(*)Mukha po kayong very broad-minded sa beliefs and theological - TopicsExpress



          

(*)Mukha po kayong very broad-minded sa beliefs and theological stand, liberal at maluwag sa pangunguna sa flock. Have you always been like that? In my 38 years of non-stop ministry, study and observation, I have seen it all, I have done it all: I have gone full circle. I have been militantly Phariseeic, super strict about what songs are sung and what tunes are played at worship; what everyone wore; etc. No long hair for men, no short hair for women, etc; nobody could serve if there was a slightest hint of indiscretion. I have kept and put out of the ministry not a few excellent persons because of morality issues. I have lost some precious friends because of theological differences. Been there; done that. But I realized perhaps a bit of what Solomon learned after a lifelong study: Everything is Vanity/Meaningless; a chasing after the wind. Like what he said in Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NIV) 11 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. Ganun din ang nakita ko sa ministry: Church growth is not always to the most outwardly holy; Spiritual battle is not always won by the conservative and dogmatic; Blessings do not always come to the authoritative and anointed; Heavenly favor does not always go to the seemingly righteous; Religiosity does not always mean godliness; but time and chance happen to them all. Studying the Bible especially formally as a specialty does not always create good character; Making war for doctrine does not always mean correctness; Narrow and strict compliance with and imposition of ones theological stand does not always translate into personal righteouness; Etc Etc Etc Conservative or liberal; Ano man ang Bible version na ginagamit; Ano man ang outward appearance; Ano man ang preferences sa buhay; Sinuman ang minamahal o nagmamahal; Paano man nagpabautismo; Ano man ang kinakain at iniinom sa Lords Supper; May Pasko man o wala; Linggo man o Sabado sumasamba; Ano man ang denominasyon; Etc Etc Etc Pare-pareho lang ang lahat: Puro may kulang, may sakit, may sugat: iba-iba lang nga. Lahat makasalanan pa rin, marumi pa rin, mapagbalat-kayo lang, kulang at umaasa lang sa habag at pag-ibig ng Diyos. So, bakit hindi magiging mahabagin at maibigin? Bakit magiging Phariseeic at church bully? Bakit laging magagalit at makikipag-kagalit? Bakit laging hahanapan ng mali ang kapwa? Bakit laging itataas ang sarili? Bakit mananakit ng damdamin para sa doctrine? Bakit manghuhusga at magtatakwil ng kapwa na pareho lang namang kulang? So I learned from nearly four decades of dedicated, focused and studious ministry. I learned from Solomon and Jesus. Everything is meaningless. Even to Jesus, all the laws are meaningless kaya isa lang ang ibinigay nyang bagong utos pamalit sa lahat-lahat ng utos: LOVE. Sabi nya: Everyone who has gone before me was a thief.“ Ang problema, matapos ituro ang pag-ibig ni Jesus, biglang ibabalik at isisingit muli ang tambak-tambak na laws! I understand modern-day Pharisees: Ive been there; Ive done that. But thank God for getting me out of that vicious religious cycle where everything and everyone outside of ones orbit is villified, demonized, ridiculed and hurt in the name of doctrine! Graduate na tayo dyan. Papunta pa lang ang iba, salamat naman at pabalik/pauwi na tayo. Nawa sa maiksing buhay na ito, makabalik at makauwi rin ang lahat para makapagpahinga naman at matahimik sa pag-ibig ni Jesus. - ED LAPIS -
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 12:16:28 +0000

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