After watching the movie King Kong, I found myself deeply mesmerized bythe story plot and the way Peter Jackson directed this supposedly adventure movie.
Before watching this show, I had assumed that it was something like a pure action movie starring a monster fighting against others and holding a woman in his hand, based on the caricature of the original King Kong (1933). However, once the show started, I found my assumption to be totally wrong. In this movie, the lead actress, Ann Darrow, found herself caught in a merciless world where profits and commercialization dictated the motives of the leading figures in the city. She was tricked by a director, Carl Denham, to board a ship that's supposedly bound for Singapore but eventually found themselves on a primitive island that Carl had in mind. On this island, Ann was kidnapped by tribal native and sacrificed to King Kong. Ann's lover, Jack Driscoll, convinced the others to make a rescue attempt. The captain of the ship, Captain Englehorn, together with Carl headed an incredible attempt to rescue Ann out from King Kong's hand. In the epic that followed, we witnessed how the friendship between Ann and King Kong built up. King Kong risked his life to save Ann. Though Ann had forged a friendship with King Kong, she chose to leave with the rescue crew back to the ship. However, at this point, King Kong refused to let her leave. Captain Englelhorn and Jack used Ann as a bait to trap King Kong and induced him into coma using chemical. King Kong was used as a commercial attraction to make profit in a urban city in America. As there was no way to domesticate King Kong, the Americans resorted to military weapons to kill him and that ended the friendship between Ann and King Kong.
After watching the movie, I took some time to reflect and I must tell you that this movie is worth reflecting. You may not agree with the insights that I have gleaned, but it's alright. We are unique individuals after all.
On the whole, I find this a tragic and sad movie, laden with exciting moments though.
(1) I sympathize with the plight of King Kong and Ann. Many a times, like Ann, we find ourselves trusted into situations that we did not choose. We may even be manipulated by others to achieve their ends. Even forced into situations which Ann herself did not choose, there is one thing she chose: she chose to befriend the alleged frightening and towering monster, King Kong. She was the only friend that King Kong ever had. Similarly, I am asking myself whether I would choose to befriend someone who looks threatening on the out front but actually is looking for companionship deep in the heart. There are a number of people whom we have come across who threaten others to increase their sense of security, who do not open themselves up so as to protect themselves. These are the groups who need friends more than others. They need someone to assure them that they are created in the image of God and we are to show care and concern even for them.
In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he taught us: "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
In a parable (Matt 25:40), he mentioned that:`I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
(2) When I saw King Kong risking his life to save Ann, this act reminds me of what Jesus said: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." in John 15:3. The tragic in this movie is that Ann was helpless to save King Kong and to watch in vain when her friendship with him was manipulated by men for commercial benefits. Eventually, in the world dictated by profitability and material gains, King Kong would forfeit his life. Jesus entered into our world in times of tribulation and upheavals. He came at a timewhen there was no such thing as human rights, when the Romans ruled the Israelites with force and brutality, when the society was stratified into various classes and the various authorities like the Sadducees, Pharisees, Sanhedrin could not tolerate His existence. He was too much a radical to be allowed to live. He must die. Yet He died for our sins. The people whom He had taught before and whom He had healed before could only watch in vain as He hanged in extreme pain from the cross. (The most touching effect in the movie King Kong is how the eyes of King Kong and Ann were portrayed: Their eyes would look straight at you in your own eyes and that is enough to wench voluminous tears from your eyes). How would Jesus' eyes looked then? How would Mary, John, Peter and rest of the followers' eyes looked then?
(3) In asking why good people continue to suffer in this world, I found that the movie offers one of the answers. We are living in a world of where people have sinned and where all of us are selfish in nature. Even if we claim innocence, we may not escape the fate of being knocked down by drunken drivers, of being infected with diseases that we did not cause, of being trapped in a war that we did not call for, of being scapegoat of blames that were unknown to us, etc. Just like King Kong died in a city that he was foreign to and the cause which was not his in the first place.
As I reminisce, I can't help but to be conscious that we live in a world full of tragedies. One day, we will die. Our relationship with others will come to an end. Our parents and loved ones will leave us. Even in a country that's supposed to symbolize prosperity and equality like America, I found the country's history to be dotted with injustice. Examples: the native Indians were displaced and tricked into giving up their land and their population decimated after the invasion of the European settlers, either due to disease outbreak or under wars. Most black people were enslaved and denied their dignity until redeemed during the American Civil War in 1861-1865. But they were continuously being segregated and denied suffrage till the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960~1970. Right now, in Singapore, there are still some race/class discriminations: someone who is being abused, either at home as a maid, or in working place as an outcast, or in public places as being of the lowest class.
Where then does our hope lay? Is it in future, where the Isaiah prophesied (25:7-9): On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation." ?
Though, our faith offers us much hope and consolation in the future, but I believe our faith does speak to us powerfully in the present moment. The day Jesus Christ started His ministry about 2000 years ago, Hehas ushered in the Kingdom of God. In Luke 17:20-21-- Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, `Here it is,' or `There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."He instructed us that the kingdom of God is already here, within us. It is already, but not yet. In His other parables, He also mentioned that though it started out as small as a mustard seed in a garden, one day it will be the largest plant in the garden. One day, the kingdom of God will overshadow all sorts of kingdom on earth. But we got to continue bringing the dominion within our sphere of influence under the influence of God. We got to continue to let God has sovereignty in our life. Tragic will ultimately result in good ending, because it is in the hand of God, always.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Saturday, September 17, 2005
About time
We live in a time-space dimension. Time is an entity within our dimension. It is an onward progression and never a regression. Beings that live within this time-space universe are always progressing into an onward future. However, the future does not exist. The past does not exist either. What exist now is the PRESENT. The notion of future and past exists in our mind and is built within our framework of reference in this time-space dimension. We should then learn how to savour the present moment instead of always looking to the future or living in the past. The present moment demands our full attention. Whatever vocation we are holding on to or corporate world we are working in, we are always living in a real world. The real world is not what is out there, but what is here. The mistake many of us make is that ‘the real world is out there’ when in fact the world and the surroundings we live in are what constitute the real world.
But it is ironic that what we are doing now is never a now, but a past. Even what you are reading now is not even in a NOW, but the past. The words and letters that you see on the screen now is an image that is beamed into your eyes and your brain decipher the message and you react to it now – ALL these within a span of one second. If you can break all these components into separate minute second, then the image that beamed from the screen took place about 0.1sec ago, your mind decipher it about 0.1sec ago and you are now reacting to it. Even the signal from your brain to activate your body motion needs some time, maybe less than a split second. What we are reacting to are images and sounds that exist in the past. The past might be 0.1 sec ago, 1 sec ago, 1 min ago or even hours and days ago. Our brain has an immense capacity to process the all forms of senses that we receive.
We are created in time, so we will also end in time. All beings that are created in time are governed by the 2nd Law of thermodynamics, i.e. we live in a world of irreversible process and the entropy is increasing all the time. Eventually, the energy and the orderliness in the whole universe will run down. As we are bounded by time dimension, we have to accept the fact that one day; we will cease to exist in this time-space dimension. Whether our soul will exist in this dimension is another question. However, the fact that all of us will cease to exist in this dimension seems to be an anti-climax to our human achievements and a mockery to whatever epitome that we have built in our lifetime. We are limited, this is a fact. Limited to live and die in this time-space constrain. However, things would be better this way, I guess. We are being taught humility by our timely/untimely death. This teaches us to value life, friendship, and the people around us. This also makes us seek out the good and things (be it tangible or intangible) that bespeak eternity. In a sense, we are created to seek meaning and eternity.
If there is a realm of eternity, then that is where time cease to exist. But is it possible for time to not exist? According to Immanuel Kant, human experience is bounded by space and time and that it is intelligible only as a system of completely determined causal relations existing between events in the world and not between the world and anything outside of it has the consequence that there can be no knowledge of God, freedom, or human immortality. Each of these ideas exceeds the bounds of empirical experience and hence is banished from the realm of reason. – Italics from Encyclopædia Britannica.
Hence, we can never know what is beyond our dimension. This means that if we were to seek for knowledge of eternity from our side, we will fail in our quest. However, I believe that if someone were to come from the dimension of eternity and reveal to us what is beyond our dimension, it is there then that we can trust what lies beyond our dimension. This someone is Jesus Christ. He has come into our world two thousand years ago and has indeed told us what lies beyond us.
[John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.]
[John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.]
Jesus Christ has revealed to us what lies beyond death. He has died and resurrected (I use resurrected and not just came back alive because after his resurrection, he has appeared to be in full health and not in the tortured and frail form he was subjected to when he was tried and crucified). He has given us the assurance that those of us who die with Him will indeed be resurrected again together with Him. That lays in the future realm. In the current realm, because of His expiation for our sins, we are able to come before God and to have a relationship with Him. This is what is termed ‘eternal life’, i.e. a life together with God forever. This eternity supersedes the dimension of time and this is the hope which frees us from the entrapment of time.
The Creator of time has put us within the boundary of time and as we progress in the march of time, we experience the fragility of our existence. Such fragility forces us to recognize our limitations and to seek to live a more worthy life dependent on God. It is only there then that I start to be able to make some sense out of the absurdity from this constraint inherent in our time dimension. This is the dawn of relization that a meaningful life can indeed be fulfilled within our limitations.
The Creator of time has put us within the boundary of time and as we progress in the march of time, we experience the fragility of our existence. Such fragility forces us to recognize our limitations and to seek to live a more worthy life dependent on God. It is only there then that I start to be able to make some sense out of the absurdity from this constraint inherent in our time dimension. This is the dawn of relization that a meaningful life can indeed be fulfilled within our limitations.
Monday, June 13, 2005
A Humane Human?
The idea of a humane human would certainly sound absurd at first. Isn’t a human supposed to be humane in the first place or else where does the word humane come from?
To clarify what I mean by ‘humane’, I will refer you to:
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English humain
Date: circa 1500
1. marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals
2. characterized by or tending to broad humanistic culture : humanistic humane studies
Collins’ Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners
1. Humane people act in a kind, sympathetic way towards other people and animals, and try to do them as little harm as possible.
2. Humane values and societies encourage people to act in a kind and sympathetic way towards others, even towards people they do not agree with or like.
In today’s societies, we have been numbed in our senses by the bombardment of media, the hectic ness of our lifestyle, the cruelty of life happening around us and sometimes the struggle within us.
How often do we come across a violent scene in a movie or TV screen and yet protest against the film maker for generating the scene just to enhance the cinematic effect? Or have we encountered so many violent scenes on the screen such that we are already immune to it? Do we scream in horror at the decapitation of a body or at how a bullet can effectively destroy a life within a split second or even at the marital arts guru who can effectively finish off a human life with their bare arms within seconds? Do we revel in horror or disgust at the crude level of civilisation when humans are portrayed only as sex slaves no different from animals on the scene or on the Internet? We join in with the others for the level of entertainment that is supposed to be intended? I wonder how far we come degrade ourselves in the level of civilisation. Some people will disagree with me and will generally categorize all these scenes as a form of entertainment.
I would agree that there are some forms of violence in some films that are unavoidable in order to convey the reality of the scenes to us. Examples are ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Schindler’s List’ that try to show us how the soldiers died in action and how innocent Jews died in the hand of the Nazis. I greatly applaud the director Steven Spielberg for bringing the reality of war onto the scene. These scenes should make us be more wary about causes of war, the tragedy it would inflict on the affected family members, the cost of human lives and the insanity it might propagate. But there are some films and TV serials like ‘Rambo-First Blood’, ‘World Wrestling Federation’, which I question the effect of explicit violence on the audience. Would the audience be lead to think that the lives of human being are worth nothing in the eye of the portrayed hero? Is this one of the reasons why there are more and more violence in the school campus? I would believe so, because of the mass appeal of such popular media and the other form of media such as the video games. Human beings in stunning and captivating video graphics are being made targets to be shot at and points are awarded for successfully destroying or crippling a human being. More recently is the kind of nudities that are shown in the pictures and videos on the Internet. The broadcasters are trying to satisfy the sexual desire of viewers by dehumanizing the victims or their so called actors.
Do we regard one another as human beings or objects? If we see them as human beings, as being made in the image of God, as being made as the highest level or at the pinnacle of God’s creation, then those actors who are portrayed as sex slaves and victimised objects are as valuable and dignified as a human being just as we are. What outrageous and selfish right do we have to demand that these people should degrade themselves just because we have created a market or demand for them? Is it because that we are able to afford this form of entertainment that they should continue to degrade themselves? Is it because that we are able to afford it that these people can be treated as an object to be toyed with? An object that we can dress and undress them as and when we like; an object that we can choose to have sex with and yet not be held accountable for; an object that we can choose to shoot at, to maim at, to decapitate with, so long as our desires can be satisfied?
Dear human beings, we are not fit to be human if we are not a humane being. We have not reflected much on what we have seen in the screen and what we have done to each others and what is actually happening around us. We are inflicting harm to each other and destroying each other and belittling each other such that we resemble less and less like a true human being who is made in the image of God.
When we are so tied down and burdened by our daily work, where is there space for us to reflect? Where is there avenue for us to relax and de-stress in a convenient way except to turn on the TV screen or sit ourselves in a theatre? But such a convenient and perhaps entertaining way to relax and de-stress may open up an avenue for us to dehumanize ourselves without us knowing it consciously. Do you realize how easy it is for us to succumb to external influence when we are tired mentally and physically? We lack the willpower to oppose whatever values which are inhumane when so many around us are doing the same thing, i.e. to entertain themselves to death. If you were to read C.S Lewis' ‘Mere Christianity’, notice how he makes a mockery of those who abuse their physical needs. He acknowledges that we have physical needs. Some people satisfy their sexual desire needs by appealing to sexually explicit scenes. C.S. Lewis asked whether it would be absurd if we will also degrade ourselves to a live show of actors displaying us what they are eating on stage when we believe that our needs can be satisfied by appealing to scenes.
Yes, we have needs, but we should seek to satisfy them through legitimate means and through avenues that maintain our dignity and self-respect for each other. It is only when we treat each other with dignity and self-respect that we can continue to be a humane human. It is only when we are humane human that our life is more meaningful. It is only when we are humane human that we can continue to help those who are in needs; to extend our hand to help those who are in disaster; to lend a helping hand to those who are victims to inhumane humans; to create a world which is a better living place. Just to quote Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror:
I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change(Refer to http://www.lyrics-domain.com/Man_in_The_Mirror_Lyrics.html,
for full text)
To make the world a better place, let us start with ourselves. And to echo the spirit in the ‘Communist Manifesto’,
“Let us unite to make this world a better place by learning to treat each other as a human being. We have nothing to lose but for the inhumanity that will continue to degrade us and demonize us. Humane human of all countries, unite!”
Lastly, we should and must spend more time to REFLECT. Stop allowing ourselves to be numbed by our senses and by the hectic ness of our lifestyle. I would like to end with a quote from David C. Stolinsky’s Entertaining Ourselves to Death:
Real life isn’t a video game. If we expect it to be, we encourage non-human behavior and mindless violence. Real life isn’t a TV show. If we expect it to be, we are more likely to act like hormone-drenched adolescents than like responsible adults. Real life isn’t a movie. If we expect it to be, we are likely to wind up not with a comedy or a drama, but with a tragic farce. If we’re not careful, we may succeed in entertaining our civilization to death. But we won’t die laughing.
(Refer to http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/8/27/220435.shtml,
for full text)
To clarify what I mean by ‘humane’, I will refer you to:
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English humain
Date: circa 1500
1. marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals
2. characterized by or tending to broad humanistic culture : humanistic humane studies
Collins’ Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners
1. Humane people act in a kind, sympathetic way towards other people and animals, and try to do them as little harm as possible.
2. Humane values and societies encourage people to act in a kind and sympathetic way towards others, even towards people they do not agree with or like.
In today’s societies, we have been numbed in our senses by the bombardment of media, the hectic ness of our lifestyle, the cruelty of life happening around us and sometimes the struggle within us.
How often do we come across a violent scene in a movie or TV screen and yet protest against the film maker for generating the scene just to enhance the cinematic effect? Or have we encountered so many violent scenes on the screen such that we are already immune to it? Do we scream in horror at the decapitation of a body or at how a bullet can effectively destroy a life within a split second or even at the marital arts guru who can effectively finish off a human life with their bare arms within seconds? Do we revel in horror or disgust at the crude level of civilisation when humans are portrayed only as sex slaves no different from animals on the scene or on the Internet? We join in with the others for the level of entertainment that is supposed to be intended? I wonder how far we come degrade ourselves in the level of civilisation. Some people will disagree with me and will generally categorize all these scenes as a form of entertainment.
I would agree that there are some forms of violence in some films that are unavoidable in order to convey the reality of the scenes to us. Examples are ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Schindler’s List’ that try to show us how the soldiers died in action and how innocent Jews died in the hand of the Nazis. I greatly applaud the director Steven Spielberg for bringing the reality of war onto the scene. These scenes should make us be more wary about causes of war, the tragedy it would inflict on the affected family members, the cost of human lives and the insanity it might propagate. But there are some films and TV serials like ‘Rambo-First Blood’, ‘World Wrestling Federation’, which I question the effect of explicit violence on the audience. Would the audience be lead to think that the lives of human being are worth nothing in the eye of the portrayed hero? Is this one of the reasons why there are more and more violence in the school campus? I would believe so, because of the mass appeal of such popular media and the other form of media such as the video games. Human beings in stunning and captivating video graphics are being made targets to be shot at and points are awarded for successfully destroying or crippling a human being. More recently is the kind of nudities that are shown in the pictures and videos on the Internet. The broadcasters are trying to satisfy the sexual desire of viewers by dehumanizing the victims or their so called actors.
Do we regard one another as human beings or objects? If we see them as human beings, as being made in the image of God, as being made as the highest level or at the pinnacle of God’s creation, then those actors who are portrayed as sex slaves and victimised objects are as valuable and dignified as a human being just as we are. What outrageous and selfish right do we have to demand that these people should degrade themselves just because we have created a market or demand for them? Is it because that we are able to afford this form of entertainment that they should continue to degrade themselves? Is it because that we are able to afford it that these people can be treated as an object to be toyed with? An object that we can dress and undress them as and when we like; an object that we can choose to have sex with and yet not be held accountable for; an object that we can choose to shoot at, to maim at, to decapitate with, so long as our desires can be satisfied?
Dear human beings, we are not fit to be human if we are not a humane being. We have not reflected much on what we have seen in the screen and what we have done to each others and what is actually happening around us. We are inflicting harm to each other and destroying each other and belittling each other such that we resemble less and less like a true human being who is made in the image of God.
When we are so tied down and burdened by our daily work, where is there space for us to reflect? Where is there avenue for us to relax and de-stress in a convenient way except to turn on the TV screen or sit ourselves in a theatre? But such a convenient and perhaps entertaining way to relax and de-stress may open up an avenue for us to dehumanize ourselves without us knowing it consciously. Do you realize how easy it is for us to succumb to external influence when we are tired mentally and physically? We lack the willpower to oppose whatever values which are inhumane when so many around us are doing the same thing, i.e. to entertain themselves to death. If you were to read C.S Lewis' ‘Mere Christianity’, notice how he makes a mockery of those who abuse their physical needs. He acknowledges that we have physical needs. Some people satisfy their sexual desire needs by appealing to sexually explicit scenes. C.S. Lewis asked whether it would be absurd if we will also degrade ourselves to a live show of actors displaying us what they are eating on stage when we believe that our needs can be satisfied by appealing to scenes.
Yes, we have needs, but we should seek to satisfy them through legitimate means and through avenues that maintain our dignity and self-respect for each other. It is only when we treat each other with dignity and self-respect that we can continue to be a humane human. It is only when we are humane human that our life is more meaningful. It is only when we are humane human that we can continue to help those who are in needs; to extend our hand to help those who are in disaster; to lend a helping hand to those who are victims to inhumane humans; to create a world which is a better living place. Just to quote Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror:
I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change(Refer to http://www.lyrics-domain.com/Man_in_The_Mirror_Lyrics.html,
for full text)
To make the world a better place, let us start with ourselves. And to echo the spirit in the ‘Communist Manifesto’,
“Let us unite to make this world a better place by learning to treat each other as a human being. We have nothing to lose but for the inhumanity that will continue to degrade us and demonize us. Humane human of all countries, unite!”
Lastly, we should and must spend more time to REFLECT. Stop allowing ourselves to be numbed by our senses and by the hectic ness of our lifestyle. I would like to end with a quote from David C. Stolinsky’s Entertaining Ourselves to Death:
Real life isn’t a video game. If we expect it to be, we encourage non-human behavior and mindless violence. Real life isn’t a TV show. If we expect it to be, we are more likely to act like hormone-drenched adolescents than like responsible adults. Real life isn’t a movie. If we expect it to be, we are likely to wind up not with a comedy or a drama, but with a tragic farce. If we’re not careful, we may succeed in entertaining our civilization to death. But we won’t die laughing.
(Refer to http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/8/27/220435.shtml,
for full text)
Visible grace made invisible; Invisible grace made visible
Visible grace made invisible; Invisible grace made visible
Saint Augustine of Hippo originates the concept of invisible grace made visible in the Holy Communion within the context of church. It is through the holy supper that we witnessed the visible grace of God. It is through the baptism that we continue to witness the visible grace of God. His grace is made explicit through these acts which are approved and sanctified in His sight.
Approved - because they are instituted by Jesus Christ and His disciples;
Sanctified - because through these acts, we are reminded once again that we are declared children of God and that Jesus as Jesus was once on earth, is now with heavenly Father and will be back again.
This link me to think of ‘visible made invisible and made visible’ again. All these take faith, which is mentioned by Pastor Cao in the church last month in May. When Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for us, all these were visible in the sight of the people who were present to witness this dramatic and historic event. But in order for this to make an effect on the rest of mankind, it has to transcend the constrain of time. This demands that this visible grace be made invisible. It is only in this invisible form that it can affect the rest of the mankind not only then, but for eternity. Come to think of it, when we say we live in the present, we are living in the dimension of time. When we say eternity, it is actually the absence of time. However, for people like us today, to access to this historical fact, just like to access other historical facts like the First World War, Second World War and other historical events and figures in the past, we have to accept it on the basis of faith. Of course, there are some historical myths which do not qualify as facts. This would be based on evidential support such as archaeological findings, ancient documents, and other historical books which can attest to the authenticity of historical facts. What I am saying is that the death of historical Jesus is a historical fact and His resurrection is also a historical fact due to convincing evidential support. You will have to refer to ‘The New Testament’, ‘The Case for Christ’, ‘Know why you believe’, ‘Evidences that demand a verdict’ to look at the evidential support. But to accept this as a fact still demand a faith because we were not there at the spot to witness all these titanic events. So, to believe that Jesus died on the cross for us and that He conquered death and came back alive is to demand faith on our part and this is a faith in a visible grace made invisible.
To clarify more about what I mean by grace and faith here, I would need some space to clarify:When we use the word ‘grace’, this grace must be in a form which is directly related to us. For example, when we say that God has given us His grace, it must be in a form which we can relate or even experience directly. If my friend has been rescued miraculously from an accident, but not me, then it would seem that my friend has experienced a form of grace from God, but not me. However, to admit it as a grace would still demand an act of faith. However, not everyone would see it as a grace. Many non-believers would consider it as a form of luck. The concept of grace pre-supposes a giver and a receiver.
The faith that we are talking about then is not just about faith in the existence of an event or person. But a form of faith that trusts you to make decision and this decision causes an effect for eternity. For example, I may make a decision to eat chicken rice or duck noodle for lunch, but this type of decision is light-weight which does not affect me for posterity. But if I make a decision to be a Christian, I am moving from a status of non-believer to believer, from the realm of temporal world into eternity, from a self-centred world to a Christ-centred world. This decision of momentous consequence demands a different form of faith which we use normally. And this form of faith can only come from God. (Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ; Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.)
When we have accepted Christ as our Saviour, our life should be transformed and renewed continuously. This form of transformation is an evidence of God’s work within us that is being made visible to the world. This is when God’s invisible grace has been made visible in our life and through our life. This also demands faith on our part. Faith because we continue to believe that God is with us, is for those who love Him, that God is our Creator, He is guiding the unfolding of human history and that He is here always within us and transcends us. Because of our faith in Him and His words, this faith will continue to work within our life and transform our life. We will become a testimony for God in this world that we are living today.
So, the first step to believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour demands faith. Even when we have become Christian, we have not reached an end stage yet. We are always in the process of ‘becoming’, always a follower of Christ, always being in the process of being made perfect, but never a stage where we can say ‘we have finished following Christ’ or ‘we have been perfected’. This continues to demand faith in our life. The Christian faith demands faith from the beginning to the end.
Saint Augustine of Hippo originates the concept of invisible grace made visible in the Holy Communion within the context of church. It is through the holy supper that we witnessed the visible grace of God. It is through the baptism that we continue to witness the visible grace of God. His grace is made explicit through these acts which are approved and sanctified in His sight.
Approved - because they are instituted by Jesus Christ and His disciples;
Sanctified - because through these acts, we are reminded once again that we are declared children of God and that Jesus as Jesus was once on earth, is now with heavenly Father and will be back again.
This link me to think of ‘visible made invisible and made visible’ again. All these take faith, which is mentioned by Pastor Cao in the church last month in May. When Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for us, all these were visible in the sight of the people who were present to witness this dramatic and historic event. But in order for this to make an effect on the rest of mankind, it has to transcend the constrain of time. This demands that this visible grace be made invisible. It is only in this invisible form that it can affect the rest of the mankind not only then, but for eternity. Come to think of it, when we say we live in the present, we are living in the dimension of time. When we say eternity, it is actually the absence of time. However, for people like us today, to access to this historical fact, just like to access other historical facts like the First World War, Second World War and other historical events and figures in the past, we have to accept it on the basis of faith. Of course, there are some historical myths which do not qualify as facts. This would be based on evidential support such as archaeological findings, ancient documents, and other historical books which can attest to the authenticity of historical facts. What I am saying is that the death of historical Jesus is a historical fact and His resurrection is also a historical fact due to convincing evidential support. You will have to refer to ‘The New Testament’, ‘The Case for Christ’, ‘Know why you believe’, ‘Evidences that demand a verdict’ to look at the evidential support. But to accept this as a fact still demand a faith because we were not there at the spot to witness all these titanic events. So, to believe that Jesus died on the cross for us and that He conquered death and came back alive is to demand faith on our part and this is a faith in a visible grace made invisible.
To clarify more about what I mean by grace and faith here, I would need some space to clarify:When we use the word ‘grace’, this grace must be in a form which is directly related to us. For example, when we say that God has given us His grace, it must be in a form which we can relate or even experience directly. If my friend has been rescued miraculously from an accident, but not me, then it would seem that my friend has experienced a form of grace from God, but not me. However, to admit it as a grace would still demand an act of faith. However, not everyone would see it as a grace. Many non-believers would consider it as a form of luck. The concept of grace pre-supposes a giver and a receiver.
The faith that we are talking about then is not just about faith in the existence of an event or person. But a form of faith that trusts you to make decision and this decision causes an effect for eternity. For example, I may make a decision to eat chicken rice or duck noodle for lunch, but this type of decision is light-weight which does not affect me for posterity. But if I make a decision to be a Christian, I am moving from a status of non-believer to believer, from the realm of temporal world into eternity, from a self-centred world to a Christ-centred world. This decision of momentous consequence demands a different form of faith which we use normally. And this form of faith can only come from God. (Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ; Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.)
When we have accepted Christ as our Saviour, our life should be transformed and renewed continuously. This form of transformation is an evidence of God’s work within us that is being made visible to the world. This is when God’s invisible grace has been made visible in our life and through our life. This also demands faith on our part. Faith because we continue to believe that God is with us, is for those who love Him, that God is our Creator, He is guiding the unfolding of human history and that He is here always within us and transcends us. Because of our faith in Him and His words, this faith will continue to work within our life and transform our life. We will become a testimony for God in this world that we are living today.
So, the first step to believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour demands faith. Even when we have become Christian, we have not reached an end stage yet. We are always in the process of ‘becoming’, always a follower of Christ, always being in the process of being made perfect, but never a stage where we can say ‘we have finished following Christ’ or ‘we have been perfected’. This continues to demand faith in our life. The Christian faith demands faith from the beginning to the end.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Thought on Da Vinci code
I have just finished reading the Da Vinci code. It took me two full days to finish it. Without the blessing of the school term's break, I would never have such the luxury to read a book without being interrupted. The book is a fascinating detective genre which is based on settings in Paris and London. Perhaps because I have been to these two places recently, the details descriped by Dan Brown still strike a chord within my memory. The whole mystery in this weaved fictional story is on a guarded royal bloodline alleged to be from Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Those without some background in the resurrection, early Christianity and the quest for the historical Christ in the nineteen century might be caught off-guard by Brown's theory to the alternative Christ.
I am won over by the intricacies of the detective story with characters like Harvard professor Robert Langdon, French cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Neveu's grandfather Jacques Sauniere, French Justice Police Captain Fache, Lieutenant Collet, British Royal Historian Sir Leigh Teabing, etc. There are twists and turns in the story and one would never expect the identity of the Teacher. I guess there will be a number of Christians who would be enraged by the make-up story of Jesus Christ having an affair with Mary Magdalene. At the same time, many people might buy into this story based on Dan Brown's compelling fabrication. There are indeed many books which are coming up to dispel the fable created by Dan Brown as well as the Catholic Church's condemnation of it.
My view is that this book is worthwhile to read as a detective story. The author is a good story teller and the urge to know the mystery will compel any reader to want to finish it in one reading. Do take note that this book is a fictional one based on some research background. It is the descriptions and the way the story unfolds that made the whole book compelling to read.
I am won over by the intricacies of the detective story with characters like Harvard professor Robert Langdon, French cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Neveu's grandfather Jacques Sauniere, French Justice Police Captain Fache, Lieutenant Collet, British Royal Historian Sir Leigh Teabing, etc. There are twists and turns in the story and one would never expect the identity of the Teacher. I guess there will be a number of Christians who would be enraged by the make-up story of Jesus Christ having an affair with Mary Magdalene. At the same time, many people might buy into this story based on Dan Brown's compelling fabrication. There are indeed many books which are coming up to dispel the fable created by Dan Brown as well as the Catholic Church's condemnation of it.
My view is that this book is worthwhile to read as a detective story. The author is a good story teller and the urge to know the mystery will compel any reader to want to finish it in one reading. Do take note that this book is a fictional one based on some research background. It is the descriptions and the way the story unfolds that made the whole book compelling to read.
Introduction
The purpose of subscribing to a blog is to enable my to pen down my thoughts and insights and to share with those who are interested. It is my hope that such sharing will:
1) Discipline myself to crystallize my thought;
2) Provide an avenue for me to publish my thought and as such to be coherent and systematic in what I am penning down;
3) Provide a platform for others and myself to interact and to widen my views and exposure, though I may not necessary reply to any of the posted comments.
1) Discipline myself to crystallize my thought;
2) Provide an avenue for me to publish my thought and as such to be coherent and systematic in what I am penning down;
3) Provide a platform for others and myself to interact and to widen my views and exposure, though I may not necessary reply to any of the posted comments.
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