When I Die : Part 2

169. Despite these miseries, man wishes to be happy, and only wishes to be happy, and cannot wish not to be so. But how will he set about it? To be happy he would have to make himself immortal; but, not being able to do so, it has occurred to him to prevent himself from thinking of death.  - Pascal

Death is not a welcoming conversation topic. Many of us boast of a mostly casual relationship with death, even though deaths happen everyday. There is a steady stream of the departed. This can be proven by just watching the local news. But we have just been mostly carrying on. I have been recently reading Pascal's Pensees. Pascal rightly notes that death is the ultimate universal no one can deny, but many run away from in the form of pleasurable distractions.

Tadhana?: Reflection on Heneral Luna

I tried to remember the last time I both enjoyed a movie yet feel terrible after. Let me explain below.

I'm not a film critic. The last review I made for a film was during my dearly-departed undergraduate years. I do enjoy the technical aspects of a film: the aesthetics (cinematography/photography), the pace, the score... but without thinking much about it. I'm more inclined to view the whole as a package, because... Here's a confession: I watch movies for recreation. I rather not overthink things. But more often than not, I believe movies ought to do more: they should make the audience think. There's something more to moving pictures.

I'm glad that I got to watch Jerrold Tarog's Heneral Luna. Social media was filled with praise for the film. In case the reader is averse to local films, this is a welcome disappointment to the usual gibberish that is mainstream Philippine cinema. Against the backdrop of the usual romance-drama-comedy and blockbusters, there is actual artistic and creative talent in this film. I am happily surprised that it is enjoying an extended run, being a historical piece.

Pasensya pala, nag-i-Ingles ako sa sarili kong bayan.

Discipline

I found myself grovelling on top of a wet exercise mat in front R.O.X. in Bonifacio Global City, as the rain continues to pour. It's Thursday, the second day of training camp hosted by a renowned running coach. I signed up to get proper physical training. I knew I need this jumpstart to fitness.

I could vaguely hear the pep talk. Finish strong! or so I'm inclined to hear. I can hardly push myself back up. This last routine in the circuit, aptly called "suicide planks", has exhausted every breath and effort. Every muscle that is supposed to hurt throb sharply. The only comfort to this day is the cold rain performing a massage on my whole body as I lay tired and wasted. I will later bike home, struggling to put kilometer after kilometer. My body will ache for two days. I will find myself doing the same next week, hoping that I am a little stronger, more willing to endure. I know what this is for.

Escape from Reason

I read an interestingly small volume entitled "Escape from Reason", written by Francis Schaeffer. Schaeffer was a pastor and a renowned theologian of the 20th century. Among his many contributions was the foundation of the L'Abri as a venue for those who are seeking answers to their honest questions. His commitment to historic Christianity and his compassion to his modernist contemporaries led him to write numerous volumes aimed to answer the questions of his age in a distinctively Christian paradigm.

Why is it interesting despite its mere 125 pages? This book was a clear reminder to not let the size of the book fool us for the weight of its content. A confession: I sloughed through this book. Also, this book is the second part of a trilogy consisting of "The God Who is There" (part 1) and "He is There and He is Not Silent" (part 2).

A Lesson in Irony

Irony*
(noun)

the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect: Don't go overboard with the gratitude,’ he rejoined with heavy irony.

• a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result: the irony is that I thought he could help me
• (also dramatic or tragic irony) a literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions is clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character

* Taken from the Oxford Dictionary of English

Keep Calm and Carry On and On

Life is ultimately tragic.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a book I have always liked reading. Quite brazenly, it seems to promote pessimism as a view to life. This is quite the contrast of the Bible's stature as a book of hope, a book of life. The unshakable fact is, that flowing through its proverbial observations and trite statements, reading Ecclesiastes leaves one with quite a load of questions with very few answers. But the few that it does give is sufficient to satisfy, if allowed to drip into the deepest recesses of the human experience.

Christ and Culture: An Introduction

A person who has become a Christian will necessarily have to face the question: "how then shall I live?" The question might come to him quite abruptly. He recognizes that a new reality consists within him. However, the old and present reality of the world around him lingers. And he will soon find out unlike before, that this world forces its influences strongly. The force is strong, opposing the new reality that he now enjoys. How this new and old realities are dealt with, depends upon his understanding of what their relationship ought to be. This relationship hangs solely upon his recognition of what God teaches in His Word.

Blacks and Whites: 2014

"Beloved, take the year altogether—the blacks and the whites, the troubles and the joys, the hills and the valleys altogether, and what have you to say about it? You may say, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Do not pick out one day in the year, and say it was a bad day, but take all the year round, let it revolve in all its grandeur." - C. H. Spurgeon

Another year is coming to an end. Months seemed to have learned how to fly. This is already the third of such an entry that I will have for the blog. Yet I am convinced of its necessity, an entry for the year's end. Not for resolutions, as I endeavored to publish 30+ entries the past year. I only got through nine, but I did enjoy a blogging challenge for a month. No, I definitely do not write for resolutions, but something that I have learned to be a more pressing matter: thankfulness.

Seriously Joking

A friend of mine, who has a rather perverse sense of humor, posted something over my precious Facebook wall. If you know me, precious is an understatement for the wonderful reality that is Facebook. I like his humor. His penchant for shenanigans is only matched by his affinity for theology, and possibly his musical virtuosity. This is a dear, yet peculiar, brother.

This was premeditated shenanigans.

hyposyncrasy

Awesome Blog Challenge # 05: hyposyncrasy

hypocrisy + idiosyncrasy = hyposyncrasy

Never mind the attempt to coin a new term. A Filipino idiosyncrasy might just be our penchant for deflecting blame, so...

What if we apply the hatred we have for corrupt governance, wickedness of our supposed protectors of justice, and all-around grave misconducts of public figures to ourselves, in our most private corruptions?

Waterproof

Awesome Blog Challenge #02: Waterproof

The rainy season has started. For what it's worth I already had two flood-wading experiences, much thanks to the consistently terrible Espana drainage system. And just this morning I tried heading to the office since I left my laptop for safety, since it was raining last night. Let's just say a gushing river, Araneta Avenue in normal days, stopped me from continuing in my quest. Treading through murky waters provide the much needed sense of mystery that breaks the banality of everyday life.

I remember a motto printed onto a shirt, right after (if I am not mistaken) typhoon Ondoy almost five years ago:

"The Filipino spirit is waterproof."

Convincingly halted by Araneta Ave. River 

I am not certain if the shirt was being sold for a cause. I think it was. It's nice, actually. The motto, I mean. Sounds nice, feels nice. Oddly enough, it's always relevant, as the country is a usual client of torrential rains and of typhoons (around 20 per year according to studies). Being an active participant and observer in disaster operations after the super typhoon Haiyan, all I can say is that those who help, sacrificially, are worthy of commendation. And those who survive profoundly find some semblance of joy despite the deluge. It is as if, they are waterproof.

Yet something is off. I think I will not find myself alone in sensing that something is a bit off. All this fine-sounding one-liners feel like a consolation prize. To be sure, character is tested, tempered, and tried in desperate situations. Twenty typhoons a year is not a joke. But there is such a thing as capacity building, risk mitigation, and all sorts of preventive activities. The sense of mystery returns: just what is it that keeps us from failing to learn from previous tragedies? Why are there close-to-nothing improvements? If there is, it is devoid of any discernible system. The improvements in Espana, for example, has made our situation worse. Since they tried to augment parts of it, our location has become the flood basin. Apparently, no one has taken into account that into the plan. (Or was it the plan all along?)

The country should not be surprised if the people keep on complaining about the flooding situation. However, if those in rule would want to change things they must remember that doing the same thing, or nothing at all, over and over again and expecting different results is insanity. The Filipino spirit may be waterproof, but hopefully, foolproof as well.

Coram Deo: 1

It is a terrible, yet, a comforting truth that each life is not beyond the God who does not slumber (Ps. 121). Terrible to those whom His wrath still abides, and also to the wandering believer. Yet if one finds himself reposed in mercies and grace of God in Christ, there is sweet comfort; comfort not only that His sin is forgiven, that His burdens are now made light, but also because he is fully known, and still fully loved.

"Like a white flower... opening...to drink in the light of the sun"

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”
 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
  I awake, and I am still with you.
[Psalm 139:1-12, 17-18]

When Cool Gets in the Way of Obedience: Part 1

Note: I would try to be as coherent as possible since I have been usually writing over at 750Words. I have been accustomed for a few days to writing my thoughts as I go along. Pardon me.

This is something I have observed mostly in other people, and also in myself. The following are some observations. Would it be judgmental of me to mention other people? It would be improper for me to point what God prescribes, right? Those two things are not cool. Not cool at all.

It is not something new in this present generation. I must not aggravate the indictment to my own generation, for this seems to be a perennial problem of the human heart: the struggle to joyfully serve God, or slavishly serve one's own appetites. Nothing special about the problem. It's just that we have a much more glaring and obvious view of the situation with the massive use of social networking and social media.

Some people would rather be cool than obedient. Not that the two things are polar opposites, but well it is. Obedience is not cool. It's interesting that the word "cool" was once associated as an attitude nurtured among social and political rebels, whose open rebellion was mixed with detachment. Rebellious detachment, that's cool. Then again, the state of rebellion against God is deeply embedded in the human heart. The account of Genesis 3 and 6 show us that it has become the taint in the once-innocent human nature. It is what defines our world today. No matter what statistics say regarding the religious atmosphere of the world, whether Christian or no, whether fervent or cold, in our inmost beings we are rebels against God. No nation is truly a "Christian" nation.

While some people are more prone to open rebellion and its manifestation than others, this does not negate the fact that it is the most basic human problem. It is the universal, basic human problem. For this reason Christ became obedient to the point of death. Indeed, even death on a cross, to atone for sinners who would repent and believe in Him. The most basic human problem is met with the only satisfying, divine solution, for there is no other way we can ever be saved.

A digression-- I am in deep consideration of deleting all my social networking accounts. I am keen in keeping my Facebook, after cleaning my contacts list. Having an account has nearly become a requirement with all the contacts I made with people I never see regularly. Also, most of the ministry work I'm involved with rely on Facebook groups for communication. Twitter, on the other hand, has to go. I liked it when I started using it. I had the perverse joy of being profound in 140 characters or less. It was cool. I tried to sound smart almost all the time. Little did I know that it was affecting how I think, of what I was teaching myself: I would rather be cool. A cool, Internet Christian.

777 Tweets before leaving? How cool is that?! #missingmyownpoint

To connect my digression to the observation, Twitter had a depressing effect on me. Reading the feeds subtly had myself compare myself to others. Either I think am better than others, or that I am worse than my contemporaries with the accompanying question: "What am I doing with my life?" No one wins against the sinful heart, you know.

I began to think in more fragmented ways. 140 characters is not enough to flesh out a thought. If I ever did, I credited it to my overall coolness and smarts. Yikes.

I beg my pardon to any Twitter contact or user who reads this. Do take it in a general and sweeping manner. I am not talking about you specifically, unless, you feel that you fit some of the descriptions. This is a personal observation and commitment. I am not against Twitter. Yet I deem it better not to have an account. It does not make me cool not having an account, yet the same goes for having one. I like reading, and feel a compulsion to read through the feeds, FB or Twitter, even if I know I am going to read some things I'd rather not know. The compulsion, however, is not beneficial. So, goodbye Twitter. Except for the humorous and sensible sentiments (which I can find in real real life), time is better spent elsewhere. #Quitting

Even without the use of social media, I have found myself in the position of constantly trying to decide whether to do something that looks cool or do what is right. What is right is usually not a cool thing nowadays. Standing for one's convictions however unpopular is, well, unpopular. But obedience is God's prescription, not only because He says so, however sufficient reason that is in itself, but it is for good. It is for our own good. Biblical prescriptions, of moral principles and of skillful living (which is what wisdom means anyway) and many others, are geared for our own good and God's glory and pleasure. It is a golden truth: that all things work together for good to those who love God; those circumstances which are out of our control and most commonly disregarded, even our own obedience to Him in every single day. Our obedience to Him in daily living is almost never the sensational or novel way we want it to be. Daily following Him and taking Him at His Word is most definitely for our good, no matter how you feel about it.

My definition of cool might differ with others. It's a word that I believe has lost its meaning. Anybody can use it to mean anything. It can be a quality, and also be expressed in quantity. (I think my facial hair constitutes to either plus 20% or minus 20% cool depending on who's being asked.) Best use I found is mentioning it thrice in quick succession, "cool, cool, cool", by Community's Abed. It is an aesthetic: how one projects him- or herself. Cool has become the opposite of old-fashioned.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to obey God with all the novel and varied notions of cool. I think that many believers, mostly the younger ones, have this notion of living in a cool way of being a christian. Christianity should not boring; it should be cool. It should not bring us down; it should help us be... cool. Or "radical", or "counter-cultural", or "missional". Even, relevant. Being radical, counter-cultural, missional, even relevant are good things...if we know what they mean. Most of the time their meaning has been swept under the rug in exchange for a cool aesthetic. Form has trumped substance. We'd rather have our labels than live the actual Christian life. Take it from me, I have been there. I am still battling with it to this very day.

Some go for disturbingly fantastical ways of self-promotion, being more occupied with clothing, with social standing, with personal interests. For the "spiritual" kind of cool, there's this venomous problem of picking and siding with our favorite pastor-teachers (see 1 Corinthians 1). All in all, this fixation for coolness is merely proving its usual and secular meaning: rebellious detachment.  The ordinary aesthetics of the Christian life in the Bible is not deemed cool by today's standards. However one desires to live out Acts 2:42-47, one will come to the conclusion that it fizzles compared to how Christianity is projected and marketed these days.

The early church was a very hinged people: they were connected to one another, not by social media, but by actual, intimate and regular fellowship in their local gatherings. Our present dilemma is that most Christians are detached from this beautiful and seemingly ordinary provision of God. It is not only a detachment from God Himself, that alone being an infinite crime; but we detach ourselves of the reality and beauty of belonging and being in fellowship with the body of Christ, the church. There is a strong delusion for everyone to adhere to the sort-of lone-wolf Christian lifestyle. I once was like that, I'd rather perform my Christianity by myself, not needing anyone but God alone. Amazing as that may sound, it is deplorable to think that God only saved me for me. Being this lone-wolf directs us to be self-sufficient: being a Bible scholar, being a secret prayer warrior extraordinaire, all without the application of what these means of grace are for: service within the Body (1 Cor. 12-14). The independent lone-wolf aesthetic is cool, but it is not obedience. It neglects the fact that God provides salvation to acquire a people, a family, not detached individuals who think they do not need anyone, even the church. You know, the church for which Christ died and is currently sanctifying (Eph. 5:25-33).

Evolve

Do Christians need to "evolve"?

I found myself asking this question while reading this article, citing an evangelical pastor being dis-invited from the US Presidential Ceremony benediction. The pastor in question, Louie Giglio, of Passion Conference fame, has been invited by the presidential committee due to his rather passionate battle against human trafficking. Yes, I deliberately used "passionate". However, as the committee found out from one of his sermons of 20 years prior, he had "backwards" notions against the issue of same-sex unions, of which they thoroughly disagreed. They deemed that a person of his beliefs does not typify what the President wants.

The issue touches on how a Christian should think of matters now being made highly relevant and seemingly important in society, among others like "Why get an evangelical pastor who believes that sin is sin, no matter how sensitized it is, and while sin is sin, that there is a Redeemer for sinners who repent and believe in Him, and that this Redeemer not only washes and forgives them, but grants them new life and empowers them to loving obedience and persevering faith?" Mohler's article points this out more beautifully and succinctly than I can dream of. Moving along, the issue is raised in the American context, and to be fair, might only be relevant to the post-Christian Western societies. I find it hard, however, to imagine that these same concerns not making their waves into this country. These issues are highly sensitized, and get considerable publicity. As for their publicity, I do not just mean the news. Isn't it amazing that we get more and more characters in movies and televisions imbibing these popular views? Nearly half a year ago, I found myself observing a rally promoting and supporting same-sex relationships, in my beloved campus no less. While that might be a small-scale expression, what we have in our teleseryes and movies are more powerful carriers of their message. If you are not of the teleserye-watching kind, US series' have more blatant characters. They are usually written well. While their perspective and lifestyle are clearly representations of the issues in question, we tend to overlook that because they are usually the funny, easily relatable types. They veer us away, successfully, from the issues at hand.

I will not deal with the specific issues at the mean time. This is more of assessment, rather than straight-up contention. Mainly the reason is that I am not an expert on such things. I have yet to spend considerable time studying them one by one, or at least reading, what seems to be primary resources. (If I am allowed to be excused, I am still adjusting to my new full time work. Barely a month in! But I am enjoying it.) While I can make preliminary opinions of same-sex unions, divorce, the RH bill and etc., it would be an injustice to how these issues mean to society at the legislative and practical levels. These issues have great impact, and deserves, at the very least, to be treated seriously. For example, it is a good thing that the dreaded anti-cybercrime law is under a necessary 120-day suspension. It definitely needs revisions. I believe discussions will resume later this month, and one can only hope for propriety. Crowdsourcing, which I think is necessary, is the way it is going. But I digress.

Back to the question: it assumes that the Christian worldview needs to be tweaked in order to answer the pressing issues of the day. However, is the Christian worldview lacking in answering such issues? In the article the Christian worldview, while not lacking an answer to the issue, is deemed backwards. The historical and biblical worldview has become outdated. There is a seeming need to "evolve", to progress in our thinking of such issues. One may argue that we need to evolve since we are facing newer realities now; we did not know back then what we know now. Are the issues posed in society new realities, new problems that we must overcome? Do we need newer laws to reflect what is the utopian dream, the perfect human society? I heard someone said that "laws don't just represent the realities, laws also represent aspirations." The pressing issues of the day ask for new laws to legalize their respective propositions, making them not just norms but somehow, aspirations. Do we aspire for a society where abortions, divorce, and all manner of "newer" realities are the norm? Is this the highest form of human society? I am but asking.

Plainly, my answer to the question is "no". It is my firm belief that the Christian worldview is able to answer what life should be like. It is not because the Christian is superior, but because the Lord of the Universe is. It is God who has clearly defined what human life is for, and where it finds its deepest expression, meaning, and satisfaction. It is God's aim for men and women to not find their joy in something less, but in the best. If anything, Christians must indeed "evolve" but not dismantling or tweaking away at truth. Rather, we must "evolve" into being more God-entranced, more Christ-centered, and more Spirit-filled in our thinking and lifestyle. There is an ever present need to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord. The pressing issues are only pressing, not because they are new, but because our minds might have been dulled and lulled. Serious matters demand serious answers, and the Christian has resources for just that. If it is backwards to hold on to clearly defined truth, then I'm more than willing to be the hardest man to convince. O, that we might recover wisdom.

Almost Lunacy

"We do well with trusting God with our souls, but we like hanging onto controlling our lives here on earth."

A sharp thought from today's preaching. What a way to begin the new year.

The thought cuts deep, right through the heart. It is indeed observable, that there are those who play around by professing that they've given God all yet there seems to be little evidence thereof. I find myself guilty of the same, of which I ask the Lord for grace. It is easy, even popular, to fill our thoughts of the notion of going to heaven, of boasting that our hearts are secure in Christ, yet there might only be but a fragment where Christ reigns (if He even reigns there). He does not have their lives here on Earth as they still dance along to tune of this world. Shouldn't a blood-bought heart, a redeemed soul, be displayed by a blood-bought life here on Earth? If He has not secured their lives here on Earth, how is there any confidence of being secure in His most holy presence in heaven? "I have entrusted my soul to God, but my life here on earth is mine... all mine." Isn't this hypocrisy, if not, lunacy?

(From me to me.)

End of the Year 2012

Another year is ending. Most of the time, I equate the year's end to having another year added unto my age since that will happen just a few days later. I also seem to not have the creativity to think of a catchy post title. I would have gone with "The End 2012", but it might lead to a confusion. There was a buzz about the world ending at December the 21st of this year. Some folks might have been disappointed that did not end happen. To be sure, the world will end, in the Lord's time and terms. But I digress.

This post is to take heed of Charles Spurgeon's words in a sermon: "Beloved, take the year altogether—the blacks and the whites, the troubles and the joys, the hills and the valleys altogether, and what have you to say about it? You may say, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Do not pick out one day in the year, and say it was a bad day, but take all the year round, let it revolve in all its grandeur."

I find that it is a sort of required activity, to look back and be thankful. And. Looking back is fine by itself, yet it is easy to miss the point. I, for one, nearly missed the point. All sorts of concerns and issues can easily drown a man out of being truly grateful. It is the easiest time for regret: of things undone, of people hurt, of opportunities missed. However, I know that I should be thankful. I realize that the weightier matters of this nearly-past year are of good and pleasing kind. Sincere gratitude is the right response of receiving blessings, friends, and opportunities clearly undeserved. The Lord has been good.

It's amazing that Facebook is helpful as this year ends. It has a "Year in Review" feature which I browsed through. While not a perfect gauge of what happened, I was reminded of a few great things--

* Mindoro Trip (January): This was a surprise for one of my beloved friend's birthday, and my first time to be in Mindoro. I ended up with having great fellowship, marveling at the sea, and eating delicious home-made cheesecake.

* Beach Mission 2012 (April): I had another opportunity to be back and minister with a group of old and new friends in Pundaquit beach. The first trip was special: I was with my sister, Riz, and had three of my old close friends in tow. I also got to meet and dine with Mang Boy and his family. Mang Boy was the most mind-boggling experience of last year's trip. I evangelized him, while he was drunk. A clear reminder that salvation is indeed the effective work of the Spirit. The second trip, too, was special. I haven't seen the beach so crowded, yet thankfully we got around to covering the whole area. One fellow quipped that the people recognize who we are and what we are doing, and that we were having an impact. But that is something that I'd leave with the Lord. Only the gospel makes genuine impact.

* Resignation (April): Might be weird including this. However, I am thankful for my previous work.

* Job Hunting (April to November): Very humbling experience. While money is easily earned, it's equally easy to spend it. This period has been a solid reminder of wise management not only of money, but more importantly, of time. Time is the more precious resource.

* Purpose and Passion (June): One of the perks of having no regular occupation during this period was that I had the time to attend conferences such as this. It's delightful to listen to the faithful teaching of God's Word. I even got to meet a new friends based in Dubai: Mack Stiles and Andrei.

* Employment: To be paid doing something I like brings much content and excitement. This goes for both organizations that I am working with (one, a part-time and the other, full-time).

I do not mean to highlight just the following things. Much has happened this year. As Spurgeon exhorted, I will take the whole year in. Ups and downs, successes and falls. I started the year and would end it with this quote by historian Carl Trueman: "The gospel is light; it is truly beautiful. To wake in the morning and to know that whatever darkness lurks within our hearts, the light of Christ is sufficient to dispel it all is surely glorious." I believe the gospel is easily taken for granted. For the professing Christian, it is easy for the gospel to be cliche; alam ko na yan. Oh, but the true believer cherishes the gospel daily, no--moment after moment. It is the dearest thing to him, that God has sent for sinners a Savior, Jesus, that would forgive him his sins and grant him new life by faith. This great gospel is everyday news to him. The grace of God in Christ is to be applied daily. It is always new, it is always refreshing. It is my prayer that the gospel be the highlight of every day, month, and years to come. I am thankful for all-year round, for the sanctifying work of God. I have been corrected, humbled, rebuked, and instructed. There is a sweetness to all the manners of sanctifying grace.

Fittingly, the preaching in our church for the last Sunday of the year reminded greatly that Jesus is the complete Shepherd of His people. To have Christ as my Shepherd, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6)

Wishful Praying

I have heard countless “prayers” uttered casually. By casual, I mean that these “prayers” sound like wishful thinking. “Lord, ganito/ganyan sana…” It has come to a point that I thought that Christians use such statements as mere expressions that don’t actually mean anything. They use it in conversation to prove a point or elaborate some emotion that will incite more impact than actually saying how they feel. It denotes, as I’ve observed, some feeling of dejection at why the universe is not conspiring to deliver a desired result. If other sorts of people have their expressions, we seem to have Christian-sounding ones. It looks like prayer, but then again it’s not. But then again, it might actually be a prayer. People say them to mean what the words mean, that they want God to do something for them, but it does not sound like the prayer that we see in the Bible.

Now, what is prayer? Prayer is such a basic reality in any religion, not just Christianity, and people know what it is for. It is the means of communication to God. However, the difference lies in how we pray. How should a Christian pray? The main concern with the wishful thinking prayer is that it is not Christian. I might be a little harsh with the judgment but I believe it is spot on. Christian prayers differ since Christians believe that they are praying to the only true and living God. It is not merely the manner of praying that is at stake. Real Christian prayer realizes who God is, not only what He can do.

The heart of wishful thinking is getting something for the sake of getting and having. Wishful thinking prayers focus only on what God can do and should do since He can do it. Here’s another problem: just because God can, does not mean God should and God will. It is as if God is big vending machine with all the things we want and think we need. We just need to insert the right amount of coins, or reasons, and *poof*! We get what we asked for. “Ask and you shall receive”, right? However, God is not a machine. God is a Person. You know that, Christian. God is a Person, and He is the only Free and Sovereign Person. That means that He acts in accordance to His will, not on anyone’s whim. It is true, that we are to ask. Why? For He alone can give, and the fact is that we really don’t have anything. We ask in humility, not in haste, not in irreverent insistence. Most of the times, we don't have since we ask for wrong motives for misguided pleasures (James 4:3)

This kind of irreverent “praying” might be a joke or a mere expression to some, but it incriminates those who use them. It displays how they view God. The frequency of such wishful praying betrays how these people really think of God. What’s alarming here is that this is all too common among the youth. Either I hear of it in person or I see it in my social media feeds. It is that common. It is as if expressions like these are acceptable Christian practice. Now, this is not to be dogmatic or legalistic or old-fashioned, but there is a reverence for God that is totally absent in this practice. I hear these mostly outside the church, but reverence for God and His name is not only delegated in the confines of a church building. There is no reason why outside of it God’s name can be casually mentioned along a conversation, or used as a mere expression to suit one’s needs. Prayer is not a technique or a combination of “God + my concerns”. Prayer is a submission. It is to mirror this: “not my will, but Your will be done.”

Sinless, Opportunists or Pharisees?

DISCLAIMER: I was not looking forward to doing a series of posts about sanctification. But to provide more clarity to the first post "Occasional Christianity", I offer a few reasons why the problem persists based on some observations. 

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Strive for... the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Heb. 12:14)

I surveyed in the first post, Occasional Christianity, that the root of inconsistent discipleship to the Lord is a result of false ideas about the doctrine of sanctification. Out of these false notions are borne the occasional Christians, functional atheists, hypocrites, and stunted believers. By way of contrast, I hope to shed some light on true sanctification from these false notions. The following are from my observations:

False Notion 1: The doctrine of "sinless perfection" or "full sanctification".
Now, I am not an expert on theology. But I presume that this doctrine presents that a person who has come to faith in Christ has become perfectly sinless. There is no other way to think about this doctrine. It follows that there is no need for a striving for holiness (Heb. 12:14) or a working out of salvation (for it is God who is working in us, Phil. 2:13). This is troubling if there are those who actually believe this. This doctrine is a license for Christians to live according to what they want. If they are perfect, they can and should do what is right in their own eyes. This is not merely a false notion, but a false teaching and a heresy.

The great Reformer Martin Luther refuted this doctrine with: simul justus et peccator or the true Christian is simultaneously just/righteous and a sinner. In one sense righteous, in another a sinner. This is one of the great confessions of the Reformation. Historically, this refuted the Catholic doctrine that baptism washes away original sin and that only the inclination to sin remains. However, this inclination to sin is also sin. RC Sproul explains that "in one sense, we are just. In another sense, from a different perspective, we are sinners; and how he defines that is simple. In and of ourselves, under the analysis of God’s scrutiny, we still have sin; we’re still sinners. But, by imputation and by faith in Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is now transferred to our account, then we are considered just or righteous. This is the very heart of the gospel."

There's a ton of verses in the New Testament exhorting Christians how to live. We are given also the warning to not live according to the flesh, since we are very much capable of sin. We are called to be transformed by a renewing of our mind. There should be an active resentment of the old sinning nature and an active obedience according to the new nature by grace. If the Spirit is at work within us, if we are truly Christians, we are to do and see and talk and think things differently. (Rom. 12:1-2) We are also to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Pet. 3:18)

False Notion 2: Sanctification waits for the opportune moment or event.
I am not particularly sure if the recent fad of some people of"good vibes" applies to this false notion, but I am not discounting that possibility. If it means that people are waiting for "good vibes" before they act Christian, then I have problem with the good vibes fascination. That and teaching that the Christian life is to be all "good vibes".

It is a dangerous idea that Christians should wait for profitable moments to show that they are Christian. Some wait for a specific role or an event in church or specific circumstances to live as Christians should. They seem to think that without a sort of "Christian" stage, they can do what they want. I don't know what they are waiting for but it is safe to say that in their private lives, Christ is not Lord. They have no desire for private meditation on the Word. People call this "quiet time". And if ever they do so, it is for show.

I have been to many Christian camps ever since coming to faith in the Lord. I have been a camper and a camp staff/counselor. We are always given a Quiet Time guide, where we are given a passage of Scripture and some questions to help us reflect. It's a great and necessary discipline in order to grow in grace and knowledge. But there are some who do it only when they are in the confines of the camp site. How do I know? Well, by asking people and observing their lives. It is coherent, but also very sad.

I think they know this Proverb (3:5): Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not in your own understanding... but only during camps or church gatherings.

The Bible presents proper Christian behavior in all sorts of situation. The Apostle Paul calls for submission to authorities (Rom. 13), the proper use of spiritual gifts to edify the church (1 Cor. 12-14), bearing with the burdened (Gal. 6), being warriors for God every moment as we are in spiritual warfare (Eph. 6), contentment whether in need or in abundance (Phil. 4), discerning all the time against empty deceit and hollow philosophy. The Apostle Peter calls for standing firm despite persecution and suffering (1 and 2 Peter). These are mere samples. There is no suitable excuse to not live according to the gospel. Christianity is a daily faith. Daily we should draw from the deep wells of the Bible. We are given the Word, for instruction. We are given the Spirit, as our Instructor. The only people excused--allow me this foolishness--in living according to Christianity are unbelievers.

False Notion 3: Fear of being labeled or viewed as a Legalist/Pharisee.
I am most familiar with being labeled as a legalistic person. At times, I deserved it. Those were the times when I was not living according to what I adhere to or teach. In a shared setting, people generally have a sort of resentment against people who do better than they. The character of a "know-it-all" or a moral compass in movies usually get humiliated. It is easier to criticize someone else than acknowledge your own shortcomings. The easiest way of bringing them down to your level is to have some dirt on them. They can't be all to perfect, right?

It is no fun being called names. People who regard the biblical call to living according to its principles of holiness can be called legalists or worse, Pharisees. They are the antagonists in the gospel accounts. They are rebuked harshly by Jesus, and they deserved it. They preach wise principles but they do not live according to it. Christians are not to be like them. But that does not mean we should not speak out against plain wickedness and persuading people of doing the right thing, especially to our brethren. Problem is, you might be labeled as a nit-picker. The Bible never nit-picks. When something is called a sin against God, it is indeed sin. We should stay away from such things. We should also do our part of calling out sin, for it is always destructive. It destroys people. It destroys fellowship with God. Healthy rebuke should be done in a spirit of truth and love.

To end, an unsanctified person (the occasional Christian) may for a time be excited about Christian ideas but like seed growing on the stony ground, it flourishes quickly then dies for it has no root. In time, his true nature will be visibly discerned. He may be friendly to truth at present, but eventually he will come to despise it when a season of testing and trouble arrives. The excitement he felt for Christianity was superficial; the truth never pierced his heart, mind and will. He desired Christianity when the spiritual climate was suitable, and quickly fades when it is not. He never came to believing the truth that he knew. He never applied it for he never believed the Truth. After the taste of Christianity has become bitter to his liking he will fall back to his old ways, to his true love: sin.

Occasional Christianity

The fool says in his heart "There is no God" (Psalm 14:1)

This is the opening to Psalm 14. This reality applies to all mankind. It is a divine assessment on man. The Apostle Paul uses the rest of the Psalm in Romans 3, discoursing the universal sinfulness of man. "There is no God" is the principle of a life devoid of God’s saving work. It is the old principle, since there is a new principle of grace, in the Christian’s life. It is what we practically adhere to without Christ. When we have come to faith in Christ, every single struggle goes back to this underlying principle: "There is no God. He does not exist. I am the god of my life. I will and enjoy what is right in my own eyes."

But of course no Christian will say "There is no God". Not outright or verbally, anyway. Speaking about God is probably the most usual thing among Christian conversations. "God did this for me, God did that. Praise be to God!" There is nothing wrong about extolling God for the work that He is doing in our daily circumstances. There is something wrong if we are not doing so.


Anyhow, the point is, other people (non-Christians) sometimes enjoy more things than Christians. Job wrestled with this problem, and also the writer of Psalm 73. Even the early Christians struggled with the hardships that came in with the new life they received from God. They thought that the road was clear and everything was to be peachy. We, too, are tempted to think that way. It is the struggle of every moment: to believe, obey and trust God. But non-Christians work on a worldview that is basically without God, and their lifestyles admit this. They go the way of worldly wisdom. To illustrate worldly wisdom, here is the worldly counterpart to The Beatitudes c/o the late James Montgomery Boice:

“Blessed are the rich, for they can have all they want;
Blessed are the powerful, for they can control others;
Blessed are the sexually liberated, for they can fully satisfy themselves;
Blessed are the famous, because they are envied”

The concern is this: how come there are Christians who live this way when they are outside their Christian circles? Or worse: (1) even in their Christian circles, and (2) when they are alone, in secret, the most opportune time for sincere, personal devotion to their Lord?

We can call this occasional Christianity, and I mean this to be derogatory. There is nothing Christian about it. Usually, this is the Sunday-only Christian. He is only Christian when it is time for church, the regular fellowship or a Bible study perhaps. This is the mere mental and emotional assent to God, without any effort to actually reform their lives according to what they know. Regardless of the intensity of the assent, which is measured by how much they know or how much they feel His presence, this is an ugly reality. It is not Christianity at all. It is functional atheism: you live as if God does not exist. Take note that I said know. Occasional Christians know what to do. The difference with their genuine counterpart is that they don't believe what they know. The most common Christian creed, "God is good", is so far away from their minds when they are harassed, when Christianity seems to be out of fashion or under attack. It is even far from their minds when they are alone, outside of any Christian environment. The Christianity that they have is based on the climate. If the heavy rain is pouring, they fear and live as if the sun is never to rise again. They do not believe that God is good. They do not believe that He exists. As the Psalmist says, it is the way of a fool, not of a saint.

Now why is this? It has everything to do with a false view of the Christian doctrines of justification, regeneration, and, most especially, sanctification. I hope to cover the mentioned topics and possibly elaborate more on what I believe to be causes for this occasional Christianity which is prevalent today. But for my present purposes, I will refer to this great and aptly titled chapter “Sanctification” from English theologian J. C. Ryle from his book “Holiness.” It’s a lengthy read but I promise that considering his biblical clarifications and proposals regarding the doctrine of sanctification is time well spent. It is, I hope, for your sanctification. It continues to be for my own. As a teaser of that chapter, here are the 12 propositions (and some quotes to illustrate) he provides about the nature of sanctification:

1. Sanctification is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian. “Where there is no sanctification, there is no real faith in Christ. True faith works by love.”

2. Sanctification is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration (being born again). “The lack of sanctification is a sign of non-regeneration.Where there is no holy life, there is no holy birth.”

3. Sanctification is the only certain evidence of that indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation. “We may depend on it as a positive certainty that, where there is no holy living, there is no Holy Spirit.”

4. Sanctification is the only sure mark of God’s election. “If there is one thing clearly and plainly laid down about election, it is this—that elect men and women may be known and distinguised by holy lives.”

5. Sanctification is a reality that will always be seen. “A ‘saint’, in whom nothing can be seen but worldliness or sin, is a kind of monster not recognized in the Bible!”

6. Sanctification is a reality for which every believer is responsible. “The Word of God always addresses its precepts to believers as accountable and responsible beings. If the Savior of sinners gives us renewing grace and calls us by His Spirit, we may be sure that He expects us to use [His] grace and not to go to sleep.”

7. Sanctification is a thing which admits of growth and degrees. “If there is any point on which God’s holiest saints agree, it is this: that they see more and know more and feel more and do more and repent more and believe more as they get on in spiritual life… In short ‘they grow in grace’ (2 Pet. 3:18).”

8. Sanctification depends greatly on a diligent use of scriptural means. “The ‘means of grace’ are such as Bible reading, private prayer, and regualrly worshipping God in church, wherein one hear the Word taught and participates in the Lord’s Supper. I lay it down as a simple matter of fact that no one who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much progress in sanctification.”

9. Sanctification is a thing which does no prevent a man having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict. “The heart of the best Christian, even at his best, is a field occupied by two rival camps (the old nature of the flesh and new nature of the Spirit)”.

10. Sanctification is a thing which cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God.

11. Sanctification is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our character in the great Day of Judgment. “The question will not be how we talked and what we professed, but how we lived and what we did.”

12. Sanctification is absolutely necessary in order to train and prepare us for heaven. “Most men hope to go to heaven when they die; but a few, it may be feared, take the trouble to consider whether they would enjoy heaven if they got there.”

It is a ugly to be an occasional Christian. It is thinking you're a Christian but in reality, you are living as an atheist. It is horrible since it reeks of a vain hope, calling out "Lord, Lord" but will amount to nothing less than the fury of the wrath of God (Rev. 19:15). To end I offer this ever sharp reminder: “But prove yourselves to be doers of the word, not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22)

The Past Few Weeks

I have been relatively busy the past few weeks, despite the absence of work. The past few weeks have been for reading, studying, and thinking for most of the day. I am liking it except for the fact that I am not regularly earning any money out of it. Although there were generous gifts in the end because the studying was for two messages to two different student groups. Being with students makes me feel young, although their energy level is great proof that we are of different age-brackets.


Since I left blogging for a while, I noticed I have five unfinished posts. Those five posts I will distribute for the next five weeks. Some of those have only a main thought in a sentence or two, the rest have at least a paragraph. The posts consists of the things I find that is easily misunderstood and/or neglected among young (and even older) Christians. I know first-hand because I suffered from the same thing, but that is not to say I am an expert in dealing with them.

Also, I am immersed in books before I land into a permanent day job. Good thing about books is that I get to travel into different places while still at the comforts of my home AND not spending anything. A very good deal, if you ask me.

The Reading List:

* The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (Finished!)
* The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
* God in the Dock by C. S. Lewis
* No Place for Truth by David Wells