Don’t use God as an excuse to not care.
You know, a week ago I was in a conversation with a fellow Christian (a very very hyper, I love Jesus type, at that), and we were talking about the issues in the world. You know, things like the global fuel escalation crisis, food price escalation crisis, incompetent governments and corrupt politicians, suspicious opposition fronts, the struggles of living in this chaotic world, stuff like that. So I asked my friend, 'You know, where do you think we fit into this picture? Where do you think we fit into this time of the world?'
'I'm not sure. God will want me to do something. All I know is that I have to pray.'
'About what issues? What bugs you the most?'
'I'm not sure. God is silent still. I haven't found my calling. But right now, I know, all I can do is pray.'
Cue: This is where I burst.
I seriously, cannot, take, stupid, lazy, uncaring, reluctant, non-committal responses like that.
So when someone I know (or I don't know) comes and wants to talk about the situation (who doesn't, everybody is fighting to get his two-sen across) it gets really really annoying when some of them end up saying crap like, 'What can we do? Just have to pray lah.'
If let's say I get a little more provocative and go, 'pray? that's all? Pray until what? Why cannot do anything else izzit?'
And the crappy answer comes back in the form of, 'There's nothing we can do, this country is controlled by the Malays, we chinese cannot do anything.'
Then you see the exact problem. And I hate it because it's masquerading in a protective shell called God. It's a sickening veil that covers the 'bo-chap' attitude that 99% of us have but are too chicken-shit to admit because everyone wants to be seen as doing something different (i.e. I complain and complain and even if my complains don't make sense its doing something). I hate it because people like that actually walk around believing that they actually, genuinely, really really care for this world when in fact, what motivates them into action is race, money and whether doing something will benefit me or not.
Easy mah, there was this dude going, 'habis? YOU want me to join the protest kah? I'm not about to be sprayed with water cannons. My parents are not going to like it. '
I'm not asking you to join the protest, budak. You know? Maybe being a little bit more constructive, and careful in framing your complaints will actually help the situation. Blaming it on a 'Malay government and lop-sided race politics' sure as hell doesn't show us how God-loving you are.
So if any God loving Christian comes to me today, and I AM in a pissy mood, if anyone comes to me and asks me if I have not prayed for prices to go down, or whether I hear God's call, I'll just say this here now, 'Wah lau you still wanna wait for God to call at you ah? How you know? He will shout at you and tell you Move only you move issit? Shut up already and do something. Prayer comes in action. You worship God through your actions. And bitching about how teruk this country is because you're a Minority in a country doomed to be controlled by the Malays forever isn't at ALL action of loving, it's just racism to the core, and its disgusting that you can't even recognize it.'
Its not from the Christians alone though.
You see these kind of responses popping out of everywhere these days, especially in light of the damned fuel hikes. I mean, tell me, how many of your friends have told you, 'You know what? This country just isn't worth it anymore. We should all migrate overseas and go where things are better. Where the government is better.'
So you can actually do the maths. If every good person in this country started thinking like that, you'll be left with people who are just aren't worth it. You'll be left with a country of citizens who are just busy fighting over the right to earn freebies get higher salaries and the opportunity to not work and still live luxuriously. If you don't want to work and still want a lot of money, and if there are over 20 million of people with attitudes like that building up the bulk of Malaysians, hello, what kind of politicians will we have left?
Selfish, greedy, unwilling to be accountable, lazy, stupid, (put in label here), politicians.
Habis? what did you expect? Selection pool dah habis pilihan lah. All is left is the bad fish. So that's why we have what we have right now.
…
So are you going to sit and PRAY? Or are you busy planning to leave this country for greener pastures?
(I'm in a pissy mood.)
June 11th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
hmm… I’ll pray first to see if any country is willing to accept me before leaving.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:23 am
don’t pray pray
June 12th, 2008 at 3:57 am
indifference is the worst kind of action. I know of people who hear of others’ problems and say, with a condesending nod, “I’ll pray for you” but do nothing at all.
http://somethingpositive.net/arch/notsohappy.gif
http://rationalneurotic.liquidblade.com/?p=322
Sometimes, you really feel like choking these people. Like those who don’t bother to vote when they can because they “see no point” or those who readily complain without giving a proper think through with good old common sense.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:29 am
eh, dont tell me the Christian you’re refering to ‘that Chrisitian’… haha!!
i feel you… ‘i-will-pray-for-you’ is the most abused Christian great escape clause, one which i have used before so i am also guilty. but then you’re right, a lot of us are hiding in the protective shell of God.
We all need to know, faith without deed is blind faith… i guess the same can be said of prayers.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:21 am
we should not blanket “prayer without action” as condescending. what happens when we are faced with a situation that we are powerless to do anything about? should we not pray then coz we cannot do anything about it anyway?
in some cases where we can do something about it, then we should. example, if we see a hungry man, we could buy food for him instead of just saying “let me pray for you”.
but what happens when a government is corrupt, inefficient etc (i am speaking generally here), should we not pray then? what other action (other than prayer) can we take?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
There are people who wanted to do something, but as much as you aren’t able to comprehend, they really do not know what to do. Pointing out a problem does not equate a solution.
I’ve always wonder whether people telling me to care more for the country and the environment the same as me telling them that they should be be decent and proper. It’s always more convenient when our reason for doing so is for a “greater” cause.
And you know what, despite the fact that we hate people pushing their values and thoughts onto us, let’s do so to them. It’s never to late to be a hypocrite.
Even so, I have to say that I agree with the points you came up with.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
pray. I’ll pray for … i dunno.
just act on it lo
June 12th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
well zefi, one of the ways could be through SPECIFIC prayers. the Holy Spirit moves when prayers are to the point. Example, start by prayering for political leaders (name them if you can) that will lead Malaysia out of its situation. Pray for their protection and safety. Pray that they can be pillars of influence in Parliament. (add on whatever you could think of)…
Just my take on the power of prayer.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Kenny:
Or perhaps pray that the bad ones be brought down, and the good ones would be angered to the point that they would actually start to act? (in proper manner, of course.)
Did you actually read this blog post? Cos it seems like you’ve totally missed it.
I don’t know what’s your definition of prayer, but it seems like yours is a one-way thing.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
i m not voting for BN anymore. period. take 5 yrs as one election period, i got 11 elections left (probably).
*chanting the mantra
every single vote counts.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:23 am
For me, this bible verse comes to mind: “To whom much is given, much is expected. - Luke 12:48″. Ignorance is one thing, but as Zewt said, faith without deeds is blind.
I guess there is nothing wrong with praying or prayers done at the right time. But constantly uttering that mindlessly is equally as bad as it leads to inaction & blinding ignorance. We Christians need to remind ourselves, Prayers shldnt just happen only when u sit down and ask for somethng from God but in every waking moment.
For me personally, I always need to remind myself to, whenever possible, to “Respond, rather than react”. Sometimes, it may not feel very “Malaysian” to do so, and its definitely a struggle for me too. That for me I think, is what minishorts post meant to me today. The statement, its easier said than done, really. One that we need the real God for. Not the one we hide behind when giving our answers “easily”.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:32 am
you’re right zefi. i pretty much just glimpse through the blog post. apologies if my comments appeared off tangent.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
pray pray pray..
pray five times a day
pray before food
pray before shower
pangsai oso pray
why dont u stop and think?
think think think
if u guys can think 5 times a day, world will be a better place
June 14th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
hey claire, i’ve been following your blog for a while now and i think this post is one that i really can’t resist commenting.
i am the latter you described. i’ve left the country and i’m not working in the UK.
i have been mulling over the guilt of not being in the country and trying to find some peace coming home. but increasingly i feel that the majority of what’s left in our country belongs to the ‘it’s not worth it’ anyway category
just have a tour of RPK’s blog. check out how racist the comments there are. i am so ashamed to be chinese because i know this stupid comments are made by the chinese & indians who dominate RPK’s blog (with a sprinkling of malays here and there)
and to SMILES. YOUR STUPID COMMENT HERE which RIDICULES the muslim’s prayer times is JUST THE KIND OF STUPID RACIST INSENSITIVE COMMENT which makes me feel like never ever coming home anymore!!!!!
i’ve worked with a muslim colleague who prays 5 times a day. but i assure you she finishes just as much, if not MUCH MORE work than anyone else on the team!
REALLY WHAT THE F*** to your stupid comment
June 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
i mean i am working in the UK
sorry typo
June 14th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
its not just moslems who pray 5 times a day ler..
speak for ur own prejudices
June 16th, 2008 at 9:01 am
mystique: then you really don’t have the right not to talk about this country anymore because honestly, like you said, you don’t care.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
“its not just moslems who pray 5 times a day ler..”
So, who else pray 5 times a day?