Paulson Post

The Smoking Meat-Eating Swami

2026-09-01T17:07:22.775+05:30

Typically, we imagine a revered spiritual monk as a quiet figure subsisting on fresh vegetables, clear water, and pure air, untouched by worldly habits. However, Swami Vivekananda challenges this traditional image entirely. His life was characterised not by a strict adherence to conventions but by practical wisdom, profound humanity, and a bold rejection of superficial dogma.

Throughout his life, Vivekananda regularly enjoyed cigars, pipes, and the traditional Indian hookah. It was a habit he picked up in his youth and maintained during his travels across India and abroad. Yet, for him, a simple pipe could carry profound spiritual meaning.

During his wanderings across India, he once asked a man from a lower caste for a smoke from his hookah. When the man hesitated because of the era’s strict customs of untouchability, Vivekananda initially walked away—only to turn around immediately, realising that bowing to caste distinctions violated his core belief in spiritual unity. He took the hookah and smoked from it anyway, turning a simple puff into a bold statement on universal equality and oneness.

Vivekananda brought that same pragmatic mindset to his views on diet. While acknowledging that absolute non-violence (Ahimsa) and vegetarianism were noble spiritual ideals, he actively defended meat-eating when practical life demanded it.

He viewed a purely vegetarian diet as ideal for secluded, contemplative monks (Sattvic), but argued it could be detrimental to everyday people who required physical endurance for hard work and nation-building.

During the late 1890s in Calcutta, he urged young Indians to eat meat to overcome physical weakness and lethargy, calling for a generation with "muscles of iron and nerves of steel" to break free from passivity. Writing to his followers from the West, he even advised against enforcing strict vegetarianism on Western converts, telling a disciple that "good meat" was far better than a weak vegetarian diet when health and vitality were at stake.

Ultimately, Swami Vivekananda taught that spirituality is lived from the inside out. Health, strength, and genuine human connection take priority over rigid dietary rules and superficial judgments.

(From my forthcoming book: Swami Vivekananda. The Hindu I Admire)

Pandita Ramabai versus Swami Vivekananda: Two Visions of India

2026-08-27T18:47:31.469+05:30

This is more than a story about two remarkable nineteenth-century Indians. It is a story about two competing ways of seeing India itself. Pandita Ramabai and Swami Vivekananda were contemporaries, reformers, and influential voices who introduced India to the Western world.

Swami Vivekananda (b. 1863—d. 1902 and Pandita Ramabai (b. 1858—d.1922) were contemporaries for about 39 years. Pandita Ramabai was five years older than the Swami and lived 20 more years than he did.

Both individuals had connections to Brahmo Samaj. Swami Vivekananda was an official member, whereas Pandita Ramabai closely aligned with its principles and members but did not formally join. When Ramabai arrived in Kolkata in 1878, she received a warm welcome from Brahmo Samaj leaders such as Keshab Chandra Sen, who was notably impressed by her Sanskrit skills and encouraged her to study the Vedas, which were traditionally restricted to men.

Although she adopted many of the movement's social reform ideas—such as opposing child marriage and caste barriers and advocating for female education—she chose to remain independent rather than become a formal member. Later, she established the Arya Mahila Sabha in Pune, emphasising similar reformist goals, before eventually converting to Christianity.

While staying in the United States in 1887, Pandita Ramabai poured her heart into writing the book “The High-Caste Hindu Woman.” Driven by deep empathy and courage, she wanted to share the quiet struggles of high-caste Indian women who were kept from education and independence by rigid traditional customs and patriarchal expectations. Writing in English, she reached out directly to American readers, creating a powerful bridge of understanding. The book became her centrepiece for rallying support and raising funds for a welcoming, secular refuge for young widows back in India. Her message struck a deep chord with readers—selling nearly 10,000 copies in its very first year.

With deep tenderness and moral clarity, Ramabai’s book gently walks readers through the life path of a high-caste woman—from early childhood into child marriage, married life, and the painful isolation of widowhood. She shines a compassionate light on young girls pushed into early marriages between the ages of eight and twelve, pointing directly to traditional texts to show how ingrained these expectations were. Her heart clearly aches for child widows, painting their daily reality as both forced and deeply painful, while passionately calling for women's education and true freedom as the way forward.

Her moving message resonated deeply across the ocean. During her first visit to the United States between 1886 and 1888, she inspired kind-hearted supporters to form 63 local groups known as Ramabai Circles or Ramabai Associations. Made up mostly of dedicated women, these groups met regularly to share her vision, raise funds, and promise ten full years of financial backing for her future schools and caring mission work in India.

When Vivekananda arrived in the United States in 1893 to attend the World Parliament of Religions, he often found himself answering heartfelt questions about the lives of Indian women and the struggles faced by child widows. While acknowledging these difficult realities, he sought to offer context and explain the cultural perspectives behind them. Over the course of his initial two-and-a-half-year journey, he travelled widely across the country, sharing his wisdom and connecting with eager audiences through countless lectures.

Swami Vivekananda found warm hospitality across many Christian communities in the United States, giving his very first public talk at the Annisquam Universalist Church on August 27, 1893—just weeks before his famous address at the Parliament of Religions. Thanks to their welcoming spirit and open minds, Unitarian congregations in cities like Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Evanston most often invited him to speak. He also shared his thoughts from Congregational and Methodist pulpits throughout the Midwest, while engaging thoughtfully with community and spiritual groups like the YMCA and the Brooklyn Ethical Association.

When speaking to Western audiences—particularly in addressing concerns raised by the American Ramabai Circles—Vivekananda sought to reassure listeners, sharing his perspective that high-caste child widows were not systematically mistreated or forgotten by tradition.

Swami Vivekananda gently acknowledged that high-caste women faced real challenges, much like Ramabai described, yet he believed these traditions were deeply rooted in noble spiritual ideals. He pointed out that traditional Hindu law extended a protective hand to widows by granting them lifelong inheritance rights to their husband’s estate—often offering them greater financial security than many Western wives enjoyed during that era. Rather than viewing the life of an unremarried high-caste widow through a lens of institutional cruelty, he saw it as a path of sacred devotion, imagining her life as a conscious, beautiful journey of spiritual discipline, lifelong learning (brahmacharya), and quiet dedication to her family and faith.

Vivekananda saw the restriction on widow remarriage not as something born of ill intent, but rather as a thoughtful socioeconomic custom of its time. He felt that in communities where the male population was equal to or smaller than the female population, encouraging widows to remain single helped ensure that young, unmarried women had the opportunity to find life partners, thereby maintaining balance and stability within the community.

Vivekananda held a sympathetic view of the hardships faced by young widows who were unable to remarry, yet he firmly believed that India should address its social matters internally without outside or missionary intervention. He expressed concern over reformers who depicted the struggles of child widows in stark terms to Western audiences for fundraising, feeling that such portrayals overlooked the genuine respect and care traditionally woven into the joint-family system and cast an unfair light on Indian culture.

At his heart, Vivekananda believed that decisions such as widow remarriage belonged entirely to women themselves, rather than to male reformers or outside influences. He trusted that by supporting women through education and self-reliance, they would gain the strength and agency to shape social change on their own terms.

Meanwhile, Ramabai poured extraordinary devotion into practical care. Through Sharada Sadan, she offered a safe, loving refuge to hundreds of high-caste child widows, a sanctuary that later expanded through the Mukti Mission to embrace thousands of women, children, and widows in need of comfort and hope.

(From my forthcoming book: Swami Vivekananda, The Hindu I Admire)

Gratis Pro Deo: Free for the Sake of God

2025-03-23T16:41:00.001+05:30

Commodification, branding and monetising are the forces that drive the modern world, especially entrepreneurship. Commodification transforms goods, services, ideas, or even human experiences into commodities that can be bought, sold, or traded in a market. Commodification often involves assigning economic value to things that were previously not considered commercial products. For example, entertainment is commodified as music and video channels that must be subscribed. Education is commodified and sold at competitive prices (fees) depending on the institution’s quality and reputation. Health care is another commodity whose cost shoots past ordinary people’s purchasing ability.

Once commodified, services and goods that were once free must be branded to stand out among competitors. Branding is the process of creating a distinct identity for a business, product, or individual in the minds of consumers. It involves shaping how a brand is perceived through its name, logo, design, messaging, and overall customer experience.

The purpose of commodifying and branding is to monetise what was otherwise available for free. Monetising means generating revenue from an asset, product, service, or idea. It involves turning something into a source of income, often through sales, advertising, or other financial strategies.

Commonplace in secular life, these concepts have also invaded Christian service. Preachers brand themselves and their ministries to stand out and be undeniably noticeable. Books and music are copyrighted to be sold or subscribed for a fee. In contrast to the age-old hymns that were always in the public domain, modern Christian songs are copyrighted and demand royalty even for use in worship. Composers and performers insist on displaying their logo, copyright information, and website URL on the screen when these songs are projected in a worship session. Christian service is monetised and has become a means of making money.

We should not ignore the expenses that Christian preachers, authors, songwriters, composers, gospel bands, and video makers incur to provide their services. They get nothing free!

But this flies in the face of the core Christian value we had been cherishing, encapsulated in the ancient Latin phrase “gratis pro deo.” This phrase means “free for God” or “for God’s sake freely given.” It conveys the idea of doing something out of devotion without expecting payment or material reward. This has been the foundational principle of the Christian service of individuals and institutions like Christian hospitals, schools, and other charitable organisations.

This Christian principle is rooted in Jesus’ charge to his disciples. When he sent the apostles to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons,” he added, “Freely you have received; freely give.” This principle advocates service without the expectation of material reward.

In the past, the apostles worked with their hands to earn a living and preach the gospel. Apostle Paul could defend himself before the elders of the churches in Ephesus, pointing out that he earned his living by doing manual work to serve them. “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:33—35).

There are many questions. How do the Christian workers support themselves? How can they offer free service when they must pay for whatever they produce? Is it wrong to pass on the expenses to those who enjoy the benefit of their service?

The Bible also exhorts believers to support those who serve them. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). But he was not demanding anything for himself. He instructed the churches in Galatia, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches” (Galatians 6:6).

The Bible teaches that Christian service in all forms must be free for the sake of God. At the same time, it also demands that those who benefit from such services stand with those who serve them. This mutual trust is essential, as is trusting God, as “God will supply every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). God will meet the needs of all those who serve him if their goal is to do everything as if to the Lord.

It is clear that the goal of Christian service is not material gain but the selfless act of serving others. This is the true nobility of Christian service, a beacon of hope in a needy world.

Living to Impact

2025-02-21T10:06:00.001+05:30

The intensity of loss we feel when dear ones depart is directly proportionate to their impact on our lives.

Recently, a beloved member of my community bid farewell to his granddad, who had lived a long, fulfilling life. He had the joy of seeing his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thrive, and his presence was a constant throughout their journeys. His passing was deeply felt despite having fulfilled his role in their lives and there was nothing more he could do. This man, who departed from a hospice at a ripe old age, was more than just a family member-he was a pillar of strength and love.

But he has left behind a treasure trove of memories. He was a shining example of love and a life centred on Christ, not just to his immediate family but to the entire community.

The tributes posted by his family members are a testament to how he touched the lives of everyone around him. He would even cut the hair of his grandchildren, despite having no experience in hairdressing, to help his children save money for other needs. He made sure the large family gathered annually to strengthen their bonds. He was the sturdy trunk from which they all branched out.

One big three with numerous branches has fallen. The impact is profound, and so is the loss.

Living to impact the lives of others is what gives our existence on earth purpose. This impact, this legacy, remains even when we are weak, old, unable to contribute further, and finally wither away.

#LegacyOfLove

#FamilyBond
#FaithAndMemory
#LifeWellLived
#CherishedMoments
#InLovingMemory
#LossAndHealing
#StrengthInFaith
#GenerationalImpact
#TributeToLife

The Transformative Power of Living in God’s Kingdom

2024-12-12T15:19:00.006+05:30

Christianity is not just another religion with different beliefs and rituals. It is a way of life as disciples of Jesus Christ. This is the powerful message that Dallas Willard has for us in his book DIVINE CONSPIRACY. Though written in 1998, its message is even more relevant now as the Christian faith struggles to stand up to alternative truth claims.

Dallas Willard was a renowned philosopher, theologian, and author whose work significantly impacted Christian thought and spiritual formation. Born in 1935, he served as a professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California for nearly four decades. Willard was best known for his writings on discipleship and the nature of the Kingdom of God, offering profound insights into Christian living.

Willard’s work often bridged the gap between academic theology and practical spirituality, making his ideas accessible to scholars and laypeople. He argued that Christian life should be marked by transformation, not merely adherence to doctrine, stressing the necessity of inward change over outward religiosity. His writings encouraged believers to experience the reality of the Kingdom of God in everyday life. Willard also influenced a generation of pastors, educators, and theologians, inspiring them to pursue deeper spiritual authenticity. His legacy endures through his books, lectures, and the countless lives touched by his teachings on integrating philosophy, theology, and practical Christian living.

Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God is a profound exploration of Christian discipleship, emphasising the transformative power of living in God’s Kingdom. Willard critiques modern Christianity for reducing faith to mere belief systems or moral behaviour, arguing instead for a return to the teachings and example of Jesus as a way of life. The book challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of the Gospel, presenting it as an invitation to participate in the reality of God’s Kingdom here and now rather than merely securing a future in heaven.

Willard begins by addressing the widespread misunderstanding of Jesus’ message, which he attributes to cultural and theological distortions. He asserts that the Kingdom of God is not a distant reality but a present, interactive relationship with God. Through this lens, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is not an unattainable ideal but a practical guide for living under God’s rule.

A central theme of the book is the process of spiritual transformation through apprenticeship to Jesus. Willard introduces the concept of “discipleship as an apprenticeship” in the Kingdom, where believers learn to embody Christ’s character and priorities. Spiritual disciplines—prayer, fasting, meditation, and service—nurture this transformation by opening individuals to God’s grace and enabling them to live with integrity, joy, and love.

Willard also critiques the “gospels of sin management” prevalent in many churches. These gospels focus narrowly on avoiding sin or ensuring salvation, neglecting the transformative power of living in God’s presence. He calls for a holistic approach to discipleship that integrates every aspect of life—personal, relational, and societal—under God’s reign.

Throughout the book, Willard combines theological insight with practical application, urging believers to embrace their role as co-laborers in God’s redemptive work. He provides a vision of a church reoriented around genuine discipleship, where individuals grow in Christlikeness and become agents of God’s earthly Kingdom.

The Divine Conspiracy concludes with a call to action, inviting readers to commit to the lifelong journey of discipleship and to participate fully in God’s Kingdom. Willard’s work is both a critique of contemporary Christianity and a roadmap for rediscovering the Christian life’s depth, power, and joy as Jesus intended.

#Christianity #discipleship #kingdomofGod

The Royal Prophets

2024-09-21T15:24:00.005+05:30

Many of us may not know that two of the sixteen classical prophets in the Old Testament were from royal families.
By the way, classical prophets is a technical term for the prophets whose names we have books, like Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, etc. At the same time, despite their antiquity and prominence, Elijah, Elisha, Gad, or Nathan do not fall in this category since we do not have books in their names.
The classical prophets came from a variety of backgrounds. Biographical information on most of the prophets is scanty. Still, we know Amos was a farmer and a sheep breeder, while Jeremiah and Ezekiel were priests.
The two prophets with royal connections are Zephaniah and Isaiah. The Book of Zephaniah introduces the prophet as a descendant of King Hezekiah. "The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah" (Zeph 1:1). But there is nothing in the rest of the Book to confirm the prophets connection with the royal establishment in Jerusalem.
In contrast, Isaiah's connections with the royal establishment are not directly mentioned. Later Jewish traditions suggest that his father Amoz was a half-brother of King Uzziah, who ruled in the eighth century. However, ample clues in the Book of Isaiah lead us to believe that this later Jewish tradition about his royal connection is valid.
First is his easy access to the kings in Jerusalem. He could meet with King Ahaz when the king was out to check the water level in the upper pool near the royal quarters (Isa 7). He could visit the sick King Hezekiah in his bed room twice (Isa 38). King Hezekiah sought his spiritual help by asking to pray in times of crisis (Isa 19:1-7).
Secondly, he knew about the discussions in the royal cabinet, which commoners had no access to. The military threat from Aram and Northern Israel had made the king and his cabinet nervous, so they "shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind" (Isa 7:2). He knew that Hezekiah was making futile plans by sending his diplomats to Egypt to seek alliance and military supplies (Isa 30:1-7). He also knew that Hezekiah had foolishly displayed his wealth to the visiting Babylonian envoys (Isa 39:1-8).
In addition, his message shows he was well-versed in international politics.
So, Isaiah was a prince in Jerusalem who, like all other classical prophets, proclaimed judgements against the reigning monarchs when they acted against the will of the supreme ruler of the world, the Emperor, the Lord.

(Based on insights from my recent book, THE PRINCE AND THE EMPEROR. SELECTED THEMES FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH, now available on Amazon globally.)

What Does Delivering to Satan Mean?

2024-08-04T16:00:00.008+05:30

What does delivering a person to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5:5 mean? Paul said this regarding the person who lives with his father’s wife or stepmother, a sin considered particularly grave in the Christian context. This sin is not found among those who have not known Christ. Paul says such a thing is “not tolerated even among pagans” (1 Cor 5:1). When he heard about this, Paul wrote to the Corinthian church “to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.”

This is not the only place where Paul used this expression. Later, while writing to Timothy, he said he had “handed over to Satan” Hymenaeus and Alexander so they may learn not to blaspheme (1 Tim 1:20).

Some think that Paul intends the death of the sinner so that he may not continue in his sinful flesh to sin more and lose his eternity. Does Paul suggest that this man should die now “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord?” But it is unreasonable to think that the community of believers have the right to decide on matters of life and death.

“Delivering to Satan” could also mean withdrawing the spiritual protection that the community offers to each individual through intercessions and spiritual support. This spiritual protection is the shield that believers have against the influence of Satan. Believers are delivered from the sphere of Satan to the realm of God’s salvation. The world outside of those in Christ is Satan’s domain: “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19; see also Eph 2:1—2).

This second view is close to what Paul has in mind because this elaborates on what he had already stated in the previous verse: “Let him who has done this be removed from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:2). Excommunicating this sinful member will serve two purposes: as Paul elaborates in the following verses (6—8). Removing the sinner is essential for the purity of the community and will allow the errant member to learn God’s ways when chastised by Satan.

This reminds us of the parable of the prodigal son. The father could not keep him at home but had to release him to his choices. But the son repents and returns when faced with the harshness of life outside the safety of his father’s home.

If we assume that the repentant sinner mentioned in the second letter is the same person in the first letter who lived with his stepmother, a different picture emerges. Paul advises the church to embrace him with love: “So you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow” (2 Cor 2:7). Whatever “delivering over to Satan” means, it is clear that the community has a crucial role to play in the sinner’s redemption. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that the sinner is not overwhelmed by sorrow and is guided back to righteousness.

While we may not have a definitive answer to this enigma, the intention behind this command is remedial. The hope is that “his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Cor 5:5). Keeping the sinner in the community would only serve to pollute it, so releasing him to the world outside is done with the optimistic hope that he will one day return. The belief is that life in the community under the reign of Christ is far better than being a slave to sin.

Detours in Life are in God’s Will

2024-05-23T16:35:00.003+05:30

God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt” -Exod 13:17

God considers our strengths and weaknesses when he maps our journey with him to eternity. There will be hurdles on the way, but he will not let them happen at random. He carefully plans it, considering our spiritual stamina at every stage of our Christian growth.

The shortest route to Canaan is through the ancient trade route called Via Mari (Way of the Sea), which starts from Egypt and runs through the coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea to the North of the Levant. It runs through the land mass called Negeb between Canaan and Egypt. Abraham passed through this area when he visited the northern part of Egypt. Jacob and his family also went to Egypt this way.

However, the southern part of this coastal route is now populated by Philistines who migrated from the Aegean Islands to the Western shore of Canaan. The political federation of five Philistine cities is a formidable challenge in that area.

The Israelites are now on their way to the promised land. They are unarmed and unskilled in anything other than brickmaking. The Philistines, with their advanced weaponry, will engage them in battle.

The Lord, who rescued them from Egypt with his might, would help them win the war. Since the Lord knows they are feeble, he did not want the first event in their journey to be a war that may dishearten them. Moreover, he wanted to show his power over the Red Sea, the mighty Egyptian army that he would drown, and so on.

They had to take the long route, crossing the Red Sea through the Sinai desert. To make matters worse, as a result of their rebellion, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.

Though the route was meandering, the Lord planned everything so that he avoided things that may frighten them. When God directs us through detours in life, it is always for our good. As the psalmist says, “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalms 103:13—14, NLT).

But on the long route, God has ordered miracles to meet us.

While Waiting for Home

2024-05-20T13:43:00.006+05:30

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb 13:14—15).

Living as a foreigner is a strange experience. Nothing belongs to them in the country where they live. If the foreigner is a newcomer, he needs help to make sense of things happening around him. Homesickness is high in the first few weeks, though it may wear out as time goes on.

Christ-followers are sojourners on earth. Saint Peter calls them "sojourners and exiles" (1 Pet 2:11). The writer of Hebrews depicts them as people waiting in a foreign country for their permanent residence or a city that is to come. Paul reminded the church in Philippi, though they are Roman citizens that their real citizenship is in heaven, where Jesus is. "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…" (Phil 3:20).

Christ's followers are not idle passengers in waiting lounges, living in the tension of the now and the not yet. They cherish a dream of reaching their destined home. While on earth, they keep themselves busy, not with worry or fear, but with the joyous anticipation of the new destiny that God has called them to. They are filled with hope and excitement for what is to come.

This assurance of a permanent home that we travel to fills us with a deep sense of gratitude and joy, prompting us to praise God. The foundation of our worship is what God has done and what we will have through Jesus Christ. So, we sing on the way home, in every moment of our life on earth. We must not just sing but also integrate personal worship into our daily lives. Taking time out of our daily routine to sing praises to him is not just a suggestion but a vital part of our lifestyle, a source of strength and inspiration.

Today, take brief breaks to hum songs of praise to God. Let us punctuate our days with moments of personal worship.

The Math of Generosity

2024-05-17T01:43:00.008+05:30

In terms of finance, this verse is an absurd proposition. It seems highly unlikely that any finance expert or someone with average skill with numbers would admit that the more one gives, the more one will have. It is common sense that the numbers will be negative if the outflow exceeds the inflow.

However, the Bible teaches that the more a person gives, the richer he becomes. The converse of this theory is that the one who withholds will be the loser. In other words, generosity never makes a person a pauper, but the opposite happens.

Jesus affirmed this principle: “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). Paul quotes Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Human Generosity is rooted in God’s character. Apostle James describes God as someone who “gives generously to all those who ask him” (James 1:5).

Generosity is not giving away all that we have but meeting the needs of others in proportion to what we have. It is an attitude of not withholding and letting our resources be shared. The more we give, the more we are given to give. So, we become not big storehouses of resources but wider channels of God’s blessings to others.

The generous givers never run dry because they are like rivers of God, as the psalmist describes: “The river of God is full of water” (Psa 65:9).

Re-wiring Minds for Eternity

2024-03-16T20:14:00.004+05:30

Christian faith is not just a set of beliefs but involves experiencing the Lord daily. Growing in faith means experiencing more and more of our Saviour and Lord and becoming increasingly like him.

People who accept God's salvation through Jesus Christ should also know they are destined for life in another world. They must have a different orientation of mind than the unsaved.

People who have experienced God’s salvation and belong to the world where Christ is should re-orient their minds from things of this world to things of that world. Just as a person who plans to immigrate to another country gets rid of things that are of no use in the new country, learns the language, culture, and manners of the host country, and lives each day waiting for the day of entry in the new country, so must we too; feet on this earth, eyes on the world above with eager anticipation.

Jesus had promised that one day, he would take us to be with him: “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3).

This re-orientation of thinking, hopes, and aspirations determines the quality of Christian life we live. Paul reminded Philippians, who were Romans by citizenship, that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). This realisation of where we belong gives the momentum for the Christian life. Instead of being stagnant, in Paul’s words, we must forget “what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [and] press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13—14).

Wait, Do not Wilt

2024-03-04T14:11:00.000+05:30

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”

(Psa 27:13—14).

The person who penned this Hebrew poem expresses his trust in the Lord. Line by line, he describes how he will overcome every adversity that rises against him through the power of God. He narrates his story so that every believer then and even now may have their confidence in the Lord.

His confidence comes from the fact that the Lord is good and always favours those who approach him for help. He is confident that his prayers will be answered during his lifetime. (“The land of the living” denotes a person's lifetime).

The Lord may not act according to our timetable, but he certainly acts according to this will in his own time. This requires patience. Exhorting the worshippers to “wait for the Lord”, the psalmist encourages them not to give up but to hold on for the Lord’s time.

Waiting could be extended, and it could be tiring. People waiting for the Lord to act should be prepared to remain strong and courageous and never give up.

While growing impatient and at the point of giving up hope, the stories of godly people, ancient and modern, had always motivated me to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord. Wait, do not wilt—that is the punch of the last line that opens and closes with the phrase, “wait for the Lord.”

The Secret of Victory

2024-03-02T10:46:00.000+05:30

“He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever” (Psa 21:4).

Psalm 21 thanks the Lord for answering the prayer for victory that the people prayed in Psalm 20 as the king set out for the battle. The people had confessed that it was not their military strength but the Lord’s might that made their army win the war. Now, the king and the military have come back victorious.

The first part of the Psalm (verses 1—7) elaborates on what the Lord has done for the king, while the second part (verses 8—12) expresses their hope for a future free of threats from the enemies. In the last verse, they praise the Lord for his strength and mercy in preserving them. “Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power” (Psa 21:13). Ancient Israel was a tiny nation among powerful and more prominent nations. They had never been an empire except during the period of David, who had subdued some smaller countries. Still, that is enough to make an empire. They were bullied by the small nations and raiders and were controlled by powerful nations such as Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. They had to keep alive throughout history, resisting the forces that demanded their life.

An overview of Biblical history teaches that the Lord protected them against their mighty enemies when they trusted him but had to give them up when they failed to acknowledge him and sought his protection.

Psalms 20 and 21 teach us an essential truth about our life with the Lord. Trusting in our strength alone is the recipe for failure since we never have the strength to protect ourselves. On the contrary, acknowledging the power of God and being totally dependent on him is the way to victory.

Serve with Power, Love, and Self-discipline

2024-02-29T20:00:00.002+05:30

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6—7). Paul wrote this letter towards the end of his life to his young colleague Timothy, who will continue the ministry by caring for the churches they founded. Paul advises Timothy to remain faithful and continue his example in faith and ministry.

To emulate Paul in his life and ministry, Timothy does not need any more spiritual gifts; he has all he requires to serve God and God’s people. But he has to “fan to flame” what he has already received. An ember would slowly die and grow cold if not fanned to flame. Similarly, spiritual gifts given to us for service will die if not used regularly and properly. The master condemned the person who buried the talent, but those who multiplied what they were entrusted with were honoured and trusted with more (Matt 25:14—30). Similarly, the Lord endowed spiritual gifts to us (1 Cor 12) to serve others and help them grow in faith and maturity. If we fail to use them, we fail to serve others, and the gifts may be taken away. Some fear using the gifts of the Spirit they are given. But this contradicts the very nature of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of “power, love, and self-discipline.” On the contrary, “fear” describes a person fleeing the battle. A follower of Christ empowered with the gifts of the Holy Spirit should not flee but keep fighting and advancing. The first step in using the gifts of the Spirit given to us is to realise its inherent power. The second is to love the people we serve so that we cannot withhold using it to serve them. Third, it requires self-disciple, a life structured according to God’s will. For example, a person with the gift of healing (1 Cor 12:9) should not shy away from sick persons but boldly offer to pray, disregarding the medical probability of healing. That is advancing boldly. We can take that bold step only if we love those persons and seek their well-being. It takes self-discipline and re-ordering our personal lives to be there for them and pray for them. It is time for many of us to find out what gifts the Holy Spirit has given us and put them to use for the benefit of others before the ember dies out.

Re-wiring Minds for Eternity

2024-02-29T11:06:00.000+05:30

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:1—2). Christian faith is not just a set of beliefs but involves experiencing the Lord daily. Growing in faith means experiencing more and more of our Saviour and Lord and becoming increasingly like him.

The Christian life begins when we recognise the need for a saviour and continues as we identify with him in his death and resurrection in Christian baptism. We are seated with him through the spiritual resurrection, though we are still physically on earth. Paul sums up this experience: “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus….” (Eph 2:5—7). People who have accepted the salvation God offers through Jesus Christ should also know that they are destined for life in another world. They must have a different orientation of mind than the unsaved. People who have experienced God’s salvation and belong to the world where Christ is should re-orient their minds from things of this world to things of that world. Just as a person who plans to immigrate to another country gets rid of things that are of no use in the new country, learns the language, culture, and manners of the host country, and lives each day waiting for the day of entry in the new country, so must we too; feet on this earth, eyes on the world above with eager anticipation. Jesus had promised that one day, he would take us to be with him: “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3). This re-orientation of thinking, hopes, and aspirations determines the quality of Christian life we live. Paul reminded Philippians, who were Romans by citizenship, that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). This realisation of where we belong gives the momentum for the Christian life. Instead of being stagnant, in Paul’s words, we must forget “what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [and] press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13—14).

Praying at the Face of Threats

2024-02-21T16:08:00.005+05:30

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright” (Psa 20:7—8). Read Psalm 20:1—9.

Wishing the king success as he set out for military campaigns was a significant part of the life of nations in the ancient world. Only one party wins any battle. Defeat is the last chapter in the life of that nation. The king who leads the battle may lose his life, along with many army officers and soldiers. The survivors will end up in exile in faraway nations, never to see their homeland again. Psalms 20 and 21 are written against this historical background. The first one is the prayer offered while sending out the army led by the king, and the second one celebrates the victory. In this case, the king and the army returned victorious. In the first five verses of Psalm 20, the subjects wish that everything will go well with the king. As they wish the king success, the people do not praise the king or his army for their power or abilities. But they invoke the blessing of the Lord upon the soldiers stepping into a venture that would decide the destiny of their nation, praying, “May he (the Lord).” Every sentence begins with this phrase and seven times in five verses! The Lord determines the outcome of the battle. They reiterate this truth in the following verses. The enemy seems to be stronger and has advanced battle equipment like chariots and horses. Israel was always far behind other nations technologically. In the late bronze age, when the Canaanites had fortified cities, horses and chariots, they had none. Later in the Iron Age, when the Philistines knew iron technology and had swords and spears, Israel had only two swords in the entire nation—one for Saul and another for his son Jonathan. Later in the eighth century, when Assyrians threatened them, Hezekiah had to buy horses and chariots from Egypt to withstand the enemy. Though poor in the armoury, they had great confidence in the Lord. Their history has taught them to say: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright” (Psa 20:7—8). Knowing that no nation is a match for the Lord they serve, they prayed: “O LORD, save the king! May he answer us when we call” (Psa 20:9). Yes he did, that is the story the following Psalm tells. The Lord who collapsed the walls of Jericho without an arrow shot, who helped David to fell the gaint with just one sling shot, did it again. When we stare at formidable challenges, fear of failure, our confidence is in the Lord who repeats history for his faithful.

From the Stars to God’s Story

2024-02-21T09:06:00.002+05:30

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psa 19:14). The starry sky over a village on a dark day is a treat for the eyes, but the city's sky, polluted with light from automobiles, street lights, and high-rise buildings, dims this view. Stunned by this display, the psalmist lying on his back outside his house muses: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psa 19:1). In the day, he watches the sun rising in the East and moving to the West, lightening and warming the earth (Psa 19:4—6). The creation is a witness to the splendour of its creator.

The psalmist's musings stray to another revelation of the creator of the universe in the second part of the Psalm (Psa 19:7—14). It is the Bible, the revelation of God’s will, that he gave to his people to know him and follow him. “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psa 19:7). The Scripture, where God’s will is revealed, does far more than what the sun, moon, and stars could do. While the constellation lights up, warms, and makes life possible on this blue planet, real life with God is only possible through God's Word. The Word of God imparts wisdom (v. 7), brings gladness to the human heart (v.8), and is most desirable. “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” Psa 19:10). It is more desirable than scanning the starry sky or enjoying the cool of the cheesy moon or warming up in the Sun on a beech. The Word of God makes life with God richer as we ponder on the truths in its pages. Nature reveals God, but the Word of God goes deeper. It shows how to get closer to the creator as it guides us in the path of God by warning when our feet stray away from the path of life (Psa 19:11). By tracing the journey of his thoughts from the creation to the Word of the creator, the Psalmist invites us to delve into the Word and cherish it to grow in wisdom.

Between God and the Devil

2023-01-22T08:54:00.004+05:30

The spiritual essence of human life is determined by the choice between two persons who demand our loyalty. One is God and the other is his antagonist, the Devil. The followers of Christ have already made their choice by choosing God and shunning the Devil. However, the Devil will not leave them so easily. He hangs around.

Apostle James advises, “humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). To live away from the sphere of the Devil’s influence we must humble before God and resist the devil.

Prophet Micah who lived in eighth century B. C., advised the people to “walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). We need to humble before God because he never helps those who are proud as James says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6, ESV). Those who humble themselves before God must keep resisting the Devil to live in allegiance to God.

The Devil is busy. He keeps tempting God’s people, but he gives up those who do not yield. He is very economical in his efforts. He leaves those who resist him to go after easy targets without wasting his time on the strong-willed. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness and when Jesus did not surrender to his offers “then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus” (Matthew 4:11, NLT).

Each time we give in to the temptations that the Devil brings up, we are giving him more space to govern our lives. So, it is important to keep resisting. This is the spiritual warfare that are we are in on this side of the eternity—keep resisting the Devil to cling on to God.

Three Shades of Trust

2021-08-30T20:52:00.004+05:30

However long may be our fuse, we finally explode. The difference is only in the time it takes. Remember, on its way to the explosive crux the ignition keeps the fuse hot. That is the fretting all of us go through occasionally. The Psalmist, an old wise man (Psa 37:25) gently admonishes “do not fret!” (Psa 37:1). I am certain that he might have learned this valuable lesson from his long journey of life.

The Hebrew verb translated as “fret” has the sense of “heating up” or “being hot.” Though most translations translate it as “fret”, if given the opportunity I would translate it as “do not fume over.”

The psalmist talks about the godly people becoming envious of the godless people who are faring well in their life. Though godly seems to have all that they need, and doing well, they fret over the comparatively better benefits that the ungodly have. So, the Psalmist elaborates the idea of “fretting” as “being envious” in the next line.

The trigger that causes our fretting may not be the same as what the Psalmist describes here. Though the reasons for fretting over might be different, the cure that the psalm prescribes apply to all scenarios of fretting. It is a “one size fit all” kind of remedy.

Before we move on to talk about the cure, we need to understand that if left untreated fretting could harm us extremely badly. It causes tremendous stress that may paralyzes us. Most importantly, it blocks our mind in such a way as that we cannot focus or hear God. Fretting is a spiritual impediment. It may lead us to fight with those who cause us to worry, where victory is not always assured. What makes us fret may still hold the fort after a war of words.

Trusting in God is the remedy to get over getting over fretting: trust over fret! According to the Psalmist, trust is divided into three shades, and we need each one. Trust in God should be focused, joyful, and wise.

First, trust in should be focused. “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness” (Psa 37:3). In the following lines he elaborates what trusting the Lord means.

I understand this line as saying, trust in the Lord while you keep doing good. The focus in on doing good or being fit for the purpose for which we are created by God. In the Bible “being good” is to serve the purpose for which something is made. An apple that can not be eaten is not good apple nor a rose that never blooms is not a good rose worth keeping. Trusting in the Lord is to take our eyes off from what distracts us from our God-ordained task. When we are immersed in serving God’s purpose in our lives, there is no time to fret over anything.

Focussed trust comes with its own rewards which is dwelling in the land in order to feed on God’s own faithfulness. The word translated as “befriend” in ESV can also be rendered as “feed on.” (See the ESV note.) As we focus in fulfilling the God-ordained purposes in our lives, God responds by constantly supplying us by his faithfulness. He makes us satisfied.

A second shade of trust in God is joy, it is joyful trust. “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psa 37:4). The word “delight” evokes the experience of eating. We don’t eat to just fill the stomach. In choosing the places to eat and ordering the food we make sure our eating is a delightful experience. That is why the restaurant reviews talk about the décor of the place. That is the reason why the menu card also carries the pictures of the food (along with the price). When we eat, we roll the food in in our mouth before swallowing it. No child washes down MnM (the chocolate brand) with a glass of water though each piece of MnM looks like tablets. But they are colourful chocolate balls. Those who love MnM allow it to slowly melt in their mouth, cherish its taste if it remains and takes another one when the one in the mouth is gone! That is delighting in.

Trusting in God should be a similar delightful experience. God rewards by such trust by granting the desires of our heart. When we delight in God, God keeps us delighted in him. When trust in God raises to that level of delightful experience then there is not reason to fret. We are fully engrossed in what God has done in our life.

A third shade of trust is that it is wise. We don’t trust God blindly, but it is insightful that brings a divine calm in to our lives. “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him” (Psa 37:7). What is being still? Stillness is that quality of life that there is nothing to be anxious about. The psalm opens with a wise observation that the things that we usually fret over are not there for ever. “For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (Psa 37:2). From his life lessons, the old wise man realized that the pomp and glory of the godless would not last forever. It is this divine insight on life that enriches our trust in God. To trust God is not to be foolish. It is the wisest choice we have made.

When God orders our lives, we don't need to spend energy on venting our frustrations. We don’t stall on the way like a car that stops in the middle of nowhere on the highway as the heat builds up in the engine. As it has always kept itself cool, it runs its course steadily.

Crowd Encouragement

2021-07-27T08:35:00.000+05:30

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Heb 12:1, NLT).

I am always inspired to go after a challenge when I realize others have gone before me. It need not be high-risk adventures like walking through a long, dark, narrow tunnel, bungee jumping in a remote location, or paragliding over a deep gorge. It could be any mundane aspects of life, where bold, confident action is involved.

Christian life is an adventure. It is a journey to the invisible, eternity or our life with God that we never been to through unfamiliar territories. In this journey every step is stimulated by faith in Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

But still, when tempted to give up hope and confidence comes from the realization that we are not alone but there are others who have already completed this race successfully. This verse is the climax of the long list of heroes of faith that begins in the previous chapter (Chapter 11). These superheroes of faith crossed the finish line, and they await our arrival as we are still on our way. This crowd of witnesses motivates us in our Christian race. If they could do it, then we can do it too.

“O, Lord, give me the same strength that you gave to those who went ahead of me to complete their race despite discouragement, weakness, and doubt. Let me run this race with the strength you give me."

It rains differently everywhere

2021-06-17T21:23:00.006+05:30

Rain is a universal phenomenon. All over it rains, except maybe in deserts. The phenomenon of rain is a process of recycling water. Rain fills the waterbodies. Then, water in rivers, lakes, and oceans evaporates and it rains down again, repeating the cycle. Despite how heavily it rains the total amount of water on earth remains always constant.

However, it rains differently in different places and seasons.

It is almost time for monsoon in southern parts of India. During this season dark rain clouds travel from the southern tip of the country diagonally across past Myanmar. On its way it refreshes the land except the north-western fringes of the country.

The down pour is heavy at the center of its path and lighter on the edges. Though an exaggeration, the people in the south-western tip of India (Kerala) where the monsoon begins its cross-country travel say each drop is one bucketful. It is so heavy and loaded. It lashes the ground so harsh sometimes uprooting small plants. It cleans the ground as it washes the trash, twigs, and dry leaves down the hill.

I love the monsoon rain. It brings relief from the summer heat. The earth turns cool.

However, it rains differently in every place. The sound it makes in the city is different from the country. The sound of rain on concrete and tin sheets in the city and the sound of rain on the trees and the grass in the countryside are vastly different. The wind on the trees in the countryside and on the windowpanes in the urban skyscrapers are different. The urbanites hear the thunder but do not see the lightning since their vision of the horizon through the windows is limited.

It rains differently in each place. It is the same rain but where it falls makes the difference. Grace is something like that. It is the same grace, but who receive it what they do with it makes the difference. Apostle Paul was keen that all the grace that God lavished on him was used well. So, he proclaims: “But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results” (1 Cor 15:10, NLT).

The ground may reject rain drops falling on it. The raindrops may splash, and scatter. But the good ground absorbs it, holds it for the dry season. It flourishes new life. The difference the rain makes depends on how it is received. So is the favour of God.

(Photo courtesy: Sid Ali on Pexels.com)

Amaranth Wisdom

2021-05-31T22:42:00.004+05:30

Buddha discovered the mysteries of human suffering while meditating under a banyan tree. The falling apple triggered thoughts of gravity in Isaac Newton’s head. I got some trace of wisdom when I bought a packet of rajgira (seeds of Amaranth).

Rajgira is the seed of the Amaranth plants. These tiny seeds are used for food as raw seeds or flour. It is also called the Indian Quinoa. The leaves and stem are also used as vegetables. They could be pink or green.

My experience of the rajgira seeds in my porridge was horrible. It seems that the packet of seeds that I bought from Amazon had fine grains of sand. At every spoon, I bit something hard making me throw the whole bowl of porridge away.

I was angry that I was duped. I had no idea about what I can do with two large packets of it that I was left with.

Like Buddha, and Newton I started thinking deep. I took the packet of seeds and threw it on the wet ground. It rained the following two days as well. Then lo and behold on the third day, the seeds have sprouted. The little plants rose up from the grains of sand it was mixed with.

The seeds had life packed in each of them which the sand lacked. The particles of rock turned to the soil from which it came–dust to dust. The patch of land where the seeds fell are decked with little pink rajgira plants. They will grow, bloom and produce seeds. I can harvest them fresh and make porridge that won’t hurt my teeth any more.

This is an allegory. Only what has life force in them will grow. The chickens lay eggs. Usually farm chicken lay unfertilized eggs that cannot be hatched. They can be boiled, fried and eaten raw. But free-ranger country chicken lay fertilized eggs that can be hatched to adorable chicks. Anyone who want to raise a chicken farm has to choose fertilized eggs for the incubator.

All are not fit to be the citizens of the kingdom of God. Jesus told that kingdom of God is like the net that catches all sort of fish. But all fish are not good for food. So, the fisherman discards the bad catch and keep only the good ones in his basket (Matt 13:47–50). The Kingdom of God is also like sown field where the weeds grow with grain. But when the plants are big enough to tell the weed from the wheat, the farmer picks the weeds and burns it (Matt 13:24–30). Otherwise it will choke the good plants.

Sow and nourish. That is how to have a good harvest. Seeds may be adulterated, but good seeds will certainly grow while the lifeless grains of sand sink into the mud they belong to. That is secret of the confidence and joy of the sower.

Good soil and wild mushrooms

2021-05-29T15:25:00.006+05:30

Last week I spoke at the 100^th death anniversary of Volbrecht Nagel, a German missionary to the South Indian state of Kerala. Though he was in Kerala only for two decades, the songs he composed are still sung in the churches. They also have made into cinematic music. Some are translated into 21 plus Indian languages. He is still remembered, and his contributions are extolled by Muslim, Hindu, and Christian Orthodox academics though he was a Christian Brethren missionary.

Also last week was the first anniversary of the death of a famous apologist of our time. During his lifetime, he faced many allegations against his character. A few months after his death, an investigation by his own organization revealed serious character flaws and sex scandals in his life. The organization that he founded published apologies to the victims of his un-Christian behavior on their website. Now, the organization that he founded has removed all references about him from their website, his books are withdrawn from the market. The reputation that he built by making himself a brand and his ministry a commodity is now being trampled underfoot. All this within an year of his death.

The reputation of the Nagel, the man who wanted to be more like Jesus continues to inspire us. There must be something to learn from the stories of these two people. These are two allegories of two types of Christian lives. The right and wrong beginnings which naturally led to wrong courses and then the wrong end.

Christian discipleship could be imagined using the metaphor of the seed sown, grows, fruits and is harvested.

To live a Christian life, our hearts must be sown with the gospel of God's kingdom.

In Luke 8, Jesus illustrates this with a parable. The story is about a farmer who went out to sow. While many seeds perished and did not yield anything, he was able to harvest a good harvest. Some seeds fell on the rocks, and they dried up. Some fell on the path and were trampled. What fell among thorns were choked. Several of them were eaten by birds before sprouting.

The soil was the problem, not the seed. All seeds came from the same basket, by the same person, but the place where they landed made all the difference. As with the soils, not all hearts were ready to receive the Word. Some denied it right then without allowing to take roots. A few were choked by hearts preoccupied with worry and anxiety. A word could not grow there because they did not have enough space.

Christian life begins as the Word of God is planted in our hearts. James refers to the seed that begins the Christian's life as "the implanted Word". “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

When James speaks of "salvation," he refers to the judgment of God. The Word implanted in us will grow to save us on the day of judgment. The Christian life is successful when one has planted a seed in his heart and nurtures it so that it grows and bears fruit. In Hebrews, the writer makes a similar observation about the generation of Israelites who perished along the way. “For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they did not share the faith of those who listened to God” (Heb 4:2, NLT). The hearing of the Word did not profit them for their salvation.

It is sad that many people follow Christ without their hearts being sown by the word. Their journey begins with some miracles in their life, or some needs met in answer to prayer. Their hearts are devoid of the Word and then the wither away when miracles do not happen again when they expect.

People who begin their Christian life without the Word implanted in their hearts are like wild mushrooms. The wild mushrooms are aplenty in the farms though they are seasonal. The people in the countryside gather them on the morning after a night of thunderstorm. They believe that it is the lightning the previous night that caused them to sprout. They are usually found on decaying vegetation. You must pick them immediately before another torrent wash them away, or before the worms begins to feast on them. Not all mushrooms are edible, and some are poisonous. Many Christian journey begins with the splashing display of miracles, answered prayers, or the compelling oratory skills of celebrity preachers. Their hearts are barren, but their appearances are alluring. Though they are beautiful in shape and colour they do not have deep roots. Most of them cannot stand the heat of the sun or the hunger of the worms.

For the sown seed to grow, the soil symbolizing our hearts should be pure. James urges us to remove all filthiness, wickedness and all that turns the soil sterile. We must accept the Word in meekness. Meekness is that quality of our character that makes us low down under the weight of the Word of God. Unless we are humble, we cannot carry the Word in our hearts, and keep it until it sprouts to become a plant yields fruit. Word of God sown in the hearts that are unclean and arrogant cannot grow into plants that productive. They may grow on decaying vegetation, instead of the living Word of God and perish as wild mushroom when the show is over.

(Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels)

Israel-Palestine conflict: Where is Christ in this?

2021-05-14T22:01:00.007+05:30

The developments of this week in the centuries-old Israel-Palestine conflict have created a lot of clashes of opinions. Christians have taken sides, mostly on the Israeli side. The media is divided but mostly on the side of Israel.

The reasons for the support for Israel are many. First sympathies. Historically, they had been a persecuted minority except in India and probably in the United States. Who can ignore the six million Jews who died in Hitler’s gas chambers? The sorrowful part of their history, along with the propaganda in favour of them, has created a lot of sympathy for them.

In addition to the popular sympathy for Israel, some Christians also find that what happens in Israel is the fulfilment of Biblical prophecies. These Christians think that all Palestinians are Muslims, though a significant number of them are Christians. Many Christian Holy places are in Palestinian territory (including Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron, etc.).

Many Christians think that the Jewish nation is a friend of Christianity. But there is a lot of intolerance in Israel. Attacks on Christian churches are a regular event that fanatic Jews stage. There are restrictions on building churches and Christian institutions in Israel. Even a person who is Jew by birth but converted to another religion is not eligible for immigration to Israel. This includes Messianic Jews born outside Israel. They are denied citizenship, though they have Jewish blood running in their veins, but they are different by faith.

All these are facts of history.

Jews have a right to live in their land, and Palestinians also have the same right. Historically, they have lived in that land for centuries. The Jews are Palestinians who were in exile and Diaspora for centuries and returned in different waves over centuries. They, too, have the right to live in their ancestral land. They needed a home to come back to. The best home is certainly the land where their ancestors lived.

We should recognize that the present conflict is not religious but purely political. It is the result of the Arabs hating the Jewish nation called Israel, their denial of Israel’s right to exist, and Israel’s arrogant claim that the whole land belongs to them. The whole of it never belonged to them in history. For most of their history, foreigners ruled over them, and the rest of the time, they had to live with people who did not share their faith and were from different ethnic stocks.

But modern Israel has the power to stand up to any threat to their existence. They have military power and international rapport to add to their might. Hamas, the violent face of the Palestinians, inflict pain upon the majority of neutral Palestinians by inciting the Israeli Defense Force to retaliate. I recall one Friday evening six years ago witnessing a conflict between Palestinian young men and Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem. The young men were pelting stones at the Israeli watchtower, and Israeli soldiers were firing at the unarmed youth. It was an unequal exchange.

One of the characters in a book by Israeli writer Amos Oz said that non-Jews must be treated as “drawers of water and cutters wood” (Joshua 9:23). Many people (but not all) in Israel share this view—treating non-Jews with contempt. At the same time, decades of subjugation is the propellent that powered the rockets from Gaza towards Israel. The arrogance fueled by the spirit of revenge is the reason why Gaza is being razed to the ground by Israeli counterattacks. Those who died in Gaza or lost their homes have never seen a rocket!

As a student of the Bible, I do not see any support in the Hebrew Bible (that I share with my Jewish friends) and the New Testament to justify this conflict between Israel and Palestine. There is no biblical prophecy to support the present situation. All the biblical prophecies are fulfilled except those related to the return of Christ, the rapture, the resurrection of the saints and their eternity with Christ. We are in the end times right now, waiting for the end of the end times. That may happen at any time.

Christians in Palestine and in Israel may have the right to take sides in this conflict. Because it is a matter of their nationality and existence. But this does not apply to Christians in other places.

Since there are no historical or biblical reasons to support either Israel or Palestine, where should Christ-followers stand in this conflict? The Christians should seek God’s will in this matter. They should ask what side Christ would take in this conflict where both sides suffer the loss of life, property, and their life of dignity? I think the heart of Christ is weeping as he wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35).

I am sure that the Christ whom I know does not support violence. He does not support either the hatred that Hamas fosters or the arrogance of the State of Israel. He mourns that his command to love each other has gone unheeded by the Palestinians and the Jews. If all Jews lived according to the Royal Law of Love (James 2:8), there would be no conflict. Jesus taught his disciples that violence is futile and destructive. His group of disciples included some former members of the Jewish terrorist movement called Zealots (Simon the Zealot). If Hamas heeded Jesus words, that “all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52), they would have reimagined the situation differently. Any Christian who thinks that it is right to justify violence for whatever reason is not a true follower of Christ.

The sculpture at the Oklahoma Bombing Memorial is eloquent! I stood before it, deeply contemplating the mind of my Lord! In 1995, domestic terrorists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols exploded the Federal building in Oklahoma City, where 168 people, including children, died. The explosion injured more than 600 people. At the far end of the memorial stands the sculpture titled “Jesus Wept.” It depicts Jesus with his face covered in his palm, turned away from the site. It tells it all, the one who embraced death on the Calvary cross to raze down the wall of enmity and hatred is weeping and calls us to weep over the violence that is in the DNA of the unredeemed humankind.

Pandemic, panic and boredom

2021-05-05T16:03:00.007+05:30

Aside from claiming many lives, the Covid-19 pandemic also affects the mind. People panic and dive deep into boredom.

Cambridge dictionary defines panic as "a sudden, strong feeling of anxiety or fear that prevents reasonable thought and action and may spread to influence many people."

Anxiety can be caused by real or imaginary perceptions of threat and harm. Panic is also a type of fear triggered by our perceptions. Perceptions that trigger panic may be present or absent.

In addition, panic is especially undesirable because it prevents people from thinking or acting rationally. Panic impairs their ability to rationally think and act.

Panic drives many people to explore tips about healthy living, avoiding, or managing Covid that are available all over the internet out of panic.

There are many factors that cause panic during the pandemic. First, we are isolated by lockdowns, social distancing, fear of death, the loss of friends, etc. Suddenly, our support systems have disappeared, and we are forced to live in our own cocoons.

Related to this is the lack of access to whatever gave us meaning, enjoyment, and purpose in life. Imagine driving down to the favorite coffee place after a busy day only to be greeted by the closed sign. Or the seats are limited. You return dejected. Coffee made at home is never good as the one at the coffee house, moreover, we miss the crowd and the ambience of the place as well.

As the Cambridge Dictionary states, panic "may spread to influence many people". You might have guessed the reason people who panic turn to social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. They cannot control their fear without spreading it to others.

Initially, work from home (WFH) was welcomed with enthusiasm. But boredom developed due to WFH's social isolation. The result of boredom is to engage in useless activities that only provide us with wrong pleasure. We often use social media as a way of escaping boredom by forwarding things even before we open them. This is fun for people. Some people beat boredom by posting or sharing on social media like Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Watching the growing number of likes and shares gives an adrenaline rush much greater than that of a large Cappuccino.

There is a flipside as well. Everyone is so busy posting (like you do) that they don't have time to read or like your post. The lack of likes and shares may also cause you to dip into depression. The dwindling number of likes and shares may be perceived as rejection, so you give the world a reason to remind you that you are not as popular as you thought. It hurts when ego is deflated as a punctured balloon.

How can we avoid panic and boredom? We must first recognize that we are not in control of our own lives. In fact, we cannot prevent many things from happening. For instance, the Corona Virus. There is no point panicking over things beyond our control. It is not to accept it as fate that we will suffer. Instead, it is to realize that God is in charge.

Second, we must recognize the reason for our existence. We do not exist for mere pleasure. Heaven is our goal, and we don't seek earthly pleasure to sustain our lives. "Joy of the Lord" means we draw pleasure from God's presence in our lives and looking forward to what is waiting for us in heaven. A worldview such as this provides an immunity to boredom caused by an absence of earthly pleasures.

Additionally, the advice is to stay calm, don't panic! Make sure you are not spreading your panic to others through your social media accounts. That would be a great service to humanity. Give yourself some time to make rational decisions before reacting.

-------------------------------------

(Photo courtesy: Glyn Nelson licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)