/ ajnavpausi~ (to cause to rest / rest). God sets the seventh day apart for men so that we can rest and re-create ourselves. This is how important rest is to each one of us. Aristotle emphasized on the effect of rest in his writing, but it is God in all His wisdom who knows that we, human beings, need to have rest so that we will not be exhausted and fall ill. We must have time for recreation in our week, so that we will be re-created. An article in Reader’s Digest March 2009 (Pg. 37) issue has this to say about sleep: teens having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep have the tendency to have blood pressure 4 points higher than teens who slept well. Those who slept less than 6.5 hours a night were 2.5 times more likely than those who slept longer to have elevated blood pressure. Can you imagine if this is what it will do to teens, what greater damage it will do to us, the recycled-teens? So, please take time to rest and go for your own recreation, and also to sleep.
Psalm 127:2, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves.”

I was at the Zoo on Monday morning. I went with some people and they commented that the place is unlike the Malaysian zoo which smells. Our Zoo does not smell of animal waste…but over there you can smell it even at the entrance. The animals and the enclosures are all well kept and clean. The animals look good and healthy to the visitors. The Zoo, I think, works very hard to present the pretty side to the visitors. All the ugly side is dealt with in the secret places, out of the sight of the visitors. The Zoo can look beautiful only if the Zoo keepers have taken care of the animals in the ‘secret chambers’.
This gives me the thought of how important it is to have our daily devotions. Devotions are like the ‘secret chamber’ in the Zoo where the animals are cleaned and getting ready for the day to meet the multitudes of visitors in their best. If we are to spend time with God before we begin the day, I believe we will be more ready to face the day. The Psalmist wrote, “But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and refuge in the day of my distress. (59:16)” If we remind ourselves of God’s lovingkindness and His strength available to us, I think we can face the day better. I encourage you to go before God daily before you step out of your house for work or study. Let us get our ‘animals’ ready to face the world: (1) Meditate on God’s goodness, lovingkindness, and strength (Eph 1:19) for the day, (2) deal with any negative emotions or thoughts you have or anticipate you will have for the day, (3) pray for the people you will be working with that day, and (4) pray for God to help you handle the stress and challenges for the day. Before you enter the office, take a deep breathe, and smile, then step into the office and decide to be joyful in the Lord no matter what happen. Try it and let me know if it helps.

Exasperation

Life is full of frustration sometimes. There are things that you hope would happen and they don't. Things that you wish it won't, just happen everytime. Why life is such a way??? Dun you feel that we are like characters in a movie, everything is contorlled by someone out there. Today have been a day of greyness... it just rained when I am about to go home... whole day my mood was grey also.
When can we be released from this 'box'? or globe? Whatever you call it - life can really be tiresome to live... sighs...

Happiness is such an elusive thing. Try catching it with your hands, you'll find it just slip away. Try catching it by its tail... it brieaks off from the body like a lizard's tail. Who can deliver me from such a thing as this? O LIFE...when will you let me go? When can i escape from your hand? HELP...but yet i wish to live and not die... O what a conflict i have within me???? I am back in LIFE's hand and has to plough the field alloted me with my time again...

As I have shared in the Children’s Church that last Wednesday (25th Feb) while on my way home from the office I saw this beautiful rainbow over my head. I was on a friend’s bike and was travelling along PIE (I think so…) and he suddenly asked me to look up. When I looked up I saw this beautiful rainbow, the most beautiful one I had ever seen n my life (i.e. up till now). It was so strong and solid, the colours were so distinct and we could see the whole rainbow (from one end to the other, like the rainbow in a cartoon). I was reminded of the Genesis 9:9-16 where the rainbow was the sign of the “everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh”. The rainbow is a sign and a reminder of God’s faithfulness towards us.
This week as you go about your daily routine, keep in mind that our God is a faithful God. His faithfulness is shown in the day-night cycle, the four seasons, rain and sunshine, the right mix of air & gases, harvest & seed time, forgiveness of sin, answers to prayer, help in times of trouble, encouragement when we are sad, His abiding presence through His Spirit, and many more other ways. Why don’t you just take a moment and reflect on the many ways in your life in which God had shown His faithfulness to you? As you are filled with the awesome feeling of God’s faithfulness, make a check on your own faithfulness quotient as well. How do you fair in your faithfulness to your spouse, children, family, ministry, yourself and God?

I learned another precious lesson. In fact it was on 15th Feb evening. I was planning to go to Singapore Casket for a wake service. I, not knowing how to go, went on line and search for direction, and found that Bus 61 could take me all the way there. So i took the bus from Bukit Batok all the way to Lavender Street and alighted after it turned into Lavender Street from Lavender MRT Station. I knew that Singapore Casket was somewhere nearby and so i started walking towards where i think the place was. After walking the distance fo 1 bus stop i still did not see the place, thinking that it was th wrong direction i walked back and actually decided to give up and go back home. However, thinking that since i'm already here just take a cab lah. So i decided to flat for a cab and just nice a cab stopped infront of me and when i told the driver i'm going Singapore Casket, he told me that it was just infront. I told him i could not find it, and he was so kind to give me a lift to the building and FOC.
This incident just reminded me of perseverance and how the Holy Spirit is our Helper. Sometimes in our walk with God or service, we may feel like giving up just because we did feel that we are reaching the GOAL. We may want to shrink back (give up) or change direction (change ministry) or feel dejected (go home and forget about it) etc, and we may end up making a wrong decision. The end could be just so near (in fact if i walk for another 10m, i would have reached the place) and we would ahve missed it all. If you are feeling this way, then you need the help of the Holy Spirit. Like the cab driver who so give me a lift so willingly, the Holy Spirit is willing to help you to complete your journey. The Holy Spirit is the promised Helper - "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may be with you forever (John 14:16)." Paul said, "We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. (TNIV 1:28). That's what i'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me (Col 1:29)." As we continue to serve Him in Children's Church - doing our best to present every child fully mature in Christ - that we be reminded that God has given us the energy to persevere through His Spirit, our Helper. Don't miss your destination ... persevere with the help of the Spirit and His energizing power. March on...Christian soldiers!

Since beginning of this year the Lord has been teaching me to live my life for Him, especially in the area of holiness. To lead the teachers and children is not an easy task and I really need to hear and see what God wants to be done. This calls for holiness in my life (Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God ~ Matt 5:8) and when I read Leviticus 10:3 it really strikes me - By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honoured. Do we consciously treat God as holy when we approach Him? Will His name be honoured when people look at us? I believe that this is a very important element as we lead the children – treat God as holy and honour Him before others.
I pray that you too have been growing in your spiritual walk and hearing from God in your life. I encourage you to share your spiritual encounter with God with us so that we can encourage each other to continue to grow in the Lord.

On 22nd Feb 2009 I learned that God has suffered a lot while protecting and loving us. He suffered our rejection and willfulness when He tried to love us and hold us in His embrace. Last Sunday during the 9am service, there was this boy who was a bit destructive in the class. He walked about and going around the class disturbing other children. Thus, to prevent him from disturbing the class I have to grab him with my arms and make him sit on my lap. When I did that he actually used his finger nails to scratch my arms trying to break free (so now my arms have two scratch scars, one on each side :P). He even tried using his head to bang my face to cause me pain so that I will let him go.
This is the same picture between us and God. Luke recorded and account where Jesus lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!(Luke 13:34)” Jesus was willing to hold them in his arms of love and tenderness, but they rejected him. Have we ever pushed his arms away when he tried to hold us? We may have behaved like the boy who tried to scar my arms. Jesus was scarred when he came to love us (1 John 4:9-10) because we rejected him. His nailed pierced hands, feet and side are scars that we have inflicted on him as we tried to escape from his loving arms. When he came holding us in his arms to keep us from self destruction and harming others, we rejects him and caused him pain. We mistook his strong and tender arms as a threat and we push it away. So, today if you feel God’s arms holding you, don’t feel threatened and push them away. It is God’s expression of love and care. Rest in his arms and feel the warmth of his love. GOD LOVES YOU. May we follow his example as we minister to the children, showing our love for them even when it hurts. “[E]veryone who loves is born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7b)”

On Monday I met up with one of my friends from another church. We were chatting over dinner before we caught the movie, “Slumpdog Millionaire”, and he was telling me that he was in the dumps and just recovered about two weeks ago. He was depressed because although he is in his late thirties and a graduate, he has no job and no church. This is what he said, “God brought me to the point where my reference point is zero!” God was gracious and lifted him up from the dumps and he shared with me that he learned that all that doesn’t matter anymore. What that really matters now is his family and friends. He doesn’t care if he is underweight or working as a cashier. He wants to spend more time with his family and friends.
It sets me thinking about what true success in life is. And what can we bring with us when we died? In Job 1:21, He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.” This verse is true as far as possessions is concern, but I think we do bring something with us when we come from our mother’s womb – RELATIONSHIP, and when we die we can take these RELATIONSHIPS along with us. To me I feel that relationships are the most eternal and precious possessions that we can have. Jesus once said, “ … a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (Luke 12:15)” A man’s life is not measured by how much he possesses but at the end of the day when he lies motionless in the box, who will be at the funeral? Let’s not be so poor until all we have left is $$$$$ (money)! Treasure the relationships you have and let them know how much you love and appreciate them everyday. Live life without regrets!

it has been a long time since i write here... I'm feeling a little lost at times. Sigh ... don't know what the future holds for us.

There are so many unexpectables in life... You won't know what will happen tomorrow.
This is the feelings I have after hearing so much news of people suddenly getting sick and seriously sick. First, it was my friend who suddenly receive news that she needs ops for fibrosis in the womb. Then it was my co-worker who have to undergo a surgery for blocked blood veins in the brain. Then another was hospitalized for diabetics and lungs infection. Followed by another who has such serious lung infection and is in critical state now.
However, through it all, i see how God has been faithful in raising each one of them out of the sick bed (at least two of them). We are trusting God for the total healing of the third one.

No matter what happens, God is still on the throne. He is always faithful. His name is Emmanuel.

Beijing Trip

Just came back from Beijing last night.
It has been a good 11days and so good to be home again.

Tis a trip full of experience ...
People got healed of their sickness when we prayed for them...
There was this man who was healed without anyone laying hands on him ...
God is really real...

Life

Life ... Life ... Life ...
What is it?
How to tell you of it?
L - Longing for love to happen
I - Insanity to pass through a crazy day
F - Feelings to cling to authentic life
E - Embracing all and everyone that cross the paths
LIFE
1 LIFE is all we have
Learn to love
Learn to be insane
Learn to feel
Learn to embrace
Else you will have missed
Missed your life
Missed your day
Live and die
Without someone to cry
Sad
Sad
Sad
Happy is he who has someone to cry
Cry at his funeral

Decline of Seriousness

I was reading Tacitus' Dialogus and one part of it was this, "Quis enim ignorat et eloguentism et ceteras artes descivisse ab illa vetere gloria non inopia hominum, sed desidia iuventutis et neglegentia parentum et inscientia praecipientium et oblivione moris antiqui?" This makes me reflect on the situation of many Christians in Singapore. There seems to be such luke-warmness in them, especially so among the so called second generation Christians. They do not seem to be serious about their faith and relationship with God. It makes me fear that this generation might not be able to locate people to pass the baton to who will continue the race. Will Singapore Church have a future?
I think we have to guard against laziness among our young people, the carelessness of parents, the ignorance of teachers and the decay of 'old-fashioned' moral and virtues. We must help our children to be diligent in their spiritual formation / discipline, parents must be examples for their own children, teachers must be trained to provide 'professionalism' and a return and emphasis on good old Christian virtues. Unless we are diligent in making sure that these happen in our churches, Singapore churches may soon be in trouble.