Tag Archives: life in general

Is the Bible relevant today?

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If you are reading this, please know that I have already prayed for you. My prayer is that God Himself will open up your mind and your heart and help you understand the Bible and to believe in Him. I cannot, should not and do not want to convince you or win you over with arguments and debates. Nor is my desire to insult you or be rude. Like me, you too are in God’s hands. God bless you.

The real question is: Is God relevant today?

You see, for real Christians (not someone who is born into a Christian family or identifies themselves as Christians without an active faith, but one who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and embraces the Bible as the inerrant Word of God) everywhere, the Bible is the Word of God. God and the Bible go hand in hand. You cannot separate God and the Bible!

The Bible does not and cannot contain everything about God! In the New Testament, John says concerning Jesus in John 21:25:

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

If John had this to say about the Lord Jesus, whose public ministry lasted a little over 3 years, how can the entirety of God be contained in written words?

So, the Bible as we know it is what God chose to reveal to man. The Bible has everything mankind – past, present and future – needs to live right on Earth and to prepare for what lies beyond.

The Torah (Pentateuch) was not just for the Israelites who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses, nor is it just a religious book of the Jews. It contains everything we need to know about the beginning of all creation, the origin of mankind, the original sin that led to the fall of humanity and the need for humanity’s redemption found in Jesus Christ alone! It tells us that God had created everything perfectly! It tells us that God gave mankind freewill, choice, to obey God’s instructions for our good! It tells us how Adam & Eve chose to do their own thing (to this day, this is exactly what we do!) and paid the price of disobedience, of distrusting God, and rejecting His love. It tells us how much God’s loves us, that despite all our evils against Him, He has made a way for us to get right with Him, through Jesus Christ! I have barely listed all the important things it tells us.

Outdated. Irrelevant. Meant for people of ancient times. Not applicable to modern democratic societies. Humans have learned so much through science and discovery and moved past these ancient texts.

This is just a brief expression of the attitude many people have today about the Bible.

In an earlier post, I stressed on how God gave the ancient Israelites so many laws and rules relating to everyday life. You will find a lot of this in the Torah. Why? They had just been led out of slavery by Moses. They were enslaved for over 400 years! They did not have an identity anymore. Everything they were, everything they may have ever known as a people group (prior to being enslaved), their will, their identity, everything, was beaten out of them in every sense of the word, by the Egyptians. So, when God led them out, He just did not abandon them (and expect them to figure everything out!) after delivering them out of slavery! He gave them everything they needed to become a functioning and responsible society again! More than that, He gave them all the information they needed to be His people! God had promised Abraham (or Abram) (Genesis 12:1-3) that He would make him into a great nation and that through him, all people on earth would be blessed! God equipped Israel in every way and He did this by giving them all those laws, rules and regulations, including how to treat each other, how to settle disputes, how to stay healthy and above all, how to worship God!

I have experienced it many times where people will take a random law from the Torah (Old Testament) and challenge Christians as to how relevant it is today. Most Christians are unable to give satisfying answers to these challengers and end up being ridiculed and mocked. They (the challengers) then come to the conclusion that ALL laws in the Torah therefore are irrelevant and thus, cannot be used in modern society!

God gave the liberated Israel, laws pertaining to EVERY aspect of their life then. This included the minor aspects as well as the major aspects. Sure, to us today, some of those laws may seem strange or weird! We have to remember that those laws were handed out at a time where, in many cases, the specifics of many (not all) of those laws addressed the culture and practices relevant at the time.

In some cases, the punishment for breaking certain laws were death (in almost all cases, by stoning). This may seem barbaric and cause many people to accuse God of being unloving and cruel, amongst other things. Such people don’t realize that they are purely “judging” God from their limited human perspective and understanding of goodness and fairness and “crime doesn’t fit the punishment” mentality. Let’s look at it from God’s perspective. God is holy. God is perfect. God is without sin. God is good. This God had chosen Israel to be a holy nation, an example to the rest of the world, the people group through whom He would bless the rest of the nations. So, after He had delivered them from slavery, blessed them with a prosperous land and given them all the laws and regulations to help them live godly lives, , if His chosen people were to disobey Him and make a mockery of His love, care and goodness towards them, how could anyone accuse God for the punishment He handed out? The deadly nature of the punishment showed Israel the holiness of God and how much He detests sin and how death is the only punishment for sin. In Jesus Christ, the wages for all sin for all mankind was paid, when Jesus gave Himself up to be sacrificed, though He Himself was not guilty of any sin, including original sin which Adam and Eve committed!

If one were to go through Leviticus 19, it is clear that these laws can be applied (directly or indirectly) and very relevant and makes sense today, as much as it did back when they were first given to Israel.

God was not merely focusing on a particular time period or targeting a particular people group when He gave the laws. These laws were meant to be for all people throughout all generations. While some laws cannot be directly applied today, the reasoning behind them remains relevant!

For example, in Deuteronomy 22:1-3, the Bible says:

“If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t have many neighbors today who happen to have an ox or a donkey or any other farm animals loitering around in their yard (unless you live next to a farm!). But clearly, at the time the law was given, the Israelites were farmers and traders and so, this was a very relevant law for them. How is it relevant for us today? If you are my neighbor and I come across something that I know is yours (your lost dog or some garden equipment or something else more valuable), I will hand it over to you as soon as I see you or wait till I see you the next time. Can you honestly say that this law is not relevant to us today? It encourages to not steal or follow the “finders keepers” rule, but to be a good neighbor and return lost property!

Deuteronomy 15 talks about debts and how every 7 years, all debts should be cancelled. I’m not sure if this sounds familiar to you, but did you know that, at least in the United States, after 7 years, negative items on your credit report are removed? (See Fair Credit Reporting Act (PDF page 22), web article here and here). Again, God’s law has relevance and impact today, as it did when it was first handed down.

God’s laws are not old, archaic or irrelevant. Neither is God! God, His Word (the Bible), is and can be as relevant in modern democracies as it was in ancient Israel because people are still the same and need lots of guidance! Science has managed to label some (not all) of God’s creation and processes to try to explain things, but that does not mean that science has all the answers and that knowledge is complete and accurate and therefore God is irrelevant and outdated and has no place today! No matter how much is being discovered and understood, human beings will never fully discover or understand everything!

Take the human body for example. Sure, we know a great deal about the inner workings of the human body and nearly all the organs inside, yet, can we say that we have managed to dissect and understand the human conscience or inner voice or whatever it is you want to call it? It’s that part of us that has no shape or form or physical makeup, yet we all know it’s there. It’s even got an entry on Wikipedia! It’s got to be real, right? :)

I can give many more real world examples and quote many more verses from the Bible. But the reality is that if you don’t approach the topic of God and the Bible with:

  1. an attitude of humility (willingness to admit that you don’t know everything, possibility that you could be wrong, and that to honestly and openly consider the possibility without shooting down everything outright with an intellectual mind, knowledge and science as a weapon)
  2. a little faith (to believe in something that cannot be seen or felt or dissected in a lab or proven by science)

then honestly, it is not possible for you to sincerely consider what I (or anyone else) have said here or anywhere else.

The Bible is not just another book! It’s the living, life transforming, powerful and challenging Word of the living God! Though the rules and laws that God has given to us in the Bible has not been taken word for word and made into the laws of any democracy, a simple reading of the Ten Commandments and many of the other laws from Leviticus and Deuteronomy should be enough to convince anyone that the Bible has had a profound effect, impact and influence on not only the laws that we live by today, but also our moral and ethical codes and standards and even basic principles of right and wrong!

I pray that God Himself, through His Holy Spirit, is opening your eyes and your heart at this very moment, so that you are able to see Him and come to know Him, as I do now.

May the Lord bless you.
Sri

a defining moment…

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There comes a time when all you once were, all that has ever happened in your life, all that you have ever said and done, all that you have become, all that you think you are now – EVERYTHING – is right in front of you, staring at you. “WHAT NOW?” is the question?

This is a (not THE) defining moment for me.

My choices are right in front of me – Do I take the easy way out? or Do I take the path less traveled, that few ever tread on?

The easy way out is so alluring. The easy way out is all about me. What I want. What I can do. What I can engage in to have fun here and now. What will bring me comfort, joy and happiness. What I can be satisfied with. What I can find meaning and purpose in (that also fulfills all of the above). “I” am the center of the easy way out.

The path less traveled is NOT all about me. In fact, it has little to do with me and everything to do with Him, the LORD, God Almighty, my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. It’s all about how He can be served. It’s all about how His love can be shared. It’s all about sharing Him with others. It’s all about wanting lives transformed and souls being saved. It’s all about finding joy, satisfaction, comfort, peace, meaning and purpose in Him. On the path less trodden, it’s all about Jesus Christ.

Father in heaven, the choice is obvious, but You and I both know that it’s not the easiest one to make. Many have turned away when faced with this choice. Lord, let me not turn away from you. I don’t want to make the choice out of my own will or strength or understanding. Instead, may your Spirit, engulf me inside and out in every way, in every area and aspect, so that it no longer becomes a choice I have to make, but my life itself. A life lived In Your service, Revealing Your glory, Sharing Your Word, Proclaiming Your Salvation, Expressing Your Love, Reflecting Your Son, to this fallen world. In Jesus Name I pray.

Amen!

a test of my faith (Is God enough?)

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When I wake up each morning, I don’t necessarily think about what could happen today (good or bad), that would challenge me to the core.

But today was one of the days for me. Sorry, I won’t go into details, but needless to say, it’s not been an easy day (and it’s not even ended yet).

I consider myself to be a strong person, not because of my own will or strength of character or experience, but because of the faith that the Lord Jesus has given me. Yes, my strength is in the Lord and comes from the Lord. And no, it’s not a crutch (or any other lame metaphors you can come up with) that I lean on because I am weak or need “fairy tales” to help me get going in life or make me feel good or have hope or all that garbage. No readers, I am speaking of genuine faith that comes from the Lord and an understanding of God (and who He is) that comes from the studying of the Word of God, the Bible.

When things are going well for us, it’s easy to live the Christian faith. It’s easy to go to Church. It’s easy to attend Bible studies. It’s easy to do morning (or evening devotionals). It’s easy to give tithes and offerings. It’s easy to serve in ministries. All in all, it’s easy to “be” a Christian or at least play the part. We are content to check the box, pat ourselves on the back and say to ourselves, “I am doing all right. I am a good Christian.”

But, when things get rough, what then? I am certain that you will agree that all of a sudden, it no longer is easy to do all of the above. When things are not so great (for whatever reason), living the Christian life (not just playing the role) becomes real. Real hard that is.

My particular situation has been hard on the heart. But, I praise the Lord for not letting me drown in my sadness or be lost in despair. He (the Lord Jesus) still gives me clarity of thought and the ability to see clearly through the tears and to sift through all my thoughts to understand and acknowledge what’s most important and what matters.

It is one thing to accept/acknowledge Christ, but a totally different matter to embrace Him, His ways and His Word and to apply it in everyday life. It is when the going gets tough that true faith has an opportunity to be at work in us and in our lives and for us to truly trust and rely on our relationship with the Lord Jesus. It is especially hard when one cannot share it with anyone (either there is no one you can share with or its something that cannot be shared with anyone for whatever reasons). I find myself in that situation and I know that all I can do is open my mind and my heart and my thoughts to the Lord, to be transparent with Him (though He knows everything, I still choose to confess out of love and humility) and tell Him how desperately I need Him, not just for the moment, but for the conceivable future. I have been talking to Him (yes, with words coming out of my mouth, as if He is right in front of me, with me), reading the Word/Bible (specially the many Psalms that allow me to pour my heart out to God) and just being in prayer.

All I can do is confess and repent of sins and just humble myself before the Lord, seek His face through His Word and in prayer and…………….wait. Patiently (boy is that hard!).

There is no magic cure for the problems we face in our everyday life. He doesn’t wave a wand and I am all well. It does not work like that (though I wish, in this particular instance, it did or that somehow, all this could be forgotten and I can wake up months later and life would have magically moved on – of course, that’s the cowards way out and not one a man of God must tread).

I can’t solve it on my own either. I simply can’t. It’s just impossible for me.

In Matthew 19:16-26, when a man asked Jesus what he must do to receive eternal life, though he had kept all the commandments, Jesus asked him to give all his wealth to the poor and come follow Him. Of course, the man did not want to do this because he had all this money and so he went away sad. Jesus went on to say that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. The disciples ask the Lord who then can be saved.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 9:26

The point I am trying to make here is that we cannot do it on our own strength of mind, character or will or even with years of experience. None of that will work.

I know that the situation I am in right now is a God sized situation that only God Himself can fix and work out.

What am I (are we) supposed to do?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

The Lord wants me to trust Him. It’s not easy folks. I am not finding it easy. It’s hard when the heart and emotions are involved.

But, I am relying on Him, choosing to lean on Him, letting Him know that I need Him, to see me through, to sort everything out.

Only He alone can do it.

Lord, please sort everything out because I simply can’t and don’t have the strength, wisdom or power to do it. This is my humble confession and prayer Father, in Jesus Name.

Amen.

Life Snapshot – 28/8/2010

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Wow, my last update was nearly 2 months ago :) No excuses, just did not bother to update the site. Then again, it’s not like millions are just dying to read what I put up on here anyway :P

It’s been 5 months now since I have moved to Brisbane. Time sure flies! Seems like only yesterday that I was waiting in Bangalore, contemplating what my future would be and where!

Work has been going well by God’s grace. Started doing some software development (besides my tech support role) so that’s been fun and challenging as well.

Got a used Toyota Camry just a few weeks ago, so getting around is a lot easier now, though truth be told, I don’t do much of that anyway! Usually stay at home during the weekends, except for Church on Sundays and the occasional trip to the supermarket or to get a hair cut. Exciting life I lead here! :)

Church has been good, taking steps to become a member at the Tab (no, it’s not a bar, it’s the short name for the City Tabernacle Baptist Church). Getting to know people there, slowly, it’s all good and in God’s time.

I am much more settled in to the life here, though I still miss my family and friends I left behind in Dubai, not to mention my fair lady :P ! Making friends have been next to impossible here, but I am praying that in due time, God will bless me with a few.

Overall, I honestly cannot and should not complain. God’s been taking care of me. Life is never the way WE want it to be or would like for it to be, but all that matters is that He is still in control and knows best. So, despite the heaviness of heart because of a few issues (car loan, no family or friends = a bit lonely, etc…), I am looking to Him for comfort and strength. Can’t do it any other way because there is no other way.

I pray that in time, His purpose for me here in Brisbane, will be made clear.

God bless you all.
Sri