Sudah Graduan, Jadi Apa Sekarang? Masuk ke Alam Pekerjaan.

 Kepada Graduan-Graduan baru khususnya,

Salam sejahtera.

Tuhan Allah mempunyai rencana bagi setiap kehidupan manusia, dan telah memanggil setiap umat-Nya yang mahu mendengar-Nya dan mahu mentaati-Nya, ke satu pekerjaan yang dapat memuliakan nama-Nya. Apa yang kita hanya perlu buat ialah menjawab panggilan-Nya dengan membuat pilihan tentang pekerjaan kita.

Jika kamu masih belum lagi bekerja, saya menasihati agar kamu jangan terus terjun ke alam perkerjaan dengan sambil lewa; memilih kerja yang ‘kebetulan’ ada kekosongan tanpa berfikir, atau terus memilih perkerjaan yang menawarkan gaji yang lumayan dalam sekelip mata [Tapi, saya menggalakkan kamu bekerja separuh masa sementara menunggu pekerjaan yang Tuhan panggil untuk kamu]. Cuba cari dahulu apa yang Tuhan Allah mahu kamu lakukan. Mengikut pengalaman saya, hanya sesetengah pelajar sahaja yang betul-betul pasti tentang apa yang dia akan lakukan selepas graduan dari sekolah atau kolej atau universiti; bagi kebanyakkan pula – tidak pasti. Adakah kamu begitu? Jangan risau, mungkin kamu masih lagi belum menjumpainya: terus mencari dan menunggu panggilan-Nya.

Terus terang saya katakan, tidak mudah untuk kamu mendapat tahu apakah pekerjaan yang sesuai bagi kamu – yang Tuhan telah panggil bagi kamu, tapi ianya tidak mustahil juga. Namun begitu, di sini ada beberapa cadangan atau petunjuk yang mungkin dapat membantu kamu sebagai jalan untuk mencari pekerjaan itu.

1.      Berdoa

Berdoa bukan hanya sekali dua, berdoalah setiap hari (atau bila saja kamu berfikir tentang hal itu). Ini mungkin mengambil masa yang agar lama, mungkin juga sekejap – tidak pasti bila. Apa yang kamu perlu buat ialah melihat petunjuk yang Tuhan telah berikan kepada kamu. Dan sentiasa berjaga-jaga (‘alert’), sensitif dengan pimpinan Roh Kudus.

2.      Mendapatkan Nasihat daripada Orang Lain

Tuhan Allah kadang-kadang memimpin kita melalui pengetahuan, kebijaksanaan, dan pengalaman orang lain; ibubapa, keluarga dan rakan-rakan yang pakar atau mahir dalam bidang-bidang pekerjaan tertentu. Terima nasihat daripada orang lain; tapi keputusan kamu mestilah pilihan kamu sendiri (dan bukannya orang lain!).

3.      Lihat Bakat, Keupayaan dan Kemahiran Kamu

Apa yang kamu boleh lakukan dengan bagus sekali? Lebih bagus daripada yang lain? Bakat, keupayaan dan kemahiran yang kamu ada ialah pemberian Tuhan kepada kamu – dan mungkin juga ianya berkaitan dengan pekerjaan yang Dia telah rencanakan untuk kamu. Pertimbangkan setiap bakat yang kamu ada.

4.      Pertimbangkan juga Minat Kamu

Apa yang kamu suka buat? Apa yang kamu betul-betul seronok buat? Jangan tidak endah apa yang kamu minat sekarang, ianya mungkin satu petujuk, arah jalan bagi pekerjaan yang sudah disediakan untuk kamu.

5.      Akhir sekali, Pertimbangkan Keperluan Semasa (Sekeliling) Kamu

Apakah keperluan (‘need’) di sekitar kamu? “Dimana ada keperluan, disitu ada peluang”. Tuhan selalunya (dalam kes saya sendiri) memanggil umat-Nya untuk bekerja di sesuatu pekerjaan dengan membuatkan mereka sedar akan keperluan di sekeliling mereka. Kadang-kadang keperluan itu berterusan, kadang-kadang berubah. Cuba ambil kira keperluan masyarakat atau komuniti dengan sikap ingin berkhidmat untuk orang lain.

Secara ideal, kita mahukan pekerjaan yang senang, tiada halangan dan bebas untuk melakukan pekerjaan sesuai dengan panggilan-Nya. Namun begitu, kita harus sedar bahawa kita sekarang hidup di dunia yang dicemari oleh dosa dan belum sempurna lagi. Sesetengah daripada kita mungkin tidak selalunya bebas untuk memilih pekerjaan, dan sentiasa bergantung kepada ekonomi semasa atau kekurangan peluang untuk bekerja. Sesetengah orang pula terpaksa melakukan kerja secara mekanikal (maksud saya kerja yang terlampau bergantung kepada rutin setiap masa), dan sesetengah orang pula melakukan kerja yang merosakkan jiwa mereka – tiada sukacita.

Jadi bagaimana kita boleh bekerja mengikut panggil Tuhan di dunia yang tidak sempurna dan penuh dengan dosa ini? Adakah ianya mungkin?

Secara ringkas; semasa Perjanjian Baru mula-mula dahulu, kebanyakkan orang Kristian bekerja dengan majikan-majikan asing semasa pemerintahan Roma. Percayalah, keadaan sekeliling atau masyakat di situ memang tidak ideal! (sama juga seperti sekarang). Pun begitu, Rasul Paulus terus menggesa orang-orang Kristian untuk terus bekerja demi Yesus Kristus dalam setiap kehidupan seharian mereka. Dia menulis, “Lakukan semua tugas dengan sepenuh hati, seolah-olah kamu melakukannya untuk Tuhan dan bukan untuk manusia” (Kolose 3:23) Seperti dulu, kita sekarang juga perlu mentaai Firman Tuhan dengan bekerja untuk kemuliaan Tuhan Yesus. Carilah jalan (dengan pimpinan Roh Kudus) untuk mengubah setiap perkerjaan yang akan (atau telah) kamu lakukan sebagai satu peluang untuk menyembah dan berkerja bagi Tuhan Allah kita. Bukankah Yesus sendiri yang mengatakan: “Hendaklah cahaya kamu bersinar di hadapan orang, supaya mereka melihat perbuatan kamu yang baik, lalu memuji Bapa kamu yang di syurga” (Matius 5:16)? Ini ialah rencana-Nya dalam setiap kehidupan manusia, termasuk juga dalam pekerjaan kamu nanti – supaya semua orang memuji-Nya melalui pekerjaan kamu.

Semoga Tuhan Allah menyertai kamu. Amen.

Richard Angelus

Selamat mencari Pekerjaan di luar sana!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Part 1: Jesus Christ – Main Events in the Gospels (ii)

Actually, this series is from Understanding Bible Truth booklets by Robert Hicks and Richard Bewes (1981), but I have expanded some texts for modern readers (to make it easier to read) and added Scripture quotes (I’m using ESV Bible) into these writings to clarify its points more clearly. My purpose of making this series available in the internet is single: So that you can be clear the essential facts about the Bible’s teaching in a readily understandable form.

First, What is Gospel?

The word “gospel” is derived from the two Anglo-Saxon words ‘God’, meaning ‘good’, and ‘spell’ meaning ‘tidings’ or ‘history’. Therefore, the ‘gospel’ means ‘Good tidings’ or as many understands it as ‘good news’. Good news concerning what? The good news concerning Jesus, the Son of God (Henrietta C. Mears writes a very good, simple and easy-to-read chapter on ‘Understanding the Gospel’ in her book What the Bible is All About. I recommend this Bible Handbook to you).

The four Gospels (according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) present the reader with selected significant events in Christ’s life. The following are of particular importance.

Jesus’ Humble Birth

Jesus was born during the reign of the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus, into an extremely poor family (By the way, many prosperity preachers and religious-motivational books today claimed, “God want you to be rich, because Jesus was rich materially” – this is a cosmic joke). He was born in alien surroundings during a Roman census, and He was born into immediate danger – as King Herod sought to kill Him.

These two elements, the humility and insecurity of Jesus’ birth, were to set the pattern of His whole life.

[Refers Luke 2:1-7, Luke 9:57-58, Matthew 2:1-7]

Jesus’ Sinless Baptism

The Baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of His ministry. John the Baptist was calling his hearers to a baptism of repentance. Jesus, however, had no sin of which He could repent. But by His submission to John’s baptism, He showed His identification with sinful humanity. The descent of the Spirit like a dove and the Father’s words of acceptance, which accompanied the baptism, came as God’s approval of the ministry to follow. Matthew 3:16-17 record this event;

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

His Prolong Temptation

Immediately following His baptism, Jesus went into the desert for a period of 40 days, during which He fasted and tempted by the devil.

The temptations that are recorded for us (Matthew 4:1-11) took the form of challenging Jesus to by-pass His mission. Jesus successfully resisted these and all the other temptations that occurred throughout His life. Jesus “in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

His Revealing Transfiguration

Towards the end of His public ministry Jesus took three of His disciples to a mountain-top where He became brilliantly radiant before them (or Jesus Christ in His 'glorified form'). Moses and Elijah appeared, and spoke with Jesus about His coming ordeal in Jerusalem. The disciples also heard a voice of divine approval, as Christ’s baptism, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” The event was clearly a preview, a miniature, of Christ’s glory that lay ahead (Refer to Luke 9:28-36).

His Obedient Death

The tide of events turned against Jesus after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Passover meal that He celebrated with His friends was swiftly followed by His betrayal, by a series of unjust trials, ultimately by death on the cross and by His burial. (P.s: God did not substitute Jesus to someone who looks like Jesus to die on behalf of him like heretics were/are claiming. I was really Jesus died on the cross).

It was a dark hour, but it was the hour for which Jesus had come into the world. He made it clear that He had come, not only to teach and heal, but also to suffer and die for all men.

[Refers to Matthew 26 and 27]

His Victorious Resurrection

36 hours (approximately) after the burial, Jesus’ tomb was found empty, except for the discarded grave clothes; “…the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself…” (John 20:6-7). It was sufficient for John who “saw and believed” (v.8).

Then Jesus began to appear to His friends over a period of 40 days. This was not an illusion, for He took food, could be touched, and was seen alive by hundreds of people. And yet He was uniquely and powerfully different – the victor over death.

The Great Commission

The last time the disciples were to see Jesus on earth was on the Mount of Olives. He commanded them to make disciples everywhere (Matthew 28:16-20); and He promised them the gift of the Spirit, who would give them the power to do this. Jesus was then taken from them, visibly, “[Jesus] parted from them and was carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:51). He would not be seen again until His second coming – His return.

My Conclusion about Main Events in the Gospels

The main events in the Gospels give us record of how our Lord lived, died and rose again – and now live forevermore. Take one event out in the gospels, and we cease to behold the full ministry of Jesus God-man in our universe. To understand the narrative of the Big Picture of God’s plan in the gospels is to understand where you and I would stand in the future. We confidently hope to be with the Lord Jesus in His Kingdom forever. Amen.   

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Part 1: Jesus Christ - His Incarnation (i)

Actually, this series is from Understanding Bible Truth booklets by Robert Hicks and Richard Bewes (1981), but I have expanded some texts for modern readers (to make it easier to read) and added Scripture quotes (I’m using ESV Bible) into these writings to clarify its points more clearly. My purpose of making this series available in the internet is single: So that you can be clear the essential facts about the Bible’s teaching in a readily understandable form.

First, What is Incarnation?

The word “incarnation” means “to become human”. The New Testament tells us that God became human being. This person, Jesus Christ, was fully God and fully man. [If you want to know more about this Great-Mystery-subject, I suggest that you read ‘Chapter 5: God Incarnate’ from J.I. Packer’s Knowing God].

Christ was Son of God before Time and Space

The Bible teaches that Jesus did not come into being when He was born, but that He has always existed as the Son of God. It was through Him that God created the universe, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 declares (see also John 1:1-3),

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Incarnation was a Supernatural Conception

While Christ’s birth was normal as that of any human, His conception occurred through the intervention of the Holy Spirit (read Matthew 1:18-25). Because of this, Jesus was both fully God (100%) and fully man (100%). [Not like Greek mythology heroes of a half-God (50%) and half-man (50%)].

The circumstances of Jesus Christ’s birth help us to understand that He was born without sin. The human tendency to sin is inherited from our parents. Because of the unique conception of Jesus, He was born without sin nature. Peter, one of His closest disciples and authorized apostle writes, “[Jesus] committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

It Upholds Christ’s Full Deity

As the New Testament unfolds, the fact that Christ is God is increasingly revealed. A careful and prayerful reading of the Gospels will gives us bold acclamation of Jesus’ deity.

Christ’s character: His sinlessness and purity

One time He challenged the religious leaders, “Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?” (John 8:46). They were silenced.

Christ’s claims: to be the center of all truth, to be the world’s Judge, and to have a unique relationship to the Father)

For example, read John 8:50-58, where the religious leaders angry at Him because of His hard-truths claimed.

Christ’s conduct: in performing miracles, forgiving sins and accepting worship

For example, after He healed a man completely in front of everyone and that man worshipped Him, He doesn’t stop him. Instead He said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” (Luke 5:20-21).

It Establishes Christ’s Full Humanity

The New Testament shows that Christ was fully human, born into a Hebrew family, and subject to the Hebrew law. He experienced all the problems that people have to face. He was exposed to hunger and thirst, fatigue and sorrow, and he faced the full force of temptation – yet without ever giving away. Although he was still fully God, Jesus (as a man) shared completely the weaknesses of all men. Because of this, he was perfectly qualified to be the unique bridge in bringing man and God together through the Spirit of adoption. [Again, I suggest that you read ‘Chapter 19: Sons of God’ from J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, especially on ‘Adoption: The Highest Privilege’].

Galatians 4:4-5 declared, “…God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons”.

It Explains Christ’s Unique Personality

Jesus Christ is without parallel, for He is both God and man, in two distinct natures, and one person forever (In the Trinity Doctrine; One God in 3 persons –The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit – are One). The New Testament writers do not try to explain, as a philosophy, how one personality could be both human and divine. But the portrait they give us identifies Him both with man and with God.

It Validates Christ’s Saving Ministry

I have to admit, there are aspects of the incarnation that are beyond our understanding. But one thing is clear. We know enough (if you read your Bible) to realize that in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, is found the one Savior that the human race needs. By laying aside His eternal splendor, and involving Himself in mankind’s burdens (Philippians 2:5-11) – even to the point of death on the cross for our sins – He become the Reconciler between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), and by His resurrection, He brings our humanity to heaven (Ephesians 2:6).

My Conclusion about Jesus’ Incarnation

Errors have arisen in Christian history, (yes, even more in our today’s postmodern world) when either Christ’s deity or His humanity has been taught properly – or worst – not taught in our churches at all. Go back to the basic of Scriptural Doctrine! It must be understood that in every way He is fully God and fully man – this is the truth. To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Pengalaman yang Berbeza tetapi Kebenaran yang Sama

Tidak semua orang datang kepada Yesus dengan cara yang sama; pengalaman kamu tidak semestinya sama seperti saya. Sesetengah orang percaya kepada Yesus secara tiba-tiba dan dramatik; perubahan yang radikal daripada kehidupan yang lama kepada kehidupan yang baru. Seperti Saulus (dalam Kisah Rasul-Rasul Bab 9) yang sedang dalam perjalanan ke Damsyik untuk menangkap orang-orang Kristian, tiba-tiba cahaya dari langit memancar di sekeliling Saulus dan telah membutakan matanya. Dia bersaksi selepas kejadian itu:

“Saya rebah ke tanah lalu mendengar suara berkata kepada saya, ‘Saulus, Saulus! Mengapa engkau menganiaya Aku?’” (Kisah Rasul-Rasul 22:7).

Sejak dari hari itu, Saulus terus menjadi pengikut Yesus yang setia, Yesus yang dia pernah sangkalkan sebelum ini. Tuhan Allah telah menggunakan dia (sebagai Rasul Paulus) untuk menyampaikan Berita Baik kepada bangsa bukan Yahudi.

Sesetengah orang pula percaya kepada Yesus secara perlahan-lahan, mungkin juga ada yang tidak sedar bila sebenarnya mereka telah berubah daripada orang yang tidak percaya kepada orang yang percaya. Rasul Petrus mungkin seperti ini – imannya seperti ombak dan penuh dengan ragu-ragu. Hanya setelah sekian lama barulah dia mula teguh pendirian dan bertekat untuk terus mempercayai Yesus. Saya tidak pasti bilakah sebenarnya Petrus betul-betul telah menerima Yesus sebagai Juruselamat dan Tuhannya, Al-Kitab tidak jelas tentang perkara ini (Pada pendapat saya, Rasul Petrus sendiri mungkin tidak berapa pasti bilakah dia betul-betul mula mempercayai Yesus Kristus sepenuhnya). Saya sendiri tidak pasti bilakah tarikh sebenarnya saya mula percaya kepada Berita Baik ini. Yang saya pasti ialah Tuhan Allah dengan kasih kurnia-Nya telah membuka hati saya untuk menerima Yesus dalam hidup saya suatu masa dulu dan terus memberikan saya iman untuk tetap mempercayai-Nya.

Apa yang penting sekali ialah bukan bagaimana atau berapa lama masa yang kita ambil untuk (akhirnya) percaya kepada Yesus Kristus; tetapi yang penting ialah kita (akhirnya) mempercayai-Nya, dan betul-betul pasti bahawa kita sekarang telah menerima-Nya untuk Keselamatan daripada dosa-dosa kita yang menyebabkan kemurkaan Tuhan Allah (dan untuk memulihkan hubungan kita dengan Allah Bapa – agar kita dapat bersukacita di dalam Tuhan dan menjadi anak-anak-Nya di bumi dan di syurga).

Adakah kamu pasti bahawa kamu sekarang sudah menerima Yesus sebagai Juruselamat dan Tuhan kamu? Jika tidak, jangan biarkan masa ini berlalu tanpa kamu membuat keputusan yang paling penting dalam hidup ini. Tidak ada rujukan di dalam Al-Kitab yang saya dapat cari yang mengatakan bahawa kita akan mempunyai peluang kedua selepas mati... dan juga tidak ada kepastian yang kita masih hidup di keesokkan hari. Di dalam Al-Kitab, Tuhan Allah berfirman,

“Ketahuilah bahawa sekaranglah masa yang diperkenankan Allah,
dan sekaranglah hari kamu diselamatkan!” (2 Korintus 6:2).

Ini hanyalah permulaan,... Apa keputusan kamu?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. 

Let Me be Human

I love to listen to Jason Mraz. One of his songs entitled “Only Human” have a chorus that goes like this:

'Cause we're only human

Yes we are, only human

If it's our only excuse do you think we'll keep on being only human

Yes we are, only human, only human, so far, so far”

It is normal to hear people say (or you say) “I’m only human”. What make me afraid about this statement is that we try to give ourselves excuses like that so that we can get ourselves off the hook instead of doing our best. People, like you and me, are trying to push ourselves beyond our limits or we may become terribly anxious.

“Perhaps the most fundamental distortion in our self-image occurs when we find it difficult to see ourselves as human”, writes Juanita Ryan. For some reasons, we may find ourselves functioning as if we were either super-human (like gifted men and women in TV series ‘Heroes’) or sub-human (‘less than human’ like ancient apes in the Animal Discovery Channel). Like Jason Mraz, we fear what will happen if we are ‘only human’. We may not consciously think that we are super-human, but we often try to act that way in order to cover our weaknesses and our neediness. We may not consciously think that we are sub-human, but we may feel that way about ourselves when we cannot escape our fallen-humanness (that’s my word, I just created it) and our dependency. To be human, for us, is to be ‘someone’ we would rather avoid. We don’t like our weaknesses, our neediness, our fallen-humanness and/or our dependency.

So what we try to do? Consciously or unconsciously, we defend ourselves against our fears (above) by trying to be God. But, excuse me, we are not God. There is only one God. God is God. “The more we are able to embrace this most fundamental of realities – that we are creatures and God is our Creator”, write Juanita Ryan, “the freer our lives can become”.

I don’t know about you, but for me, it is a privilege, wonderful and joyful to be a creature. Want to know why? Well, creatures are not responsible for or in charge of things over which they have no power or control. God is responsible for His creatures, just let Him be (Read Matthew 6:25-34). Relax – let God be God. And let ourselves be God’s children, that’s more like it. Jason Mraz may have his own point by saying ‘We are only human’, but who is Jason? Human, like you and I. Want to hear what God is saying? Read Psalm 100;

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Let God be God. Let ourselves be God's children

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

An Essay on "Abortion... Silent Holocaust in Malaysia"

I wrote this essay on September 2012 as a respond to abortion cases in Malaysia – especially to my Christian readers, so that they may know that abortion is not God’s will and it is against His command to do so. And yet – there’s a room for repentance and forgiveness. [P.s: Someone had checked my English – thanks to my editor for making this writing readable].

Abortion: the Silent Holocaust in Malaysia

Abortion on demand is not available in Malaysia. But abortion is legal if it is performed for medical reasons that involve risk to the life of the woman, to preserve physical health and to preserve mental health as provided in Section 312 of the Penal Code and it has to be certified by at least two doctors [1]. Even though Abortion Policy had been established since 1989, underground illegal abortions are on the rise slowly but constantly. The Star newspaper published on May 26, 2009 [2] reported that the rate of illegal abortions is 0.1% or 500 per 500,000 live births yearly; 38 out of every 1,000 women aged between 15 and 49 years old had gone for an abortion. A random survey by several private clinics stunningly revealed that there is 1 abortion for every 5 pregnancies in this country. These are unofficial statistics, but surely it reveals an underground, dark shadow of mass murder of the unborn in Malaysia. This is the silent holocaust.

What is Abortion?

Concise Medical Dictionary defines abortion as ‘the expulsion or removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus at a stage of pregnancy when it is incapable of independent survival (i.e. at any time between conception and the 24^thweek of pregnancy)’ [3]. From the 2^nd to 8^th week of gestation, the developing organism is called an embryo, as is any animal at this early stage of primitive tissue and organ development. From then until birth, it is called a fetus, which simply means ‘young unborn’. There are two types of abortion in the medical terminology [4] – first, spontaneous abortion; abortion can occur spontaneously because for some reason the embryo was non-viable. This accidental occurrence is also known as ‘miscarriage’. Second, medically induced termination of pregnancy; abortion that involves a normal viable embryo or fetus.

In this short essay, I shall limit my discussion to the second type of abortion involving a normal viable embryo or fetus, which if left to the natural process would be delivered as a full-term baby. In other words, I’m referring to cases where the mother intentionally seeks help to remove a growing embryo or fetus in her womb [5].

When Does Life Begin?

Many people including Christians wonder about the ethics of abortion. The command, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) is sometimes literally translated by many as any form of killing in general is prohibited by God. Thus, it is intolerable, unquestionable that abortion is a wickedly evil act against God in the view of some radical pro-life groups. The Roman Catholic Church especially views abortion as a grave moral wrong. The Church says that human life begins when the woman’s egg is fertilized by a male sperm. A fetus is a person, a human being at the moment of its conception. From that moment a unique life begins, independent of the life of the mother and father. The features that distinguish us from our parents –the color of our eyes, the shape of our face – are all laid down in the genetic code that comes into existence then. The Church argues that each new life that begins at this point is not a potential human being but a human being with potential [6]. From conception, all human life is sacred because they are made in God’s image right from the start (Genesis 9:6).

Lewis B. Smedes in his book Mere Morality gives four ways to answer the question of when a person comes into existence – 1) A fetus is a person at the moment of conception, 2) The fetus becomes a person after it receives the one property essential to personhood (namely, the human soul), 3) The fetus becomes a person when it is born, or, 4) The fetus develops into a person gradually, with no fixed turning point [7]. Lewis, if I understood him clearly chooses the 4^th view, but for me, I choose the 1^st view. I believe that indeed life begins in the womb, that the fetus (‘young unborn’ or ‘little one’ in Latin) is a human being subjected to God’s law concerning humanity.

Abortion and the Scripture

I believe that ‘a fetus is a person at the moment of conception’. The Bible establishes that God recognizes a person even before he or she is born. “Before I was born the Lord called me” (Isaiah 49:1). Exodus 21:22-23 describes a situation in which two men are fighting, and the struggle injures and/or hits a pregnant woman (who perhaps intervenes in an attempt to stop the dispute) and causes her to give birth prematurely. If there is “no serious injury”, the man is required to pay a fine (compensation), but if there is “serious injury”, either to the mother or the young unborn, then the man is guilty of murder and subjected to the penalty of death, “take life for a life”. This command, in itself, places the young unborn on a level equal to that of the adult male who caused the miscarriage.

In referring to Exodus 21, Wayne Jackson, writer and editor for the Christian Courier website, writes,

“What, then, is the passage teaching? Simply this: If two fighting men injure a pregnant woman, causing her to give premature birth, yet no harm follows – to either mother or child – a fine will be levied as a penalty for such carelessness. However, if any harm followed, to mother or babe, justice was to be meted out commensurate with degree of damage. Both the mother and unborn child had equal protection under the law [8].”

Alan Cole comments on Exodus 21,

“It has sometimes been claimed by those in favor of abortion that the unborn child is not really considered as an individual here: but that is not the point of this passage . . .The destruction of the unborn child was regarded by the Hebrews as an instance of the most barbarous cruelty, calling down God’s judgment (2 Kings 15:16) [9]”

Elsewhere, Professor John Hannah also observes:

“. . . the unborn fetus is viewed in this passage as just as much a human being as its mother; the abortion of a fetus was considered murder [10]"

Scripture support abounds for the humanity of the young unborn. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well… your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13-14, 16). John Stott in New Issues Facing Christians Today concluded that Psalm 139 pinpoints images of creation, continuity, and communion that gives us the perspective that the fetus is already a human life, though not yet mature, and has the potential of growing into the fullness of humanity [11].

The Scripture, in fact, uses the same Greek word ‘bref'-os’ [Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries defines as, ‘of uncertain affinity; an infant (properly unborn) literally or figuratively: -babe, (young) child, infant’] to describe the unborn John the Baptist (Luke 1:41,44), the newborn baby Jesus (Luke 2:12,16), and the young children who were brought to Jesus for his blessing (Luke 18:15). Thus, this shows that the unborn (fetus) and the new born (child) are in fact a human being. They are created in the image of God (imago dei) because God blew his breath or nephesh into them. This implies that a fetus bears the image of God – worthy of honor and respect; not to be murdered.

Abortion, its Complexity and Possible Actions

The Scripture, I’m convinced, does indeed establish that the young unborn is just as much a human being in God’s eyes as we ourselves are. But I don’t want to go as far as saying that abortion is strictly prohibited. We are no doubt dealing with a complex issue. “Christians must remember that behind the dilemmas are real people facing unwanted pregnancies, bringing up handicapped children, or coping with the long-term result of rape and incest. The need to offer genuine assistance… should be part of the Christian response regardless of our own attitude towards abortion [12].”

So how the Christian communities or the church as a whole can deal with this ‘silent holocaust’? How can the church make a stand against the evil of abortion and at the same time be ready to assist those to whom abortion seems to be the only solution to their complex problem? The answers may not be easy and clear-cut but the church shouldn’t be silent on this issue. [These are just my suggestions] The church may offer sex education where people will be taught about pregnancy prevention. Counseling, love and compassion should also be offered to those who are seeking abortion or have had an abortion. Adoption for unwanted babies is perhaps the most obvious service the church can accommodate. We must provide room or a place for a mother while she gives her baby up for adoption. The church must understand that a woman should never have to make the choice between her baby and herself.

Conclusion

Abortion is always a tragedy not only in Malaysia but also throughout the world. Mass murder of the young unborn, the silent holocaust shows how lightly our society views the human life. The Scripture admittedly does not give us specific instructions about abortion. However, it is indeed proven that life begins in the womb, that the fetus is a human being subjected to God’s law concerning humanity. Therefore, the fetus that bears the image of God is worthy of honor and respect – not to be murdered.

The church should be clear and must stand firm against abortion. Yes, the church is in the business of bringing God’s grace and forgiveness, but that requires recognition of evil and a strong affirmation to not compromise when it comes to the defense of the weak and defenseless. Dr. Alex Tang writes, ‘The weak and defenseless fetuses need advocates who will stand up for their rights as human persons and their right to life’. [13]

 THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

...................................

References:

1. Malaysia Abortion Policy. Source: Population Policy Data Bank maintained by the Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat; available from www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc/malaysia.doc, accessed 11th September 2012.
2. The Star, 26 May 2009.
3. Oxford: Concise Medical Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 1998) p.2
4. The British Medical Association Illustrated Medical Dictionary (Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2002) p. 5
5. n(n). Since the topic of ‘Abortion’ is wide, I will only discussion to the second type of abortion involving a normal viable embryo or fetus.
6. BBC on The Church of England and Roman Catholic Church views on abortion; available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/christianecthics/abortion 1.shtml; internet; accessed 5 September 2012.
7. Lewis B. Smedes, More Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1983) p. 127-134
8. Wayne Jackson, ‘Does Exodus 21 Sanction Abortion?’ in Christian Courier; available from http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/786-does-exodus-21-sanction-abortion; internet; accessed 9 September 2012.
9. Alan Cole, Exodus: Tyndale Old Testament Commentary (Inter-Varsity, 1985) p.169
10. John Hannah, Exodus: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985) p. 141
11. John Stott, New Issues Facing Christians Today (Marshall Pickering, 1999) Ch. 15
12. David J. Atkinson & David H. Field (eds), New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology (InterVarsity Press, 1995) p. 133
13. Dr. Alex Tang, Live and Let Live (Kairos Research Centre Sdn. Bhd., 2006) p.34

Knowing God by J.I. Packer (Free Books Inside!)

“Knowing God is a spiritual classic” (John Stott).

“Dr. Packer says we’re cruel to ourselves if we try to live in the world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. I’m convinced we’re cruel if we deny ourselves the wisdom contained in this Christian classic” (Rico Tice).

“A foundational book. Great theology. It informs the mind and warms the heart” (Mike Pilavachi).

J. I. Packer writes in his foreword to the book Knowing God:

This is a book for travelers, and it is with travelers’ questions that it deals. The conviction behind the book is that ignorance of God – ignorance both of his ways and of the practice of communication with him – lies at the root of much of the church’s weakness today. Two unhappy trends seem to have produced this state of affairs. Trend one is that Christian minds have been conformed to the modern spirit: the spirit, that is, that spawns great thoughts of man and leaves room for only small thoughts of God… Trend two is that Christian minds have been confused by the modern scepticism…

“Stand at the crossroads and looks; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16NIV). Such is the invitation which this book issues. It is not a critique of new paths, except indirectly, but rather a straightforward recall to old ones, on the ground that ‘the good way’ is still what it used to be. I do not think my readers to suppose that I know very well what I am talking about. “Those like myself,” wrote C.S. Lewis, “whose imagination far exceeds their obedience are subject to a just penalty; we easily imagine conditions far higher than any we have really reached. If we describe what we have imagined we may make others, and ourselves, believe that we have really been there” – and so fool both them and ourselves (The Four Loves, Fontana ed., p. 128). All readers and writers of devotional literature do well to weigh Lewis’s words. Yet “It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13) – and if what is written here helps anyone in the way that the meditations behind the writing helped me, the work will have been abundantly worthwhile.

Therefore, before you turn the page of your December 2012 calendar to a new year 2013, I would like to recommend you and perhaps if you’re ‘lucky’ – to offer you a free book entitled Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I read this book on January 2012 and I want to read it again because it helped me to remember, to point out, to direct, to understand, to know the God of whom I am worshipping. Read it alongside with your primary book, the Bible, and you will get your mind inform, heart warm and passion re-flame. Come and ask for your copy NOW! (Or if you want to; ‘sell your bed and buy this book!’).

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

December 2012 Free Books

I’m giving away ONLY 3 copies of Knowing God by J.I. Packer. You are welcome to get a copy of this book for yourself. Simple, do these 2 things:

1.          Comment below “Rich, give me one copy___(Your name). I want to know who God of the Bible is, so that I may worship and enjoy Him as He is.”

2.          And E-mail me at Motivates4life@hotmail.com or send message to my Facebook your real name, phone no. and your postal address. Thank you.