Sept 15th, 2021: Authentic Faith

 


What does it mean to have authentic faith these days? Somehow we have our authenticity based on the facts that we are right. We cannot be right all the time. Does that mean that we can never be authentic? That is a challenge we have to deal with one another these days while we disagree. So what does it mean then?


We need to become more aware of our lack of godliness. We might think that we do the right things. Are we doing them for the right or wrong reasons? Being right with God is more than just doing what is right. It is about having our hearts and minds aligned with His. It means that we might have to die for those we don't like and have very little in common withaa.


We will not have all answers for human suffering. God asks us to suffer with those who suffer regardless of the reasons for their suffering. Being compassionate in the Christian faith is more than being kind to people we have an affinity with. To be authentic in this case is to learn how to be one with Jesus in all human suffering.


My appeal to all of us is not to undermine the reasons behind people's fear. We might not share the same understanding of their fear. That doesn't make them less troublesome to these folks. We might want to be present with one another, not just tolerant. Maybe we will listen better and embrace the true meaning of being together.


1 Peter 3: 8

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

Popular posts from this blog

Aug 31st, 2024: Confession

Image
Dealing with pain sometimes affects our ability and flexibility. A physiotherapist friend gave me a set of home exercises to help with that. They are simple yet intense at the same time. Dealing with our human brokenness sometimes affects our ability to see and hear God. Our commitment to spiritual disciplines must be at the core of our relationship with God. One of the disciplines I have been trying to embrace more fully is confession. It’s not just about recognizing where we have gone wrong; it’s about how we have chosen to live our lives independently from God. It’s about whether we truly want God to be part of our lives. The absence of meaningful confession will damage our freedom to experience intimacy with God. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." - Proverbs 28:13
Read more

Sept 4th, 2024: Praying in Images

Image
It has been a rough few days. Living in immense pain does not allow us much energy to think about anything. I ended up praying in images, and not many words came out of my mouth. Most of the images were of people I know. God knew that I was praying for them as their faces came to my mind. I did not need to mention the circumstances or situations of their lives—He knows. My heart was at peace as I ended my days with these images. He will take care of my body, and I know this because I was able to get some sleep. Tomorrow is in His hands.
Read more

Oct 1st, 2022: Be With Those Who Suffer

Image
  Listening to a young woman who shared her experience of being raped repeatedly by a family member for over four years as a teenager made my heart ache. The man who did that was a leader of a church. He was imprisoned for seven months and released. He was her stepfather. Her mother chose to pick him over her after his release. Her life has changed forever. She had to go to a foster home. Her foster parents helped her with her restoration and her faith in God. Her supervisor at work asked me to see her because someone at work was inappropriate toward her. That triggered many emotions within her. I did not expect the story I heard from her. The meeting took longer than I thought, and it was toward the end of the day. She kept talking about her anger and the pain she felt when men treated her like a subject. I knew that the best I could do was to listen. She told me she had not been able to tell anyone as much as with me. God reminded me of the true calling of being a pas...
Read more