Why I shared what I shared
Filed under Just Me
You might have had these experiences before. But I wrote one yesterday, you know? The one about not-choosing to accept an invitation to a Church wedding?
I'll tell you two more, and you tell me what you think.
I have a friend, who's, well, I suppose you could call it 'devoutly' Taoist-Buddhist. Actually, she's quite the superstitious chick, and she's really into consulting mediums and all that. Now if you ask me, personally, I've got nothing against people who choose to pay money to go to a necromancer or someone with strong spiritual 'abilities' for life's advice. However, I personally think that's just playing with fire, because you never know what you'll invite, whether it's God's wrath, or whether it's the interest of an evil demonic being.
But never mind that, my friend, is like that, and she's into a magical fengshui branch kind of person. Every year, she does the usual rituals to cleanse herself, and also the other rituals required to 'change her luck', they call it 'gai-wan'. That sort of thing. Now I have to say that I respect her beliefs, and when she tells me that I should do things to 'improve my fortune', I usually say, 'Well, I don't feel comfortable doing all that, but thank you for the advise.'
That's my choice, and I was being honest with my response. Except, of course, she doesn't like my rejection very much. So well, we have a recurring argument and it gets quite funny, because my friend would automatically get on the offence.
'You hoh. Christian what lah. You think your God can do everything izzit?'
'Erm. Nothing to do with my religion lah. I just don't feel very comfortable with all the rituals and stuff.'
'What is this lah. Eh, some things you have to take into your own hands okay? You think your God will be there for you always meh? If you don't take the necessary steps to protect yourself, God also cannot save you.'
'Erm. Don't pull God into the picture can?'
'You everything also God, God lah. Did you know God spelt backwards is Dog? Eh, come back to earth can? Be NORMAL A BIT CAN?'
'Eh what's so abnormal about me? I just said I don't feel comfortable going to a medium. Don't talk like that will you?'
'You Christians, you're all the same. You always think we're pagans. That we worship Satan you want to say we go to hell and stuff.'
'Like what the… eh I never said that can?'
'Whatever lah. You don't say only, but your heart you think so.'
'Heh?'
And the argument goes on, and on, and on, and on… it never quite ends. And BEFORE Christians can bloody cry foul, I'll tell you another situation.
I've another friend who calls himself very devout. Now what happened to this person was, he went on a holiday to Bangkok just recently, and boy, did he have lots of stories to tell in our 'X'tian' circles.
'I tell you that Grand Palace is one freaky place.'
'Really?'
'For God's sake, those people at the tour agency, they ought to tell us that those places were all temples!'
'Erm, what's wrong with temples?'
'I don't know about the Thai lah. They're such a LOST country. The moment the plane lands, you see temples, temples, temples everywhere. No wonder they're struggling with all the problems. God is very griefed. You know? We went to the Grand Palace, and immediately when I got home, I felt terrible. Middle of the night, I could feel a creature creeping up on me… and I, well, I was terrified.'
'And.. and?'
'I even forgot about Jesus for a while because I was so petrified… but I focused, and I stared at the creature, it was dark you see… and I said out loud, "In the name of Jesus, I command you to go back from whereforth you came."… and the black shadow flew out of the window and disappeared like that.'
'Wow.'
'I just don't like Thailand very much now.'
And then his wife had to chip in. 'Its true, that night I couldn't sleep… I just couldn't stop feeling guilty and pained that I had griefed the Lord so much by visiting the Grand Palace. Fortunately, my hubby woke up and we prayed fervently. And I felt better immediately.'
'The problem with Thailand is they reject Jesus. Not only that, they set up so many things to worship Satan. It's so scary,' said the guy.
And his faithful wife, 'But one good thing came out of our holiday. We now understand the glory of the Lord so much better, and we know we need to sacrifice so much more to serve Him. So right now. We're planning to do some spiritual cleansing. Get rid of these things.. you know? All the stuff we bought from Thailand. I suspect those people did things to them. Put charms and all? You know?'
'OK. Well.'
'You should do the same too. I know your mom's still buddhist, but you might want to tell her to accept the Lord ASAP. You just need to get rid of that Kuanyin thingy in your house. You have to tell her the truth. And you know? If you have trouble doing it, we will help you.'
'We need to stay together in Christ, to battle the evil servants of Satan.'
'Right.'
Well. I told you I'm a lost cause.
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Oct11
October 11, 2006 at 9:22 am
Let me join you too. :S
October 11, 2006 at 9:31 am
Humans are creepy.
October 11, 2006 at 10:32 am
Poor thing, two people from two sides trying to pull you to their extremities.
As a reaction to what she said, her things can do her good meh? I’m supposed to be a Buddhist anyway.
p.s : I realised I said 2 sides, but I did not mean to discriminate by pagan/non-pagan. I find extremists freaks anyway.
October 11, 2006 at 10:54 am
I think that is how nations can go to war.
October 11, 2006 at 11:20 am
nonsense la….treat all the gods with respect n u’ll be blessed
October 11, 2006 at 11:41 am
you have my sympathy
October 11, 2006 at 11:51 am
I totally agree with you believe it or not for the first time.
If only people can see through the barriers of religion and learn to live harmoniously without the need to query the other person’s religious belief, the world would have been a much better place.
Religion unite yet religions divide.
October 11, 2006 at 3:29 pm
what is it about personal choice that there peope don’t get, anyway? tu la malaysians… kay poh sangat.
October 11, 2006 at 4:27 pm
hey, i’m christian too… i went to thailand too.. and went to the palace too. i didn’t see no dark creature???
anyway, where in the bible does is say that we humans have the right to judge what’s right and wrong in God’s eyes? let Him judge. we just respect each other’s faiths and love one another. there r taoist-buddhist and christians in my family, all living in harmony under one roof!
October 11, 2006 at 5:27 pm
wow, that’s creepy…sometimes certain christians can be TOO spiritual, they are of NO earthly use. The mind too high up in heaven till they forgotten that they are still earth lar…haha..
October 11, 2006 at 5:46 pm
You have my sympathies too. But you certainly have interesting friends.
I have a cousin sister who converted to Muslim slightly before her marriage. Her then still alive mother who was a devout Buddhist, single-handedly prepared her wedding true to the Muslim tradition right down to the last detail, and then subsequently attended every single of her grandchildren’s berkhatan ceremony and what not.
When she recently passed away, her husband’s family forbided her to attend neither her funeral or visit her grave in the cemetery for fear of bringing “bad name” and bad luck to the family.
It was truly heartwrenching. :’(
October 11, 2006 at 8:54 pm
Every Christian came to know the Lord at different point of their life, in different situation and for different reason. Initially, there is no right time or motive for one to know the Lord. Therefore, it is unrealistic to judge the growth of an individual Christian based on our own experience and growth.
The couple who went Thailand obviously believed what they did. Some might cringe listening to their ‘experiences’, but, bear in mind, they are only expressing what they felt.
Yes, the couple may be a little overboard, but being Christians do not mean they are set free and sin free. Think about it… a person professing to be a Christian is merely a person who professes they are sinners and they need the Lord to help them overcome. One do not become ‘superior holy beings’ the moment they accept Christ. I guess it’s OK if some are still not set free.
As for KT’s comment, I got to disagree that it’s OK you do your thing, pray to your God, as long as you let me worship mine. That’s call relatism. In the circular world, that is of course a popular view. BUt one has to make a stand between your faith andd the ways of the world. God said you have to carry the cross and bear the wrath of going against the ways of the world.
As for judging each other, the bible said yes, you can judge. Christians judge using the bible as the guideline. You can judge what is right and what is wrong. You can judge the crime but not the person. Hate the crime but don’t hate the sinner. God will deal with the sinner.
October 11, 2006 at 9:09 pm
minishorts:
I originally did NOT want to leave a comment, but I do visit to acquaint myself as to what MS is up to.
The last commenter Helen maketh me ot leave this note ~~ I believe Helen’s stand and KT’s view are congruent: we can judge others on the issues, esp differention between right and wrong– but not their persons (eg wrt to salvation if they are non-Christian). SALVATION IS not FOR MORTAL SOULS TO DISPENSE.
peAce tp awe! — dESI
October 11, 2006 at 10:27 pm
I always believed the saying, “to each his own..” So simple kan?
October 12, 2006 at 9:58 am
Back to your first friend- self cleansing and fate changing ritual is not taking matter into your your hand… don’t you think?
October 12, 2006 at 4:35 pm
I agree with helen.
October 12, 2006 at 5:56 pm
that couple who went to Thailand…they are becoming fanatics…
true we should believe in the LORD, but we need to show others how the LORD change us. Jesus will do the job of convicting the hearts.
Geez…
October 12, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Sheesh – there will always be extremists or fanatics in any religion. I’m Catholic and I have encountered fanatics of every hue. I maintain my Obi-Wan Kenobi calm and get by.
You are level-headed and sensible, girl. Just write on – I so can relate to your stories. Thanks for a good read.
October 13, 2006 at 1:08 am
Extremists are scary people, trying to brainwash everyone to agree with them.
October 13, 2006 at 5:19 pm
maybeh our world will be torn apart and asunder destroyed by religion
that would be the just irony
kek
oh wait. maybe it already *is* cracking…
October 16, 2006 at 4:24 am
Wow those 2 are very interesting situations you’ve encountered. I’ve encountered several similar cases too. I dislike people who refuse to respect other’s decisions on what to believe.
“Religion unite yet religions divide.”
Well said, Fat4.
October 17, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Helen,
Judge not lest you be judged.
Can you imagine the chaos if everyone judge everyone else based on their holy books or holy principles?
Minishort,
I agree with you. We all should go by “live and let live”