Narrative, time and history

The gospel is often condensed into a story that affirms the basics of our faith: God loves us and has a wonderful plan for us. But we have sinned and are therefore separated from Him. Jesus Christ on the Cross is the answer to our predicament, and if we will accept him as our personal savior, we will have eternal life.

Though accurate in what it highlights, such a simplified presentation can wrongly convey the idea that the gospel is primarily about individual fulfillment and satisfaction. "God loves YOU and has a wonderful plan for YOU." "Live your best life now!" Such a shortened story seems to place Christians in the center of the message and not Jesus.

On the contrary, the heart of both the Old and New Testaments is the fulfillment of God's plan. The story of our redemption is God's complete and multifaceted movement among history and people and nations. It cannot be reduced to mere highlights without compromising the story. What about the resurrection of Christ? What about his return and the promise of our own resurrection? What about the new heaven and new earth? There are many books that make up the Bible, all of which tell a part of a great and magnificent story.

The Christian faith is rooted in thousands of years of the history of humanity, and it is this rootedness that makes Christianity so relevant to each of us, both individually and corporately. The person of Christ and the salvation he offers are meaningful to us today because Jesus is historical, because he is the same today, yesterday, and forever.

In contrast, many other systems of belief hold history as something that is cyclical. After someone dies, he or she is thought to be reincarnated or rebirthed. As a result, history is of little significance or meaning. Events are merely occurrences.

For Christians the reverse is true. Our faith is defined by significant events in history. The past and the future are momentous because they greatly inform the present. While the past offers both perspective and purpose for our current situation, the future gives us hope and meaning. No matter what we are going through today, this, too, shall one day pass. Promised is the future that is hinted at in history. There comes a day when all tears will be wiped away, a time of complete fellowship with God.

Yet today, regardless of worldview, we seem to be unfortunately suffering from historical amnesia, where we have lost our interest and understanding of history. As evidenced in the popularity of fictitious histories, the fascination with purportedly long-lost gospels, or the contentedness with a lack of historical perspective entirely, history has little existential meaning for us. This ahistorical climate is affecting the way we perceive truth in relation to reality.

The message of Christianity stands counter to this climate, proclaiming the acts of God in human time and space. As believers in a savior who lived and died and rose, history is imperative; it is a significant part of our identity. God has been working out his plan for thousands of years, first through the nation of Israel and now through the body of Christ. When we profess Christ crucified, we are remembering the historical character of our faith, which in turn echoes the all-encompassing sovereignty of God. When we live as Christ's followers, we proclaim a narrative that encompasses past, present, and future; we proclaim in finite stories the one who was and is and is to come.

I took this passage from Today's Slice, RZIM. I find that the article makes a lot of sense. In this postmodernistic age where Foucault and Derrida seems to destroy the credibility of a written text and nobody trust any historical work anymore, this is an age when people are no longer bothered about history, but on more 'practical' things.

I am always amused when I tell people that I will be employed as a Health Policy Analyst in the MOH. They were like 'huh', what does that has to do with history? As if I study history, then must do history like that. But unfortunately, history has more practicality than just going to MOE and teach, or go to a museum as a curator. Despite what most existentialist Christians claim, we need to realise that Christianity is grounded on history, and despite what Professor Cheah Boon Keng claimed, there is no such thing as multiple historical truths. Neither is there a differentiation between Truth and truth. If there is Truth, then there ought to be truth. And this is what we as Christians need to realise. My favourite line about this is from Paul, that if Christ had not resurrected, our faith would be futile.

So for Christians who dislike history, I would say that it's time to wake up and start liking history. The gospels that you are reading is history. You dun like history, you are telling me that you are bored of the gospels and the historical texts in the bible. I may be a bit extreme here but our attitude towards things are inter-connected. There is no such thing as I dun like history, but I like the gospels or so. I see both as linked.

Wake up wake up!!! You need to learn to appreciate history!!! After all, when we are doing bible studies, we are essentially studying the historical texts in the bible.

The worst moment in a church service

Quick: What’s the worst moment in a lot of church services? Too often it’s when God’s Word is read aloud.

I fully agree with that, although equally irritating is when the Word of God is being misused on stage, with verses taken out of context. After reading Uncle Yeo's blog post on this, I fully agree that many a times, people are simply not reading the Word of God with the same enthusiasm that they give to the preacher or the praise and worship. This happens especially also in our UniYA services. It is so obvious that NOT everyone reads out loud when the preacher invites us to read the passage and verses together. It makes me wonder sometimes why is it so... I mean dun we all from young learn how to read in unison together in class? Why can't we do the same in service, where we are able to read the Word of God, something which Abraham, Issac and Jacob didn't get to enjoy?

This is one point to consider.

A short comment

Now I seriously think that God allows me to start work on 1 Dec so that the people in NUS are able to benefit from my free time....

Holy ground

"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." - Exodus 3:5

It just dawned upon me as I was reading Exodus 3 something about holy ground. Mount Sinai was not holy by its own sake, but it was holy because of God's presence. I was just teaching the other day to another brother that in Christianity, there is no such thing as a holy ground. Jerusalem, for all its worth, is only a piece of land where action has taken place but by no means it is a holy land. Our church building is by no means a holy land just because we use it for service.

It is the same thing for holy communion. I have mentioned it once in this blog but I still wanna talk about it because it continues to annoy me. The holy communion elements are not holy by its own sake, so I can decide to dispose the elements in whatever ways I desire. I still can remember the face of the brother who told me that it's THE HOLY COMMUNION... diaoz... But I shall not dwell on that any other further.

So even in Moses' day, grounds are not holy by itself. I think Exodus 3:5 implies it, though not so obvious. Unfortunately, I dun understand why people ascribe holiness to places and things as time goes by. It is a bit similar to what we see in Chinese religions today in Singapore. I sometimes wonder the way Chinese treats their deities. I think if the deities are powerful enough to help them, then they should be powerful enough to hear their prayers wherever their devotees are. It amuses me that sometimes, we hear people saying that certain temples are more 灵 than the other.... I diaoz again.. Is it really so? I wonder.

But the Bible says it very clearly that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, aka God. In the old testament time, the presence of God follows the Ark of Covenant and eventually resides in the temple, which made them holy. Likewise, since our body is the temple, it means that our body now becomes the holy ground. That is why Peter quoted from Leviticus to exhort us to be holy because our God is holy.

So it is up to us to live up the holiness of this 'holy ground'. It is time to think about this.

APEC

I completed my round of volunteering for APEC last Friday. For those who are unaware, I volunteered as an APEC ambassador to be stationed at the airport to receive the delegates who were coming for the summit. It was quite an interesting experience. I met a lot of people and made a lot of friends with the volunteers. It was fun as I was able to get access into areas which we normally won't unless we are in transit. I enjoyed the experience thoroughly and I think I will look out for more of such opportunities in the future.

While I was inside the airport, I was just looking at the people in transit and the people who arrived in the airport. I looked at the luggage and the passengers. It sort of reminded me of a vision by my church, that we want to make the Changi Airport our airport, that we will see church planters and missionaries going and coming back everyday every hour. I wonder if Jesus will come back before this happens, but that's not the point. The spiritual significance of the airport is that it is where we will send out our church planters to plant vibrant and biblical churches all over the world. This is one place where the Great Commission has to come alive in all believers. I mean, look at the people in transit. They come from all over the place and we can likewise go to places all over the world. This is where I believe, one day, I will step out and go.

However, till then, I will continue to pray and ask God to show the opportunities available. And also, MOH is calling me.

Akan Datang.

Can God create a rock that He can't move? - My answer

Can God create a rock that He can't move Himself? This is an interesting question. I wonder what people will think if I give a straight 'no' with a straight face. Previously, me and another brother were discussing about this question, but I would like to give this question a try, after reading answers given by different people.

First of all, look at what the question is asking about. This question inherently question on the issue of omnipotency. The assumption behind this question is that an omnipotent God can do everything. The question breaks down upon knowing this assumption. How?

The most obvious flaw in the logic is in the word 'everything'. I was chatting with a christian friend last night and she was like quoting me that with God, everything is possible. Being the historian that I am, I saw that this verse can be easily misunderstood or abused without proper context. But can God really do everything? We have to bear in mind that the bible never mention that God can do all things. We know that He can't do a lot of things, like sinning. So not all things. As a result, this assumption breaks down, which means that the question breaks down along with it.

As such, we realise that the key lies in understanding the question and understanding the nature of God. At a logical level, the question breaks down in that you cannot create something that refused to be created in the first place. So the object and the subject of the question contradict each other and therefore the law of non-contradiction rules this question as an illogical question. Moreover, the proper understanding of omnipotency is, to put it simply, God cannot make mistakes and must be right at all time. So He cannot contradict Himself.

So the straight forward answer is no! And no it shall be. A proper understanding of God is necessary in order to understand the nature of such question. It creates a weighted dice in measuring the existence and ability of God that is not grounded in common logic and biblical knowledge.

Interesting song

This is an interesting song. Can tell that the song is something of a cover of Amazing Grace but not quite. I bet the one who wrote the lyrics and the song is a Christian, though God is not explicitly mentioned in the song, it has something like a Christian meaning. Interesting.

赞美之泉 － 祷告

I have posted the video in a previous post. This is the lyrics:

禱告 因為我渺小
禱告 因為我知道我需要
明瞭 你心意對我重要
禱告 已假裝不了
禱告 因為你的愛我需要
你關懷 我走過的你都明白

有些事我只想要對你說
因你比任何人都愛我
痛苦從眼中流下
我知道你為我擦
在早晨我也要來對你說
主耶穌今天我為你活
所需要的力量你天天賜給我
你恩典夠我用
你恩典夠我用

It's really a simple song and the chords is canon, though I have yet to figure out the actual key. Quite a lot of thoughts after listening to the song. Feel like everything is linking together and everything is making sense to me, as in what God is trying to tell me over the past few months.

I hope that one day our service will have someone singing the song live on stage.

Waiting....

Finally here comes the time that I can write this post. I have been waiting since 29 April that I can write this post. Actually, if things happen a bit faster, I wouldn't be writing this post but well...

It is difficult for me to specify where to start. Maybe it has to start in the beginning when God created the heaven and the earth. Maybe a bit later, when He flooded the world. Or maybe a bit later when He gave us different languages. Or a little bit further into the future when I was born. Maybe fast forward a little bit, and maybe I will start on the day I finished my last paper as a NUS undergrad on 29 April. (yes, I know that is one big chunk of crap)

The search wasn't that easy, at least after a while it seems that it was not going to be easy. It's all about my job search. Till date, a rough estimate of the number of applications stand at:

Number of VOG applications: 50
Number of gov related applications outside of VOG: 1xEDB + 1xSPRING + 1xIE Singapore + 1xCPF + 1xMAS + 1xMICA + 3xMFA + 3xMINDEF + 1xJTC + 3xWDA + 2xNYC + 1xMCYS + 1xMOE + 1x RP= 21
Number of non-gov applications = 3xETP1 + 2xETP2 + 3xETP3 + 1x'CENTIC' + 1xDWA + 1xDBS + 1xOCBC + 1xHSBC + 1xMeltwater + 1xSTE + 1xDucktainer + maybe 10 others = 26 (roughly)

Total = 50 + 23 + 20 = 97 (rough up)

The number of interviews, informal + formal, and written selection tests I have been called:

EDB: 1x telephone interview
MFA: 1x psychometric test
MND: 1x interview
MINDEF: 1x psychometric test, 1x interview
MOE: 1x interview
MOF: 1 x written test, 1x interview
MCYS: 1x interview
PSD: 1x written test, 3x tea sessions, 2x interviews
MHA: 1x interview
MOH: 2x interviews, 1x written test
Tencube: 2x interview, 1x psychometric test
DBS: 1x interview, 1x psychometric test
Dreamworks Advertising: 2x interviews
Asia Search: 1x interview
CENTIC (aka Prudential): 1x interview
Marshall Cavendish: 1x interview
Gallup: 1x telephone interview
Melioris: 1x interview
Meltwater: 1x telephone interview

Total = 32

Maybe some of the interesting anecdotes from the many interviews I had. The first place will undoubtedly go to CENTIC (aka Prudential). They advertised themselves on Jobstreet as CENTIC. So I applied and got called up for an interview. The process was interesting. I was told to go to Exit A of Newton MRT and then call the so-called HR. I called and there goes the conversation:

Me: I reached Exit A.
#1: Oh, do you see the white building on the right.
Me (my worst fear confirmed): You mean the Prudential building?
#1: Yeah, come right up to the 4th floor.

And so I went, hoping that it's just a company housed inside the Prudential building. But low and behold... I was led into a Prudential office, sat down and made to fill up a form and do a DISC. I knew something was wrong and so I decided to suka suka fill up the form. I remember writing that high income is not important to me because there are things more important than income, which is true. I remember writing that I am not very ambitious. I remember telling the interviewer that I want to set up my own business. Then she says:

#2: You are lost. You dun know what you want to do in life.
Me (thinking): Of course. How can I not be lost when I am talking nonsense and writing nonsense here.

I eventually told her that I am not interested to work with her. And I left off. I sent in a complaint letter to Jobstreet asking them to investigate CENTIC, but I dun know what has been done so far. In any case, that was the last time I applied for any job from Jobstreet and Jobstreet has certainly lost my confidence. But this sure is one classic case of a stupid interview.

The second place belongs to Tencube, the first interview. What should have been a 30 min interview became an one hour conversation. He asked me a stunning question, 'how you became a Christian?' I was quite stunned cos no one ever asked me that question in the interviews before. Then he asked me about an ethic question, 'if the company has to make an unethical decision, that without making it, it will affect everyone, what would you do?' My answer to him was that I will pray first, then ask the company to seek out different options and other alternatives first before making the decision. He commented that it was a good answer. Then at the end, he commented that the questions I asked him are good questions, that no one has ever asked him before. I was eventually offered the job, but I declined it.

The third place goes to my second interview with MOH. It was an interesting conversation with the directors.

Di#1: So what healthcare policies do you think should be improved?
Me: I'm generally quite happy with Singapore's healthcare policy. I think it's great. (for those who want to know why I answered it this way, pls talk to me privately) Although I think outpatient consultation waiting time is a bit too long.
Di#1: So how do you think we can improve this situation?
Di#2: Then how about I train more doctors, and increase the fees? It will solve the problem, right?
Me: I think no. Why? Because firstly, healthcare expenses is a sensitive issue in Singapore, just look at the last election. Secondly, there are people who go to doctors just to get that piece of MC, so more doctors probably mean more people in the queue also. I think has to deal with the problem in the root. Should promote more healthy lifestyle, and as Singaporeans get healthier, they will see less doctors and the queue will get shorter.
Di#1: Then how about the people who 'keng'?
Me: This one not MOH's problem. It is the problem of MOE to inculcate the correct values into the people.

All in all, it has been a tough 6 months or so for me. In this period, God also spoke a lot to me about waiting and waiting. After reading Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God, I realised that maybe this is the period that God wants me to open my eyes and discern His will, see where He is going, and follow after Him. I seriously think that it was not easy. Particularly after going for so many interviews and so, I tend to get a bit demoralised. But God is good. God is good. I didn't really waste this time away.

One thing that I really appreciate a lot is that I really gained an insight in who I am. It is one thing knowing that you are nothing. It is another thing really knowing that you are nothing, and this God will put you through. I think and think. I made a lot of resolutions during this period of time, and I get a lot of time to serve more actively also. One thing also is that I get to read a lot and think a lot about theological issues, things that I haven't had a chance to blog it out yet, but akan datang. One thing I know, is that God has a plan for me, and so I can wait and rest assured that my future is in His hands.

Perhaps the time when I had to make a hard decision was when Tencube offered me the job. I wanted to take it up, but then PSD called me for interview. The thing is that I am guaranteed employment if I take up with Tencube but I want to give PSD a try also. In the end, I prayed a lot, and God told me that whatever way I choose, have faith and He will continue to be with me. And I turned down Tencube in favour of going for the Civil Service. That was the last time I ever go for an interview with the private sector and from then on, the ministries just started calling me up for interviews. I had to make a lot of decisions by faith along the way, but I continued to be assured that God is with me. After all, this is what the bible is telling us. Just read Romans or Hebrews.

And I know that there are two types of responses for me at that period when I was just waiting and waiting. Either I continued to trust in Him, or I give up and go my own way. I think it was a test or a trial of faith. I'm glad I stick with Him. Till now, I still cannot fathom the thought of leaving Him, or the life of not praising Him. Something unthinkable. So I chose to stick with Him.

I think this period also allowed me to experience the support from my cg and ex-cg. I think something that is very different from the NUS group, that in the YG group, people really supported and cared for one another like what Acts really said. I will always remember the days when brothers and sisters offered to lend me money to tide over the period. Or simply just prayed for me. I really see what true friendship really is. Of course, my family members supported as well, but while it normally is expected of them, you wouldn't expect a group of friends to support you in that way. I think I really experienced the church of Acts. And I would personally stand up and refute any claims that this Hope church is not loving or needs to change the way it treats its people etc etc or craps of those standards. Cos I know there can be no further than the truth.

1 Dec will be a new turning point. After I return from KL, it will be BOOMZ. Till then, akan datang. I still have a lot of thoughts to be sorted out and stay tuned for my marketplace theology series. I stopped it for a while as I hope that I can write more substantial ones once I start work.

MOH!!!

I like these songs