Why I am a Christian

“Uncle, why are you a Christian?” asked the 5 years old daughter of an old friend a few weeks ago when she was brought to my clinic for one of her booster shot. I have thought often about the answer to that innocent question since then. I could not remember how I have answered her. She must have been satisfied because she continued to admire a “Hello Kitty” sticker I have given her. The question stuck in my mind. I could not forget it. It was one of these questions that demand an answer. Yes, why am I a Christian? What is Christianity to me?

I guess I could start at Genesis and explained about the Original Sin of Adam and Eve that caused the break in fellowship with God. Or I could discuss the Pauline theology of penal-substitution of Christ’s death on the cross. Another approach I could take is to look at the covenant theology of God. Yes, I could start with these. However, these will explain who a Christian is but not why I am a Christian. And what being a Christian means to me.

I am a Christian because I am in a living relationship with God. I have not seen God but I have a pretty good idea of who He is by the portrait of Jesus Christ as given in the Gospels. However, it is not just an idea of God I have but a relationship. God is as real to me as my wife. My relationship with God is as real as my relationship with my wife. Sometimes it boggles my mind to think that the Almighty God who created the heavens and earth knows about me, is interested in my daily life and has a living relationship with me. He even calls me son. We talk together. In my prayers and solitude, I can sense His presence. I hear what He tells me through the Bible, other people, circumstances, dreams, visions and mostly through a still small voice in my soul. I know I often disappoint Him and grieve Him. Yet, I also know of His unfailing love for me. In this living relationship, He wants me to be me. He accept me totally, faults and all.

I am a Christian because it makes me feel wonderfully more alive. I do not mean that those who are not Christians are not alive. What I meant was being a Christian makes me more alive because my life has a purpose. I am here because I was meant to be here. I was not here by accident. I am not here because I am working out my karma. Neither am I here because my mother married my father and they wanted to have a child. I am here because there is a greater purpose. I am here because I have a role to play in this greater purpose. This role is part of a greater plan. This greater plan is a plan for good. This plan is God’s plan and is for all of eternity. God conceived of this plan and thus of me even before the creation of this universe. I have a role in God’s greater plan. This means that everything I do here on earth, every single moment is significant in God’s plan. No moment is wasted. Thus having a purpose makes me feel more alive. There is a reason for my being alive. I have observed that some of the saddest people are those who do not have a purpose for their lives. In some ways, they are not living, just existing.

I am a Christian because through me, God gives life to others. I know that I am not a perfect instrument. I have so many flaws and am so self-centred. Yet I have been in numerous occasions when God used me to help others; sometimes to give spiritual insight through my conversation, teaching and writings; sometimes to extend physical help through my medical work and community projects; at other times to bring others into a living relationship with Him. I am often amazed myself. Did I really do that? That’s so unlike me. Being a Christian is life-giving to oneself, others and creation.

So next time someone asks me why I am a Christian, I shall answer that I am a Christian because it makes me more alive in a living and life-giving relationship with God. Hmm. Okay. Next time if another 5 years old ask me why I am a Christian, I shall answer, “Jesus loves me this I know…”

Soli Deo Gloria

Why I am a Christian

“Uncle, why are you a Christian?” asked the 5 years old daughter of an old friend a few weeks ago when she was brought to my clinic for one of her booster shot. I have thought often about the answer to that innocent question since then. I could not remember how I have answered her. She must have been satisfied because she continued to admire a “Hello Kitty” sticker I have given her. The question stuck in my mind. I could not forget it. It was one of these questions that demand an answer. Yes, why am I a Christian? What is Christianity to me?

I guess I could start at Genesis and explained about the Original Sin of Adam and Eve that caused the break in fellowship with God. Or I could discuss the Pauline theology of penal-substitution of Christ’s death on the cross. Another approach I could take is to look at the covenant theology of God. Yes, I could start with these. However, these will explain who a Christian is but not why I am a Christian. And what being a Christian means to me.

I am a Christian because I am in a living relationship with God. I have not seen God but I have a pretty good idea of who He is by the portrait of Jesus Christ as given in the Gospels. However, it is not just an idea of God I have but a relationship. God is as real to me as my wife. My relationship with God is as real as my relationship with my wife. Sometimes it boggles my mind to think that the Almighty God who created the heavens and earth knows about me, is interested in my daily life and has a living relationship with me. He even calls me son. We talk together. In my prayers and solitude, I can sense His presence. I hear what He tells me through the Bible, other people, circumstances, dreams, visions and mostly through a still small voice in my soul. I know I often disappoint Him and grieve Him. Yet, I also know of His unfailing love for me. In this living relationship, He wants me to be me. He accept me totally, faults and all.

I am a Christian because it makes me feel wonderfully more alive. I do not mean that those who are not Christians are not alive. What I meant was being a Christian makes me more alive because my life has a purpose. I am here because I was meant to be here. I was not here by accident. I am not here because I am working out my karma. Neither am I here because my mother married my father and they wanted to have a child. I am here because there is a greater purpose. I am here because I have a role to play in this greater purpose. This role is part of a greater plan. This greater plan is a plan for good. This plan is God’s plan and is for all of eternity. God conceived of this plan and thus of me even before the creation of this universe. I have a role in God’s greater plan. This means that everything I do here on earth, every single moment is significant in God’s plan. No moment is wasted. Thus having a purpose makes me feel more alive. There is a reason for my being alive. I have observed that some of the saddest people are those who do not have a purpose for their lives. In some ways, they are not living, just existing.

I am a Christian because through me, God gives life to others. I know that I am not a perfect instrument. I have so many flaws and am so self-centred. Yet I have been in numerous occasions when God used me to help others; sometimes to give spiritual insight through my conversation, teaching and writings; sometimes to extend physical help through my medical work and community projects; at other times to bring others into a living relationship with Him. I am often amazed myself. Did I really do that? That’s so unlike me. Being a Christian is life-giving to oneself, others and creation.

So next time someone asks me why I am a Christian, I shall answer that I am a Christian because it makes me more alive in a living and life-giving relationship with God. Hmm. Okay. Next time if another 5 years old ask me why I am a Christian, I shall answer, “Jesus loves me this I know…”

Soli Deo Gloria

The Caffeine Driven Life

Wake up every morning, mind in a mush,
already late, running in a rush.
Brain not engaged, still not in gear,
wait, coffee, o coffee, I need thee here.

I need the fix, I need the kick,
a cuppa of java will do the trick,
To get through the day I need the buzz,
hot coffee, iced coffee, no need to fuss.

Too much work, too little time,
another cuppa coffee and all will be fine.
Need energy, lift up mood to euphorise the day,
coffee will energise, colourise and brighten the way.

Clock out time, day is done, night is coming
energy draining, euphoric mood darkening.
Going home, coffee glow from cheek slowly fading,
caffeine level in blood stream slowly falling.

Such is life, with hustle and noise, our busy condition,
a life truly driven by the world’s only legal addiction.
Filled the cups with espresso, latte, mochas and macchiato
available only in Starbucks, Coffee Bean and alfresco.

The Caffeine Driven Life

Wake up every morning, mind in a mush,
already late, running in a rush.
Brain not engaged, still not in gear,
wait, coffee, o coffee, I need thee here.

I need the fix, I need the kick,
a cuppa of java will do the trick,
To get through the day I need the buzz,
hot coffee, iced coffee, no need to fuss.

Too much work, too little time,
another cuppa coffee and all will be fine.
Need energy, lift up mood to euphorise the day,
coffee will energise, colourise and brighten the way.

Clock out time, day is done, night is coming
energy draining, euphoric mood darkening.
Going home, coffee glow from cheek slowly fading,
caffeine level in blood stream slowly falling.

Such is life, with hustle and noise, our busy condition,
a life truly driven by the world’s only legal addiction.
Filled the cups with espresso, latte, mochas and macchiato
available only in Starbucks, Coffee Bean and alfresco.

Requeim for A Friend

A good friend and brother in Christ died on 11 June. It was a sudden death. Within a few hours he deteriorated and expired. He died from severe intracranial haemorrage. There was nothing the doctors could do. My friend was at the peak of his career and was the principal of large secondary school in Johor Bahru. He left behind a wife and three young sons.

I was to conduct his funeral service. What am I to say? What can I say to the grieving widow? What shall I say to the sons who has lost a father? What will I say to his friends, colleagues and students? Somehow, the stock phrases we use in funeral services seem meaningless; "God loves him so much that He wants him with Him now"; "God said his job on earth is completed"; "He did not suffer"; "It is part of God's plans" or "This is how God wants it." How will this sound to a woman who has just lost her husband? How will this sound to a son who has just lost his father?

In the end, when I gave the sermon, I talked about my friend. I talked about how he loved his wife, how he was so proud of his children, how he loved his work (all those students he has guided and helped) and how he love his God.

The widow asked me 'Why?" I answered, "I don't know"

Requeim for A Friend

A good friend and brother in Christ died on 11 June. It was a sudden death. Within a few hours he deteriorated and expired. He died from severe intracranial haemorrage. There was nothing the doctors could do. My friend was at the peak of his career and was the principal of large secondary school in Johor Bahru. He left behind a wife and three young sons.

I was to conduct his funeral service. What am I to say? What can I say to the grieving widow? What shall I say to the sons who has lost a father? What will I say to his friends, colleagues and students? Somehow, the stock phrases we use in funeral services seem meaningless; "God loves him so much that He wants him with Him now"; "God said his job on earth is completed"; "He did not suffer"; "It is part of God's plans" or "This is how God wants it." How will this sound to a woman who has just lost her husband? How will this sound to a son who has just lost his father?

In the end, when I gave the sermon, I talked about my friend. I talked about how he loved his wife, how he was so proud of his children, how he loved his work (all those students he has guided and helped) and how he love his God.

The widow asked me 'Why?" I answered, "I don't know"

High Ground or Lowland Swamp?

"In the varied topography of professional practice, there is a high, hard ground overlooking a swamp. On the high ground, manageable problems lend themselves to solution though the application of research-based theory and technique. In the swampy lowland, messy, confusing problems defy technical solution. The irony of this situation is that the problem of the high ground tend to be relatively unimportant to individuals or society at large, however great their technical interest may be, while in the swamp lie the problems of greatest human concern. The practitioner must choose. Shall he remain on the high ground where he can solve relatively unimportant problems according to prevailing standards of rigor, or shall he descend to the swamp of important problems and nonrigorous inquiry?"

Donald Schon
Educating the Reflective Practitioner (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1987)

High Ground or Lowland Swamp?

"In the varied topography of professional practice, there is a high, hard ground overlooking a swamp. On the high ground, manageable problems lend themselves to solution though the application of research-based theory and technique. In the swampy lowland, messy, confusing problems defy technical solution. The irony of this situation is that the problem of the high ground tend to be relatively unimportant to individuals or society at large, however great their technical interest may be, while in the swamp lie the problems of greatest human concern. The practitioner must choose. Shall he remain on the high ground where he can solve relatively unimportant problems according to prevailing standards of rigor, or shall he descend to the swamp of important problems and nonrigorous inquiry?"

Donald Schon
Educating the Reflective Practitioner (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1987)

Is there such thing as Generational Sin?

Generational sins is an interesting topic. It is interesting because there is no consensus that it exist at all. If it does not exist, then many of the prayers and work done on some Christians may be in vain or even be harmful. If it exist and was denied, then some Christians who could be helped would not receive the help needed. They will remain in bondage to generational sins or curse. The key verse in any discussion on generational sin is Exodus 20:5.

Read complete article

Is there such thing as Generational Sin?

Generational sins is an interesting topic. It is interesting because there is no consensus that it exist at all. If it does not exist, then many of the prayers and work done on some Christians may be in vain or even be harmful. If it exist and was denied, then some Christians who could be helped would not receive the help needed. They will remain in bondage to generational sins or curse. The key verse in any discussion on generational sin is Exodus 20:5.

Read complete article

How to Deal with Disappoinment in Your Life

Life is hard. Life is not fair. Anybody who has lived a few years will agree with these two maxims. The Teacher is Ecclesiastes was very perceptive when he wrote,

I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all. (Eccl. 9:11)(NIV)

No matter how well prepared we are or how connected we are, we cannot get everything the way we want it to be. And when things do not happen the way we want it to, disappointment happens. Disappointment is so much a part of life that I would venture to say that life is mostly disappointments punctured with occasional episodes when things did actually happen the way we wanted it to be. Disappointment is one of the means of grace in which God helps us to learn to trust Him and to produce faith.

Read complete article

How to Deal with Disappoinment in Your Life

Life is hard. Life is not fair. Anybody who has lived a few years will agree with these two maxims. The Teacher is Ecclesiastes was very perceptive when he wrote,

I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all. (Eccl. 9:11)(NIV)

No matter how well prepared we are or how connected we are, we cannot get everything the way we want it to be. And when things do not happen the way we want it to, disappointment happens. Disappointment is so much a part of life that I would venture to say that life is mostly disappointments punctured with occasional episodes when things did actually happen the way we wanted it to be. Disappointment is one of the means of grace in which God helps us to learn to trust Him and to produce faith.

Read complete article

Darkness

Dark

Dark is the recesses of my mind,
blackness envelope my thoughts,
blocking out the light.
Cobwebs covered rooms of memories,
days and nights long dead and gone.

Black is the heart that beat in my chest,
marking and beating time to my dying.
A heart that had shriveled from indifference,
divorcing love from its central place.

Cold is the wind that buffers my body,
muscles shiver and quiver without warmth.
Body long neglected now falling apart,
euthanasia by monthly installments.

Gloom is the spirit and soul,
of a man who once stroll forth as a king.
A soul that is as fragmented as the spirit,
imprisoned in a dungeon of flesh.

Dark...

wait...is that light?

Darkness

Dark

Dark is the recesses of my mind,
blackness envelope my thoughts,
blocking out the light.
Cobwebs covered rooms of memories,
days and nights long dead and gone.

Black is the heart that beat in my chest,
marking and beating time to my dying.
A heart that had shriveled from indifference,
divorcing love from its central place.

Cold is the wind that buffers my body,
muscles shiver and quiver without warmth.
Body long neglected now falling apart,
euthanasia by monthly installments.

Gloom is the spirit and soul,
of a man who once stroll forth as a king.
A soul that is as fragmented as the spirit,
imprisoned in a dungeon of flesh.

Dark...

wait...is that light?

Theologically Reflective Christian Professionals

Journal Article Review

Barns, Ian (2002), Becoming Theologically Reflective Practitioners in Professional Life, Journal of Christian Education, Vol.45, No. 2, September : 7-20


Dr. Ian Barns, Lecturer in Science and technology Policy, Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia made a refreshing appeal for the need to help Christian professionals to be theologically reflective. This is a need that is long felt by many Christian professionals who are considered laypersons by the church professionals or clergy and by the seminary academicians.

In asking the question why Christian professionals are not theologically formed, Barns was very astute in his observations. It is true that professionals lead busy lives and have heavy workload and it is the training of the profession itself that narrow them down to looking for basic professional knowledge and skills to carry out their responsibilities. This is also carried forth when they face general issues facing their professions. They tend to see in specifics rather than generalities. Theology is seeing the big picture from God’s viewpoint. Another obvious point is that most churches do not offer theological training and those professionals who wanted more have go to the theological colleges. In the past, these have to leave their professions to be allowed to undergo theological training. Recently, there is awareness by theological colleges that there is a large body of professionals out there who are hungry for theological training. There are now evening classes and seminars for professionals.

Barns is interested in the pedagogy of Christian professionals who can do theological reflection in their professions. The desired outcome will be that of a Christian professional who will be personally able to do theological reflection and also be in fellowship with other theologically reflective Christians in the same professions. Barns have suggested 8 key elements to enhance theological reflection. These are:
1. Reflecting on ‘practice stories’p.11
2. Reflecting on the “structural challenges of the profession” p.11
3. Reflecting on the “ethical framework of professional practice” p.12
4. “Articulating the gospel as a framework for public truth” p.13
5. “Living a Eucharistic way of life” p.14
6. “Recovering the vocation of the kingdom of God” p.15
7. “Christian casuity in professional practice” p.16
8. “Fostering Christian solidarities” p.17
These are powerful elements if one is to be able to be theologically reflective. Practice stories are a wonderful tool for teaching, encouraging and motivation. These practice stories should be linked to the Christian Story, the meta-narrative of the redemptive work of God. Only then may it make sense. How does one reflect on practice stories, structural challenges of the profession and its ethical framework? As he has mentioned earlier, professionals are more problem solvers than reflectors. That means there will need to be teaching on how to reflect in his program. Reflection also needs time and solitude. Again in a busy professional lifestyle, how is one to find this time for reflection? It will be interesting to see how Barns resolve these problems in his ‘in situ’ theological reflection professionals approach.

For the 8 key elements to be effective and for a Christian professional to be able to reflect theologically, he or she must have at least a basic theological foundation in order to do so. This is assume a certain level of knowledge of the Bible, systematic theology, cultural imperatives, issues of the profession, hermeneutics, critical thinking and learning, and the ability to integrate all this information through the filter of a Christian worldview. The reflecting professional needs a theological foundation before he or she can reflect. This then becomes a classic chicken and egg situation. Do the professional reflect first, and then become theological informed later or be theological first and then reflect later? Would short courses be able to provide the foundations? What would the other “holistic process for Christian professional development” be?

Would Christian communities be able to help? While professionals may be master in moving between worlds, church professionals often have difficulties moving out of their world. This also applies to programs organised by theological colleges. Such programs are often taught by theologians who may have little or no idea what challenges the professionals face outside the lecture halls.

Can Christian professional bodies help? Often Christian professional bodies or societies are non-reflective. They either look towards the theologians in the seminaries to give them the answers or to other similar bodies to give answers. Again, as a result of their training, they prefer to do rather than to reflect. They are Marthas rather than Marys. That is why historically they have not been very effective in giving a Christian voice in their profession. They have always been reactive rather than proactive.

The paper was written in 2002. It will be interesting to follow Barns’ progress in producing theological reflective lawyers ‘in situ’