ARETE VS DISSIPATION: HOW DOES REAL CHRISTIAN LIVE?

I have a unique experience that I want to share with you. I hope we can draw a valuable lesson from it.

I have once worked in one advertising company located in Jakarta. I was hired by this company to lead the operational division and to replace a person who was planned to be transferred to the different division. At the first interview this person showed me her room that was going to be mine. After the final interview with the owners, we all agreed to work together. At my first day of work (until my last day), I wasn’t directed to seat in the room as promised. I was also introduced to my subordinates as an assistant, not as a leader as the agreement. She appointed herself as my superior and she had a temperamental outburst. So many unusual things then happened along my probation period. Fresh lubricant came out from inside the Plasma TVs. Sabotage to our billboards was everywhere and unstoppable even though we had already maximized the night security to guard the billboards. This was so amazed that I couldn’t imagine what was going on? I also checked the record sheet and found that it was never happed like this before. These occurrences had brought a chance for this lady to exhort me to take a Jakarta night tour from 12am to 3am then back to the office at 9 am. How does it sound, my friend? What if it happened to you? I was so confused at that time and as a Christian, I wouldn’t allow to accuse someone. In fact, I could easily accuse my superior for stabbing my back. On the contrary, she always gave me a lesson from bible. She also always went to chapel in the early morning to pray before coming to work. So amazing, isn’t it? Then, after 3 month probation she came to me and asked me to resign. She also accused me to admit something that I didn’t do!

Sabotage, wrong accusation and persecution are in the category of Dissipation. It brings up hostility not only to the human-beings but also to our God. However, it won’t be happened if Holy Spirit really indwells, will it? We may boast our faith but if we have no love or affection toward others, what is our faith going be? Stale, isn’t it?

Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or
rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrong
that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always
supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! (1 Corinth 13:4-8,
CEV)

Real Christian will not conduct this behavior. Christian who has born anew has a character of Arête or Virtue. The word Arête comes from Greek language. It means the ability to perform heroic deeds. Being a Hero is not easy. It requires a true sacrifice like what has Jesus done for us at the Cross. And the true sacrifice will emerge from inside us if the Holy Spirit abides us.

The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. (John 15:13, CEV)

The Scripture says if you don’t want to sacrifice for your friends (for the truth condition) then you don’t have love. If you don’t have love, then you don’t have the Spirit! So, what is our response?

DO MIRACLES WE PERFORM INDICATE A GREAT FAITH OF OURS?

Paul wrote to his disciples in Corinth: '... Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'

Well folks, this time I want to discuss about a faith journey. It reflects also my weakness in the past, as far as I recall. And I thought this would be a perfect time to share my faith confession as a reminder for all of us.

Like it or not, consciously or not, sometimes we talk too much about how great our faith is. We proud of ourselves about the miracles we made. We then become arrogant and begin to value and judge other’s faith. Some of us may claim that they can heal sick persons or rise man from the death or cast out demons or do many wonders else in Jesus’ name. We teach others to read the Bible everyday, pray a lot, and have a family altar every morning or evening. We jostle these people for many spiritual advices until their brains become cluttered. We unconsciously learn and talk about Jesus for our own purpose: exalting our own names instead of His. Let me tell you the truth: I used to be like this person. Perhaps, I didn’t know about the real faith is! I was one of the hypocrites! I was faux! I brought conflicts in my family and friends which was not right anymore. But then I realized that I did something wrong. I blamed myself and came to God. Ask Him what’s wrong to be proud? And God showed me this lesson:

It’s is written in the Scripture that everyone who has faith in Jesus can demonstrate spiritual wonders. It’s a God’s gift! Each believer has his/her own special gift according to the Holy Spirit. However, all of us have to use it in order to achieve God’s plan, not ours! Off course I agree that it requires our faith but it doesn't mean that the gift shows a great faith of ours. Let’s learn about a real faith from these following statements:

… if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move… (Matthew 17:20)

... “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the (evil) spirit are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

With these two statements, I then come to the conclusion that the miracle we demonstrate only signs a common faith! Wow! So, when we have a great faith? Let’s see how Jesus reacted on someone else’s faith in other situation:

… When Jesus heard it, He marveled,… I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! (Matthew 8:10)

To get into the point we’re discussing, allow me to ask you and myself 3 questions:

1. What kind of miracle did the centurion do, so Jesus became amazed by his faith
2. What kind of miracle did Abraham do, so later on he was called as a Father of the Faithful?
3. What kind of miracle did Rahab the harlot do, so her name was written in the Scripture as the ancestor of our Lord Jesus?

I know that this article doesn’t contain a sophisticated biblical analysis but I am sure most of us can grab a positive lesson from this article.

Note: Let’s honor and praise our Lord, Jesus, by maintaining peace between churches.

ABRAHAM: THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL

May I ask you this: When God told Abraham to offer his only son Isaac as a burnt offering one one of the mountains of Moriah (Gen. 22:1-2), what was the reaction of Abraham? Did he second-guess God? Was he sad although he obeyed God hesitantly? Was he afraid? What did he think? Did he ask God to reconsider His decision?

Yes, some of you may have the right answer. Although Abraham received utterly inconceivable and unprecedented instruction from God, he has no doubt at all. In fact he was very confident to follow the instruction. Insane? No! I would call it: What a faith! So, can you tell me which verses in Scripture indicating his confidence in dealing with this God's severe test?

Yeah, again you're right! Let us together take a look at these verses from Genesis chapter 22:

1. He did the instruction at once (v.3)
2. He told his young men that he and Isaac will return (v.4)
3. He told Isaac that God would supply a lamb for the offering (v.8)
4. He stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son (v.10)

My understanding is Abraham strongly believed that God was able to raise his son Isaac up, even from the dead since He had promised him that his seed shall be called in Isaac. This dramatic event is the shadow of the human salvation in the New testament where God has to sacrifice His son, Jesus. Through Jesus, God saves us and promises for an eternal life.

PS: Jehovah Jireh is The-LORD-Will-Provide

TRIALS VS TEMPTATIONS

5 major differences between trials and temptations are:

1. Trials are from God whereas temptations are from evil;
2. Trials are good for the spirit through our own emotion (but very, very bad for our body) whereas temptations are good for the body through our own desire (but not good for our spirit);
3. Trials strengthen our faith in Jesus whereas temptations weaken it;
4. Trials require love and mercy as temptations require hatred and greed;
5. Trials bring hope as temptations bring uncertainty.

Now, it’s all up to us either we want to become insurgent or obedient to our Lord. We 'll become insurgent person when we accept the temptation and feel happy on it. On the contrary, we will become obedient when we accept the trial and rejoice it! Which one are we?

Note: 1 Corinthians 10:13 and James 1:13 are about temptations.

BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT: HOW WILL THEY END?

Paul, the Apostle, said in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that human being is divided by three elements: body, soul and spirit. What do you think about each of them? Where it will return after we die? Let’s see what Scripture says about it:

BODY:

‘That’s how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live for ever’ (1 Corinthians 15:42, CEV)

‘… when you end their life, they die and rot.’ (Psalm 104:29, CEV)

SPIRIT:

‘So our bodies return to the earth, and the life-giving breath returns to God.’ (Ecclesiastes 12:7, CEV)

‘… His body will be destroyed, but his spirit will be saved when the Lord Jesus returns.’ (1 Corinthians 5:5, CEV)

SOUL:

‘… Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell.’ (Matthew 10:28, CEV)

‘… the souls of everyone who had been killed for speaking God’s message and talking about their faith.’ (Revelation 6:9, CEV)

In summary, after we die our earthly body will be rotten, and we will dress in a heavenly body. Our spirit then goes back to God, the owner of spirit of all creatures. Our soul goes to a temporary place before the judgment day (read Luke 16:19-31).

May God bless us all!

FORGIVING OTHER WHO WRONG US

Have You ever experienced a deep and desolate distress when you have to face a hurtful problem and nobody is around you? I m sure you have, 'cause nobody can escape from it, can't we? You may feel a profound anguish deep inside your heart, right? Someone wrong you, desert you and deny you ... and suddenly you remember Jesus admonition to forgive other who sinned you... Well, honestly it is more than our mind can completely fathom, isn't it? But the question is why should we? What vantage will we get from forgiveness?

If we ask our Father those questions, He will remind us on the prayer that Jesus has taught us: ... And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12)

We realize that we are also a sinner and need constant forgiveness from God. Scripture shows us an example of a right attitude of Stephanus the Apostle when he was stoned (Acts 7:54-60). Such an attitude of love and mercy should also be ours. So, let the Spirit work in us.

Cheer-up!

TRIAL (TEST) VS TEMPTATION: THE TRUTH OF GOD

The distinction between trial and temptation is generally misunderstood. In Indonesian Holy Bible translated by LAI (Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia), both words have the same noun form: PENCOBAAN. Although in ‘verb’ form, they are different, trial is MENCOBA and temptation is MENCOBAI. All too often the word PENCOBAAN is held to be synonymous with either trial or temptation – where it leads to my misunderstanding about the truth of God. I then tried to compare these two words between Indonesian and English version Bible. According to my new understanding:

• MENCOBA (v) = UJIAN (n) or TES (n)

• TEST (v) = TRIAL (n) or TEST (n)

• MENCOBAI (v) = PENCOBAAN (n)

• TEMPT (v) = TEMPTATION (n)

God does the TRIAL or the TEST and Devil does the TEMPTATION through our own desires. Let’s take look at some of the below examples taken from the Bible:

… “God has come only to test you, so that…” (Exodus 20:20, CEV)

Test my thoughts and find out what I am like. (Psalms 26:2, CEV)

Don’t blame God when you are tempted! God can’t be tempted by evil, and He doesn’t use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. (James 1:13-14, CEV)

Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil. (Matthew 6:13, CEV)

Furthermore, we can find more about temptation in 1 Corinthians 10:13 and trial in 1 Peter 1:6. In conclusion, God’s trials will strengthen our faith in Jesus where on the contrary evil’s temptations will weaken it. I hope this explanation may also bring clarity to your understanding of the Bible and the truth of God.

Note: As a believer, we also will face times of severe trials and temptations when only direct communion with God will give us the strength to prevail. Jesus response to adversity should cause us to stand in awe of our great Savior and desire to follow His example.