The Dark Knight Rises - Three Thoughts

TITLE: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - THREE THOUGHTS
SCRIPTURE: Romans 4:18
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 29 August 2012

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (Romans 4:18)

MAIN POINT: Watching movies like the Dark Knight Rises can be downright depressing. Yet, for all the realities of life that they try to portray, there is none more striking than the presence of hope. [Beware, spoilers below.]

Yesterday, we celebrated our son's birthday in a way a teenager enjoys. We watched the latest Batman flick, famous for its superhero cult status, but infamous for the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado, last month at a movie premiere. It took a while for me to get over the link between the shootings there and the immense violence in the movie. For all the negative connotations and the bad news, there are some good themes to take away from the movie. The storyline is the usual initial happiness, followed by a downward despair toward the middle of the film. Following that, just as it seems that the worst is becoming worse, where the villains seem to be winning all the wars, there flickers a glimmer of hope amid the climate of despair.

I told my kids that there are at least five themes to learn from the movie. They said I reminded them of their English teacher who seems to see meaning in every kind of movie. I smiled. Maybe, that is the nature of my training, to be reflective and always trying to perceive some truth out of everyday life. For this week, I will try to piece together three major themes in the movie that I feel resonate strongly with my Christian faith.

A) Reality of Evil

The movie begins with widespread celebrations of heroes of Gotham City, who has played a large part in eradicating organized crime from the city. With media blaring away, and the accolades flowing down throughout for Harvey Dent, all things appear well on the surface. Unfortunately, Dent is not saintly at all, for his crimes have all been covered up, with the full knowledge of the Police Commissioner, James Gordon. Instead, Batman takes the fall, and retreats to his own private world. Like many instances in the world, beneath the layer of smiles and happy faces, belies pain and some kind of wrongdoing.

I remember a Police commercial that says: "Low crime does not mean no crime."

If there is one major theme the movie has, it is this. Evil is real.

The movie is dark, not just for the title but also for the general lighting throughout the movie. Batman's costume is dark. Catwoman's mask is black. Virtually the entire police force are trapped in a dark underground. The lighting is not that great, perhaps, to generate a sense of gloom and doom for the fictional Gotham City. As the evil Bane pounces on all the innocent people, and tries to instill a misguided sense of justice, the entire city is held at ransom. Even outside help like the military from the rest of the country has to play by the rules of Bane and his violent criminals.

Abraham has also encountered evil firsthand. Most notable is how he pleads with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, on the basis of a few good men. Unfortunately, the evil of the two cities have turned out so bad, that God had no choice but to destroy the city. Remember how in Genesis 19, that evil threatens to invade the household of Abraham? For all the theory that Abraham argues with God, about justice and righteousness, Abraham has no clue about the reality of great evil. God has to intervene.

Theme: Seeing no evil does not mean there is no evil. 


B) Resurgence of Despair

I asked my kids about how they feel about the movie. One of them even gave a 2.5 stars out of 5! While they tell me that there is too much shooting, I feel that the dark theme in the movie is actually more depressing than their expectations of a superhero movie. In baseball, once we have three strikes, the batter is automatically called out. The downward spiral of defeat and despair does appear very depressing for most parts of the movie. We see how helpless Bruce Wayne has become, to see his billions disappear with just a theft of his fingerprints. We see how the precious technological gizmos Wayne Enterprises have developed, fall into the very hands of the enemies. We see how time and again, the catwoman betrays the trust of Bruce Wayne, the ridiculous pursuit of Batman at the expense of the obvious villains, and the non-stop victories of the invincible but despicable Bane. Even the name of the villain personifies pain. The women in the movie show more reasons not to trust people. See how time and again the catwoman steals, humiliates, and misleads the mighty batman. The proverbial stab in the back comes from none other than the woman Batman trusts most: Miranda Tate. Just when Batman has the upper hand on his archrival, Bane, along comes Tate hurting Batman not only with her dagger, but piercing his deepest emotions. The truth be told, that Miranda has been conspiring all along with Bane, to trick Wayne Enterprises into developing a thermonuclear device to blow up Gotham City.

Thinking of Abraham, many years have passed since the promise of God to make him a father of all nations. After barely surviving the horrible encounter with deranged men of Sodom and Gomorrah, he sees his wife nearly taken by kings of the foreign lands they enter into. He foolishly risks Sarah's life by pretending she is his sister (Genesis 20:2). Due to inner feud between Sarah and her maidservant, he is forced to send away Hagar and his descendent Ishmael. Moreover, he has to sacrifice Isaac, his only son! Instead of seeing God giving Abraham one son after the other, God is asking Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son. Hello? Did Abraham mishear anything?

Key Theme: Despair can be tormenting. For some, the saying "it will get worse before it gets better" will appear long and unending.

C) Resurrection of Hope

This is perhaps the biggest feeling I have, seeing the rising of Batman again, and the image of the Resurrection of Christ. When all seems lost, when everything appears headed for doom, suddenly there is help. Catwoman has a change of heart, and becomes a key ally. The inspector John Blake appears unscathed, and continues to be a force to be reckoned with despite him being ordinary and outnumbered. Of course, the bad guys do not get all the best stuff. Batman still has a few other special weapons hidden away from the sights of the enemies. What is most crucial is the renewed spirit to want to save the city rather than taking revenge. In many Rambo-style movies, we see the desire for revenge outweighs all other emotions. As anger turns to wrath, and fear into hatred, many of these heroes seem to develop a fighting evil with evil mentality. They attempt to respond with heavier artillery or more powerful weaponry.

As moviegoers watch Batman crawl and climb out of the pit, it is symbolic of hope resurrected. With the new-found spirit, and the overwhelming resolve not to let evil has its last say, Batman rises from the ashes of defeat, to save Gotham City. In response to Catwoman's plea for him to save his own skin, after all the nasty treatment inflicted on him, Batman refuses to give in to the temptation to flee. Instead, he is fixed on doing the right thing. He wants to rise again, for the sake of the city.

Abraham could have given up on waiting for God. Yet, he believes God. He offers his son Isaac up willingly at Mount Moriah. For that he has been credited for righteousness. Despite his wife's age, he continues to trust God to provide him offspring. The Apostle Paul calls Abraham as one who believes "against all hope." For Christians, the biggest hope is none other than the Resurrection of Christ. See how not just one, but all the disciples flee at the arrest of Jesus. See how everyone returns back to their normal lifestyles after the death of Jesus. See how surprised people become when they hear about the Resurrection of Jesus.

If only they had believed.

D) Hope Resurrected

I wonder how many of us actually believed that Batman can rise from the dead. Toward the middle of the movie, I must admit that the darkness seems most invincible. Even the mighty Batman has been badly beaten up by Bane, who defeats Batman with his bare hands. See how thousands of law enforcers are trapped, releasing lawlessness into the streets. I like the way Paul renders Abraham's faith.

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." (Romans 4:20-21) 

We know that in the movies, the superhero will always win. What about life? Will we believe in our hearts that God will always win? Or are we more tempted to disbelieve in the light of hopelessness? In the aftermath of the terrible shooting in Aurora, the theatre management gives out a one-statement survey for their community.

"As Aurora moves forward after the tragedy of July 20, it is our hope that the entire community will participate and benefit from the citywide healing process. Many people have asked about the future of Aurora's Century 16 theater. We want to know your thoughts. Please take a few minutes to tell us your thoughts. These comments will be shared with Cinemark for consideration in their decision making process."

The way that they put the words, "it is our hope" seems rather ambivalent. It appears distant and uncertain. For us as Christians, hope is not just wishful desires, but a reality that is anchored on the resurrection of Christ. As Jesus appears to the disciples, he does not simply ask us to hope. He calls us to declare the good news. He calls us to make disciples of all nations. He calls us to receive power from above, and to begin witnessing to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the personification of True Hope. He is not the dark knight but the Bright Shining Morning Star.


THOUGHT: "God is the only one who can make the valley of trouble a door of hope." (Catherine Marshall)

sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Going to Church?

TITLE: GOING TO CHURCH?
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 2:4-5
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 22 August 2012

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5)

MAIN POINT: What does it mean to "go to church?" It's not buildings. It's people. Maybe, it is time we stop using the words, "going to church." Instead, use . . . . . .

One of my earliest encounters with Church is at a youth group meeting. Having ventured forward during an evangelistic rally, I remember the evangelist laying hands on me. Strange spells surround me after that. I do not recall all the details of that event, but I remember I wanted to just lay myself down on the grass then. After that, I feel I have confessed Jesus. I am a believer. Dutifully, the next step is Church. That youth group meeting happens to be my first prolonged participation at any Christian based gathering within the compounds of a church building. Despite my best efforts, I have problems fitting in. The teacher has problems trying to coax me in. The group has problems on how to receive an unfamiliar newbie into a familiar group environment. Going to Church is easy. Fitting in is not. After the first meeting, I never went back. Nobody followed up. No one cared. I didn't care too.

Church as Building?

My next church happens to be a pentecostal church. Belonging to the Assembly of God denomination, it is warm and welcoming. Other than the loud singing and the frequent breaking out into strange tongues, this church seems ok. More importantly, even if I cannot fit into the AOG Church programs, I can certainly fit into my friends' lunch gatherings. My early years in Church has been largely sustained by good friends who stayed with me, traveled, with me, and encouraged me on the discipline of attending a Church weekly. Without their initial years of companionship, I seriously doubt my ability to go to church on my own.

A) Why Go To Church?

The conventional wisdom is that regular church going is a sign that I am NOT a nominal Christian. Whether I read the Bible daily, pray twice a day, or give thanks at each meal, people generally do not care. Skip Church once or twice in a row, and if you are a leader, the feathers of concern will have been ruffled. No amount of private spirituality can overcome the perceptions about one's public church-going track record. Simply put, the perceptions are pretty straightforward. If you go to Church, you are deemed fine and has shown proof you are on your way to heaven. If you stop going to Church, you have problems, and you are on your way to being asked: "Are you truly saved?"

These statements are naive, but mind you, quite a number of people actually believes them. Even if they do not spell it out in words, you can sense it out in actions like furrowed brows or concerned tones. It is a legitimate concern that not all who go to church are saved. Likewise, not all who do not go to church are not saved. It comes back to the basic question of: Do you know Jesus?

B) Three Problems with the Phrase "Going to Church"

I have three concerns about these three words, "going to church." Firstly, it makes church look like a building or an institution. From mainline denominations to megachurches, small assemblies to house churches, it requires a place before the word 'church' can be comfortably used. My question: Is Church a building? Didn't the Apostle Peter call church as "living stones?" rather than bricks and mortar? From Scriptures, it is clear that church is not made of physical stones but of people. The popular chorus says it well.

"For He does not dwell in buildings made of stone
He dwells within the hearts of men alone"

Secondly, in a need-obsessed society, the three words make church look like going someplace to have our needs met. It makes Church look like a needs-fulfillment agency. It paints a deceptive picture that going to Church automatically meets our needs. In other words, we go to church in order for our needs to be met. If our needs are not met, we leave for another church that WILL! I have been in church groups long enough to hear all kinds of reasons why people leave their existing church.

• "I am leaving for another church because this church does not meet my needs."
• "The other church's children's program is better, that is why I am going there."
• "The other church has better preaching."
• "This church does not meet my needs or my family's needs."

The last example is perhaps one of the biggest indictment on how the world has indoctrinated us with our own self-importance. For example, TV commercials have given us a false belief that the most important person is us. We have a right to get this new car. We deserve a new hairdo. We are so important that we need this new shirt or dress. With the overwhelming focus on self-need, is that any surprise why we have more impatient drivers, more rude consumers, and more demanding customers? The culture of entitlement is not just limited to kids or young people. The culture of entitlement is everywhere. The critical question we need to ask is this: If everyone who goes to church are waiting for spiritual handouts, who does the giving? Who does the handing out? In my years of attending church, I do not recall myself even having my "needs met." It is absurd just to think that the primary purpose of Church is to meet needs. Perhaps, I have been serving a lot that that question has often not been asked in the first place.

Thirdly, the phrase "I am going to Church" smacks of veiled individualism. One of my favourite theologians is Simon Chan, a professor from the Pentecostal denomination. I was his teaching assistant back in 2005 when he taught a course at Regent College. He is highly critical of the individualized mindsets of the modern church goer. In his paper, he minces no words when he critiques the feel-good mentality. The things he wrote about the Pentecostal community can also be application to many others. He observes:

“A basic problem in Pentecostalism is that it is hardly aware of this communal context of Spirit baptism. The Pentecostal reality has tended to be understood as individualized experiences. My relationship with God is primary, while my relationship with others is secondary. But the truth of the matter is that we cannot conceive of fellowship with God apart from fellowship in God through the Spirit. There is no question of priority.”
(Simon Chan, "Mother Church: Toward a Pentecostal Ecclesiology" in PNEUMA The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies 22, No 2 (Fall 2000), 180)

Indeed, that is so true for other denominations and Christian groups as well. When we come to God thinking that our own relationship is primary, we have failed to understand what church is all about. Church is not about the miserable I, Me, or Myself. Church is a community of believers, humbled that they are worthy even to serve one another. I love this section from the Anglican Book of Prayer often said prior to Communion.

"We do not come to this table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name."

This is the spirit of church going. For me, going to Church has got nothing to do with coming in the name of self, but everything to do with coming together as a forgiven people in the name of Jesus Christ. We need grace, not goods. We seek God not to meet our self-needs, but to ask how we can avail ourselves to meet the needs of God's people together. It is not a "church out there" waiting for us to come. It is a "people becoming church" gradually taking shape as individual people deny their self-seeking ways, take up the cross of service, and following Jesus.

C) Becoming Church

Church as Living Stones
(Credit: http://www.ourladyofrefuge.org)

Instead of the three misused and misunderstood phrase "Going to Church," I strongly recommend a two-word replacement: "Becoming Church." In the first epistle of Peter, we all learn to build the church with us as primary living stones that stand on the foundation of Christ. Church is not a building but is a community being built up, with us as human living stones. We are in the process of becoming. We are in the process of being formed. We are being shaped in Christ to become the Church God has called us to be. We are "being built into a spiritual house." Church is not a completed building program but a work in progress. Instead of "Going to Church," I prefer "Becoming Church" because:

• "Becoming Church" involves us as active participants, a living organism instead of dead bricks.
• "Becoming Church" is about becoming more the bride of Christ, and not about meeting needs.
• "Becoming Church" is about community building, rather than individual ego-boosting.
• "Becoming Church" is a growth-in-progress, rather than a finished product.

How do we know we are on the way to become Church? When we serve God together as members of the holy priesthood, (priesthood of all believers). When we offer spiritual sacrifices to God through our personal giving, worship, and service. When we become the people of God that God has called us to become.

One more thing.  The end of 1 Peter 2:5 shows us the purpose of becoming Church. The words, "offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" indicates one thing: Worship. Maybe, the best words to replace "going to church" is this: I am going to worship God together with my brothers and sisters in Church. Is that a mouthful? Try this. "I'm worshiping with God's people in Church."


THOUGHT: "Hypocrites in the Church? Yes, and in the lodge and at the home. Don't hunt through the Church for a hypocrite. Go home and look in the mirror. Hypocrites? Yes. See that you make the number one less." (Billy Sunday)


sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Marriage Therapies Don't Work. Do They?

TITLE: MARRIAGE THERAPIES DON'T WORK. DO THEY?
SCRIPTURE: Song of Songs 4:1
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 15 August 2012

"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead." (Song of Solomon 4:1)

"In happy marriages partners incorporate each other's goals
into their concept of what their marriage is about. (John Gottman)

Two things struck me last week. As I was preparing for my weekly sermon, I came across this statement by Dr John Gottman, author of the bestselling book on marriage. He decries the ineffectiveness of many marriage manuals by saying, "most marriage therapy fails." He calls the diagnostic of "communications" as the biggest myth in marriage counseling. He even disses the role of conflict management, saying that techniques such as "active listening" are useless.

I find myself rolling my eyes somewhat. Great.

Just because you think your technique works, does not mean you can downplay other types of marital counsel. Then, after my sermon, I hear a comment from a wise individual, who also says something quite similar to Gottman. I start to wonder why. Are marriage books useless?

A) The Efficacies of Marital Therapy

Admittedly, advice about marriage is everywhere. Go to any library, you can find whole sections devoted to marriage, love, and relationships. Seminars on marriages are well attended. Talks are frequent. Every year, books about marriage roll off the press. Newspapers and the mass media continue to garner high readership just by talking about all things marriage. People blog about it. Authors write it. Publishers print it. Readers lap it all up. Marriage gurus are also everywhere. As a pastor, I can say that marriage remains the single most popular topic one can ever talk about. People never seem to get tired of hearing it. Just within the span of 12 months, I have reviewed three new books on marriage, written from a Christian perspective. You can read about them here.

After studying more than 650 couples, many of them having gone through marital therapy sessions, John Gottman is convinced that couples are too imperfect, making them unable to execute the marital advice well enough. He believes that "successful conflict resolution isn't what makes marriages succeed." Say it all you want, for if it only addresses the symptoms, one can never resolve anything, at least for the long term.

I concur. Relationships are more often slow growth types rather than quick fix therapies. That is why I like the  use of the garden as a marriage metaphor. Dr H. Wallace Goddard and James P. Marshall sees a marriage relationships as a garden that needs to be cultivated. There is no point trying to get rid of weeds well. One needs to learn to follow through with good planting and growing good fruit. That is, to cultivate the positive parts of each other more. More importantly, the two gardeners have to be both husband and wife.

B) In Defense of Marriage Resources

I am for one, unwilling to cast aside marriage manuals without first understanding what we are throwing away. While I agree with John Gottman about the lack of effectiveness in many marriage therapy, and the statement by my church member about how "useless" self-help marriage books are, I have three reasons why we need to remain open. Firstly, I think the key issue lies not in the therapies or the books. It lies with understanding one's own contexts first. A good marriage resource will always aim to help us understand ourselves. Without understanding the various nuances of our own marriages, or our spouses, it is hard to know what resources work best for us. It is like going to a doctor, and without much investigation or diagnosis, we ask the doctor to tell us what is wrong with us. We insist that the doctor, being a doctor, tell us exactly what is wrong with us, what prescription we need, and how soon can we be cured. If we apply such an attitude toward any marriage resource, we are bound to be disappointed.

The second reason why I want to defend marriage books and therapies is because they open up avenues for learning. Having something is better than nothing. If a marriage is crumbling, at least, a therapy session can give each other a sense of hope. Whether the therapy cures the relationship or not is besides the point. At least, couples can start agreeing on something. Maybe, they may even be united in their opinions about the marriage counselling. Thirdly, for people who have come all the way to the point of saying that "self-help marriage books do not work," do not forget the road they have travelled to get to where they are. Will they have come to the same conclusion without having gone through 'failed programs' in the first place? I am reminded of the great inventor, Thomas Edison, who failed 1000 times before inventing the light bulb. When asked about how he feels about the 1000 failures, his reply is simply:

"I have learned 1000 ways how NOT to do it."

I think it can apply to marriage counselling as well.

C) Good Marriage Resources

Good marriage resources have three core elements. It needs to be practical. It needs to be proven sound and theologically grounded. It needs to be life giving and hope generating.

In my theological training, marriage counselling is one of the key areas students have to be equipped in. I went through many hours of tests, research, and training. One such training is the PREPARE/ENRICH program. This requires a facilitator to guide and to accurately diagnose the conditions of the marriage. It is practical because of its clear and guided questionnaire for couples. There are different categories of needs according to the phase of marriage, young or old. Backed by scientific research and real life data, it gives couples an objective look at their marital condition. For those of us with a scientific mind, we will be assured that the test questions and scores are based on real life references and data.

Another resource that we can look at will be either pastoral counselling or couple mentoring. For many couples, one of the best resources is to talk with their pastors who know them. Pastors see their members every week. They are not in the ministry for the money, unlike some well paid marriage therapists. Moreover, pastors do get to see the ups and downs that couples go through. Couple counselling is also increasingly popular as it enables couples to mentor one another from both male and female perspectives. I know of respected elderly couple who makes excellent hearers and advisers to struggling marriages.

Finally, good marriage books are many. We just need to know where to look. I have four recommendations for now. The first is John Gottman's "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work." It is based on two premises. The first is that couples must see each other as best friends. The second is to create strong shared meaning in their marriages, through seven principles. The second book is Matthew Kelly's "The Seven Levels of Intimacy." Highly practical, it maps out seven levels for couples to know where to begin, and to understand the process in moving from one level to the next. The third book is Tim Keller's excellent "The Meaning of Marriage." It is strong in recognizing present limitations and enlarging future aspirations. The fourth book is a recent publication called, "Renovating Your Marriage Room by Room." This book shows couples the need to look at all aspects of their marriage through regular renovation. I like the metaphor of rooms within a house. It helps keep a marriage relationship fresh, and is a good reminder of how easy it is for couples to take each other for granted.

D) Love and Romance: Solomon's Style

One of the nicest things couples can ever say to each other is: "If I were to go back in time, I will choose to marry you again, and again, and again." This is romantic steroid that lasts. Just make sure that is really what you truly feel. One of the most beautiful books of the Bible is the Song of Songs. Written by Solomon in poetry form, we read pages and pages of sensuous and erotic language that can make the modern reader feel uncomfortable. Very few preachers preach on this text. In all the weddings I have attended, I can only remember one sermon that is based on this book.

Looking at the way the man shows his love to the woman, I see not only intimacy but the attention to details. There are lots of images used to describe how one feels for the other. In Song of Songs 4:1, the phrase "How beautiful!" gets repeated. The man then goes on to describe the eyes, the hair, followed by teeth, lips, mouth, the neck, the temple. Lovers leave no stones unturned in their admiration for the other. With such romantic gestures, how can women not be attracted to Solomon! Solomon is able to connect what he knows from the world, and describes his beloved.

The key point is this. When we are in love, we are more mindful of the beautiful parts of the person we love. Imperfections are nothing, when we see with eyes of perfection.

Let me close with this great piece of advice from Arielle Ford.

"Early on in our relationship we decided that our union would be our number one priority. We promised each other that our choices would be based not on what Arielle wanted, or on what Brian wanted, but on what was ultimately best for our relationship." (Arielle Ford, Wabi Sabi Love, New York, NY: HarperOne, 2012, p14)

Indeed. Many of us tend to forget that marriage is not about us. It is about the union. It is about letting God help us invest in a joint marriage account. Both husbands and wives make constant deposits to this joint account all the time. Even when either makes a withdrawal, there is a constant desire to want to put back into the account lovingly and sacrificially.

THOUGHT: "There's a good reason we compare marriage to a garden. A good marriage is as lush, rich, and satisfying as a great garden. But neither the good marriage nor the great garden happens without wise and consistent effort. Marriage, like a garden, can be renewing and life sustaining. Yet, neither will happen by accident." (H. Wallace Goddard and James P. Marshall, The Marriage Garden, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2010, 2)

sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Is God Cruel and Unjust?

TITLE: IS GOD CRUEL AND UNJUST?
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 12:2-3
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 10 August 2012

“You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place." (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)

MAIN GIST: The impression of a cruel and unjust God in the Old Testament continues to linger in the minds of modern people, including Christians. One common predicament is how can we reconcile a God of love with a God who asks Israel to massacre huge populations? On the one hand, we are sympathetic to lives being taken. On the other hand, what if the target concerned is beyond hope, but utterly and relentlessly evil to the core?

Old Testament style killings
(Credit: Patheos.com)

Last weekend, my Church were given an exceptional biblical buffet meal. The main dish was the Book of Deuteronomy. For me, it was a Bible exposition at its best. Given by Dr Bruce Waltke, a highly esteemed and immensely respected giant of biblical studies and Old Testament, we were given new eyes to read Deuteronomy. Held at Squamish, on top of the beautiful mountains of British Columbia, the whole Church spent an entire weekend traveling there for a time of fellowship and learning, and of course eating! For me personally, the food on the buffet table is nothing compared to the spiritual food that was served. I have attended many Bible camps and Church retreats, but none of them come close with regards to the level of scholarship and biblical teaching that Waltke has given us. Before the weekend retreat (called the Summer Conference in my Church), many of us were concerned that the highly esteemed Dr Waltke will be speaking 'above our heads.' In fact, we were worried that there will not be enough time to cover the entire 34 chapters of the Old Testament book.  Even the prepared notes we were given was more than 50 pages! Too difficult? We were wrong. Instead of complex theological terms, Waltke speaks and explains in layman terms. Instead of leaving us guessing what each word means, Waltke gently defines and clarifies the terms he uses. Instead of rushing to complete all 34 chapters page by page, Waltke goes on a pace to ensure that we learn the fundamentals of reading Deuteronomy. If there is one thing I remember most, it will be the essence of the laws of Deuteronomy: God values human life.

Why is God calling for "Zero tolerance?"
(For more, go to Quickview Bible here)

Rather than trying to cram everything into one article, this week, I want to concentrate on just one area: Is God unjust when He commands Israel to annihilate the Canaanites? Why is God exercising zero tolerance when it comes to dealing with the idolaters? Perhaps, the question is to ask: "What do we do with people that is utterly evil to the core?"

A) The Context

One reason why people find it hard to read (or accept!) the Old Testament is because of the gore and blood shed. Making it worse, it seems like Israel when they destroyed their enemies, are given the mandate to do exactly that. Such commands make many Christians shudder and wonder if the God of the New Testament, the God of love, is the same as the God of the Old Testament?

• If God is love, why does God command Israel to annihilate whole populations in the foreign territories?
• If God is love, why does He sanction killings?
• As killing is prohibited in the Ten Commandments, why did God ask Israel to kill their enemies?

B) Who are the Canaanites?

Dr Waltke affirms that the main purpose of the laws in the Book of Deuteronomy is about preserving the sanctity and dignity of life. As first look, it seems like destroying Canaan completely is a complete reversal on that. Not so fast. What if the long-term purpose requires short-term actions? What if a failure to address evil head on is worse than ignoring the evil happening before us? Who are the Canaanites and why are they so evil? Dr William F. Albright explains the deteriorated state of Canaanite society at that time.

"With might she hewed down the people of the cities, she smote the folk of the seacoast, she slew the men of the sunrise (east). After filling her [Anat, Baal's mother] temple with men, she barred the gates so that none might escape, after which 'she hurled chairs at the youths, tables at the warriors, footstools at the men of might.' The blood was so deep that she waded in it up to her knees - nay, up to her neck. Under her feet were human heads, above her human hands flew like locusts. In her sensuous delight she decorated herself with suspended heads, while she attached hands to her girdle. Her joy at the butchery is described in even more sadistic language: 'Her liver swelled with laughter, her heart was full of joy, the liver of Anath (was full of) exultation.' Afterwards Anath 'was satisfied' and washed her hands in human gore before proceeding to other occupations."  (William F. Albright, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2006, 76-77)

In my reflection, I wrote, "Of course, we can all preach love and goodwill to the Canaanites at that time. The question is, will they have listened? Or before we even finish saying 'L.O.V,' heads will already have been lobbed off. Try preaching love and goodwill to the piranhas when you are in waters full of them." In other words, if Israel do not destroy them, the Canaanites will ultimately destroy Israel, the world, and finally, themselves.

Other clues of how the Canaanites lived can be found in Leviticus 18. Leviticus 18:6-19 is an extensive series of warnings against "uncovering nakedness." The LORD gives clear warnings to Israel not to commit incest among own family members. The text meticulously lists the different women that are to be untouched. There are to be no sexual involvement with one's mother or father, one's sisters, or in laws, one's cousins, one's blood relations, etc. There are to be sexual proprietary throughout. It warns against adultery. It warns against sacrificing children to idols (Lev 18:21). It warns against same-sex activities (Lev 18:22). It prohibits sex with animals (Lev 18:23). All of these things are common activities among the Canaanites!

C) What About Killing?

This is a tricky area. Dr Waltke shows us that one reason why many modern readers are stumped is because the English language for the word "kill" is grossly restricted. In the Hebrew, there are at least 12 different words that can be used for "kill." In Deuteronomy, the commandment not to kill is the word "ratsach." It is to be understood as an intentional act of "murder." This contrasts with unintentional killing (nakah) which is also referred to as "manslaughter." Again, Hebrew language is nuanced but not as clear cut as what modern scientific minds desire. Context is key to understanding the use of the terms. That is why BOTH language and the context need to be considered whenever we study biblical texts.

“Now this is the case of the manslayer (ratsach) who may flee there and live: when he kills (nakah) his friend unintentionally, not hating him previously— as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live; " (Deuteronomy 19:4-5)

The point is this. Every act of killing is not the same. The intentions are different. The instruments and the manner are different. The life that is taken is equally important as the life taking it. In other words, prohibiting killing is not simply to preserve the life of the victims or the persons wielding the axe. It is to maintain a just society that treats life with dignity. It is to cultivate in Israel the sacred human being made in the image of God. Anything that tarnishes this image and causes harm, needs to be dealt with. Not surprisingly, the multiple cities of refuge and the different words used to describe killing shows a loving and compassionate God who understands the many facets of life and death. The gods of idolatry lead people to death. Only the God of Israel leads people to life.

D) Protecting Lives

In Proverbs 2, we read about a kind of person whose path leads not to life but death.

 "For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;" (Proverbs 2:18) 

Do we want to deal with people like this? Remember what Jesus says about the one who stumbles the little ones?

 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble." (Luke 17:2)

The punishment is severe if one is foolish for self. The punishment is even more severe if one's foolishness leads others to sin and death. This is where Israel is called to obey God, and to see from God's perspectives. The whole book of Deuteronomy is designed to preserve lives not just for the present but for the future. One more thing. Due to the naivete among many Israelites at that time, they need the laws to be written clearly, with instructions not to be defiled with the idolaters of the land. One way to understand the Old Testament is to always compare and interpret it with the New Testament, especially Jesus' interpretation of the Torah. One example is this.

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)

Jesus has not only affirmed the Old Testament, He has upped the standard that murder is not just the act. It is the premeditation before the act. So, is God cruel and unjust to order the execution of the Canaanites? No. God has a reason. In fact, for those of us who thinks that God is cruel through Israel, modern equivalent of massacre is worse.

• Between 1975-1979, more than 2 million people were killed in Cambodia (Killing fields);
• In 1994 in Rwanda, 800,000 Hutus were murdered in cold blood;
• In 1995 in Bosnia, more than 8000 Muslims were killed;
• In China, the cultural revolution, more than 78 million people were murdered.

What about Canaan? The data is hard to find, but even the largest estimated Canaanite population during the ancient times, is no where close to the numbers in China's cultural revolution!

Interestingly, the new atheists like Richard Dawkins are quick to point a finger at the God of the Old Testament, and fails to attack the same degree the same kinds of massacres that are based on atheistic grounds, like China and Cambodia! Why the double standard? 

E) Summary

Yes, God is a God of love. He is also a God of justice. There is no love if justice is not done. Likewise, justice without love is cold and hard. Only Jesus personifies love and justice. He loves us to come down to earth. He maintains justice by becoming the lamb to be punished for our own sins. He of all people will be most hurt when human beings hurt one another. I prefer to see the Canaanite killings in the Old Testament more as capital punishment and preserving Israel's future of the sake of the rest of the world, instead of genocide. I am doubtful that the Old Testament style killings will be repeated in the future. What I am more fearful about is what idolatry will lead human beings to do cruel things to one another. If that happens, perhaps, many of us will then be praying that God will quickly impose Canaanite style capital punishment. God does not take sin lightly. Neither does He take the punishment of people that He loves lightly. I believe each time a life is taken, the One who is most grieved is God Himself.

THOUGHT: "It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil. If they would only expend the same amount of energy loving their fellow men, the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui." (Helen Keller)

sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Humble Listening

TITLE: HUMBLE LISTENING
SCRIPTURE: James 1:19-21
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 2 August 2012

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:19-21)

MAIN POINT: The debate on homosexual unions or marriages continue to create huge reactions from many parties. In this article, I reflect on why people are so easily heated in their discussions.

(Credit: Baptist Press)

This is the third week of the Chik-Fil-A controversy. All over the Internet, there has been a uproar over the words of the President of a fast food restaurant, Chik-fil-A. On July 16th, 2012, in an interview with the Baptist Press, Dan Cathy is reported to have said:

"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. 

"We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.

"We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

The article has also been given a provocative title, "Guilty as Charged." The big subject is marriage, increasingly connected to gay marriage as well. Any mention of this subject will immediately cause individuals to draw the line. People are up in arms, with views both for and against Dan Cathy and Chik-Fil-A. For some, it means loading their verbal cannons or intellectual armoury to aim at anyone opposed to their personal views. When tempers are charged up, any reason is good enough to be used as bullets or attacks on the opposition. Besides stoking controversy, anything about "gay marriage" is poised to be divisive. Politicians have weighed in with their opinions, even suggesting that the restaurant be denied permits to open restaurants. Such a move is a blatant discrimination against the freedom of speech and religion. Yet, I notice that the arguments for/against the stand of Dan Cathy arise mostly out of emotional outbursts. Just take a look at any side, you will see passionate display of support for/against their viewpoints. This is not simply about Christians vs non-Christians. Even among Christians, the issue has split churches. In every single denomination, this one single issue of homosexuality has led to painful separations of the people of God. Both sides claim they have biblical support. Both sides claim their rights to free speech and the right to exist as they are. Of course, in many cases, both sides will claim to one another that no one has a right to preach to them, or to tell them how and how not to live. Even theological seminaries are divided, or at least faculties among them having diverse opinions about the homosexual issue.

I want to take this opportunity to do some humble listening. I use the following questions to guide the discussion. Why are the reactions to a personal statement of faith so sensitive to public ears? What makes a simple statement of biblical faith so repugnant in the eyes of many in the public?

A) No Longer Just Personal or Private

The culture has shifted. Just a few decades ago, it is completely normal for Cathy to say what he said, and people just accepted his words as his personal opinion. After all, Chik-Fil-A is a privately held company. Moreover, he expresses his opinions not on some major national news network like ABC, CNN, or FOXNews, but on a Christian news press. Yet, the naysayers are plenty. Why is that so?

It used to be the case where if anyone wants a copy of a publication, a subscription is needed. Then there is a wait time for the printed material to arrive in the mail. All of these can take weeks. By then, the main views and opinions will be from experienced reporters or readers who have early releases of these publications. The time gap gives people a chance to slowly read and think through the implications of the reports.

The Internet has changed all that. Whatever that has been reported are no longer just private to a local concern. It has become public on a global scale. News are no longer limited to printed paper on slow mail. It travels at electronic speed, and is quickly available on many modern electronic readers like iPads, smartphones, and computers.

B) Why the Intense Response from Both Sides?

When I read about the rather ridiculous calls for boycott or support for the restaurant, and the way that politicians have tried to garner majority support for themselves, I cannot help but ask why the heightened passions. Why is this issue so controversial? In a thoughtful article, the extremely popular blogger, Rachel Held Evans has made a strong case for both sides, with her words, "I get it. I really do."

Why are groups so ready to boycott Chik-Fil-A over Dan Cathy's words? Similarly, why are some Christians so pumped up to rally their faithfuls to eat more chicken from Chik-Fil-A? Why the intense responses from both sides? This again points to a case of a divided Christian public. I know of many Christians who are ready to disagree in public with their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, over this single issue. I am on some closed discussion groups that talk passionately in terms both pros and cons for BOTH sides. Mind you, they can get ugly, even among well meaning Christians.

The problem balloons with some people who make statements like, "There is no such thing as right or wrong." If that is true, then how do we explain the intensity? Surely, these people, whatever the camp, firmly believe that they are right. Otherwise, why are they using words and emotions with such high levels of passion?

C) We Are Not Listening Enough

The words from Paul says it clearly. "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." Instead, some of the Youtube videos and social media postings seem to suggest the reverse. Many are quick to become angry, fast in their speaking and immediate rebuttals, and painfully slow in listening. In fact, many of us are guilty of only listening to what we WANT to listen. This stance puts us dangerously in a position of putting words in the mouths of others. By stating our own views too quickly, are we loving another person when we fail to listen, to paraphrase, or to clarify why they say what they said?

I feel sad. We have failed to be slow to speak. We are guilty of being too ready to cast the first stone. We are not listening enough.

D) We Are Not Humble Enough

It is no secret that all of us have a right to our own opinions. It is also public knowledge that we are not to impose our views on others. Sadly, errors have been committed on both sides not only with regards to a pathetic lack of listening, we have judged one another and misjudged the others far more readily and irresponsibly. For all our "right words" or "right arguments," there is no excuse for a "wronged brother/sister in Christ." We can feel as if we have all the right arguments, and yet be utterly wrong in our approach. We can claim to be speaking out in truth and in love, but the fact is, our passionate responses only reveal how bigoted we ourselves are. When we are too quick to shoot off the hip, we similarly shut down others unwittingly. We give ourselves an authority certificate, issued personally, to be used as legitimate weaponry against others. How foolish we are to do that.

We are not humble enough. If if doubt, try this quick test. When you find your tempers inside you rise, just ask: "Why are you so quick to become angry?" Perhaps, that is a good test of pride and how humble you are. "Guilty as charged" is not just Dan Cathy's confession. It is ours too.

E)  We Need More Humble Listening

For all the naysayers, we can still be humble enough to listen not to the angry words at the surface, but the hurting person under the surface. Let me suggest learning to listen in the following way. Behind every word and every sentence, there is a person that God loves. The position they hold is secondary. The person they are, is primary. Listen not only to what they say, but be sensitive to what they are not saying. Behind each angry word, they can very well be a hurt past, or a painful experience. Behind each point made from either side, there is a reason we need to appreciate, and to understand. If we fail to understand why the person has said what he has said, we have no right to let our emotions rise to the next level.

Here is my tip on humble listening.

1. H - Hearing.
   When we listen, do not just listen to the words, but sense the underlying emotions and circumstances the person is in. It has been said that "Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say." We need to hear people out carefully, even if it means at the cost of our views not getting heard.
2. U - Understand
   Have we practised trying to understand others more, before we speak? Carl Jung has said, "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." Perhaps, we all need to learn to understand better, including understanding ourselves first.
3. M - Mull
   Take time to mull over the words you hear. Do not be too quick to judge what you hear or what people say. Take time. Give people space to express themselves. Perhaps, after mulling, we will be less emotional about ourselves, but more open to understand and to constructively engage one another.
4. B - Breathe
   Breathe in slowly and intentionally. When we take quick breaths, we pent up emotions and allow angry emotions to accumulate. Manage your breathing. Smell the flowers. Take a short walk.
5. L - Learn
   One common reaction is that people are more ready to "teach others" instead of "learning from others." What if we all tell ourselves not to assume we already know, but put ourselves in a position to learn from what we hear?
6. E - Empathize
   Behind every opinion is a person. Learn to empathize with the person you are hearing, especially the one you seem to be "strongly against." 

Let me close with two stories from the desert fathers tradition. In the first story, the early century monk, Abba Isidore was once asked about why demons are so afraid of him. He replied: "Ever since I became a monk I have tried never to let anger rise as far as my mouth." 


The second story is about a conversation between two desert monks, Abba Joseph and Abba Nisteros. Abba Joseph asked Abba Nisteros, "What should I do about my tongue, for I cannot control it?" Abba Nisteros then replied, "When you speak, do you find peace?. . . If you do not find peace, why do you speak? Be silent, and when a conversation takes place, prefer to listen rather to talk."

Let not anger rise too quickly. Instead be quick to give listening a VIP seat. Then let "slow to speak"occupy the front seats. Finally, tell "anger" that you have no more tickets for your personal theatre.


THOUGHT: Being humble is not simply thinking more of others and less of ourselves. It is thinking lovingly about others, and appropriately about ourselves. This we do with being mindful of Christ, always.


sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

On Tension and Humility

TITLE: ON TENSION & HUMILITY
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:29
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 26 July 2012

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

Serve One Another
(Credit: http://christians-in-recovery.org)

One of the biggest struggles Christians have is the ability (or inability) to hold two opposing views in tension. Whatever the issue, some see the right or wrong so clearly that they leave no room for alternate interpretation. The other extreme is equally true. Often triggered by a reaction to its opposing viewpoint, this view sees the same issue from the lens of Self-Importance. The sad state of many Christian discussion groups is that they have practiced a warped version of Ephesians 4:29. More often than not, instead of "building others up according to their needs," they are essentially puffing themselves up according to their pride.

A) When People Disagree

Few people are able to hold both views in tension, to boldly attempt to see both the pros and cons of both perspectives. Even fewer are able to wait patiently to see God's perspective not just on the issue, but our role in bridging the gap and loving people more than our own pet arguments. When the arguments are hot, this a gentle and forgiving attitude is hard to find. In the hurry to make our views known, we unwittingly put down our brother/sister's equally legitimate points. For example, after a politically correct "I know what you mean BUT,  ....." the rest is essentially parading one's convictions, one's opinions, and sometimes an entire treatise of one's philosophy or theology.


Perhaps, this is one of the flaws of any society that prides itself as being efficient and effective. Not getting a result or an answer by a certain set time seems more like failure. If time and tide waits for no man has a debate equivalent, it will be, "my time and my tide seems more important that other people's time and tide." Call it a disease of the individualistic society. Call it a self-seeking paradigm that is so pervasive in society. Call it selfishness that puts one's own interest above others.


B) The Opposite of Love


This week, I completed a review of a soon to be published book, "The Fruitful Wife." As a pastor, I deal with so many different kinds of people, that I am learning to be open to reading on materials that also concern my congregation. Even though that book has been written with the female gender in mind, I find the principles very applicable to all. In it, the author Hayley DiMarco asks: "What is the opposite of love?"


The answer is not hatred. Neither is it unlove. It is selfishness. In the book, DiMarco allocates a chapter each to the nine attributes of love in Galatians 5. The first fruit of the Spirit is love. In contrast, she mentions an equivalent fruit of the flesh to accompany the biblical nine. The first fruit of the flesh is this: Selfishness.

C) Selfishness: It's Much Nearer Than You Think

It's Much Nearer Than We Think

The premise of this is simple. Love is the foundation of the fruit of the Spirit. This foundation is not built upon the kingdom of self. It is upon Christ, who loves us so much that He gave, over and over again. Without love, 1 Corinthians 13 declares that we are nothing. Using the 1975 pop song by the Nazareth group, "Love Hurts," DiMarco affirms that love does hurt, in particular, ourselves. Her rationale is that love hurts ourselves first is because love demands we become lesser, and that others become greater. She writes:

"The truth is that love does hurt our selves, because love, if purely lived, strips us of all our self-interest, self-promotion, and self-protection." (23)

This is an important understanding. Some of us may dispute the literal opposite of love being selfishness. Yet, I think the essence of love is precisely this: That we see lesser of ourselves, and more of others. Pure love is desiring after the better interests of others, for others, and with others. There are ample biblical support for this. See the references below.

• "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
• "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)
• "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

Note how Paul talks about our speaking to help others up rather than help ourselves first. See how we are urged to build others up and not puff ourselves up with self-knowledge and self-understanding. See how intent he is in meeting the needs of others, and not trumpet our own pet thoughts and selfish desires. Moreover, the other-centered practice of Christian spirituality is not something we can do on our own strength. We need God. Do you remember the texts prior to Jesus' call for us to love one another? Before there is John 15:17, there is John 15:5.


For the Lord Jesus has taught us:

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Perhaps, we can use a metaphor for our tendency to imagine things. Selfishness is like our side mirrors of our car. Objects typically are closer than what we see. We are more selfish than we think. The more selfish we are, the more difficult it is to go through a detoxification process.

D) Time With God

One of the most important marks of a Christian is how they are spending time. In fact, the quality of one's relationships with people, is heavily linked to the quality of one's relationship with God. Otherwise, we learn from all the wrong sources. We deceive ourselves. We behave badly. When that happens, we can easily become big-headed or prideful for our own good. That is when we need to release some intellectual puffiness under the cautionary, "Oops. I may be wrong." 


One more thing. Someone has said that humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. In a way it is true, but it needs to go farther. John Dickson, in his excellent treatise on humility, has this wise words that we can learn from.

"Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself. More simply, you could say the humble person is marked by a willingness to hold power in service of others. " (John Dickson, Humilitas, Zondervan, 2011, 24)

Note the three things. We need to be willing to let go of our own selfishness. We then learn to use whatever we have for the benefit of others. That is essentially putting Ephesians 4:29 to practice.


Humility readies us to start looking toward seeking the better of others instead of self. It makes us realize that by ourselves, we are always tempted to look inward and become selfish. When living and interacting with others, we are disciplined to look outward and learn unselfishness. This is particularly important when it comes to time alone with ourselves. Are we using that time to walk with God, to sense what God is speaking to us? I tweeted a few days ago, that if someone claims to love God with all their hard, why are they then only spending time with God in their SPARE time? Have we consciously or unconsciously depended on our own strength for our own good? The evidence is telling. Pop up our schedules. Are they in line with our public proclamation of our priorities? Look back over the day. What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Who is the first person you greet? Have you given thanks?


THOUGHT: "The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us in our daily conduct." (Andrew Murray)


sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Reel to Real Violence?

TITLE: REEL TO REAL VIOLENCE?
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 61:1
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 20 July 2012

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer." (Psalm 61:1)

Shock. Horrified. Grieved. Pained.

I wake up this morning stunned by terrible news of shooting at a cinema in Aurora just outside the city of Denver. As of today, 12 people are confirmed dead, and more than 70 have been injured.  Many of you will have read about the details and the horrors of seeing normal movie-goers becoming victims of guns and violence. There have even been reports of kids (including a 4-month old baby who was injured) being inside the cinema during the past midnight premiere of Batman: The Dark Night Rises.

I muse to myself. "It happened at schools. It happened at shopping malls. Now, it happened at cinemas. Is there anywhere safe now?"

The director of the movie, Christopher Nolan has even said the following:
"The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me."

He has described it well. I echo with thoughts of where on earth is safe.

The jury is out there with regards to why. As more official reports trickle in, the numbers may vary, but the images of horror have been etched painfully in the hearts of families, friends, and even the most distant observer. I think many have written far more eloquently about the case. Every time something like this happens, we think about pain and suffering, the meaning of life, and what matters most to us.


So, this week, instead of me writing some reflective piece, I want to just share the grief and the powerful reflections from two alumni reflections from Regent. One of the first reactions is a vigorous reaction against violence on reel matters. This is the view of Elizabeth S who shares a provocative study that links media culture to violence. 

"This is a controversial statement but in light of recent events, I feel the need to share. We need to stop ignoring the acts of violence that are occurring in our culture by simply responding with shock and sympathy and no action. Exposure to violent media is likely a contributing factor to increasing aggressive behaviors and violence in some children and teens. These children and teens grow-up to be adults. It would be naive to say that violent media is the single cause of violent acts. However, why would we want to support "entertainment" that could even potentially cause mass death to real people? Take some responsibility and stop supporting violent media or excusing the violence based on the fact that it is "just entertainment"!"

On a different note,  Sorina Higgins prefers to de-link the connection between reel life and real life. Instead, reel life is a way to tell the story of human life. Film has the power to dramatically inform us how evil violence is.  Faith is a powerful channel to help us make some sense out of art, of culture, and even violence. She makes it plain that the movie is not to be blamed. 

"it seems appropriate to reflect on a real-life incident in which art and violence have been flung together into a meaningless partnership that just screams for faith to make sense out of it." (Source: iambicadmonit)

I like in particular her take about our culture's unhealthy obsession with violence.

"If even one miniscule good thing comes out of this universe of horror, there is a chance that it might remove some of our unhealthy voyeurism-of-violence."

I agree, sister! Absolutely true.

I believe there will be more to come. Both Elizabeth's and Sorina's views need not be seen in contradiction of each other. No. They are simply honest reactions of how Elizabeth cherish the sanctity of human life, and how Sorina appreciates the place of beauty in film. When violence occurs, it shakes us up. It shakes our perspectives of life up. It shakes our closely held convictions about the goodness of people.

The violence at Aurora needs to be met with the highest level of condemnation. There needs to be stronger political will not just to curtail the easy availability of weapons. Yet, that alone is not enough. We need to expose the factors and any unwholesome environment. I feel that violence does not begin on a vacuum. In other words, there is always a reason. This is not the time and place to rationalize too much. This is not even the time to argue who is right or who is wrong. This is a time to pray.

The Psalmist begins with a simple plea. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer. It is a plea for God up high to hear us who are in the deepest grief and agony. The best thing to do in the light of such terrible violence is to pray. Reflect. Cry.

I pray that we heed Elizabeth's caution about the links between media and violence, to be more seriously pursued in the coming days through wise followup actions. I agree with Higgins that we need to let film paint the ugliness of violence in such a way that we will repel any thought about being a part of any forms of violence. Those are good thoughts. Those may even be necessary thoughts. For now, we need to put them as secondary steps. Our primary step is to grieve with those who are grieving. Mourn with those who are mourning. May our collective grief and mourning lead us to a collective awareness that we need God more and more.

Hear our cry, O Lord.

THOUGHT: "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal." (unknown)

sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Be Slow to Anger

TITLE: BE SLOW TO ANGER
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 19:11
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 12 July 2012

"A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression." (Proverbs 19:11, NAS)

This morning, as I was driving my daughter to work, I was about to make a left turn to the other lane. A white car sped toward me. Apparently, the driver was trying to beat the red light by speeding away. Seeing me making a turn, he rudely honks at me, as if he is saying, "Good grief! Can't you wait?"

Huh? Hello? Who is being impatient here?

Are we easily angered?

The incident left me thinking, at first, how impatient that driver was, and how hypocritical he had behaved. On second thought, I sensed an inner unhappiness within me.

• "What an impatient driver? (Reflect: How about me?)
• "Can't that driver wait?" (Reflect: What about me? Can't I wait too?)
• "If only people drive with greater consideration?" (Reflect: Can consideration begin with you?)
• Why am I feeling what I am feeling?

Ok. That man had driven dangerously. He had interrupted my morning peace. Having done that, what remained is my inner response. How I respond determines my capacity of becoming slow to anger. Indeed, some of my thoughts also include the wish that a policeman will flag down that driver to give him some demerit points.This week, I like to reflect on the words, "slow to anger."

Turn the Other Cheek

TITLE: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:38-39
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 5 July 2012

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39)

There is a story of an anchorite named Makarios (300-390). (Anchorites are people who have pledged to withdraw from the world and to live a life of devotion, to spend time in their religious beliefs). Before settling in the city of Sketis in the heartland of Egypt, he lived in a small village very much minding his own business. Being mild-mannered and eccentric, some villagers despised him. A virgin girl foolishly got pregnant by another man, and feared being found out by her parents. She also dreaded the public shame. Conveniently, she blamed Makarios. Without checking the facts, some men pounced upon Makarios and beat him up. The girl's parents said that the beating will not stop until Makarios agreed to marry the girl, and take care of the girl. Makarios, after humbly taking the blows, agreed and even started taking additional work in order to pay the bills. When the girl was due to give birth, she could not deliver the child. The labour went on for many days without much progress. Finally, the girl decided to confess, "I have slandered the anchorite. He is not to be blamed for my pregnancy. It is another young man. I have lied and accused the anchorite unjustly."

Upon her confession, the baby was delivered. Before the entire village could come to apologize to the anchorite, Makarios fled to Sketis, and went on to be a big catalyst in making Sketis "the place where God weighs the heart."

A) A Tit-For-Tat World

The story of Makarios is such a rare find nowadays. It is an amazing story of humility and self-deprecation. Who on earth practices that? We live in a tit-for-tat world. You punch me, I punch you back. You irritate me, I irritate you back. You write nasty Facebook comments on my page, I write even nastier notes.

The big bully the small, and the small bullies the weaker still. This world's modus operandi is, an-eye-for-an-eye, and a-tooth-for-a-tooth. In Chinese martial arts movies, it is common to find characters spreading violence from one generation to another. Some of these stories go beyond three generations. Murdering one generation leads to violence in the next generation, and the next, and the next. Many of these killings not only grow in intensity, they expand in brutality as well.

In our offices, how often have we played tit-for-tat with our competition? Whether we call it "turning the tables on them," or counter-attacking them, there is that element of revenge that remains strong, especially after a humiliating loss. Movies like Rambo show a strong revenge theme. Even Jaws manages to turn one from fear to anger, to long for the time where the evil Great White Shark will be killed once and for all. These movies play human emotions very well, cleverly riding the natural wave of a personal sense of justice via a vengeful heart.

B) Counter-Culture

Instead of playing to the common wisdom at that time, Jesus overturns the conventional thinking surrounding fairness. He says,

"But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39)

Are you serious? Is it not right to hit back? Evil needs to be defeated, right?

Wrong. Jesus says it plain and simple. Do not resist the evil act. Now it is important to note that this "evil" is to be understood as an angry or unreasonable person, and not the devilish or satanic dark force like Darth Vader. It is like the way Ecclesiastes is talking about the "evil under the sun," where injustice reigns supreme, and where one's good works do not get reciprocated, while the idle gets a bountiful harvest. It is to be understood as an injustice done to us.

Unfair. Mistreated. Unjust act. Something we do not deserve.

That is not all. Jesus goes farther. Besides surrendering any desire to retaliate, Jesus tells us to turn the other side of us that is untouched to be hit as well! It is a double whammy! Not hitting back is one thing. Turning the other cheek? Isn't that stupid?

It is a tough instruction to obey, even though many Christians read this passage from time to time. It is so easy to quote this verse to one another when times are good, and when all is normally at peace. Until we are wrongly accused. Until someone slanders us. Until we are cheated or bullied into submission. Can we honestly practice turning the other cheek?

C) Resist Retaliation: Three Reasons

I reflect on how Adam and Eve become active players of the blame game in the Garden of Eden. When God asks Adam what happened, Adam blames Eve. When God asks Eve, Eve blames the serpent. On and on, the desire is to hide from truth, and to pass the buck. In reading Matthew 5:39, there are at least three reasons why Jesus urges one to refrain from retaliation, and the offer the other cheek. Firstly, it stops the cycle of evil and violence. In shouting situations, like between husbands and wives, sometimes raising voices can be extremely hurtful and harmful for the marriage. Husband raise his voice. Wife raises to the next higher level. Husband responds with an even louder tone. Wife tries to beat the husband with a sharper scream. In contrast, some marriage counselors have advocated speaking softer with each response to force a similar action. This not only signals the intent to reduce the tension, but also to create self-awareness on the other. Try that. When you speak softer at each level, see how your opposite responds.

Secondly, it reduces the ground for root formation. Every seed needs a fertile soil to grow. When the ground space is reduced, there will be less room for the seed to take root. Likewise, when one refrains from retaliation, there are fewer words the adversary can use to hit us back.


Thirdly, when we turn the other cheek, we are telling ourselves that we too are sinners. We have no right to take another person's life. We have no right to hurt another person. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not just die for me. He died for all. When we retaliate, we are also retaliating against a person that Jesus loves. When we turn the other cheek, we are also offering the person space to de-stress. It is an opportunity for us not just to save a friend, but to potentially save an enemy.

D) Radical Hospitality

Reading Henri Nouwen's thoughts about hospitality also gives me some idea about a fourth reason not to retaliate: Radical hospitality. Turning an enemy to a stranger, to a friend, and eventual restoration to God. Nouwen writes of hospitality as follows:

"Hospitality... means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place." (Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out)

Turning the other cheek is radical hospitality.  Recently, my name was implicated in an unfortunate email situation. It was a clear case of miscommunication by another person. For reasons unknown to me, the email began to take on a life of its own. Misunderstanding led to a bigger misunderstanding. Surprise turned to shock. Astonishment turned to anger. People were downright angry and upset.

One email can open the floodgates of negative emotions.

I prayed. I reflected. I thought about reasons to deny the allegations. Finally, reflecting on the life of Makarios, I thought the best thing for me is to apologize unreservedly. I had no desire to defend myself. I did not wish to make things worse. More importantly, I did not want to stumble a weaker brother or sister.

I apologized, simply because I acknowledge I am imperfect. Things could have been better communicated. I could have justified or denied each and every statement.

I chose not to hit back. I resisted the temptation to hit back, thereby halting any evil from taking root. I apologized, thereby turning the other cheek. I will apologize again, without wanting to justify myself, thereby preventing pride from growing in me.

I am no Makarios. I am simply a sinner saved by grace, and I will let my emails and my life be one of grace.

It takes a small heart to fight back. It takes a big heart to resist fighting back. It takes a spiritual heart to see every person from the eyes of God. Turn the other cheek is oft quoted, seldom practiced. Perhaps, you may want to start doing more of it, regularly.

THOUGHT: "It takes a strong person to say sorry, and an ever stronger person to forgive."


sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Are You Ready?

TITLE: ARE YOU READY?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 21:34
Written by: Dr Conrade Yap
Date: 28 June 2012

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. (Luke 21:34)

This week is a horrible week for residents of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Raging wildfires are threatening to burn and destroy huge parcels of forests, land and property. The fires have been burning for almost a week now. More than 35000 people have been evacuated, many of them with only minutes to pack their precious belongings and memories. Firefighters have called the fires as a "2 mile wall of flame," "state's most destructive," and videos showing the burning in "epic proportions." If by reading and watching the fires from afar can give us shivers, what about the actual residents and firefighters who are at Waldon Canyon region?

(Photo Credit: Twitter)

A) Disastrous Flames Come Suddenly

Horrible. It is moments like these that cause one to ask, "Why?" For people who have lost everything, they will be glad simply to know their loved ones are safe. I wonder about people who have lost families to the fire. It is downright heartbreaking. In times like these, the best fire fighting technology and know how can only do so much. With the fire of such magnitude, many are dependent on mother nature to either send rain, not to make things worse, or both. News reports now indicate that only 10% of the fires have been contained. In other words, the battle is far from over. I know of several Christian book publishers in that region that have been evacuated for safety regions. NavPress, Multnomah, David C. Cook publishers are all in Colorado Springs. It is also a time in which Christians come together to help the community and each other. For instance, the staff from NavPress have been offered the offices of Focus on the Family to continue part of their work. This is wonderful news, to see how simple gestures of cooperation and graciousness in action.


B) A Difficult But Necessary Question to Answer

What things will I grab in the event of an emergency? Vancouver is in an earthquake region, and people have long been talking about the "Big One" happening anytime. On top of that, wildfires during Summer are frequent occurrence. Disasters can happen anytime. The big question is: "Are we ready?"

This is one question I hate to answer. Even if I say, "I am not ready," it is still an incomplete answer. I have to be ready. I have to make plans. I know the why. The big issue is when and what forms of readiness.

Sometimes, my wife and I will talk about how one day we will leave everything behind in this world. This is no secret that everybody will die one day. The only difference is when. We do not know when.

In Luke 21, Jesus is telling the disciples about the end times, what to expect and why one does not need to fear. Instead, one needs to be prepared not to be surprised. It all began when the disciples were admiring how beautifully decorated the temple was (Luke 21:5)

"Some of the disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 'As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another, every one of them will be thrown down.'" (Luke 21:5-6)

The words take the disciples by surprise. This is simply because they are clueless about the biggest surprise of them all, that the temple to be scattered and thrown down is actually Christ being crucified. Without death on the cross, we remain in sin. 

Jesus then brings the disciples through a long description of the end times. Finally he gives this warning about being ready.

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." (Luke 21:34)

C) Two Applications

The first point of application is a positive one, to be careful with our life.The King James render it as "take heed to yourselves." It is about living on guard. It is about not wasting our lives but to make it meaningful for our neighbours and fruitful for God. The story

The second is application is basically warnings. The Greek word (barethosin) can be translated as "weighed down," "dulled," or "overcharged" by the distractions of the world, being drunk by worldliness and deluged by worries.  All of these things have one common purpose: Make us stray away from our calling.

We need to be firm, to heed what God is calling us to do. If we look at Luke 21:34 carefully and ask ourselves, "What is the one thing that prevents us from obeying the call to take heed?" I think it is losing our focus on God.

The moment we fail to take heed on God, we become easily dissipated, easily drunk, and easily anxious about the world. Worry is opposite of trust. Without trust, we are extremely susceptible to all kinds of worry. Elisabeth Elliot, in Discipline, the Glad Surrender, mentions 6 things about the nature of worry that we can all take heed.

1. "Worry is totally fruitless."
2. "Worry is worse than fruitless: it is disobedience."
3. Worry is being anxious about tomorrow.
4. Worry is ignoring the present.
5. "Worry is the antithesis of trust."
6. "Worry is a wicked squandering of time (as well as energy)."

When we worry, we fail to take heed to ourselves, to be ready for what God is calling us to do today. When we worry, we forget that it is more important to prepare for tomorrow rather than to worry about it. In being prepared always, we will be ready to face the world at all times. We are ready to respond to emergencies. We are ready to know what are the more important things to grab when fires and calamities occur. Instead of worrying, why not just prepare, and get ready?

Surely, that is a more constructive way to live instead of giving in to destructive worry? Perhaps, may I encourage you my reader to ask yourself the question. If you break down the active hours of your life, what is the percentage that you are using to get ready for tomorrow, or your final goodbye?

THOUGHT: "The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today." (H. Jackson Brown Jr.)

sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.