Sharing Faith

All of us are desirous to share truth, wisdom, or knowledge to our loved ones: brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, relatives and friends. For if truth that we know is to sustain, promote and protect life, then, we cannot afford to see loved ones being apart from it (unless we doubted what we confess �we believe�?). If we thought this church is of God, with good purpose for people�s life, it is just right to share the Light of it naturally and effectively to make people understand with the approach and language that can be understood by the ordinary mind and feel the wisdom purposefully for the glory of God�. To know the reasons why we stood for independence from abusive colonial power is important step to move on where we should go in the purpose of God.

I always believed that we should continue to discover the very purpose of God why there is historically grounded and nationalistic independent churches. Human need to grasp the importance and significance of the human efforts for freedom and independence, and its pro-life position as a reason why, how and when it was born, what conditions of life that caused it to be part of human history. Human must know now that the outcome of the interests of the �winners� in this world (viewed by them as field of competition) demonstrating what they really believed in which the end result revealed many things which is not what God wants. Revealing the reality and actuality of unbelief opposite to Jesus� Sermon on the Mount, and that human must recognize for their needs of the Savior. So that the message of historical church for life as �all human are equal��against things cannot be blended with spirit in man as breathed of God, should not be hidden. Sentiment for life in the real sense is reflective to what is expected from human as created in the Image and likeness of God. So, why timid (which is �not of God�), but welcome the work of the Holy Spirit affirming the wisdom for life? Life is the reason of God�s revelation.

The Christian Church must concern on how people should behave in the light of God�s will, in any (world�s) way and its effects --must be in the watch for life as Church --an agent of the Giver of life (God). If the purpose of Jesus is to give life, the Church as His extension must be in the same business; it should promote life and be watchful for the opposite and harmful to it. Only by doing that, the head (Jesus) of the Body (Church) is needed to be connected to exercise the prophetic role, or else indirectly ally to those who assert their racial superiority to other nationalities, and in so doing, mocking the purpose of God, playing with selfish racist appetite.

Based on today�s global warming crisis, we�ve seen the results of the materialist�s influence and culture as causing threats to life of all people and its home (Earth). We know now that countries that becoming capitalist, addiction to wealth or richness causing their people to depart from their cultural and traditional values, and began to embrace materialism. Church must exercise its role and be able to point out the opposite of life, the negative effects of consumerism, (though these can lead us to glorify the Godly life-sustaining will, so that the time now should consider His designed way of life seriously). Well established churches as well as young nationalist/independent churches (in Anglican brotherhood) are now true to its purpose, calling and mission in preserving life.

As in the purpose of this writing, the importance of discovering in sharing of reflections and throwing Godly wisdoms and ideas for Godly purpose in nationalistic church is evident. 1899�s Filipino reactions to the evils caused by racist/jingoist-believers of capitalist�s imperialism are things that represents God and Jesus� teaching. We did not submit to which we should not. We know what is right against wrong, so that we initiates and reacts, submit and rebuke, --it is a gift to be exercised by human, as an image of God in action. Some people now are considering pagan religion because of the aspect of respecting nature or creatures or creation. Was it true that Christianity�s role is to be a �blesser� to capitalistic agenda of �powerful�? Well, history can tell us the truth of it; but look, nationalist (or historically grounded) churches represents otherwise. History is a window to see and to know who was in the godly call responding to the reality of time and space, and what is of God carrying the banner in serving human life. As Christ did, Church taught freedom, love for all humanity, brotherhood of all races, righteousness that blesses the whole creation.

We may view things differently from fundamentalist or cultic churches (that indirectly ally to the isms of this materialistic/capitalistic world), for the primary business of the Church are God�s Kingdom and the way of life reflective to it, and not to please the economic policy of one nation as blinder. Church must not be identified with Republican (who prided as moralist conservative party); Right morality is the one that considers all people (including those of colors) human (as in the eyes of God). Man in nation�s policy should stop bullying people (of other nation or color) as �second class� just because the way of understanding does not square to he�s, so that when considering protection and saving lives should include all type of people or civilization and culture. Promote life, not based on the ability to consume new products but as moral imperative.

Fundamentalist�s �left behind� mentality should not get exited for world�s destructions and famines as evidence to precedes rapture as expected in the �end world�, but to do God�s will as Christians� fundamental business on earth. Our response for life should be our confidence before the judgment throne of the Lord and Judge to say: �here is what I did to the least of the brethren�. We should not be left behind from the progress which brings chaos to the end and deteriorates the Earth; not serving the Enemy by tickling the weaknesses of the ignorant faith believers. We should serve the purpose of God in all humanity to preserve, promote, and protect life.

Not claiming for any expertise, I shared thoughts to my American born 20 year-old loved one niece (as of this year 2007) as she talked to me about her mom�s expectations; and also she shared to me the comments regarding her friend who experienced depression because of family reason. In one phone conversation somehow she revealed to me her views on religion. It caused me curious about thoughts from her on Christians, Church and other related issues, and so I encouraged her to say more what is in her heart and mind. One of the things that we conversed about was �doing right to people�, she said that �we do not need to believe in God in order to do good to people, not violating them is enough�. It gave me some idea where she was or what she believed in that aspect. It sounded familiar, made me began to think how to defend what I believe from that stand point. It was very challenging and seems to me demanding. World�s belief or philosophy seems to be gotten her and her generation (since her brother, my nephew shared the same thoughts, and of course, school curriculum promotes to think anything except God). Then we talked about her feeling for this friend who became �suicidal� that concerns her so much.

My niece is one of the nicest persons that I knew of. During our sharing I tried to tell her what she felt for other people is what actually Christianity is all about. The intention of the Church is for people to live as brothers and sisters under God�s fatherhood (in Christ), about realizing the embracive or inclusive love of God here and now. After that long conversation, I asked her to write to me whatever that she can say even negative comments on Christian religion and Church. My intention is for me to get some glimpse on how this new generation viewed the Church today. She e-mailed me in response to that conversation. Her e-mail made me felt like my Christian belief is under question and I don�t know how to defend it (but I must). It took more than a week for me to respond to her. To quote a paragraph from her e-mail dated October 24, 2006 she wrote:

�You had invited me to argue with you over (Christian) religion earlier but I don�t think that�ll ever happen. I have no faith in any religion but I have respect for it. I�ve spoken to many people about religion and my lack of faith (mostly to those that try to �save my soul�). Belief in things greater than your self has helped so many people endure horrible situations or completely turning their lives around. It gives people a sense of greater purpose and keeps others in line. What I don�t like concerning religion is how people use it as a tool to disrespect or look down on others and justify their own actions. It is used as a tool for discrimination and an excuse to adopt a �holier-than-thou� attitude. As I tried to explain to mom way back when all this became as issue; I do not attend church because I have too much respect for it. I believe it is disrespectful to attend any religious service and pretend to have faith. Faith is a powerful thing that should never be faked. I also can�t go to church because even though I have a great respect for religion, I have close to no respect for religious followers. I always wonder about exactly how many of the whole congregation is true believer and how many are just using religion as a tool for respect or other things. People need to be honest�.�

I thanked my niece for e-mailing me this that includes some important issues that every Christians should reflect upon from individuals like her, so we know what is going on in their mind. Issues that she mentioned are important that people were been asking. As we care for our loved ones, to know what is in their hearts and thoughts caused by their own actions, decisions, and the influences of things in this new generation is first step to address it; also, to know how far are we in our obligation to passing the Light that should lead them to the loving embrace of the Savior.

Now, to respond to the questions raised above, there is pressure in our part to know the right teachings of such subject that we ought to pass on. If we do not do it, nobody will. With my Christian heart, with honest and Godly motives, based on my knowledge that our historical heritage or experience had taught us, it is a responsibility to lift the light up (as in Mtt.5:14-).

As encouragement to fellow Christian human, I should say that we have reasons to lead the people to the liberating Truth of the embracive/inclusive loving God. It is unlikely to think for human who have historical sense from the darkness of his past and not feel the urgency to pass on the Light for the coming generations. It is our human or Christian obligation to prepare the way of the Light to serve the purpose in life, and of course, correcting the wrong notions regarding the Church and Christianity caused by the impressions taken from the fundamentalist, sect, cult, faith that actually coming from �the other gospel�, not Christian faith. Yes, late 19^th and early 20^th century US-born fundamentalists is pushing Christianity away from the issue of life, directing peoples� mental attitude to heaven and God in heaven, whose business is salvation of spirit after death and the coming rapture for the end-time; therefore must stay away from here and now life. Of course these caused attractions to the na�ve/deceived and subject to the �winner� of this world which have uncompromising interest to rule (instead of loving the world).

As uncle, I shared my love to her and said that I cannot blame her to view Christian Church like that. I shared my feeling regarding her situation with her mom, and wrote my thoughts like as follow: I believe we have something in our human nature (to realize) that we loved the word �LOVE� because it fills the vacuum in our heart; it makes us complete, whole and satisfied. Love is something that makes life full of meaning, real sense of purpose, otherwise, there is no life at all. To me it is the very foundation for peace and to have order of life. Whatever there is that promotes love we should hang on to it, embrace and cultivate it. This is my very reason why I embraced the idea of God or I believe in God (although believing is not all by reason). I believe life, so I believe God, and that love represents things about God.

Very sadly, people reduced God into religion: Bible-ism, ritualism, dogmatism, sectarianism, fundamentalism, legalism and more, that diverts Church from the very purpose of the loving Lord, and neglecting the importance of �love� as in the heart of the message of Christ. Yes, church became like a club or secular movement, haven of hypocrisy, misusing the Scripture for self glorification and selfish interest, for status symbol, etc. Some denominations or sects are needed to be corrected in their focus or emphases (as to heaven against the reality that threatens life, or heavenward away from here).

In history as I meditated and study about it, Roman, Spanish, and American imperialisms, showed that they used the name of Christ or Christian religion to justify their colonial and imperial interests on material, power, territorial or commercial advancement, so that it caused skepticisms by many against Christianity. If you think about it, there were seems to be �man-made-god� that caused them to invade nations, or to kill, to deceive and lie, propagandize, distort teachings, create secret operations, make bombs for it, treat small nations as political (and policy) experiments, pressurize, do injustice to their identity --so now, detached from their own heritage etc. God is the exact opposite of the conduct they made to the �inferiors� or people of color, weak or helpless, voiceless. Not Christianity at all.

The following is part of my specific response to her thoughts, but as for this purpose of writing, I broaden my arguments that somehow I can unburden these thoughts to contribute some strength and encouragement in discovering the Light for church to share in Kingdom work in this darkened materialist world ruled by assertive claimant �powerful�. As what I�ve said to my niece, �I used my response for you to share my thoughts to others.� This may serve as vehicle to share thoughts.

Responding to her word: �I have no faith in any religion but I have respect for it.� Religion may have negative connotations especially with regards to social and moral responsibility. Term �religion� is generally applied to rituals and rules by which faith and devotion to god can be expressed�. If Christianity is all about religion, then this can be miss-used or abused by anybody (religious) as Pharisees (doing things for self and self glorification). Religion may be bounded by its doctrine/dogmatism, strictness for outward appearance and perfectionism; populated by doctrinally knowledgeable and religious devotees (i.e. transubstantiation people); by it, can be detached from real issue of life and actual situations of the present and its relevance that needs transformation. Religion can be haven of isms i.e. legalism that can be the final or end of it. That can imprison God in the pages of chapter/verses of the Bible and dogmatism (doctrinal absolutism away from serving life). Dogma is part of the life of the Church but not to create ism out of it away from �life�.

Basically, Christianity is not about religion but relationship among other people: love for God and fellowmen or brotherhood and service to life and the needy. James (the Lord�s brother and first bishop of Jerusalem, (in James 1: 27)) said, �Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows.� Many that considered James as close to Jesus in his understanding or thinking.

In the said Christian�s �final day of judgment� as Jesus taught, (since this is one of the favorites of all Christian fundamentalists): �there will be separation between good and evil�, the determining question is not �how religious you were� or �how much chapters and verses you knew from the Bible�, but �what have you done to the least of the brethren�. The Judge will say that day �whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me� [see Matthew 25:31-46]. Therefore, how you treat life and others is the measure of expectation in Christian living.

Look at the primary demands of Jesus when He said �there is no other commandments greater than these� [see Mark.12:29-], he was talking about two commandments: love the Lord your God�� (God who loved us/people first (Jn.3:16)), then he said �love your neighbor as yourself.� This is not about religion. Jesus said (in Matt.22:40): �All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Jesus declared that these two summarizes the ten and other Old Testament moral laws. Yes, some other (Christian) groups put emphasis on other things such as definition of sex, or rapture and end-times, but it is not Jesus� focus or emphasis. In one instance Jesus said: �A new command I give you: Love one another� [Jn.13:34]. See, it is about relational love (than religious legalism). St. Paul as considered to be the great interpreter of Jesus� teaching said, �Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law� (Romans 13:10).

Our history tells us that there were selfish benefits in de-emphasizing the core message of Jesus. The �first thing� to the forces of occupation are those beneficial to the invasion by strong country, which is not the first thing of Jesus. Selfish motive knowingly or unknowingly diverts people�s focus on something doesn�t hurt their (racial) prejudices, and that empowers those (fundamentalist) churches which interest is on literal Bible doctrine/dogma that could make them look good, rather than addressing the existing issue of life in which truth, message, instructions of Jesus are the answers; they focus on things above away from where materialist imperialism is served.

To say that �Christianity is no value to the needs of human life because what matters to them is about �speaking in tongues�, rapture and spirit (after death), names of God, humanity or deity of Jesus (doctrine), what to eat (religious perfectionism), title of church, who is the first church, what version of the Bible, etc. �were looking to the wrong church.

On religious obligation and Sabbath day: Let me bring some points from Jesus� word: Although Jesus himself was not against the religious practices of his time (as he himself was a participant to fasting, festivities, and other religious practices), when put in the position that he needs to distinguish what is more important between man/life versus Sabbath observances (or religion), Jesus declared in his word even in front of the religious �doctors� of his time. Observe some of his words:

1) In the gospel: �While Jesus was having dinner�, many tax collectors and �sinners� came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, �Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and �sinners?� [Matt.9:10-11]. In the mind of these religious Pharisees who were totally lacking in compassion toward sinners, to mingle with �sinners� is wrong and Jesus as Jew and teacher should not do this. Jesus responded by saying: �It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: �I desire mercy, not sacrifice�, for I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.� [v.12-13]

Pharisees were so much concerned of their religious appearances than helping people, witch caused Jesus to respond. �Mercy� --is for people or �sinners� while �sacrifice� represents religion (Jewish rite or religion). Jesus may have thinking of Old Testament phrases from Hosea 6:6; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 40:6-8 and 51:16-19; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8, etc. These are part of Christian scripture as bases to know knowledge and principles. For Jesus, life is treated greater than religious activity and obligation. [I used NIV Bible: Life application].

2) According to the Jewish law it is unlawful to work on Sabbath. �At the time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, �Lord! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.� He answered, �Haven�t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread�which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.� [Matt.12:1-4, (see also Luke 6:1-5)]. In Mark�s account Jesus said to these Pharisees: �The Sabbath was made for man, not man made for Sabbath.� [Mark 2:27]

Jesus and his disciples did such thing because they were hungry. They thought of what life�s needed before worrying of observing the Sabbath law. This extreme human need �overruled this regulation.� Jesus always emphasized the intent of the law, the meaning behind the letter. Sabbath is created for man�s benefit.

3) The Pharisees asked Jesus �Is it lawful to heal (this man with a shriveled hand) on the Sabbath?� Jesus said to them, �If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.� [Matt.12:9-12 (see Mk. 3:1-)]. The Pharisees placed laws above human need; concerned about Jesus� breaking one of their religious rules that they did not care about man�s shriveled hand.

4) One of the teachers of the law asked Jesus: �Of all the commandments, which is the most important?� Then Jesus answered: �The most important� Love the Lord your God with all your heart�. The second is this: �Love your neighbor as your self�� Then, the man replied: �You are right in saying that God is one� To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.� When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, �You are not far from the kingdom of God.� [Mk.12:28-34]. Love for neighbor is how we live life which is more important than �burnt offering and sacrifices� (religion).

5) Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, �There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on Sabbath.� The Lord answered him, �You hypocrites! Doesn�t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman,� be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?� [Lk.13:14-]. The religious ruler �hid behind their own set of laws to avoid love�s obligations.�

Jesus maintained that there is more important than religion, and it is not against the will of God. Serving life and the needy during the Sabbath of religion is not contradicting the very purpose of it, for man or life is what Sabbath is for.

{For Filipino witness in history, Romanist church regarded idea and dogma i.e. Infallibility of the Pope, Romanist as �the first church� against the Greek Christians, or outside RC church �there is no salvation�, or �eternal solution for unity� etc.--as more important than �life� i.e. of Filipinos enslaved and abused for nearly 400 years. Religion of lies empowered by fanaticism can be effective tool for colonialism, but this is not the spirit of Christianity. Yes, Pope John Paul II asked forgiveness for his church as an ally to colonialism/imperialism era, but it is another lie, not sincere one if he (or his church) cannot respect or recognize the movement (like IFI) who actually saying it not only in words but by nationalistic actions. This religious nationalism could be the one in Germany, England, America and Philippines. This pattern must be stopped to preserve the Church as moral strength agent of goodness in life?}.

Greatness: Let me point out again that Christianity is not about religion but serving life. Jesus taught about greatness. Hypocrites dogmatic wanted to show greatness by showing to people how much knowledge they have, (as some through advancement of technology, weaponry etc). But Jesus� concept of greatness is in relationship with people, how you love them and serve life:

1) Jesus� disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, �If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.� [Mk 9:35].

2) Jesus said to his disciples, �You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.� [Mk.10:42-]

3) In Luke, Jesus said, ��the greatest among you should be like the youngest and the one who rules like the one who serves.� [Lk.22:26].

4) Peter is one of the disciples who understood the teaching of Jesus, echoing the concept of service to people, said in his letter to the Christian leaders, �Be shepherds of God�s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers �not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;..� [1 Peter 5:2].

In IFI, I heard one wise comment from the priest saying that if you want to be a bishop (which is very adorable ambition), should not be for the purple shirt and title, but for the function of the office which is serving like a shepherd.

Theme Kingdom of God: Based on what our Biblical scholars were saying: �This theme of the coming of the Kingdom was central in His (Jesus) mission.�-- (George Eldon Ladd); �The Kingdom of God was the heart of Jesus� teaching and preaching��--(Henry T. Blackaby); �The central theme of Christ�s preaching is the good news of the Kingdom of God.�-- (Anthony Whilm); �All three evangelists are agreed: the theme of all that Jesus did and said was �the Kingdom of God��--(Richard A Norris).

Jesus said, �But seeks first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.� [Matt.6:33]; �I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other town also, because that is why I was sent.� [Lk.4:43].

The point is that Jesus� very heart or core of his teaching is not about religion (ritual or dogma) but about �reign of God� or �the rule of God� in which in the process of being asserted, �take hand in human affairs in a new way: that he was acting to set things right between himself and his people.� [Richard Norris; Understanding the Faith of the Church; p117] It is about condition of human life in relation to the lordship of God. It implies that God is making him present, setting people free and reconciling them to Himself. It is about life and not confining set of dogma, religious or cultic activities.

Sermon on the Mount: To follow Jesus we may consider the Sermon on the Mount of the Messiah because, here, as �the light of the world� he gave his many teachings. Jesus gave encouragement, instructions on how to relate to God and others. We may start from here to be true disciples and to do things pleasing to God. Is this all about religion? of course not. Matthew 5:1 to 7:29 where we can read the sermon. (We can read Luke�s version on this: Lk.6:20--). In 5:1-12 is the declaration of blessedness for people: it says that �blessed are those who are hunger for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, peace makers�. It didn�t say blessed are you when you die. It is a formula for life here on earth.

In Mtt.5:13, says that you are the salt of the earth (v.13); the light of the world (v.14) --put light on� and it gives light to everyone; ...let your light shine before men. (v.17); Settle matters quickly with your adversary (v.25); Then, it tells us like respect for women; Love your enemy (v.43-); Give to the needy (6:2). In prayer, Jesus taught to forgive others (6:12); do not do what hypocrites were doing; do not judge others (7:1). Jesus gave the golden rule, �Do to others what you would have them do to you (7:12). Then in the ending of this sermon Jesus said: ��put them into practice (7:24). These are about how to relate with God and others while living in this world. Not about religion or ritualistic obligation, in fact part of it Jesus showed the contrast between His ethical teaching and Jewish legalistic tradition (5:21-48).

Christianity takes life seriously, as Jesus took sin seriously (things that could hurt life), �if your eyes, hand, causes you to sin, detach it from you�; the point is life is precious do not sin against it. Sometimes Christ�s teaching appeared to be so hard to follow (�loving the enemy or turning the other cheek�), a new kind of moral action that didn�t exist before, a revolutionary exercise, requires giving up of self for it, self emptying, humility for others. Loving your enemy is not �loving on something who don�t know how to respond humanly�, but man who can understand what you were doing, the end result is �there is no more enemy�. This is precious concept that Christianity can offer to life for all humanity.

Responding to: �Belief in things greater than your self has helped so many people endure horrible situations or completely turning their lives around�. �Belief in things� --truly this is very much opposite to the will of God, as Jesus said: �you cannot serve God and mammon.� [Lk.16:13]. Mammon means materials, money or wealth, things or creatures, and these are not the real source of life, but how you steward them reflective to our worship of the Creator who engineered all things in this earth. But yes, many churches which seems servants of those �isms� that will serve their selfish interest, and when they talk about sin it actually talks about their conduct towards other race, and their role played during the insertion of imperialism because of material interest, and they need a lot of confession and repenting to make. We can say a lot of these especially if you visit history of the Philippines, or third world countries, (at least read the history book authored by honest historian respecting the sanctity of actuality).

Some churches became too institutionalized that the primary business is to protect and secure their position in political realm, establishments, schools, status quo; Playing or lobbying with politicians or government officials to secure the place of prestige instead of promoting the kingdom of God (in which the primary manifestation of its fulfillments is love, brotherhood, justice, righteousness, which blesses life). Some churches reduced the big task �to fulfill the kingdom of God and His will be done on earth� into moralistic concern. Is this not confusing trap, missing the very point of Christianity? Here, �believers� will tell you he is a good Christian because he don�t smoke, gamble or drink alcohol and dance. Concerns on small morality (while indirectly ally to the big socio/political immorality (like unjust war) in colonization and imperialism). Others were very much concern about life of fetus (only) and seems not affected by numbers of children or civilian death in war and HIV/AIDS; and other violence in other nation�s extra-judicial killing ex. in Africa and Philippines; or those affected by climate change. Church is sometimes a favorite hiding place of the opposite of God, no wonder it�s messy because so much things that did not and do not represents Jesus� teachings, (prayers should be that this will be avoided by the �church�).

Indeed, you cannot consider God and His Church if you focus on these sins and imperfections. I said to my niece, �I want you to note that we should focus on Jesus and His teachings and purpose to consider Christianity, not the sins of the weak sinners in the church who were also miserably struggling to follow the footsteps of Jesus�.

There were many good reasons why there were nationalist independent catholic (not Roman) churches in independent nations, nations who experienced injustices who wanted to preserve and continue the beautiful purpose of the Church of Christ in their land, and this kind of churches are for life and brotherhood, and of course, Church is seen as the answer to their cry from being victimized by their invaders. The Philippine Independent Church in the Philippines was founded by the people, carrying the cry for freedom, respect, justice; gasping for love to be real and that God to be lord of all race including the invaders (so that they show love instead of racist appetite).

There were bad examples and bad episodes in colonial church history that did not and cannot represent Christianity, Christ and His teachings. It is not right to judge the church based on one person or episode that is actually contrary to the purpose of Christ.

My niece said: �Belief in things greater than your self�� As I talked to her I can understand what she meant when saying that. She inclined to believe the (Humanistic) philosophy of this time that takes �self� above, while God viewed not as what Christians were confessing. Truly, many subjects in Humanist thinking that Christians can share especially when talking about human right issue, about respect, equality, justice. In IFI, with other sister churches where she is in communion with (i.e. Anglican), human right violations, social injustices, inequality, racism, prejudices, and all social issues that victimizes individuals and race and life, etc., these churches as following the footsteps of Jesus in ministry, took the issue of life seriously. Humanist interests for human are saying the same thing as Christians. The problem in the exercise is seen when we talk about the sources of those beautiful things that we want to achieve for life. Christians attributed to God the source of all of these: causing people to behave to treat people equally as fellow loved by God, and as brothers, that we ought to be keepers.

For humanist, �self� (not God) is the end of achieving respect or freedom. (Very likely that they were looking to the wrong church, probably the noisy fundamentalist and Americanist churches which are knowingly or unknowingly ally to the assertion of capitalism). But as �self� as the center of all of these will face enormous problem: self-centered or ME-ism has no ability to sustain anything that could sustain life (away from the real source of it). Self as the only means is capable of rewarding the �self� without break or limit, capable of going to where selfish people are, i.e. position or prestige. From same camp we can hear them saying: �we don�t need God, we only need our selves�.

Edmund Leach said, �God, or Nature, or Chance�can�t be trusted anymore. We simply must take charge of our own fate�. [See Colin Chapman; The Case for Christianity; p.217] We hear from the same camp, �we do not need to believe in God in order to do good to people�; �as long as we don�t violate others, we are okay�, etc. In opposite, Life of self, by self and for self will end up destroying self. From the same camp you can hear them saying �there is no right and wrong, everything should be respected by individual�; from the same you can hear, �we do not judge others, you respect his belief, he will respect yours because you are right and he is right�, then the same kind of person will tell you, �by the way you do not ask me to believe yours or submit to your creed because I have my own correctness or �right belief� that you should respect�; �Do whatever pleases you, that must be good�. With these, we can see the shadow of self destruction. The final analysis in that regard would be: �everybody were wrong� so that I don�t have to believe and submit to anybody�s idea�; �anything goes since everything is correct�; �do not deprive but trust yourself since (as Leach implied) �you are god and have your own divinity�. Are we not violating ourselves by doing that? Are we not taking ourselves out where he/she should be? How can we sustain �self� away from the real Source? If �we� is the creator of all things around us and for us, it destroys us when �we� means �I� or �me� and �self� or �my self�.

In my Christian thinking, I�ll say if you respect your self, put that self in the right place where he/she can feel the right place for him/her. We are designed to live where there is real respect and love caused or intended by God. In our working environment, as I heard from many individuals, friends and family: intrigue, polity, maneuvering; no love, no appreciation, dishonesty, untruthfulness, no respect, etc. �it kills us�. Are these what God wants from us? No; are we happy with it? No. �Belief on things greater than self� is not what God wants for human life.

As R.C. Sproul said, �Christianity took sin seriously because we took life seriously�. If God says you are �sinner�, it should humble the self and cause us to submit to God, should cause people to follow God in which the blessing of doing that is for individual self/life. To think arrogantly that you don�t owe to any one but yourself is a disgrace. God wants us to repent of sin and back to Him to live life treating others as brothers, fellow creature, and we are all accountable to God in the end. Now what He wants from us is for our own good. His commandments are for our own good. I like it to have opportunity to say to people �Do your self a favor, obey His commandments.�

To appreciate Christ or Christianity, please do not look to the wrong church in which the interest is dogma, and misplaced the priority of Jesus regarding his life-sustaining Truth. Look at Jesus whose teachings and first concerns are blessings for every individual life. Learn these things from IFI or Anglican churches, WCC churches.

My niece said, �What I don�t like concerning religion is how people use it as a tool to disrespect or look down on others and justify their own actions. It�s used as a tool for discrimination and an excuse to adopt a �holier-than-thou attitude.� This is a very picture of the church projected by �superior religion� (rich and ally of imperialist) seen by thinking and pro-life, humanist and unbeliever as records of history tells us. But it is not Christianity of Christ but tool or instrument against life. Take for example the following for the truth of it:

Since 1564 the Philippines were under the colonial Spain. The king or monarch was given the power as direct authority of the church as Royal patron decreed for him through Papal bull called Patronato Real. On February 6, 1578 when Manila was created as a diocese, in Papal bull stated: �We grant to the same King Philip, power to assign, increase, extend, lessen, and otherwise change the bounds therein. Moreover, we reserve, grant and assign forever to the King the right of patronage of the church over the church in Manila��[A.Manaligod; Early Secular Clergy in the Philippines; p.11]. In their successful colonization of the Philippines, for more than three centuries, Friars enjoyed the monarchial headship of the church, and at the same time ignored the episcopal or bishop Visitation (to visit the situation or status of every parish). The reason of the Friars for closing the door from Visitation was that they were not under the supervision of any diocesan bishop but to their Order superior (as Friars were priests not for parochial purposes). Friars became more powerful as given the power to govern as civil officials of towns, and yes, used by the colonial government as pacifiers. One historian stated: �Church and state put into the hands of the religious a tempting power which bore within the seeds of abuse and corruption� � [W.H.Scott; The Philippine Independent Church in History�]. The king of Spain demonstrated his ultimate power over the church especially when he assigned the Friars who can serve his interest. One of the cry of Filipino revolutionists, stated by Isabelo de los Reyes, �That though they are supposed to be examples of Christian conduct for their parishioners in the towns they administer, they are the very cornerstone of scandal with their vices and lasciviousness and their sacrificing the tranquility of decent families to satisfy their carnal appetites� [Various Translation of IFI]. Dr. Jose Rizal (Philippine national hero) stated: �I wished to hit the Friars� I was forced to attack their false and superstitious religion, to fight the enemy that hid behind it�. This said �false� religion obviously not a representation of Jesus and the spirit of Christianity. The Romanist seen as more interested and instrument of gaining power, wealth, position, security within colonial advancements and power; had become interested opposite to what Jesus taught. Christianity seems became a bad name because of those who claim and yet using the name of God in vain, who were actually an anti-Christ in their conduct. Filipino nationalist church was born because the Romanist went away from the spirit of Christianity, while PIC/IFI believed that all people are children and brothers in which there is rights for life in Christ. IFI�s initial teaching stated, ��schismatic are not we but the Pope, for a schismatic is not one who separates from the Pope but one who separates from God, from His justice and from the purity of His Word��[Epistle IV; http://www.ifi.ph/Epistles.htm].

Lee Strobel wrote that �Pope John Paul II made his historic public confession and asked God�s forgiveness for sins committed or condoned by the Roman Catholic Church during the last two millennia��[see R.Boudreaux, �Pope Apologizes for Catholic Sins Past and Present,� The Los Angeles Times, March 13,2000]. In 1994, Pope John Paul II called upon the church to acknowledge �the dark side of its history� and said: �How can one remain silent about the many forms of violence perpetrated in the name of the faith �wars of religion, tribunals of the Inquisition and other forms of violations of the rights of persons?� [Lee Strobel; The case for Faith; p.200]

Going back to our history when America started to gain speed in expansionist term, then, imperialism, Protestant religions were part of being justifier: beating the drum of expansionism for their concept of mission. Here, seems Christian mission harms life (which is actually against the spirit of Christianity and not Christianity at all). History stated, �Of growing popularity among the elite was a cult of Anglo Saxon superiority� Religiously inclined exponents of racial superiority believed it had a divine sanction. One of these was Josiah Strong, who declared in his popular book Our Country (1885) that the Anglo Saxon was �divinely commissioned to be, in a peculiar sense, his brother�s keeper.� Of more importance than this book in turning America toward expansionist sentiment were Protestant mission established abroad� The protestant missionaries were the first converts to the new definition of American mission.� [J. Blum; et.al; The National Experience: History of USA Since 1865; p.527]. Kenton Clyner wrote, �Most Protestant churches encouraged an expansionist outlook. They supported the war against Spain, then, lobbied for the acquisition of the Philippine Islands.� [Kenton Clyner; Protestant Missionaries in the Philippines, 1898-1916; p.1986]

The way to its fulfillment is the Treaty of Paris--1899 (done with the help of Romanist Church because of church�s motive --with their properties and wealth in the land to be protected by the �worshipped� new power). In the US, before finally implemented, this treaty was viewed as �unfair� by enough numbers in congress and by thinking anti-imperialist group in America, therefore ratification must be done. Then, lie took the role. It was said that �war� in the Philippines was started �when insurgents attacked American forces�. This news caused the majority of the congress to vote for it; though later, American soldiers testified that the United States had fired the first shot� [see H.Zinn; A People�s History of the United States 1492-Present; p.307]. One history book [by Allan Nevins and Henry Steele Commager; A Pocket History of the U.S.;p,366] stated, �Vehement objections were raised by the anti-imperialists�; the poet William Vaughn Moody cried out in anguish:

American imperialism gained success as desired by expansionists. Lie is not of God, not taught by Jesus. Was it good? Of course not, but did so much harm to life, (harmful as of Iraq�s �weapon of mass destruction�). One may ask �how devilish was it, things like that, after one learned that the offence was based on lies, and then left no choice but to continue on violating? Like that, surely will cause chaos, mistrust, insecurity, etc.; not a place for song about Prince of Peace. Reveals the ugliness when seems God is insignificant and not needed (because He is good for personal only, and has nothing to do for the answer to peoples� chaos caused by what?).

Was the church or missionaries aware of things like that? We don�t know. If they do, their actions didn�t represent Christianity or Christ. Missionaries or American Protestants justified the move of imperialism based on the belief that this is one opportunity for the gospel. Harmful lies and superior feeling against brown colored people (Filipinos) are not of God, and cannot be associated with God. Those who believed in the power of lies are condemned as Devil�s follower (see John 8:44). Things became ugly not because God were there, but because of the actions separated from Him, (actually offensive and grieving to God). Church turned ugly because of the worship by people who were there; --worship not to God, but to idol: wealth, opportunity and position to control other people, power, to tell more lies such as �we are more better than you�, etc; may be not realizing they�re serving the idol empire of racism and capitalism, but na�ve heavenward �fundamentalist� thinking should be changed into being wise for life.

The truth of 1902 US imperialism is to serve the interest of �market for surplus product�, no wonder why after the treaty�s ratification, McKinley�s Postmaster Charles Smith said, �what we want is a market for our surplus�, (Zinn; p.307). The philosophy of this imperialism is taught by Alfred Mahan �affirming America�s destiny to �look outward� beyond national borders�. He argued that the nation�s honor and prestige as well as her defense and trade, depended upon the acquisition of numerous overseas naval bases�� In his lecture, Mahan said, ��there are markets of the world that can be entered and controlled only by vigorous contest� To affirm the importance of distant markets, and the relation to them of our immense powers of production, implies logically the recognition of the link that joins the products and the markets,�� [See Richard Heffner; A Documentary History of the US; p.212]. Theodore Roosevelt is one of those who were sold out to Mahan�s doctrine he used his power to put this in reality.

In the book of Howard Zinn, stated that several years before the election to presidency William McKinley said: �We want a foreign market for our surplus products.� [The Twentieth Century: A People�s History; p.4]. One of his justifications in taking the Philippines, McKinley said, �That there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them�� [Zinn; p.21]. Is Filipinos (already civilized and Christians) needed this? God was not seen by them as can deal with Filipinos, but their desire for power was overpowering.

Anti-imperialists, �from Cleveland to Speaker Thomas Reed, from Sam Gompers to Andrew Carnegie, they implored the Republic to resist the temptation. �The fruit of imperialism be they bitter or sweet, �declared Bryan, ��This is one tree of which citizens of a republic may not partake. It is the voice of the serpent, not the voice of God that bids us to eat�. [Patrick J. Buchanan; a Republic, Not an Empire; p.159]. Taking the Philippines described as Serpent�s temptation, not of God. Things turned ugly because God was not obeyed.

Paul Jacob wrote in his book To Serve the Devil, he stated that: �The history of American expansionism is directly linked to American racism. Almost every instance of armed intervention has been undertaken against a colored people including Latin Americans� the theme of racism emerges more clearly. Zion in the Wilderness, Manifest Destiny, The American Mission, The American Century, all represent visions of a white American that rules the world; dreams for an empire.� [P. Jacob, et.al; To Serve the Devil, Vol.2; Colonials And Sojourners (A Document Analysis..); p.317]. Now, how can Christianity and God be blamed for evils when what was being implemented as said above is the opposite of what is of God and for life? Two atheists, anti-God groups out there, be it known to them that harmful things happened not because of God but because God is ignored, no matter how much they claimed as �believers�, actions speaks the truth of what they believed.

Another revelation that Jacob Needleman is saying, �Max Weber in his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism said, that Protestantism was the chief cause of capitalism, ��no less startling and no less revolutionary was Weber�s thesis that it was a form of Christianity itself that had bred the worldly materialism of the modern era!� [Money and the Meaning of life; p.76]. Church in materialism identified itself with capitalists� capitalism rather than Christ�s Christianity. Jesus said, �no one can worship two masters at the same time.. you can not worship God and wealth�. &

Religion that worshipped richness by imperialistic mode of the �winner� rich or wealthy to the expense of others and �inferior� countries cannot represent the real spirit of Christianity. In other words religion of colonization, religion of imperialism, religion of superiority, religion of control, religion of racism, religion of wealth, religion of position and power over others, religion of capitalism, religion of the politics of fear, etc. is not Christ�s religion. These type of religions may more interested only on religion of legalism, religion of religion, of Bible-ism (chapter and verse), religion of dogmatism and doctrines, religion of scriptural literalism, religion of tradition of entertainment and culture, religion of fundamentalism, religion of (small) moral perfectionism, religion of sectarianism, religion of nicety, religion of �feel good� positive mental attitude, religion of end-world, religion of claims, religion of popularity contest, etc.

Back to Filipino experience in history, religion then was a religion of Friars called by historians �Friarism of control, prejudices, injustice and selfish�, --serving the monarch�s colonial interest, and their own selfish agenda. The type of religion, as what happened are capable of separating Christianity from the issue of life of which it is for, capable of separating Christ from his concern for the poor and deprived or victims of injustices, capable of ignoring the pro-life message, capable of separating church and Jesus� Ministry and Mission, capable of playing for power and opportunity, capable of serving positions to control (with one sided agenda), capable of reducing themselves not to recognize souls in human of color, reducing themselves not to recognize that Filipino�s reaction against evils is a reflection of the �image of God and His likeness�.

Things we said above reveals that if man or we, you and me, focuses on things, wealth, material or position for selfish agenda we incapacitated ourselves to demonstrate the image of God in us, or we simply shut off that aspect --it reduces man to low level, cannot reflect the greatness of God. In other word no glorification of God in that kind. And so, �YES, capable of being used and serve as a tool for �disrespect�, to look down others and justify their own actions, a tool for discrimination�. Religion like this is not religion of the God of love and justice, not religion of Christ or Christianity of Christ, in fact, a religion of SELF.

For self respect, we must base our judgment or comments not on faulty pictures of churches (Faith Movements, American born cultic or fundamentalist sects). None of what we said about religion (that is harmful to life) taught by Jesus Christ. We said above what Jesus was saying about his primary concerns: treat man as more valuable than religious obligation or Sabbath, greatness of man should be seen in giving service to people and the needy, his commandment is to love God and neighbor, that the summary of all commandment is love. If you feel for friends who have problems, if you feel for the victims by others like that Good Samaritan, this is the spirit of Christianity (not religion). Religion concerns perfections to be imposed to others, and even to avoid service to the needy for religious rules, while Christianity concerns for love for others even to those who are unlovable, outcasts and enemies. This kind of love is the moral revolution that Jesus Christ brought to the world, a fundamental for the meaning and purpose of life.

In closing, I stated in my letter to my niece, saying that �If you love yourself, love God whom teaching through Christ is to love, invited all of us to love one another. Join the Church to promote this, know this, be part of this, to celebrate this, rather than helping the opposite those may be in or out of the church, but displayed their actual belief on things that kills us all. And please remember, God is not our enemy but those ignorant about Him and His purpose. It takes Lord to be lord of life to make this love celebration happen and real. Do not be deceived. There are those who claimed Christians who think of God for �self� (may be in �health, wealth, and prosperity�). What is of God is from self to others (it includes humility, sacrifices, self emptying to be given out). It is not actually about self versus others, for �you love others as you love yourself�; But �in giving that we can receive�, we �do unto others things you want them do unto you�. People who do not care of the very purpose of God are not of God, it doesn�t matter how religious this person may be. The real question is what is in his and her heart that manifested to action that blesses human life.��

This part is about thoughts or ideas that came on me during the time of prayer alone with God and during my quiet time, that I cannot afford to ignore. Surely as the result of love for God that is expressed in prayer �use me more for your wonderful purpose in life�. Asking forgiveness is always before His presence, for I am not different from those in the Bible like Peter when he said to Jesus �get away from me for I am a sinful man�, but as follower he said, �whom shall we go, you have the word of eternal life�; Same feeling for Jesus that caused me to share about �word of eternal life�. If God has something for His purpose from these that I should not keep them to myself. I must not make it so easy to say NO (to these thoughts) for God in His continued activity for life is using people, no matter how ugly you think you were, it doesn�t scare Him I believe, for He can handle things man cannot.

To write them down it gave me peace of mind and felt relieved and satisfied; to ignore them it made me feel uncomfortable and guilty knowing that it is not right to ignore the �good� thoughts and idea about God. It is so heavy in me and I say �that�s how small my brain is�. Many times also I complaint �why me and not others� because I have no skills to present it beautifully, then you can hear people in television, in radio, and read the same thoughts that can affirm what you had in mind and so must be shared. Then I said �same God is showing something through people without them knowing (may be), that God is now acting and leading for something, right? Who knows. Conscious of our obligations to orthodoxy just let me share these, also knowing that God can handle things I cannot handle to ignore.

Writing these from my journal I reworded some to make the idea clear but not adding and changing the message believing that writing things not in same inspiration is not helpful. Here are some thoughts taken from personal notes separated by dates:

God must be our confidence. Only God can give us wisdom to have confidence why we should stand strong for what we believe as Christian. We want to formulate, create some statements but ended up scared and unsure as may in wrong position. It is not wise to state position over something just because man�s standard demanded it? Well, God can use them for His purpose. But there are times that God showed us thoughts or wisdom that quickens us in which we cannot afford to ignore. I cried for its beauty knowing that I�m not in the right position to share them effectively, but the beauty is real. We cannot pretend it wasn�t there, and therefore must be written.

I know now that we should not close doors for it (allow God to work through it). We can tell if it won�t balance with orthodoxy which is already given by God long before. We speaks to Him in spirit, He is also real in Spirit, using us for His purpose and we should be affirmed by that, no matter how small we may be, it should humble us anyway. In same manner, we cannot pretend to know exactly anything about the work of the Holy Spirit to dismiss this venue of God�s communication. Of course we should exercise communicating to God in spirit. Man�s way seen didn�t work. His way must be our confidence.

[January 20008]

Image of God in our nature. Let me say for now, think about this word �Image of God�. It didn�t exist separated from life (of man). It was present when God created him. This is about man or life created by God and God creating. So also, life didn�t exist separated from God (his Creator). It was there, existed when God breathed upon man. Image of God is (also) about God in the nature of man. We cannot discount anybody based on the color of his skin, based on the manner he develop his standard of progress, the language that he is using. Man denied himself the capability of his real being if he see from other man according to the ability how he develop or improve using the creatures (on the bases of material success). It is away from God�s image and likeness. Arrogance on the bases of material advancement and technology creates much type of priorities in life that produces �other way� of seeing things or treating things what to value. Prejudices and racist tendencies is part of its results. In that regard, religion is just a religion and not about worshipping God as a response to his �God�s image� being --contrary to the teaching and commandment of Jesus about LOVE.

We need to be honest to our �self�, we worship God as what we really are, what we value according to our heart, mind, soul. Idol worship is a product of what man created �way of life� (separated from what God intended); we value and so we worship, and we worshipped and so we value. With that, we can justify, we can be part of things or forces that throws people away when it won�t suit to the created standard. This is not God�s. With it, we can still be religious and cannot be affected by aggressiveness against life (of other nation or color), by focusing on Bible chapters/verses (not in application to life) but for doctrines and claims, faith on faith, spirituality as in religious discipline, etc. that does not really cares about life. In it, obviously, you had created religious idol such as Bible.

We can pay so much attention to what type of baptism, what day are we suppose to go to church service, what manner should we worship God; May be not bad and we should; We disciplined ourselves to read the Bible, memorize verses, put Ten Commandment on the wall, etc. these are not bad and may be we should. But Word with no light for life (Jn. 1:4-9; Matt. 4:16), this is just a piece of religion, adding what is already there.

Religion that won�t care where life (of human, of all color) is, and what should be the condition it should build/go, is not honest to self, not real about what religion is for, but harmful or threat to life instead. In his thinking, Pres. G. W. Bush was right that �Christianity doesn�t do harm to people�, (said to non-believers), but not right when he believed that Christianity doesn�t do harm his Iraq war based on what. This is real scary, because if Christianity doesn�t care, no matter what you do to life, how you use your power, then this kind of Christianity is disposable, when it is no significance for life where it needs attention (socially or individually). No wonder, others viewed Christianity as not necessary, for no force for life, therefore, focus on �self� as the only means for living.

That is not true. LIFE is the life of Christianity (of Church, people of faith, (not of religion)). Life will rejoice when connected to the SOURCE (God), (should be the main business of Christianity). Meeting of life and the Source (of life) should be the celebration of the Church as agent of promoting and preserving life. In the same manner, Church should naturally the first one that gets affected or offended, and should grieve when forces of the world harms, violates, abuse, claims LIFE. What is God to man and life should also be what is man (or Church) to man and life.�

[April 17, 2006]

Questions of life. What is life? This question should not cause us to want to make doctrines about it (only). I think that�s a mistake. The question of life comes naturally when inhuman, disrespect, injustices, violations are experienced by man. So that when we view life, is not only to formulate definition but as a product of our response to the call of our, his/her reality or situation.

So life is not more on making definition, but responding to the issue of life: we struggled as exercise of being human, make answer for betterment, promotes and protects life, and what comes out of it is the real picture of life, and so the definition; not stagnant but continuing. Life is not dogmatizing life or defining it beautifully (for what selfish purposes may be). But responding to the opposite and threat to it: Inhuman desire, racism, injustices, killing or murdering, should cause to ask questions about life. Racial pride and superiority complex are alarming issue to life. See what it did in history; a threat to life because the actions of it will treat some as subject to his/her superiority, and of course, it involves injustice to whom looked inferior. The issue of life is the cry of those who were victims of prejudices.

Life is not an issue unless the agent of death is visible or real; or there is the absence of life. So we cry out �love for life�. If we want to define life, then our raw material should be the voice, cry, longing of those who were victims of the opposite, victims of people whom no love for people, victims of those who defined life as contest and so they were �winners�, victims of other�s definition of life, looked down people. We ask what is in their mind and heart. We may ask why Filipino people had 1896 revolution, why people are willing to die for freedom and independence even after 1902. Then we may find an answer saying �because there are things unacceptable. Life is to pursue life. When there is LOVE and respect for human and life, we have nothing to talk about, instead, praise the One who engineered it.�

[January 2008]

LORD, Light, love, life. I like this letter �L� as represents the 4. It delights me to think the connection of the words: Not, unless the Lord is the lord of man His Word will serve as light to the world. Not unless He is Lord and so light, we cannot think to have �love for others� as a blessing to all of us, therefore securing the self is no limit. If Love is real, there is life. If LIFE is the aim/target to be seen or to be achieved, means should be on the way/process. Life is impossible if we cannot recognize the Source to be the foundation. LORD means life (beyond religion). We�ve experienced or seen self as �lord� (in place of LORD), it doesn�t lead us to order. We�ve seen man�s lies (or propaganda) for light (it brought darkness to the future), instead of Truth-Word as Light of God. No Lord, no Light, no love, no life.

People pushed away Something that we cannot manipulate, something that we cannot grasp, something that we cannot fathom, something that we cannot control but only ask and submit to, something that we cannot necessarily understand, but have all the power and means (if not pushed away) the ability to cause us to behave and live life with love and so meaning. We say for our ugly challenges today (war/climate change), �see what happened!!� �surely, in saying that, we�re witnessing somewhere God is not the Lord or He is absent, something that all of our own doings.�

[April 24, 2006]

�Baby-Christian�. One responsibility as child of God is to grow (1 Peter 2:2). Baby Christians are in the church that no intention of growing to maturity, because the church doesn�t take the pain how to grow them from that stage?. It is hard from the beginning until people become mature. If we push this hard may affect the number. When church� concern is number of people, no care for maturity just fine? But what is �plenty of people� but immature �Christians� that behaves no different from non-believers? Yes, to go to church is fun as identifying self with plenty of people: socialization, see friends, etc. are good. Unbelievers have these too.

But atheists are taking influence, asserting humanistic view; some ridiculed the church for having people who behave NO difference from unbelievers. So church must examine itself. True, that we have un-Christians in church, claiming to be Christian who have no intention to obey and follow Jesus� instructions, a hedonist type.

It is time to realize that we were sent to make a difference in the name of Christ, in small and big issue of morality. We aim to imitate Christ and we aim to show the difference. It is our purpose. Church is sent to serve as light and salt of the Earth. It takes serious maturity for this serious calling for this serious situation (darkness). Babies cannot remain babies. In this confused generation, the darkness is increasingly strong and real, the Light should shine as the only Light-hope coming from God. So Light must be visible, truly shinning, giving light for life. A light coming from Christ, what does it mean? Our relationship, oneness with Him, closeness, should bless the world, world is where the Light is for. With His truth and teachings, light should reflect through Church.

The world is gasping for Light. It should not be hidden, but in the position where can naturally shine (NOT without the Spirit of God).

Church (or club-church) should not stay tickling the baby-ness of �Christian �fan�, but must promote our relational state with God. Church should shine or else be swallowed by darkness. Baby Christians must change to maturity in Christ, or else, get out of the way (of the Mission), because Church has no choice but to manifest Christ�s guiding Light. His Word is our spirituality and our weapon. As of �Zebulun and Naphtali� we�ve seen light in Christ.

Baby Christians used fads of the world which the church should doubly careful. There are situations that we are in dualism of darkness or light, Christian with worldly heart is a question. To baby sit babies only, in the church (by choice) is far behind from the purpose of God. This is not popularity contest to concern numbers, but numbers should serve us light for life. �

America as founded by Christians. USA was founded by the people of religious convection to have freedom of expression about it, that this is USA�s root. Today, atheists were aggressive towards atheistic America. My question then is that �what�s wrong in Christian religion?� is it because God is cannot be proven by 5 senses? What is in Christianity that destroys human or against good to life? --Nothing but for goodness from practicing Christian who can represent Jesus. Was it just because Christianity hinders their atheistic agenda?

The belief to the untouchable God resulting good ends for life, it gives contentment peace and joy to inner self, end of wondering for answers, and found meaning and purpose for life. Surely, atheistic view cannot offer ends of his search for answers and meaning. Only rely on proven things by touch, taste etc; things that can be manipulated, abused, disrespected by any one who thinks as ultimate being? From that, who is this ultimate one who can offer ultimate order? --for man or self as the ultimate means of order, ends up securing self without end from the same ultimate �I-me-my� individual. By that, securing from Fear may become our reasons. �

A good movement. One good movement worthy of our appreciation is the pro-life movement, a reaction to some sort of idea or anything that violates, hurts people, denies people�s right to life. When American imperialism began its move to occupy the Philippines 1899, anti-imperialist movement was created, their wisdom and human heart displayed as no one can prevent the exercise. Filipino on the other hand, seems felt not proud of own history for liberty (but what can you expect they were ruled), but look at those anti-imperialists group in USA a people with heart and conscience, they gain nothing materially but did justice and honesty to self and rewarded themselves by knowing that they have hearts and consciences for Filipinos.�

Enemy of humanity. God gave all our needs for life. Man�s response is to give Him thanks, and do the purpose of God to be a good steward of all these creatures. This is human purpose.

Man�s idea to conquer, to enslaved others is only to show that the enemy of man is the selfishness of man.

The basic need of man is food. Earth has full of it. The only acceptable reason for man to invade or violate others is food. Our nature is to eat, when food is not enough naturally you consider to go somewhere for it. Man may buy, steal (which is bad idea), or do anything for food or goods from other sources. Stomach is a law that cannot be ignored.

But if you conquer people�s nation, occupy their own land, disrespect and violates their own way of living just to prove that you can do it, just because you have the capacity, even though you don�t need it, is the enemy of humanity. Not thinking that the one you violated can pretend as animal too. That one is author of our destruction.

Man�s weakness. To murder or to kill humans because you�re mad, that�s a weakness in man�s nature. Situations can bring you there, you were only responding to something that made you mad. Of course, you will be punishable as murderer. But if you kill just because you can do it, or you have the capacity to do it and not mad, that nature is very enemy of the purpose of God, enemy of all the concept of beauty, enemy of the meaning of life, in fact, model and agent of what____???

Foolish idea? World is ruled by winners: Ah, advance weaponry is beautiful, tactics to play with others� weakness and ignorance are wise, lies are �truth� to give, deception as ability to do is a good thing, propaganda is a must; Think of yourself as superior, others must be inferior, God must be ours, outside from us must be heretics. So, much piece of darkness, this is not of God!!.

Idea-Church. Romanist offers good IDEA, R.C. itself is idea or religious concept. Doctrines for itself are beautiful, but not when served in disregarding our issue of life (in history), justice, dignity, and respect. This idea should not remain as idea, but instrument of and for Life. There is no greater idea than responding the call of life. Any effort to deny and to disregard your history is only done by the enemy of it. Imperialist nation and church offers good idea or dogma, it makes them look good from outside, avoiding the issue of life, justice, respect and history (that will confront their conducts in history).�

��

[November 10, 2007]

God�s proof in KKK. Filipino revolutionaries listened to Andres Bonifacio, submit to KKK�s rule. These mostly ordinary peasants did not heard from any doctor�s rhetoric, or any convincing philosophies, and didn�t read book, no professor taught them what they should believe; no university they went to, or anything that caused them to be part of KKK and to be willing to die for the cause. No.

The reason of their revolution was well understood, not because of the leader�s convincing powerful character. The greatness of freedom, respect for human dignity, was embraced paid by blood, not because of Bonifacio�s philosophy, pride, or arrogance, but by individual�s capacity to see, feel, and understand the sanctity of what they were fighting for. No other explanation of it but the Author and Giver of life Himself unfolded (with man�s capacity to see) the sanctity of life. He designed human to be like that. Not by somebody�s idea, or one person�s weakness and naivete�, but our human nature has the capacity to stand and defend Life. God�s Image and likeness caused them to sing the same song of freedom and life (as we know now from the history) sang by other races (i.e. black, Americans). Willingness to die is a moral commitment, definitely not from Darwinian fish but human with breath of life. �

[May 24 1999]

When the word �freedom� became no good!!. Americans in their early years this word has full of meaning, so sweet to hear, but when the US became an imperialist (by Republicans), word �freedom� from the mouth of their subject �inferior� became bad, i.e. during the implementation of the Sedition Law (in the Philippines). It could kill him even just to say a word. What happened? Ah, imperialism changed its meaning. So that when you hear �freedom� from the imperialist man it became his hypocrisy and bait.

In same manner, message of liberty in theology taught by Romanist church become meaningful only if they ask forgiveness because of the sins committed against the poor people during the colonial era. If not, then this word �freedom� by them is another game of the Enemy against life. Is this a way of playing life for selfish self? Now if they discourage members to believe what �liberation theology� is all about, no wonder, because it became a slap.�

What kind of freedom and truth? Good kind of liberty issue is a kind that can bless the purpose of God, and that is freedom from slavery, abuses, injustices, --for the life of human being and the Truth of God, --not freedom from the boundary or limitations designed by God.

==Truth is often suppressed, supplanted by assertion, claims, propaganda, justification, but created �truth� is truth by the �winners�.

==Truth is there, should have no winner and loser. We are all created to lift up the name of God and to love one another. Not to be subject to winners who believed that life is a contest or competition.

==Voice that should be heard is the voice of the people whom love is denied. Definition of justice and the beauty of it should be voiced or pointed out by man whom justice is denied.

==No one can understand fully the beauty of love, justice, freedom, unless you experience the opposite.

==Issue of life should be determined by those who have the experience and history, or those who fought for it.

==If freedom is defined by person of wealth, in fortunate status, he think no problem at all about �freedom for life� (or issue of life), but he may think of it in terms of using marijuana, abortion, freedom away from God, from Bible, or from rules.�

Cultic �Word of Faith Movement�. Faith Movement attracts supporters, promoting �health, wealth and prosperity gospel�. People gave pledge money as partners with hope to get rich return as �promised�. It�s about �self� and mental attitude for prosperity. Though Kenneth Erwin Hagin was termed as �the father of Faith Movement�, the real man who deserved the title was Essek W. Kenyon who developed the idea in which Hagin is copying. �Many of the phrases popularized by today�s prosperity teachers, such as �What I confess, I possess,� originally from Kenyon�.

Kenyon earned his knowledge mainly from Emerson College of Oratory. There he learned about New Thought ideas, a system of cultic belief taught that true reality is spiritual, that the spiritual is the cause of all physical effects, and that the human mind through positive mental attitude and positive confession has the power to create its reality: either health and wealth, or sickness and poverty. [see D.R.McConnell; A Different Gospel (A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement; (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Pub., 1988); p.39]. Some Faith preachers were Frederick K.C.Price, claimed influenced by Hagin; Charles Capps claimed that most of his teaching is coming from Hagin; John Osteen of Lakewood Outreach Center claimed that Hagin is his introduction to Faith Movement. Kenneth Copland as of 1988 was the ex officio leader of the Faith Movement who �when Hagin speaks, he still listens�.

Why Kenyon got into this? McConnel gave us the answer, we may sympathize Kenyon as he wrote: �We cannot ignore the amazing growth of Christian Science, Unity, New Thought and Spiritism. The people who are flocking to them are not the ignorant masses, but the most cultured and wealthy of the land, and their strongest appeal is the supernatural elements of their so called religions�the testimonies of healing are their strongest asset�� Now, in his attempt to respond to the cults and offer a Christian alternative to their beliefs and practices, Kenyon did, however, incorporate metaphysical cults into his theology. As a result, his syncretism of cultic ideas, in which the sad truth is that the cultic, not the biblical, element of the Faith theology are the very elements that distinguish it the most, occupied the center stage. So much to learn in �prosperity gospel�, it contradicted to Lk. 6:20; 4:18; Mk.10:21, 14:7, 6:24; Mk.10:25; Mtt.6:19-21; 6:24; Mk.12:44; Gal.2:10; 1 Cor.11:22; Mk4:19; 1 Tim.6:17, 18,19; Jas.2:5; 5:1-3.

See what we can get if you center yourself to number �so use what people likes to hear and for self reward; Not about life, not about identifying evils in man�s action, not about justice and brotherhood of all. As this is how �church� served as entertainment �opium� denying the fact/reality that there are forces or evils that violates human and shaped our reality, but here taught that we can creates our own reality; That if you are poor, only blame yourself and your negative mental attitude. �God becomes the means thereby the end of prosperity is attained.� Name it claim it is treating God as �sugar daddy� in heaven. No not, especially to when one becomes addicted to material position (Mammon).

More readings about it: Horton, Michael, Ed.; The Agony of Deceit; Chicago: Moody Press; 1990. Martin, Walter; The Kingdom of the Cults; Minnesota: Bethany House Pub.1985. Hanegraaff, Hank; Christianity in Crisis; Oregon: Harvest House Pub., 1993.

Don�t be afraid to learn from many books? (I wish I could do this too). To know how people considers a lot of thoughts on many things: Cult, cultic, occult, pagan, world philosophy, fundamentalist, non-apostolic, non-catholic, anti-Nicene creed, atheistic, whatever; and because we didn�t say anything seems cannot offer truths that is revealed and good for life. Do they know what they�re looking?, or may be just mesmerized with the richness/wealth and material success which affected our Earth! We should know how and what they�re thinking from their writings and from there we may learn how to share thoughts of life. Of course, we should know Jesus� teachings for life as confessed by historic and Biblical Christians.

Look, after these mess of unjust war, product of our ways (materialism and consumerism) that caused the global warming, we know what we have since IFI stood at the same time the �market for surplus product� imperialism stood for world-power of influence --we saw Truth of Jesus as Truth for Life, by our heritage we were positioned to response for life.

Know their thinking so we can impart ours. To pretend and so we don�t care about any solutions (with local perspective) that we can be part of, the Holy Spirit and angels will get board and will depart from us as not needed. We should get over our weakness and intimidation of the Enemy to stand for life, for the call is evident. Wrongs are now revealed, God�s Truth (reasons) for life should be effectively offering salvation, religious allies of those materialist isms should realize they�re being part of roadblocks, ex. by setting the mind on �health, wealth and prosperity� and or on religion, and not being critical to man�s interest as steward of the Earth and for brothers� or life�s keeper. Nationalist must and always go back to the future seen in its beginning, --�respect for human and national dignity, and brotherhood of all race in God.� We read life so we must read other�s thinking for it, so we must share.

See the product of consumerist culture. We�ve seen the results of consumerist culture, asserted forcefully during the era of imperialism. Now we have this materialism and consumerism that pushing aside the good that money can�t buy. Helped religiously by the elements of Gnosticism revived in �health, wealth prosperity� (HWP) gospel, found attractive and supported in strategic place of influence (media), for being not harmful and offensive to the prestige of great interest-lobbyist-corporation group. Now served and protected. Known to all that the �faith-based� assistance is also a big help to the fundamentalist Christians that focused on heaven after death reward, while on earth projected to be nice, blessing its �blesser� in which she is mute or not a roadblock. Our great teacher of simplicity and service to life (Jesus) cannot now say �tell that fox�, but by the product of the �worship of Mammon� culture seen in global warming said it so loudly, because what mans� know (outside Jesus�) destroys life.

Make no mistake where you stand. You are Christian focused on �family� which is good. Now you stick to �whatever� religion of nicety for it. Remember the power of the beauty of our worship to God it can makes you neglect your political task as citizen for �good government� which is really an agent to serve your family better, and for the goodness of life. You are Christian who loved yourself so, you may sustain it with self-centered �prosperity gospel�, it can makes you neglect anything outside of you and reduce Jesus as �personal Lord and Savior�, personal only Lord, and leave Him in the closet when go out to promote things.

How about the community-centered God of worshipping community (Church-bride); Community in which political authority matters? Is anything politics none of God�s business? Well, well, may be He is a god of doctrines and claims as projected in which therefore should be quieted in political/community arena; that �politically correct� thing should be applied to that god of dogmatism and exclusivist claims. Make no mistake of what you believed and where were you that empowers what --that made you mute in Godly business of life. Our God of life should not be quieted but should lead us to every issues of life for our life, in asserting, pressing, promoting life; in the language of love, justice, righteousness, kindness, brotherhood of all. By that God is seen so lovely even to the atheist who wants to serve life, isn�t it? Thus God is not offensive if not dogmatism but for life.

�They say: �So help me God��. Why interest-group thought that national government should serve them? We pushed God in debatable position of ideas, thoughts and doctrinal positions. He is indeed reduced by man to the level of religion and spiritism, seems has nothing to do with everyday issue of life, social and moral way of life, as a matter of fact viewed as �opium� of the society. Ah, �Self� must be promoted or empowered as the only agent for here and now goodness of life.

That is not true, God of religionist, fundamentalist, spiritist may be is different. But the God of Abraham and Moses is God of justice and history and freedom, and so, life (not of spirit after death in heaven). Jesus� teaching of God is of life, summarized his commandments into LOVE. Loving is not for spirit after death in heaven, but for you who may repent now and believe now. Spiritist/religionist is not interested in politics and politics-people may not be interested in spiritist either. We leave our politicians (supposedly) representatives (of the people) subject to the interest/capitalist lobbyist corporation group.

But no, think of our God, He is interested in our kindness, justice, love, righteousness, brotherly love for other people, and these are not shameful or offensive to be shared to �whoever� for us to be expressive to our representatives in the arena of democracy, for this is about life beyond doctrine, claims and religion/spiritism. And that our reasons to be heard are reflective of God�s love/righteousness for people. So that our said representatives can represents our voice for life and neighbors. Life and people is what and where the service of our politicians (representatives) is for; and that, to serve life through the functions of his/her (here/now) office, he/she will say, �SO HELP ME GOD��

Heavenward brothers. They cannot understand the way mainstream churches view on Unity. If what is important to you is heaven, then why should care? �What we need is Jesus. That�s neat, but what did Jesus wanted and prayed? Second Coming is one excites them, though no one (even the Son) supposed to know when is the end time will occur, except the Father. Why these matters? Earthly good (for life of all) should be churches� business and manifestation of what gifts we have from God. �Thy will be done on earth� is Jesus� concern that needs responding, than heaven as God�s business.

Unity is for the big task in the world-kingdoms which wanted to chop the Church into lonely harmless from being a threat Kingdom-bearer. But serious calling is for serious situations: human ways, famine, climate change, and all the cause, --are crosses to bear. Heavenwards sings �Praise the Lord� choruses, seems to be not affected (amidst suffering) just because what matters is heaven, not �what can be done for the least of the (affected) brethren�, because determined to be naively nice? Our situations could be the sign of the end time, but this is not without the cause. Passivism by lonely/chopped with na�vet�, how can we excuse ourselves of escaping the cross? The cause of Earth� degradation/deterioration could be by way of life, nations, systems, groups, human activities etc. how can these be not addressable? Is this the reason why you�re used? To refuse to see the clear cause, you are indeed trapped to the wrong religion of �nicety�. We are called to be wise (not na�ve). Jesus will come from heaven second time (not that we go) to judge, while the consequences of our conduct is to be accounted where its done. Very obvious now that if you continue being �heaven/rapture-centered� or heavenward, in this point of time, we are not for life where and when threat of life is evident. Your �God�s will on earth� seems about �spirit� after death, out of this world, but for another world where you cannot wait to relocate; being harmless/nice creatures, Bible based �holier-than-thou�, etc. In that case, what are these --sacrifice, cross, humility, �blessed are the peace maker�, self-denial, self-emptying etc. to you? No, we should apply the parables of Jesus for our human life here on earth (ex. Good Samaritan) as our qualification to have the place in heaven because �whatever you did to the least of your brethren, you did it to the King of all kings�.

�Faith alone� hypocrisy or na�vet�? (Heard from radio program, �faith alone� pastor was upset with �salvation plus work� thoughts). While thinking about the same, I thought: Following the Bible literally should not be the issue but how you being literal or not serve life in Christ. Following literally, you may have the good heart for God. Let�s say this pastor (claimed as radio �teacher) had witnessed the evil of war, human violation to others, or have knowledge about true (not propaganda) history, reality of evils done to human, after all, what matters to him is �faith alone�, something wrong in his heart, (or because the mind is already fixed toward heaven), is hypocritical �holier-than-thou� man. �Faith alone�, Bible literalist� away from the issue of human life combine is hypocrisy.

What makes �faith� (to Jesus) beautiful is the result, effect, and what it brings to life; and life is in every second counts �is our chance to promote, protect, and preserve life in Christ, (or in one wrong decision based on what, destroys it).

Now, is faith has nothing to do with life? What is faith for the sake of faith, or Bible for Bible, is it what your god is? Faith for faith, Bible for Bible seems life count lesser than this doctrinal position. �Faith in Jesus� what is the importance of that phrase? It says �whoever believeth in Him shall not perish� (Jn.3:16) �believe Him, receive Him, submit to him� etc. if it doesn�t make Mr. Whoever DO what Jesus said, what is the meaning of it? What Jesus� said is not necessarily what Paul�s, for Jesus� is Jesus�.

Jesus said, �Why are you calling me Lord, Lord and do not DO what I say? Another he said �if you love me OBEY my commandment�, etc. �Faith can move mountain�, to move mountains requires response or actions of faith. Early IFIs surrounded by its mountain: Sedition Law, Anti-flag law� etc. it made plain only when put that faith in action. What is being revealed in this �faith alone�, or �heavenward� etc. is that (to me) non-denominational (Fundamentalist) congregations is its significance to Status Quo �of what. If this served status quo is to serve life, still requires actions. If in their assertions as to �stay nice�, �look up to heaven�, �Bible only� etc. is actually its �DO/OBEY-action� already for what Agenda, we are indeed in the end time!! Look at our surroundings �faith alone� people we don�t wait for our Judge to say it, we already hearing it: �WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?� &