HMM? MAYOR OVER

LONDON, THEN TOKYO,

THEN HONG KONG…

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #9

The Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27) primarily relates to how believers should maximize and optimize resources and opportunities the Lord has given us; to serve God and advance His Kingdom, even as we await His return.  This parable is quite similar to the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30).

What fires my imagination and excitement is the reward that “the man of noble birth” in the parable gave to the faithful servants: “Well done, my good servant!  Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”  “You take charge of five cities.”

If we could take these rewards above literally, it could mean that “taking charge of cities” may be one way where the faithful would reign with Jesus Christ after the Parousia!

When would and how could the above take place?  One possibility would be during the 1000 years of the Millennium (Rev 20).  Wow!!!  If this hypothesis comes to pass, then maybe I will make a humble request to the Almighty God to allow me to serve as Mayor over London for 150 years… then move over to Tokyo for 180 years… and then Hong Kong for 100 years… and then… and then…

Hahaha!  I am well aware of the many contradicting theories and views regarding the Millennium.  If the hypothesis above is all but a fantasy, no problem at all!  I will still get to reign with Christ in whatever ways He decides.  I just need to remain faithful to Him right now, right here on Planet Earth; and wait eagerly to see Him face to face one day!  Amen!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

WATCH A MOVIE?!

ORGANIZE A CONCERT?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #8

When we talk about TV and movie, we are actually talking about entertainment.  We have to admit that entertainment has become an indispensible and integrated part of life here on Earth.  We feel bored so easily, don’t we?  Then we reach out for the TV remote control…  Then we start surfing the various channels…  Or, we dip into our pocket to look for our smart phone…  Or, we look around the house to see who has taken the iPad…  Music, youtube, movie, games, FB…

But this posting about TV and movie is more than mere entertainment.  It is about The ARTS…  Will the arts continue to exist, even flourish in Heaven and Eternity?!

Will we still have guitars and pianos?  Will there be concerts?

Will we still have ballet?  Will there be dance performances?

Will we still have brushes and canvases?  Will there be art exhibitions?

           

Will people still compose songs, cut CDs, write dramas, make movies, and broadcast programs?!

Heaven and Eternity will be a long, long, long time to hang out with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit?  I do not think we should become bored so easily.  But still, it would be nice to be able to dance with the angels, to compose a new song with David, to work out a pantomime with Jeremiah, to discuss architecture with Nehemiah, and to study literature with Solomon.

And of course, some of us would really like to JAM with the LAMB, literally!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

DOG?  CAT?  GOLD FISH?

OR SOMETHING EXOTIC?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #7

Some dog-lovers would swear that there will be a “DOG HEAVEN”.  Others pet-lovers would argue till the cow comes home that their beloved four-legged creative will somehow make it to heaven…

Me?  Hehehe!  My favourite animal is the chicken.  I love to eat them!!!  Deep-fried, stir-fried, steamed, stewed… all are welcomed.  Yum!  Yum!  Yum!

I think we can be quite sure that there will be animals in Heaven and Eternity.  Isa 11:6-9 paint a beautiful picture of a future harmony; where the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat…  Calves and lions will eat together, and be cared by little children…  I think having pets would surely be a possibility, since the texts also mentioned little children caring for these animals.  (This thought will certainly make my two daughters very very happy!)

Oh… the texts also say that the cow will feed with the bear… and the lion will eat straw like the ox…  Hmmm, if the animals would eat in Heaven and Eternity, then this will also strengthen the case of us eating as well.  YES!!!  AMEN!!!

Errr but, I hope we would not become vegetarians; or worse still, be converted to eating grass like the ox.  Hahaha!  Anyway, just trust God lah.  He knows best.

Ok finally… please remember that if you want to keep any pets in the hereafter, you would also have to feed them, bathe them, and take care of their poop!!!  Enjoy!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

AIYOO!!!  NO iPAD?!

STEVE JOB...
WHERE ARE YOU?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #6

Some time ago, I overhead this remark: “沒有iPad, 如何過日子?!”  Translated into English, this simply meant: “No iPad?! How am I going to pass my time?!”

The person who made this remark was not an obnoxious teenager, nor a swanky young adult.  It was a medieval lady in her late 50s!!!  Hahaha!

So… Heaven and Eternity got iPod, iPad, iPhone and internet or not?!  Frankly, I don’t know loh.  And even if Steve Job is in Heaven, I do not think he will be the person calling the shot on this one.

The real issue behind this posting is the question of technology in the hereafter.  Since the days of Adam and Eve; humankind has not ceased discovering, researching and inventing.  As a whole, we have come up with many innovations and technologies that are certainly wholesome and wonderful!  Rather than learning to live with them, it is more like we now find that we really cannot live without them!!!

Probably it will be such a waste if all the technologies we have developed thus far would just disappear like that.  When I ponder about this right here right now, I do feel the lost.  But maybe when I step into Eternity, I might just think and feel differently…

Or perhaps, the Technologies of Eternity will just blow our mind.  Consider Rev 22:5 : “Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light...”

I think no scientist or theologian will be able to adequately comprehend or explain how Rev 22:5 can be.  But it will be super super awesome!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

READY, GET SET, GO!!!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #5

I guess INCORRUPTIBLE and IMMORTAL Bodies will probably not grow fat and flabby, even if we do not get to exercise and work out.  But I think playing sports is more than just burning calories.  There is the simple fun and joy of just kicking a ball around with the gang…  There is the satisfaction of teamwork and achievement… There is the adrenalin rush of extreme sports…

I have no Scriptures to support sports in Heaven and Eternity.  I do not think there is any.  But the Bible does have a good number of sport imageries when talking about spiritual stuff.  We are to run the race (of faith) set before us patiently (Heb 12:1-2).  We are not to run without a goal, or box by beating our fists in the air (1 Cor 9:24-27).  And finally, we will all stand before the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ to receive incorruptible crowns or medals (2 Cor 5:10).

So, I am 50-50 about whether we will do sports or not in Heaven and Eternity; but I am sure some of my friends may be storming the Gates of Heaven about this.  Hmm… if we are really going to kick the ball around up there, I do have some questions for us to ponder:  Who is going to make sure the field is nice and green and grassy?!  And when our incorruptible and immortal bodies waste the balls in no time at all, who will make new ones for us?!

Finally, I am actually not qualified to talk about sports at all; because I am a confirmed and certified kaki bangku who is not really bothered with the Reds or the Blues, the NBA or the World Cup.  And at the end of the day, if there are no sports for all eternity; it will be no sweat at all for me.  Hehehe!  Let’s wait and see!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

EVERYBODY…

EAT! CHIAK!! MAKAN!!!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #4

Hahaha… will INCORRUPTIBLE and IMMORTAL Bodies need food and drink?  Going by the Chinese saying: 吃為天… food is actually a heavenly enjoyment right now right here on earth; and I (together with many others, I am quite certain) will surely and sorely miss eating, if we cannot jalan jalan cari makan in Heaven!

So, will we eat and drink or not?!  I think we will… and my conviction at the moment is that I am quite sure we will.  At the last supper, Jesus implied that He will only drink the fruit of the vine again when the Kingdom finally comes (Luke 22:18)…  The resurrected Christ ate fish (Luke 24:42-43)…  The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9) is the imagery of a grand wedding feast (I would like to know the menu, haha!) when Christ receives His Bride…  The New Jerusalem will have special trees of life which will bear different fruits each month (Rev 22:1-2)…

For me, the question of eating is quite settled.  I am actually concerned with other more “sticky” questions…  If we do eat, who will be preparing, cooking and washing?!  Where will the food come from?!  (Only two main ways to get food actually: catch them or plant them…)  And, if we do eat, will we need to go to the toilet and pang sai?!  Eh… got input must also got output what?!

Some people think that angels will be doing all the work and we can just concentrate on eating…  Others think that our incorruptible and immortal bodies can handle input without any output…  Hmmm… nice thoughts, but I do not think so…

YES!  Heaven and Eternity will be awesome!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

SPECIAL BODIES?!

SUPER POWERS?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #3

“Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed.  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump… For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality…”

Oh how I love the KJV rendition of 1 Cor 15:51-53 above!  It is exciting to think about the resurrected bodies that we will have! 

What will this body be like?  I think we could be quite sure that incorruptibility and immortality would likely mean that we will not age… we will not fall sick… we will not degenerate…  What can this body do?  Well, Jesus in His resurrected body was able to walk through shut doors (John 20:19), and vanish just like that (Luke 24:31)… assuming our resurrected bodies would be patterned after Jesus’.

But there are more questions… If I die at 78, will I look 78 for the rest of Eternity?  What about a 17 year old?  Will this guy or girl continue to grow in Heaven, or remain 17 forever?  And, what about people with physical defects…?

Well, well, well… I am not sure at all…  Paul did say that it will be a MYSTERY!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

WORSHIP & WORSHIP

24/7 WORSHIP?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #2

Worship will surely be an important component of Heaven and Eternity.  But will the afterlife consist purely of songs and music and dances… 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?!  Like a never-ending worship service?!

The above is a sentimental thought, especially for those of us who love music and who really enjoy Praise & Worship.  But I think Heaven and Eternity will most certainly not be a 24/7 Praise & Worship Service.  According to the Scriptures, it seems that one of the believers’ main pre-occupation in the afterlife will be to reign with Christ and to serve Him (Rev 22:3-5).  And, I am quite sure that reigning with Christ and serving Him would entail a whole lot of things to do…

In addition, I think perhaps we could project what Heaven & Eternity could be like but thinking about how Adam and Eve (Gen 1:28) would probably live today, should they have not fallen into sin then…

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #1

In the 1970s and 1980s, there used to be a saying that went something like this: Some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use…

We do not hear this anymore because the saying is probably not applicable today.  Perhaps the fact is that most of us are so earthly minded that Heaven & Eternity hardly cross our minds.  It is both sad and dangerous that many Christians today are just so caught up in our earthly day to day pursuits that we have forgotten that this world is not our real home.

Heaven, Eternity and the Blessed Hope ought to be one of the prime motivations in our Christian Faith.  Let us take a bit of time to ponder, imagine and anticipate…

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

LGBTIQ??!!

Examining the Issues 5

It is no secret that LGBTIQ movements and entities supporting or promoting this cause are working very hard (intentionally or unintentionally) for their respective agendas.  It is not a secret, but yet many people (including Christians and churches) may not be aware.

Cultural revolutionaries know very well that the key to change any culture or any cultural norms or perceptions is to capture the hearts and minds of the young and emerging generation…

Hence, through both subtle and high profile approaches, it is quite apparent that LGBTIQ and/or pro-LGBTIQ movements and entities supporting or promoting this cause are pressing forward steadily and strategically; from seeking tolerance, on to advocating acceptance, and then promoting approval, and even fighting for rights, and eventually openly celebrating homosexuality and related behaviors.

The channels through which the LGBTIQ agenda is pursued among others include literature, TV shows, movies, advocacies, special events, as well as political maneuvers.  Behind all these channels are propagandas aimed at persuading, convincing and probably also indoctrinating the general public.

It is good that we take a closer look at a few of these persuasions or propagandas…

PERSUASION #1:

LGBTIQ PEOPLE WERE BORN LIKE THAT…

IT IS NATURALLY US…

LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people would affirm that homosexuality and/or related behaviors are no different from heterosexuality.  No better, no worse.  It is merely a different sexual preference or a different sexual orientation.  LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people further advocate that their sexual orientations are something they are born inherently with.  Such orientations are completely natural to them. 

“We really cannot help it…  And we are happy about it.  Or at least we should be happy about it…  And therefore, we do not need to change… we do not want to change… we cannot be changed…”

PERSUASION #2:

DON’T BE HOMOPHOBIC OR TRANSPHOBIC…

PLEASE ACCEPT US...

From the previous “persuasion”, LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people move on to spread the ideas that homosexual and related orientations and behaviors are to be accepted.   People are labeled homophobic (meaning they have unreasonable fear against homosexuality) if they disagree with homosexuality.  People are called transphobic (meaning they have irrational fear against trans-sexuality) if they prejudice trans-sexuality.

“Not accepting homosexuality and/or trans-sexuality is intolerance… It is wrong and unacceptable to say that homosexuality and/or trans-sexuality are wrong and unacceptable…”

PERSUASION #3:

DON’T BE PREJUDICE AGAINST US…

LGBTIQ RIGHTS MUST BE RESPECTED…

To carry their persuasions even further, LGBTIQ and pro-LGBTIQ people often portray disagreements to LGBTIQ orientations and related behaviors as prejudicial, bigoted, closed-minded, self-righteous and oppressive.  Hence, their message is that any disapproval or unfavorable comments and actions against LGBTIQ orientations and behaviors are actually transgressions against their rights.

“Please do not bully us…  LGBTIQ people have equal rights as non-LGBTIQ people you know…  Nobody has the right to impose their contra-LGBTIQ moral standards on us…”

We can be certain that mistreatments, prejudices, oppressions, and aggressions against our LGBTIQ friends and neighbors (and as a matter of fact against any people) are unbiblical and wrong.  There is no doubt about this whatsoever!  Christians and churches need to know this well.  It is so so easy to say that LGBTIQ orientations and behaviors are wrong, and to say this in a wrong wrong way.  We need to be very careful about this.

But yet on the other hand, there will be people who will want Christians and churches to say nothing.  Such people will want to make us “keep our opinions to ourselves” by making us think that we would otherwise be imposing our morality on others…  Such people will want us not to disagree with LGBTIQ orientations and behaviors by making us think that we would otherwise be intolerant…  Such people will even want us to join in the celebration of LGBTIQ sexuality by making us think that we would otherwise be close-minded…

So how then should we engage our LGBTIQ friends and neighbors?  To be honest, there are no simple answers.  We could start by gaining a proper understanding of the matter…  We should begin to be aware of related developments in our society…  We must continue to genuinely love and respect them…

And at the same time, we need to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15a).  Jesus’ responses to the woman caught in an adulterous act (John 8:1-11) could be a good passage for us to draw lessons from.  It is so wonderful to note that Jesus protected the sinful woman from self-righteous people who are all out to condemn her.  But yet Jesus did not close an eye to her sin.  At the opportune time, Jesus offered hope and admonished her to leave her life of sin…

IMPORTANT NOTES:

This is the fifth article (and probably the final) of a series of postings that Jason Fong has written on various issues related to the LGBTIQ matter.  The book, GOD’S GRACE AND THE HOMOSEXUAL NEXT DOOR (Harvest House Publishers) has significantly helped shaped Jason’s thoughts expressed above.  He recommends this book, which is written by Alan Chambers and the Leadership Team at EXODUS INTERNATIONAL (a ministry helping people overcome homosexuality), to people who are interested to read/study more.

If this article has helped you gain a better understanding of the LGBTIQ matter, or if you think this article will help someone else; please feel free to forward it or used it in any way that would bring glory to God.  If appropriate, please acknowledge the source when quoting this material.  Jason Fong also welcomes your thoughts and comments for mutually edifying interactions.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect those of the Christian organization Jason works in, nor the church or denomination he belongs to.

REFELECTIONS

ON BERSIH 3.0

Answering Serious Questions

I went to the BERSIH 3.0 Duduk & Bantah with 4 other people.  We parked somewhere near Kampung Atap and then walked towards Petaling Street.  Eventually the five of us (3 ladies and 2 guys) had to stop at a junction near Jalan Tun Perak, because the crowd could not proceed further.

The crowd at BERSIH 3.0 was so much bigger than BERSIH 2.0 last year.  But the composition of the people was the same… Malays, Chinese, Indians, “dan lain lain”, as well as a handful of orang putih.  There young people and older people, and some children.

There was an air of festivity at Bersih 3.0, which many people concurred in their FB postings and blogs.  Small balloons and big ones…  Yellow flowers and fanciful umbrellas…  Headgears and cartoon masks…  And a notable flock of yellow “angry birds” which were not angry at all.

By about 3pm, it appeared to us that the rally was coming to an end.  People were leaving slowly, and so my friends and I follow suit.  By about 3:15pm we will already walking pass the Traffic Police Station to get to our car.  By about 3:30pm we were sipping coconut juice at a mamak shop along Jalan Gasing.

In our group, three of us (including myself) were at BERSIH 2.0.  We are talking and comparing the two rallies.  Maybe some of us were expecting “more actions and dramas” from BERSIH 3.0.  It was about then that the twitters and FB postings came in with news about the mayhem.  Ah… we missed the actions?!

Eventually I came back home.  News about breaking through the barricades, attacking the police and overturning a police car really disturbed me.  More news and accusations over the next few days, though within my expectations, perplexed me further…

I did not know what to say about BERSIH 3.0 on FB, except to post these 4 questions:

Q1    Who or what started the violence?

Q2    Should BERSIH Organizers be held responsible?

Q3    Were there police brutality?

Q4    Will I attend BERSIH 4.0, if there will be one?

Over the next few days, I read various reports and articles.  I posted these articles on my FB.  I prayed through and I thought through.  Here are my personal convictions and answers to my own questions:

Q1    Who or what started the violence?

Maybe there were agent provocateurs planted by people from the other side.  Maybe these planted agents started the violence.  Maybe some political people within the BERSIH group had plans to provoke the police for their own personal agenda.  Maybe…  There were accusations and denials.  There will be counter-accusations and counter-denials.  The sad thing is that often we will never know the truth.

But I am quite sure that 99% of the people who were at BERSIH 3.0 had no intention to provoke and attack the police.  All we wanted were reformations in the electoral processes.

Q2    Should BERSIH Organizers be held responsible?

One of the first things BERSIH said to the newspapers was an admission that they lost control of the crowd.  They said that the dismissal was announced, but not all heard it and/or followed the instructions.

I respect BERSIH for saying the above.  To me, this is honesty and integrity.  I wish more people were like this.

Having said the above, I do not think BERSIH should be held accountable for what people did at the rally.  I was there at the rally.  I went there on my own accord.  I am not a member of BERSIH.  I have not made any application, nor signed any forms, nor paid any subscriptions.  If I had littered the streets, damaged public properties, or hurt anyone during the rally; could I pass the buck to BERSIH?!

This was a gathering of at least 80,000 people.  Literally, anything could have happened.  Had BERSIH been given the permission to use the Dataran, maybe the chaos and violence could have been avoided.  Maybe…  Just maybe…

Q3    Were there police brutality?

This is a non-question.  While protesters have been arrested, and some charged rightfully; I wonder what will happen to the policemen and FRU personnel who threatened, and kicked, and punched, and fired tear gas indiscriminately, and damaged cameras…

Q4    Will I attend BERSIH 4.0, if there will be one?

God willing, I will!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

If this article has blessed you, or if you think this article will bless someone; please feel free to forward it or used it in any way that would bring glory to God.  If appropriate, please acknowledge the source when quoting this material.  Jason Fong also welcomes your thoughts and comments for mutually edifying interactions.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect those of the Christian organization Jason works in, nor the church or denomination he belongs to.

praise&prayer

20 March 2012

I had just finished a youth camp in Johor.  We had more than 70 campers coming from 3 churches.  I really enjoyed speaking to the youths; challenging them to think about what abundant life means here and now, as well as in the hereafter.  Praise the Lord!

Join me to pray that the seeds of God’s Word would remain in the hearts of these young people, will germinate and take roots, and will grow and bear fruits.

I think more than a dozen people friended me on Facebook after the camp!  Great!  I hope we could interact further…  Via Facebook, I hope to be a catalyst that God can use to stimulate awareness and critical thinking of what is going on in our everyday life.

I will be in Jakarta over this weekend till early next week (21-27 Mac).  I have a full itinerary lined up, including speaking engagements in a seminary, a youth seminar, two Sunday Worship Services, an SU Staff Meeting, and a school.  Please pray for God’s anointing, wisdom, strength and grace to be upon me.  Pray too that God’s Word would go forth in power and clarity, to touch and transform lives.

On top of these preaching engagements, I will be chairing and/or facilitating 4 planning meetings with various committees for the coming SUEWA 2012/13 International Students Camp.  This camp will be held in Indonesia after Christmas.  We project that at least 120 students from about 15 countries will attend.  Please pray that God will lead and guide us in all our discussions.  Pray too for good decisions to be made.

Thank you and God bless!

LGBTIQ?!

Examining the Issues 4

There are many misconceptions about homosexuality and the LGBTIQ issues.  Too many Christians and churches have not made enough effort to gain an adequate understanding of these matters.  As a result, we are not able to effectively reach out to homosexual people outside the church, as well as to help Christians with homosexual struggles and tendencies within the church.

It is not the intention of this article to comprehensively deal with all the wrong ideas and/or myths related to homosexuality.  Only three core misconceptions are dealt with here.  Clarifying the issues here should be helpful for us to take our first steps towards understanding, loving and helping people with homosexual struggles.

MYTH #1:

HOMOSEXUALITY IS A WORSE SIN THAN OTHERS

People like to grade sins.  We like to think that some sins are really bad, and some are not so.  We have become comfortable with lying, gluttony and the love of money.  We may have even “accepted” these sins are “normal”.  But at the top of the hierarchy of sin that we have formulated (either consciously or unconsciously) are the stuff that we think are really horrendous and deplorable like pedophilia, sorcery and homosexuality.

There is no evidence in Scriptures to endorse such a rating of sins.  On the contrary, the Bible grouped cowardice, unfaithfulness, murder, sexual immorality, witchcraft, idolatry and lying altogether in the same one statement (Rev 21:8); and pronounced the common judgment for all such deeds.

This misconception will inevitably promote an attitude of “I am holier than those people…” or the thought that “My sins are too terrible for God to forgive…”.  Such attitudes or thoughts need to be eliminated.

MYTH #2:

HOMOSEXUALITY IS ALL ABOUT SEX

Many people have the mistaken idea that homosexuality is all about sexual attraction to people of the same gender and acting out all those lustful desires.  No!  Even though SEX is right in the middle of the word homoSEXuality, sex is not the core issue of homosexuality.  The fact is that many people in their early stages of struggling with homosexuality (often as young as 11 or 12 years old) were not looking for sexual encounters or satisfaction in the first place.

In reality, homosexuality is essentially the wrong reactions and responses to a legitimate need; the need for love, acceptance, affirmation and identity.  These wrong reactions and responses are the results of sexual disorientation or confusion regarding a person’s masculinity and/or femininity in the context of circumstantial conditionings, traumatic experiences, spiritual/demonic and/or genetic factors.  (Please refer to previous related articles.)

It is so easy to misconceive sex to be the core issue in homosexuality.  Just like other sexual immoralities such as pre-marital sex and adultery, sex is a very convincing counterfeit to love, acceptance and intimacy.  This misconception need to be dispelled because it will distract us from effectively ministering to the real needs of LGBTIQ people.

MYTH #3:

MARRIAGE WILL FIX HOMOSEXUALITY

Biblically and theologically, the opposite of homosexuality is NOT heterosexuality.  The opposite of sex between same genders is NOT sex between opposite genders.  As much as sex between same genders is definitely sinful, sex between opposite genders is not necessarily “not sinful”.  Pre-marital sex, adultery and rape (involving people of the opposite sex) are all sinful.  We need to understand this.

Therefore, the concept that heterosexuality is the opposite of homosexuality is a misconception that arises from shallow and simplistic thinking.  Such a misconception makes us think that a heterosexual romantic relationship and ultimately marriage; would help someone overcome homosexuality.  And this misconception also causes us to expect that when a homosexual person comes before God and is “set free”; he or she would become “straight” and attraction to people of the opposite sex would immediately kick in, and that person would/should automatically start dating someone.  And, we think erroneously that everything is now settled, good and well.

NO!!!  Rather, the opposite of homosexuality is actually HOLINESS.  Holiness would be something that the repentant homosexual (as with all other sinners) should be hungering for.  In many cases, this will be a process, a journey of sanctification; in the context of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, dependence on the grace of God Almighty, and active obedience to the commandments in the Scriptures through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is important to know that such misconceptions about homosexuality have negatively influenced and shaped the attitudes, words and deeds of the churches and Christians towards the LGBTIQ people.  And similarly, we need to know too that the LGBTIQ community has their own misconceptions about Christ, Christianity and the Church largely due to our prejudices.

“Hate the sin but love the sinner…” though fundamentally true, may be too simplistic an approach for us to effectively reach and help people with LGBTIQ issues.  We need to unpack this statement, and ask ourselves how we can truly love our LGBTIQ neighbors.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

This is the fourth article of a series of postings that Jason Fong hopes to write on various issues related to the LGBTIQ matter.  The book, GOD’S GRACE AND THE HOMOSEXUAL NEXT DOOR (Harvest House Publishers) has significantly helped shaped Jason’s thoughts expressed above.  He recommends this book, which is written by Alan Chambers and the Leadership Team at EXODUS INTERNATIONAL (a ministry helping people overcome homosexuality), to people who are interested to read/study more.

If this article has blessed you, or if you think this article will bless someone; please feel free to forward it or used it in any way that would bring glory to God.  If appropriate, please acknowledge the source when quoting this material.  Jason Fong also welcomes your thoughts and comments for mutually edifying interactions.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this article may not necessarily reflect those of the Christian organization Jason works in, nor the church or denomination he belongs to.