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One of my greatest fears is to be blind. To believe in something blindly that is. When I was a Communist, I snubbed faith, thinking that it was the surest way to intellectual blindness and stupidity. Now, with both my whole intellect and soul, I confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
I am not a theologian or a professional apologist (and I don't really want to be one), but I am aware of the doctrinal debates between Protestants and Catholics. For the past weeks, these have been on the pages of my Google Chrome:
I read both Protestant and Catholic blogs and websites. The links have taken me to other links including biblical translation, church history, the church fathers and even to debates on whether Lady Gaga is satanist or Christian and whether we should use pi or tau in our mathematical equations. The arguments are enough to condemn me to a lifetime sentence of squinty eyes and neuron overuse. Not to mention, to make me into an armchair Christian for life (like an armchair journalist who doesn't experience the action but just relies on others' reportage) .
Looking at the neverending commentaries on whatever commentary there is (you'll be amazed at how the comments can spread like fungus), I can empathize with people who would dismiss faith as man's grand myth, the philosopher's stone, the biggest hoax, or opium for the masses. I can also understand why some are turned-off by how Christians spew verbal abuse at each other and still call themselves "brother", "sister" followed by the phrase "in Christ". I was reminded of that local TV show called Face to Face which allows guests to proclaim their dirty laundry in public and go on a cat fight afterwards. This was Face to Face online! I was amazed at both the eloquence and the erudition of the language (some literary, some academic and some...well the best examples of slang and text language), but at the same time, I can't help but feel disgusted by all the verbal bashing.
Then I wondered why I was feeling this way. Doesn't the Bible itself tell us to test the spirits and warn us of false teachers and prophets? Aren't we just doing our Christian duty when we debate and try to search for the truth? Shouldn't I also continue my search for the truth, so that I can confirm that my faith is real?
Doing all this thinking made me stop and think about my personal testimony. How did I have faith? How did I know Christ? How do I know that what I have now is real? I was reminded of this bible verse:
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. Luke 6:44.
A quick Google search showed parallel verses:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness Galatians 5:22
My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:12
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. James 2:18.
The bible is very specific about the fruits of the Spirit. This may be a simplistic view for all other intellectuals out there who are raring to go on lengthy doctrinal expositions. But when I see the fruits in my life, this is one way I know when I am going in the wrong or right direction. I realized that I was spending all the time poring over the debates, debating in my own head, that I have been distracted from my personal faith race with Jesus. I was also condemning people who were commenting on these doctrines (plus Lady Gaga).
I realized that I should also check my heart continuously whenever I go into scholarly study on doctrine or church history. I understand that each denomination has a form of exclusivity because of biblical interpretation. I also still believe that we should understand what we believe in. In the midst of all these debates though, we need God's grace to do things in love and fix our eyes on Jesus who the Bible reminds us, is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
My task as a Christian is to share the gospel, not to judge, condemn or convert anyone. God will do the rest of the work in that person's life, regardless of his faith. For those who are going on a faith search, these debates may be important issues which deserve answers. I trust though that the answers will come from God in a very personal way, edit: I HAD TO ADD THIS to guard against the dangers of putting primary experience over verifiable truth: AND IT WILL BE VERIFIED BY HIS WORD. I may not give an adequate conclusion to this blog entry. But I hold on to God's promise. It is not our lowly wisdom which holds the ultimate answer; it is God!
Truth is naturally divisive since it rejects what is false. But in our defense of the truth, let's not forget that we should do so IN LOVE. Maybe you will like this cartoon from theophilus.org as much as I did:
For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Luke 21:15
I am not a theologian or a professional apologist (and I don't really want to be one), but I am aware of the doctrinal debates between Protestants and Catholics. For the past weeks, these have been on the pages of my Google Chrome:
- Is salvation by faith or works?
- Should the apocryphal books be included in the Bible?
- Do Catholics worship Mama Mary?
- What is sola scriptura?
- What is sola fide? (and all the other solas...)
- What is the one true church?
I read both Protestant and Catholic blogs and websites. The links have taken me to other links including biblical translation, church history, the church fathers and even to debates on whether Lady Gaga is satanist or Christian and whether we should use pi or tau in our mathematical equations. The arguments are enough to condemn me to a lifetime sentence of squinty eyes and neuron overuse. Not to mention, to make me into an armchair Christian for life (like an armchair journalist who doesn't experience the action but just relies on others' reportage) .
Looking at the neverending commentaries on whatever commentary there is (you'll be amazed at how the comments can spread like fungus), I can empathize with people who would dismiss faith as man's grand myth, the philosopher's stone, the biggest hoax, or opium for the masses. I can also understand why some are turned-off by how Christians spew verbal abuse at each other and still call themselves "brother", "sister" followed by the phrase "in Christ". I was reminded of that local TV show called Face to Face which allows guests to proclaim their dirty laundry in public and go on a cat fight afterwards. This was Face to Face online! I was amazed at both the eloquence and the erudition of the language (some literary, some academic and some...well the best examples of slang and text language), but at the same time, I can't help but feel disgusted by all the verbal bashing.
Then I wondered why I was feeling this way. Doesn't the Bible itself tell us to test the spirits and warn us of false teachers and prophets? Aren't we just doing our Christian duty when we debate and try to search for the truth? Shouldn't I also continue my search for the truth, so that I can confirm that my faith is real?
Doing all this thinking made me stop and think about my personal testimony. How did I have faith? How did I know Christ? How do I know that what I have now is real? I was reminded of this bible verse:
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. Luke 6:44.
A quick Google search showed parallel verses:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness Galatians 5:22
My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:12
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. James 2:18.
The bible is very specific about the fruits of the Spirit. This may be a simplistic view for all other intellectuals out there who are raring to go on lengthy doctrinal expositions. But when I see the fruits in my life, this is one way I know when I am going in the wrong or right direction. I realized that I was spending all the time poring over the debates, debating in my own head, that I have been distracted from my personal faith race with Jesus. I was also condemning people who were commenting on these doctrines (plus Lady Gaga).
I realized that I should also check my heart continuously whenever I go into scholarly study on doctrine or church history. I understand that each denomination has a form of exclusivity because of biblical interpretation. I also still believe that we should understand what we believe in. In the midst of all these debates though, we need God's grace to do things in love and fix our eyes on Jesus who the Bible reminds us, is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
My task as a Christian is to share the gospel, not to judge, condemn or convert anyone. God will do the rest of the work in that person's life, regardless of his faith. For those who are going on a faith search, these debates may be important issues which deserve answers. I trust though that the answers will come from God in a very personal way, edit: I HAD TO ADD THIS to guard against the dangers of putting primary experience over verifiable truth: AND IT WILL BE VERIFIED BY HIS WORD. I may not give an adequate conclusion to this blog entry. But I hold on to God's promise. It is not our lowly wisdom which holds the ultimate answer; it is God!
Truth is naturally divisive since it rejects what is false. But in our defense of the truth, let's not forget that we should do so IN LOVE. Maybe you will like this cartoon from theophilus.org as much as I did:
For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Luke 21:15
wow gaby ang galing mo! share mo sa fb dapat! <3
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