Everything is wrong as far as others do it
And everything is right as far as we do it
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Temptations
Many a times I fell just short of asking God to take away my desires. But then I felt that being a man I ought to have desires and feelings as He's given me to make the best use of it at the right time and also to turn to Him for strength when I'm week. And finally I ended up asking Him for the grace to overcome it.
Are Catholics idol worshippers?
Well, this was a question that haunted me for long. Even today I don’t kiss a statue or image of Jesus or Mother Mary or any Saints, or even cross, may it be at church or at home. But I would like to differ on the view that it’s wrong to have images or statues. To understand this one must realize what an idol is. Of course few Catholics are wrong, I agree, who thinks that the image or statue itself is God. But we cannot term keeping those things is idol worship.
I am a person who avoids any kind of image or religious statues. And I always try to avoid the use of it. Though as a kid I used to run behind such things, I kept a distance from it as I grew up. One of the reasons was I felt that if I show myself as a Christian to others through symbols that I use, then I need to live up to their expectation. So not using it gives me the freedom to do anything. Another reason why I kept away from it is cus most of my friends were non-Christians and I never wanted to create a barrier of religion between us. Also, I never wanted to wear any sort of fashion related or ornamental things, to avoid a show-off (though I'm fashion savvy) and preferred to be natural, that being one of the reasons why I don’t even wear a watch if I’m not wearing a full sleeve dress.
I even kept away from religious stickers even on my bike. Yet I’ve got two rosaries around the handle that are not that visible. You might wonder why two rosaries. One was put around the handle by my brother. Since it was broken, and as I felt it’s not that good looking, I went for another one made of olive wood (Geez, jus cus of my quality consciousness), and I didn’t want to remove the first one as a sign of my love towards my brother. And recently I designed a cross and got a sticker done on my bike, and that was jus another creative idea that cropped up in my head that made me do it.
Few days since I got the mail on this query I was trying to find an answer to this. It was then that this thing came to my mind. I can clearly say that this image of cross on my bike has influenced me to some extent. As I’m a person who is very short tempered, though everyone in this world think otherwise, I cannot help staring or cursing (in my mind) the other person if something goes wrong while driving my bike, if it is not my fault. And it’s only by God’s grace that I never ever quarrelled with anyone so far. And once I got the sticker of the cross done on my bike, every time I encounter such events, though after a split second, I somehow manage to give a smile to the other person and not curse. I don’t intend to say that it’s the power of the cross that helps me do it. But I can tell you for sure that it’s the awareness that I have in my mind that if I show an angry face, with the cross in front of me that shows I’m a Christian, I’ll only be ending up having the other person curse me and my God.
What I mean to say is that having a symbol, statue or image will help enhance one’s way of thinking to some extent. It just keeps reminding of faith and allegiance. Few people have images of their parents or grandparents painted to keep in remembrance. But no one ever think that is the real person. And so is the images and statues that we see in church. And not every one kiss a statue thinking it as God. In that case it’s not an idol worship. But if someone thinks that those images or statues are Gods and that it has got some kind of power, then that is sheer idol worship and we need to discourage it.
I am a person who avoids any kind of image or religious statues. And I always try to avoid the use of it. Though as a kid I used to run behind such things, I kept a distance from it as I grew up. One of the reasons was I felt that if I show myself as a Christian to others through symbols that I use, then I need to live up to their expectation. So not using it gives me the freedom to do anything. Another reason why I kept away from it is cus most of my friends were non-Christians and I never wanted to create a barrier of religion between us. Also, I never wanted to wear any sort of fashion related or ornamental things, to avoid a show-off (though I'm fashion savvy) and preferred to be natural, that being one of the reasons why I don’t even wear a watch if I’m not wearing a full sleeve dress.
I even kept away from religious stickers even on my bike. Yet I’ve got two rosaries around the handle that are not that visible. You might wonder why two rosaries. One was put around the handle by my brother. Since it was broken, and as I felt it’s not that good looking, I went for another one made of olive wood (Geez, jus cus of my quality consciousness), and I didn’t want to remove the first one as a sign of my love towards my brother. And recently I designed a cross and got a sticker done on my bike, and that was jus another creative idea that cropped up in my head that made me do it.
Few days since I got the mail on this query I was trying to find an answer to this. It was then that this thing came to my mind. I can clearly say that this image of cross on my bike has influenced me to some extent. As I’m a person who is very short tempered, though everyone in this world think otherwise, I cannot help staring or cursing (in my mind) the other person if something goes wrong while driving my bike, if it is not my fault. And it’s only by God’s grace that I never ever quarrelled with anyone so far. And once I got the sticker of the cross done on my bike, every time I encounter such events, though after a split second, I somehow manage to give a smile to the other person and not curse. I don’t intend to say that it’s the power of the cross that helps me do it. But I can tell you for sure that it’s the awareness that I have in my mind that if I show an angry face, with the cross in front of me that shows I’m a Christian, I’ll only be ending up having the other person curse me and my God.
What I mean to say is that having a symbol, statue or image will help enhance one’s way of thinking to some extent. It just keeps reminding of faith and allegiance. Few people have images of their parents or grandparents painted to keep in remembrance. But no one ever think that is the real person. And so is the images and statues that we see in church. And not every one kiss a statue thinking it as God. In that case it’s not an idol worship. But if someone thinks that those images or statues are Gods and that it has got some kind of power, then that is sheer idol worship and we need to discourage it.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Novels, pre-marital sex, live-in relationships, language 4 Christains
I jus came across ur mail and thought of answering it in my way of thinking. Before that lemme say that I’m not a person of any sort of authority to answer this. I’d been with the Jesus Youth for quite long and it was from a point of absolute no faith in God that I learned to acknowledge Him. Though I tried to follow Bible, by which I realized the truthfulness of Bible, initially it was hard to believe in God as I wanted reasons for everything. And still following Jesus, though not accepting Him, revealed lot of things. And being still far, far away, I, in no ways claim what I say to be right spiritually. For a more spiritual and more accurate answer you may check out with someone who’s standing real close to God. This I write jus for you to give a thought, and you may correct me if I’m wrong too.
For your first question about novels of murder mistery and romantic, I’d prefer to say that there’s nothing wrong as far as it doesn’t control you. I used to listen to rock songs and I still listen to it once in a while as far as it doesn’t have any mention against God, even if it’s a band branded as devil worshippers. My dad used to tell me that I’ll become mad if I listen to all such scraps. And maybe cus of that I was well aware not to let myself be a slave. I was always aware of what I was doing. I guess the same bodes well for novels too. I don’t have the habit of reading and I cannot give my experience about it. But I guess murder mysteries are those that will enhance your way of reasoning, thereby improving your IQ. Cus most of the movies and stuff like that has helped me a lot in logical thinking, I believe.
Romantic novels are okay as I believe that it will let you be romantic in your relationship with your life partner. I often wondered, and one of the very reason why I always said no to Jesus Youth proposals was cus I was afraid of marrying a holy girl thinking what will happen if I approach her in a romantic mood and suddenly she saying, “praise the Lord, let’s pray.” And girls, though not everyone, but majority of them are too bad in being romantic, and it’s the knowledge from such novels I guess one will gain knowledge on such matters as there are no special classes for it. But one should try to understand the partner too, as otherwise it will lead to doubts that he/she’s got prior experience.
I was thinking that pre-marital sex and live-in relationships are okay, though I kept away from it only due to my family background, as many of my friends were indulged in it. I used to think that they know each other and if they have no problems in it then what is wrong. But later I realized that it is wrong as per Christian faith as it is given in Bible not to indulge in it. Just now I ran a check and got this worse: “If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl's virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father's house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death.” - Deuteronomy 22:20,21. It speaks about virginity. And live in relationship I feel is wrong cus otherwise there’ll be no meaning in marriage. And marriage is the only sacrament that unites a man and women. And Bible clearly states the importance of marriage and the importance of virginity until marriage.
I don’t thin it’s wrong for a Christian to use the word “sexy,” unless it’s offending someone. Few girl at times call me so, and though I use it very, very rarely, I believe there’s nothing wrong in it. But it all depends on the environment. If it’s between people who know each other well, then there’s no problem. I believe firmly that such words are not supposed to be used everywhere and always, cus most of them find it offending.
And above all, it all depends upon the way you look at things as well as your environment, except for the pre-marital sex and live-in relationships. We cannot say something is wrong unless the circumstance and motive is considered. So it’s wisdom one needs, to be on the right track.
For your first question about novels of murder mistery and romantic, I’d prefer to say that there’s nothing wrong as far as it doesn’t control you. I used to listen to rock songs and I still listen to it once in a while as far as it doesn’t have any mention against God, even if it’s a band branded as devil worshippers. My dad used to tell me that I’ll become mad if I listen to all such scraps. And maybe cus of that I was well aware not to let myself be a slave. I was always aware of what I was doing. I guess the same bodes well for novels too. I don’t have the habit of reading and I cannot give my experience about it. But I guess murder mysteries are those that will enhance your way of reasoning, thereby improving your IQ. Cus most of the movies and stuff like that has helped me a lot in logical thinking, I believe.
Romantic novels are okay as I believe that it will let you be romantic in your relationship with your life partner. I often wondered, and one of the very reason why I always said no to Jesus Youth proposals was cus I was afraid of marrying a holy girl thinking what will happen if I approach her in a romantic mood and suddenly she saying, “praise the Lord, let’s pray.” And girls, though not everyone, but majority of them are too bad in being romantic, and it’s the knowledge from such novels I guess one will gain knowledge on such matters as there are no special classes for it. But one should try to understand the partner too, as otherwise it will lead to doubts that he/she’s got prior experience.
I was thinking that pre-marital sex and live-in relationships are okay, though I kept away from it only due to my family background, as many of my friends were indulged in it. I used to think that they know each other and if they have no problems in it then what is wrong. But later I realized that it is wrong as per Christian faith as it is given in Bible not to indulge in it. Just now I ran a check and got this worse: “If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl's virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father's house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death.” - Deuteronomy 22:20,21. It speaks about virginity. And live in relationship I feel is wrong cus otherwise there’ll be no meaning in marriage. And marriage is the only sacrament that unites a man and women. And Bible clearly states the importance of marriage and the importance of virginity until marriage.
I don’t thin it’s wrong for a Christian to use the word “sexy,” unless it’s offending someone. Few girl at times call me so, and though I use it very, very rarely, I believe there’s nothing wrong in it. But it all depends on the environment. If it’s between people who know each other well, then there’s no problem. I believe firmly that such words are not supposed to be used everywhere and always, cus most of them find it offending.
And above all, it all depends upon the way you look at things as well as your environment, except for the pre-marital sex and live-in relationships. We cannot say something is wrong unless the circumstance and motive is considered. So it’s wisdom one needs, to be on the right track.
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