Rules, rules, rules

Its human nature that we tend to "challenge" rules. The more we are reminded of the rules, the more we want to challenge them. Our attitude has become a severly objective-based one. Our bosses will tell us "do whatever it takes you to do, but get the job done."

The SAF has instituted "7 core values" among their soldiers, but sadly, integrity isn't one of the 7 core values! A well-known saying among them is "do whatever you want to do, but don't get caught".

We know that rules are put in place to protect us, but so often we find the rules restrictive when we encounter problems. We want to "bend the rules", or work around them. Sometimes, if we do not forsee any repurcussions, we choose to break the rules altogether.

For example, when was the last time you crossed the road at pedestrian crossing when the "Red Man" was lit, just because there was little or no traffic on the road at that time? Or do you recall the last time you decided to jaywalk across the road underneath an overhead bridge because you were too tired to climb the bridge?

What about those who drive? When was the last time you made an illegal U-turn, or sped above the legal speed limit just because you thought it was safe, or because you were in a rush?

When was the last time you couldn't find a rubbish bin, so you just threw the piece of tissue or sweet wrapper into the nearest available receptacle which is not a designated rubbish point? Have you eaten that sweet in the MRT train in spite of the "No Eating or Drinking" signs prominently put up in each cabin?

Did it ever occur to you that sometimes when people try to follow rules so strictly, that the people end up breaking them instead? Its that "sin nature" in us, coupled with satan's never ending temptations, trying to cause us to fall into sin. Everytime there's a chance for us to fall into sin, there satan is, trying to make us fall for it.

The only solution to this is to keep praying, that God would deliver us from sin, and keep watch over us, constantly reminding us of what is right and what is wrong. I pray that we will one day be able to triumph over all of satan's temptations for us to sin. In that day, satan will be defeated and his reign over us would be over. Hallelujah!

Law and Order

Disloyalty is the greatest sin of the end-times. This was the message preached in our church. How do I view disloyalty? It is the backstabbing of the church leadership because of things preached which we do not agree, it is the decision to obey some things, and not obeying some things.

Over the years, God raised up many chosen men, to lead His people to the "promised land". God placed these men in command of many people, and increased their numbers. But because of division, people tend to decide not to obey instructions passed down. As a result, the church was divided into many parts.

In the end-times, God will raise up many leaders. Satan will also through deception raise up his own leaders, whose sole responsibility is to cause the people to disobey God's command. Who are we loyal to? God's people, or satan's?

Is it that hard to discern who is God's side, and who is not? I believe that it isn't. God's people will live by His Word, and will seldom sway from it. Satan's people will challenge God's Word, and try to sway others to believe that it either no longer applies to them (in this age), or that it is "not exactly correct".

Does that sound familiar now? When people try to "bend the rules", justifying that "that rule was in the past, and no longer applies to us", or that "that does not apply to us any more because now and last time is different".

True, we used to be judged by (Moses) Law in the old testament, before Jesus was sent to completely and totally absolve our sins on the cross. That we no longer go to hell because we are judged by our sins, but are judged by grace because of His sacrifice. But NOT TRUE, because we are no longer judged by law, we can go ahead and break them.

True, we "used to" have 10 commandments and had to follow them strictly. But NOT TRUE, "in this age, after Jesus died for us, we no longer need to obey all of them". Jesus said in Matthew 5:17:

(5:17) Teaching about the Law " Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.

What many people seem to be blinded from are the follow 2 verses in Matthew 5:18-19:

(5:18) I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved.
(5:19) So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Do these 2 verses tell us anything? It tells us that the laws that God gave Moses still applies to us. Jesus didn't come to undo the laws which God gave to Moses. He merely came to take the brunt of the judgement which came with breaking the laws! This means that every law which appears in the Old Testament still applies to us, but we do not have to bear the punishment (by God) as a result of breaking them.

Now does this give us the joy of breaking the laws? Of course not. Breaking the law is no longer punishable by God, but is punishable on this land which we live in. If we steal, rob, or kill, because of Jesus we will be forgiven in Heaven if we are repentant, but we will still be punished in this land as the rulers here are given the authority to punish us.

That is unless somebody absolves our sins on this earth (and takes our punishments for us like Jesus did), we will still have to take all the consequences and punishments dealt to us! Now I hope that clarifies whether we should still obey the laws in the old testament, for they still DO apply in this age.

How harsh is harsh?

Recently, our senior pastor preached a series of sermons meant to restore discipline in our church, and make known the "house rules". The sermons were preached to the point, speaking to those who have the intention to challenge the rules, and telling them that if they do not like the rules, they should move on to another church where such rules are not instituted.

Some fellow church members with whom I chatted, however, felt that the messages were preached too harshly. They felt that too harsh a message might cause the congregation to rebel more. I seeked God in an attempt to see why our senior pastor preached the sermons the way he did, and this is what I felt.

When our senior pastor needs to pass down a message to his congregation, he has 2 methods to do it. Either to tell them himself directly in a sermon, or to tell the pastors who are under him, who will pass on the message to those who are under them, and the message eventually gets passed down to the general congregation at the bottom.

Logically, the second method seems to be the more preferred method, having the individual leaders of the congregation tell their people at their own pace. The problem with this method? Well, as humans, we tend to take a message from someone as it is, but if we feel that its "too harsh" for our members to take, we add a buffer to it so that "its easier to achieve". Then we pass down this message with "a little buffer. By the time this message goes down a few levels, the amount of buffer has increased significantly, and becomes a watered-down version of the original.

That's when the senior pastor should decide if the message is important enough for him to convey to the congregation directly to prevent the watering-down of the message. The good thing about it is that the congregation will receive the unadulterated full-force version of the message.

The problem arises when some of the leaders do not agree completely with the message. The senior pastor needs their assistance to enforce the message among their members. If they do not share the same vision, and assist in enforcing what was preached, we end up with a group of people who are not obedient to the instructions of the senior pastor.

That is also one of the reasons of church division, which should not happen in this day. I pray for our leaders, and all who do not yet share the vision of our senior pastor, to renew their minds and re-think the messages preached, and to enforce them in their lives.

The power of Praise

Praise... something we can all do. It doesn't cost us any $ to give somebody praise. It won't take a lot of time either, but it will make that person's day a happier one knowing that they are appreciated.

As quoted from the prologue of "I No Stupid Too", "When was the last time you praised somebody?" When you do recall that occasion, try to remember what the response from the person whom you praised was? We don't usually see anger, frustration, or irritation on their faces (unless it was done at the wrong place and wrong time). Instead, we see the person smiling, beaming, or just plain simply shy because they didn't expect it.

The average person does not grow up in an environment filled with praises. No, we were brought up in a nit-picking envrionment instead. Everything that we do, somebody is there to find the tiniest mistakes or problems, and criticize on them instead. We find it easier to criticize what somebody did not do, or did not achieve.

Have you ever improved in your grades by 5 marks, but gotten criticism because you did not improve significantly? Have you ever done something you felt was good, but gotten criticism because it was not "good enough" by someone else's standards Haven't we gone all out of the way to do something for someone, then find that no due acknowledgement was given?

We often hear the term "Praise God", and sometimes we struggle what to Praise God for. Why? Because of the circumstances and situations we are in? Sometimes we let the fact that "what is happening is more serious, and I don't have the time to think about God" creep into our minds. But what can be bigger than God? In fact, did it ever occur to you that in bad circumstances when we acknowledge that there is nothing bigger than God, and praise Him for the situation, it almost always turns better instantly?

The NIV Bible has 351 occurrences of the word "Praise" and 59 occurrences of the word "Encourage". God praised Jesus "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." on His baptism. Is this not enough for us to see how important praise is?

Why don't we all do this for a month and see if there is any improvement in the people around us -- Give somebody around you praise for what little things that you notice that they did, or improvement that we notice.

Praise somebody today! Make their day! I appreciate you (yes you!) for taking the time to read my lengthy posts, and hope that they will mean something to you. Some people have told me that my posts are too long, but that's the way I write. :)