Tuesday, February 09, 2010
I am a defensive person and of course my reaction would be to defend my senior pastor of Lighthouse Evangelism.
I feel that what he did was understandable, being in the confines of the church. At points, he was trying to explain to Christians how what we believe in can be used to explain seeming 'discrepencies' in the experiences of others. In this case, there was no intention at all to be disrespectful to Buddhists or people of other religions. There was also no intention letting the general public view this. It was not his fault that some guy (who we can easily track down) who was offended blew it out of proportion. C'mon, I know a friend whose colleague shouted at her in her face (in front if bosses and all) "Christianity is bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!", when she didn't even say anything to spite him or criticise him.
Moreover, the Da Vinci code and other books that criticize Christianity has been allowed by authorities to be circulated. Why then has authorities not taken action by banning these books? Why does there seem to be a double standard?
He was not the one who posted the video. There was no intention of causing racial disharmony. But through this, i admire him more because apologised for the things that weren't right though there was no ill intention. We all are sinners, but how we respond to God and Man will reflect who we really are.
I must admit i am definitely imperfect. After i heard about it yesterday, I was a little angry and felt well, "persecuted". I wanted to find a verse from the bible that would encourage us to hang on during persecution, to make myself feel better that Christians are "suffering" for God.
However, the verse i found (and i believe i was led to it by God) was that following:
Matthew 5:43-45
"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 the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous."
These were Jesus' words, reflecting what a true Christian heart should be.
I read this and thanked God for His mercy for me and teared. I was challneged to pray for those i disliked, for those who i felt anger toward. This verse will stick with me for a while...
Gillianwrote.
10:16 PM
