I haven't been writing here but many thoughts have been brewing in my head.
i really couldn't say i enjoy mission trip talks very much, especially wen people get to the component of describing the local people, how worldly they are and how much they are in need of God, then everyone listening would show concerned faces and start praying for the special people who really need God...
NO i am not saying thats bad.
i am just thinking that if ever missionaries from another country come to australia, in describing the local people they probably would say: the australian ppl only care abt easter bunnies and chocolates during easter, and their christmas is only a materialistic gift exchange ritual... they really need God, then everyone listening would show concerned faces and start praying for the special australians...
well... lots of times we couldn't help ourselves feeling a slight sense of superiority when we hear the description of the special people who need God bad, at least I couldn't before I realised this with horror. well maybe everyone else praying for mission trips have nobler souls.
i think we all need God equally bad... whether we r long term church goers or cannibals in some unknown tropical islands. Charactestics, habits, cultures and behaviours do not make us need God more or less. ppl from conservative families shouldn't look at ppl who are sexually lenient with some sort of horror and think their lives are more messed up than ours. we who just never had that temptation doesnt mean we are better people who need to humble less.
and are stereotype "insights" about people really insights? people everywhere are different, very much within their own cultural group. probably by generalising from wat we see(aren't we merely scratching a fraction of a surface most of the time?)we have really missed out what more people out there would need?
if we are just happy to scratch the surface and eager to show our concerned faces, if we have no intention to understand more before we jump to many conclusions, are we really showing Christ's love to a different group of people?
i cringe each time when i hear speakers on the pulpit laughing or condemning with horror, of other religions' practices. and i cringe more to hear many people laughing along.
do we really understand enough to justify such a laugh? if ever we have the right to laugh or condemn or put lightly these things?
if so christianity will be subject to many laughs: their saviour is this madman who got killed like a prisoner. they have some erotic poems in the middle of their bible. who wants to take those things seriously?
and to many condemnations: their God is this freak who even kill women and children! how horrible are those people who believe that religion?
well in such cases many keen God warriors would want to argue... you are just seeing it with a wrong attitude, and you are not reading the full scripture and reading it deep to understand God! we will pray for your change of mind because you are wrong about these things.
well... in this case, what unpleasant things are we doing to others that we would tell other ppl off for if they do it to us? by merely seeing the surface, and say: it looks so horrible! why do people want to belive such a horrible religion?
well, maybe there is a reason for such things, and one that at least makes sense to the human mind.
and more than enough to justify basic respect even if we do not think they are real or true.
and if we are really fired and called to rebuke, spend the time to learn and understand before we speak, would be a very gracious thing to do.
hummm.. i dun know how this turned out like this... sunday after church i watched many episodes of bayside shakedown and wrote quite a bit of AKIRA and talked to friends from yunnan... so i should be in a really happy easy mood.. O....O
i will go and pray now... i probably will be scared of my own harsh words wen i read it next... O....O
