Ultimate Beauty (Psalm 27:4)

Ultimate beauty is spiritual, not physical. In saying this, I am in no way denying the presence of beauty in the physical world. We can all testify to the breath-taking pleasure we felt upon beholding the physical creation: the moon and the stars. The sunrise. The sunset. The meeting of the sand and the waves in the beach. The mountains, the birds, the trees, and the flowers. Its not hard to find here a husband who is willing to testify of how he was mesmerized by the physical beauty of the woman he married.

The statement “Ultimate beauty is spiritual, not physical” is grounded on the truth that God is a spirit and he is incorporeal— he has no body and he is not composed of matter. Though God has no body and is not composed of matter, God is the most beautiful of all. He is not only the most beautiful of all; he possesses all beauty and excellency in infinite measure. And there’s more: as the Creator and Sustainer, he is the source of all beauty that could be found in the created order. If something could be rightly called beautiful, it is because God gave such beauty.

At the incarnation, the Son of God who was without body and uncomposed of matter took upon himself a human body. We can name multiple reasons for the incarnation but surely one of the central reasons is that he may be offered on the cross as a sacrifice. Yes, he who is infinitely beautiful was given a body so he could be pierced, wounded, crushed and murdered. Through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the elect were made holy once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

How then shall we respond? We can respond by being vocal in our appreciation of the beauty of the gospel in songs and in conversations. As we do so, we make our feet beautiful as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15). We can respond by resolving in our lives and songs that we will not trade the adoration of the ultimate beauty to lesser beauties.

Come let us rise and worship him who is ultimately beautiful.

Authentic Christian Ministry in the Light of Christ's Sacrificial Love (2 Cor. 5:14-15)

 

from the free stock images of Pexels

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV)

Generally speaking, there are motivations behind the things we do or why we are acting and behaving in a particular way.

• One young man may have the reputation of being a pugnacious drunkard who gets into trouble daily. Yet after marriage and having three kids, the man becomes a hardworking father who is consumed with the motivation of putting food on the dining table and saving money for the future of his family. 

• An underdog athlete’s daily grind in the gym motivated by proving the odds wrong.

• Your neighbor who seldom greets anyone or smiles at anyone suddenly reverses his ways as the election day for Barangay officials draw near. 

• Law enforcers know this very well that when they are investigating a murder case, one of the important questions they ask is “Who has a probable motive behind the murder?”

Fellow worker, what is the chief motivation behind your service to the Lord? I am asking this question because not all motives behind outward acts of piety are good. There are those who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain (1 Tim. 6:5). Even preachers with the right message could proclaim Christ out of envy and rivalry (Phil. 1:15).

There is some complexity in 2 Corinthians but what we can say at the very least for the purpose of this post is that in Corinth there were false apostles who were offering a form of ministry which was very different from how Paul ministered. They peddled the word of God for profit (2 Cor. 2:17). They did “ministry” through secret and shameful ways like the use of deception and distorting the word of God (2 Cor. 4:2). They presented themselves as “super-apostles” displaying excellence in public speaking (2 Cor. 11:5-6). Nearer to our passage is 2 Cor. 5:12: they take pride in the externals rather than what is internal. They put premium on outward appearance and not what is in the heart. So much of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians is a defense of authentic ministry. In our day and age counterfeit ways of doing ministry are still rampant. For this reason, the lessons on authentic ministry in 2 Corinthians are still relevant.

In the verse that immediately precede our passage (see verse 13), we can see that Paul’s ministry is characterized by a devotion to God and a concern for people. This is the last unit of thought that the apostle connects with our passage with the coordinating conjunction gar (“For”, ESV). In this context, the conjunction provides the “ground” <1>  (or the foundation) of this God-centered and people-oriented ministry. This leads us to the first of the three headings.

1.   The Sacrificial Love of Christ: The Controlling Motivation for Authentic Christian Ministry

“For the love of Christ controls us,” (v.14). This is the ground, the foundation, the controlling motivation for authentic Christian ministry. There are two options on what “the love of Christ” means. The first option is to take it as an objective genitive. In this case, Christ is the receiver of our love. The other option, which I think is the right option is to take it is as a subjective genitive—that is Christ is the giver of this love and we are the receivers. The reason why I think this is the correct option is because in context, what is being emphasized is the sacrificial love of Christ manifested in his dying in behalf of his people.

This love, the Apostle asserts, “controls us”. This word sunecho in Greek, like any other word, has different shades of meaning depending on the context. I think Louw & Nida’s lexicon’s hint on this particular verse is very helpful: “in 2 Cor 5.14 'Christ's love controls us' may be rendered as 'the fact that Christ loves us causes us to act as we do.'”<2>  In other words, Paul and his associates do ministry in a God-centered and people-oriented way because the love of Christ causes them to do ministry that way.

If there is something I would like to add with the useful hint in Louw & Nida’s lexicon, it is the seeming weakness of the word “causes”. It seems to me that the definition should be stronger in the light of how the different translations render it: “controls” (ESV), “impels” (NABRE), “compels” (NIV), “constraineth” (KJV). These are all stronger words than merely communicating causation. Both the sense of “control and compulsion”<3> is carried here. The love of Christ holds control over us. It restrains us from doing certain things and compels us to do other things. The inclination of your carnal self is to go that direction, but the love of Christ stops you in your tracks and moves you toward the opposite direction. And the direction of a Christ-controlled ministry is toward the glory of God and the benefit of his people.

Yet we should not see this controlling power over us as something that is intrusive and oppressive. It is not something that violates our will. For the Apostle continues that this comes about by a conclusion we have made. It is a conviction burned deeply in the heart. We are fully convinced that this one Christ “has died for all, therefore all have died; is the one that died for all”. This brings us to the next heading.

2.   Our Union with Christ in His Death: Mystical Yet Real

What is being referred to here is that biblical doctrine we call Union with Christ. This could be defined as: “The sharing of believers in the life of Jesus Christ by faith, allowing them to share in all the benefits and riches that result from his person and work”<4> .  It has four different aspects::

•  We are in Christ
•  Christ is in us
• We are like Christ, and
• We are with Christ  <5>

All of these aspects have one thing in common: they are all mystical— a spiritual reality not apparent to the senses. Yet it is factual, it is real because the Bible says so. So real is this that when the believers are persecuted, Christ is also persecuted (Acts 9:4-5).

Back to our passage, Paul says that he is thoroughly convinced that in the death of one (Christ), all died (cf. Rom. 6:1-4). Another way of putting this is the phrase “dying to self” (Rom. 6:6). As we die to self, pride dies. The flesh dies. Insincerity dies. This explains why Paul does ministry very differently from the way of the false apostles in Corinth. They are still motivated by self-exaltation and self-promotion. No doubt the old Pharisee in Paul could have had stood toe-to-toe with their ways. But that old Pharisee in Paul is dead because Christ has died. Thus, the ministry of the New Paul is characterized by being God-centered and people-oriented. And these should characterize our ministries too.

We can view this clearer as we move into the final heading of the message.

3. Living for Christ: The Purpose of Our Union with Him in His Death

Here in verse 15, Paul repeats the proposition that Christ died for all. What is new here is that he adds a purpose clause: “so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.”

There are two ways to live. You either live for your own selfish desires or you live for the one who died for you. But the second way to live is available only for those who are in union with Christ in his death. We therefore cannot understate the importance of conversion and regeneration. Only God can convert a soul. Only God can regenerate a heart. There is no union with Christ without conversion and regeneration.

Since there are two ways to live, there are also two ways of doing ministry. These are in sharp contrast against each other. One way of doing ministry is for the self. It promotes self. It exalts self. Its focus is on the self. In contrast, biblical ministry promotes Christ. It exalts Christ. Its focus is on Christ for this is the very purpose of the death of Christ—so that the worker could no longer live for himself but for him who died for him. Elsewhere, Paul puts it this way: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20)

CONCLUSION

Close to 2,000 years after the Apostle Paul, the temptation to do ministry the wrong way has remained strong. It is a pitfall too attractive to the weak flesh. The call is to remain steadfast in practicing authentic Christian ministry. This is built on the sure foundation of Christ’s sacrificial love that has rendered us dead to the phony ways of doing ministry. Let this be the controlling power for everything we think and do both in life and ministry.

FOOTNOTES

<1> Fredrick Long, II Corinthians: A Handbook on the Greek Text (Baylor University Press, 2015)

<2> Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Nida; Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (United Bible Societies, 1996)

<3> George H. Guthrie; 2 Corinthians (BECNT, 2015)

<4> Dictionary of Bible Themes (Manser, McGrath, Packer, and Wiseman, editors)

<5> Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 2nd edition

The Superabundance of Grace in Jesus

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:16-17 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The Law that was given through Moses is good. The Apostle Paul affirms this in 1 Tim. 1:8: “the law is good if one uses it properly” (NIV). And again in Rom. 7:12 he wrote, “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous, and good.” In the law, “God graciously revealed his character and righteous requirements..." (ESV Study Bible, p. 2190). If it is not good, the psalmist would not have said “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psa. 119:97)

However, even good things must be replaced if there are better things, specially when what is available is better by a great distance. The Word who was with God from the beginning was made flesh and dwelt among us. This event in history "marked the final, definitive revelation of God's grace and truth." (ESV Study Bible, ibid). Not only is Jesus superior to Moses through whom the law came, he is also superior to the patriarchs, through whom the nation of Israel was called (John 8:53). On top of that, he is superior over all the angels according to the Book of Hebrews.

With the fullness of this revelation, it is written here in verse 16 that we are given grace upon grace. There may be some differences in how the translators put this (see NIV 2011 and ESV’s footnote) but I think the main point is clear. This is the main point: in Jesus, we have arrived at the climax of God's progressive revelation of his saving grace. The law given through Moses was good, yet Jesus is better and it is superior by a great distance. And because it is superior by a great distance, the amount grace that is given to us comes with a far greater quantity. In Jesus, there is grace for those who believe in immeasurable abundance.

Brothers and sisters, how could you be aware of this superabundance of grace fail to worship God? How could anyone with an awareness of this inexhaustible fountain fail to exalt his name. Let the redeemed rise up and worship the Lord!

Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

 

in whom [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3 ESV)

From the free stock images of Pixabay

The Old Testament reports about Solomon’s extraordinary knowledge and wisdom that people from distant nations came to visit and listen. Kings from faraway lands sent emissaries. Since those were pagans, they have had minimal knowledge the One True God. Yet somehow they valued knowledge and wisdom. Even with its preoccupation with material treasures, the world recognizes that knowledge and wisdom are desirable things.

The ultimate treasury of knowledge and wisdom according to Colossians 2:3 is Christ. Christ is the treasury, the storehouse, the vault of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The problem with the unbelieving world is this: though they acknowledge that knowledge and wisdom are valuable enough to be sought and stored up, they refuse to come to the ultimate source— Jesus Christ. Jesus rebuked the unbelieving scribes and Pharisees by pointing out that the Queen of the South came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon yet unbelievers reject the wisdom of Jesus when in fact he is greater than Solomon! (Luke 11:31)

Brothers and sisters, we may not be knowledgeable and wise according to the world’s standards. We may not have the intellectual sharpness they possess. We may not have reached the level of educational training that they reached. We may not have the academic accolades that they have received. If you are in Christ, God has opened the vault. The treasury of knowledge and wisdom is is accessible to the believer. Instructed by the word of God and guided by the Spirit, we have the mind of Christ.

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Three Big Things

This morning I just wanna give three things that make God worthy of our praise and worship. Of course, anyone can easily add some other things to this list. As it has been said, at any given moment one can enumerate 10,000 reasons to bless the Lord! Yet the three things in my list are really, really big ones. Without further delay, here are three big things that make God worthy of our praise and worship:

1^st, The Excellence of His Character and Attributes- 1 Chronicles 16:29 exhorts us, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name”. His name refers to all he is as a personal being. His excellencies deserve nothing less than all glory. It is but proper to ascribe all that glory because it is due. Just to name a few of his excellencies: eternality, aseity, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, omnisapience, immutability, truthfulness, faithfulness, goodness, love, mercy, grace, holiness and righteousness. All these things together manifest his matchless splendor.

2^nd, The Mere Fact that He is Our Creator- We are not self-existent. Someone else brought us into existence. He is Creator and we are mere creatures. That fact alone is sufficient enough for us to adore and serve him. Psalm 95:6, "let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!". In Psalm 100, one of the reasons given why we should serve him with gladness is because “It is he who made us” (v. 2). Lastly, the 24 elders in Revelation 4 fall down before God as they cast their crowns and utter these words of praise:

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (v.11)

3^rd, The Provision of Redemption through His Son- We were born in sin. We were by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:3). We were utterly powerless to save ourselves. And God has no obligation to provide for us redemption— but he did! The cost for doing so is the life of his Beloved Son— a price of matchless value. He has now required that all acknowledgment of his worthiness do so in a Christ-centered manner. The Father has exalted his Son and "bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). And in the fifth chapter of Revelation, the one seated on the throne holds a scroll sealed with seven seals. Yet it only made the Apostle John weep for no one was found worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. He was weeping intensely until one of the elders comforted him with the assurance that someone is worthy. It is none other than the conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He is worthy because he was slain, and by his blood ransomed people from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

These things brothers and sisters are big reasons for us to worship God in service and adoration. Let every worshiper rise up. Let us all together praise and worship God.

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Gloria in Excelsis Deo

 “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:14 ESV

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In a region near Jerusalem where the temple stood and where sacrifices were made, there was a sure market for the shepherds’ product. It’s the ordinary thing they do to earn a living. It was supposed to be just an ordinary night in the life of a shepherd; just another day in the office.

Yet the story is familiar to all of us. What was supposed to be an ordinary night turned out to be extraordinary— the most special night of all in their whole lives.

An angel of the Lord suddenly appeared with the Lord’s Shekinah— a light so bright and so blinding that no man can take it. And just like any other sinner who saw this glory in the biblical accounts, they were stricken with great fear. Any mortal sinner, just like Isaiah, would think and feel that he is doomed upon seeing such display of glory.

What a relief they must have felt when the angel assured them that they have nothing to fear. The angel came not for the purpose of bringing judgment but to proclaim good news that brings great joy: it is the birth of the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord— in the City of David.

After giving the two-fold identifying marks of the baby namely being wrapped tightly in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, there suddenly appeared a multitude of angels. And so from one angel appearing, its now a battalion of angels! They proclaimed praise to God with words which the Latin-speaking church would later call (and sing) as the “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”.

The content of Gloria in Excelsis Deo is two-fold.

• First, the incarnation is for the glory of God who resides in heaven (“in the highest”). The accomplishment of Jesus’ mission brings glory to his Father.

• Second, the incarnation brings peace on earth but not in a universal sense, but only “among those with whom he is pleased!”. In the Greek text, the phrase is ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας which is closely related to another concept taught elsewhere in the Bible: “God’s elect” or the chosen ones.

This was certainly true in the case of these shepherds. There were many prominent people in that region, but God has chosen the lowly shepherds to be the first visitors of the newborn king.

The same truth still stands today. Out of all the billions of people celebrating Christmas, only are few are given the privilege to truly know the birthday celebrant. We get to know the birthday celebrant only by grace. And because it is only by grace, the glory belongs not to us but unto the Father who is in the highest place.

Huwag Kang Magnanakaw (Part 09: Etikang Kristiyano Para sa Karaniwang Tao)

Sa pagtatapos ng unang taon ng operasyon, nagkaroon ng pagtutuos (audit) ang isang hotel. Ilan sa mga bagay na nawawala ay ang mga sumusunod: humigit-kumulang 38,000 na kutsara, humigit kumulang 350 na sisidlan ng kape, at ito ang pinakamatindi— 100 sipi ng mga biblia! Isang kaibigan mula sa Gideons International ang nagbigay-kumpirmasyon na nangyayari nga ito kahit pa may nakaimprenta na “property of Gideons International; do not remove from room” sa balat ng mga biblia. Tiyak kong hindi naman ito ikinagagalit ng organisasyon. Dahil ministry talaga nila ang pag-imprenta at pagpapakalat ng biblia, matutuwa pa sila kung mayroong mga tao na interesado sa salita ng Diyos. Ngunit ang punto ay maraming mga tao ang nangunguha ng pag-aari ng iba.

Bakit ka nagsasara ng pinto at bintana kung aalis ka at iiwanang walang bantay ang bahay? Ano ang posibleng mangyari kung iiwanan mo ang iyong motorsiklo kasama ang susi nito sa kalye? Bakit ang mga sari-sari store, may grills at screen at may maliit lamang na lagusan na pag-aabutan ng binibili at pambayad? Batid nating lahat na ang pagnanakaw ay laganap— isang patunay ng kasamaan ng puso ng tao (Gen. 8:21; Psa. 14:1-3).

Ang pagkalaganap nito ay makikita rin sa yaman ng bokabularyo na naglalarawan sa iba't ibang uri ng pagnanakaw: shoplifting, robbery, burglary, hijacking, holdup, salisi, budol-budol, pilferage, kupit, pandurukot, embezzlement (dispalko), malversation, plunder— kulang na kulang pa ang mga salitang ito sa dami ng paraan ng pagnanakaw.

Noon pa man ay kinasusuklaman na ng Diyos ang pandaraya sa timbangan (Pro. 11:1). At sa iba na tama ang timbangan, dinadaya ang mamimili sa ibang paraan. Malingat ka lang ng kaunti ay isisingit ng tindera ang malaking piraso ng taba, buto, balat na ubod ng kunat o mga panindang bilasa. May false advertising at hindi pagbibigay ng nararapat sa halagang ibinayad (value). Sa kanyang aklat na Business for the Glory of God, ito ang sinabi ng Wayne Grudem: "by giving us the ability to buy and sell, God has given us a wonderful mechanism through which we can do good for each other... We can honestly see buying and selling as one means of loving our neighbor as ourself."

Sa trabaho, kahit hindi ka nag-uuwi ni isang paper clip o ni isang piraso ng bond paper kung hindi ka nagtatrabaho ng maayos, ninanakawan mo ang nagpapasuweldo sa iyo. Ang prinsipyong “The worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7; 1 Tim. 5:18b) ay kakambal ng prinsipyong “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading the grain” (1 Tim. 5:18a). Ang baka ay kailangang magtrabaho upang maging karapat-dapat sa damo at ang manggagawa ay kailangang magbanat ng buto upang maging karapat-dapat sa sahod.

Subukan mong halughugin ang mga kasangkapan at gamit sa iyong tahanan. May nakita ka bang pag-aari ng iba? Paano napunta sa iyo? Ikaw ba ay humiram mula sa iba at hindi mo na ibinalik? O baka naman sa tagal na sa iyo ng "hiniram" mo ay inangkin mo na? Sadyang may mga tao na humihiram at ito ay hiram forever!

Nakakabahala ang dami ng mga parinig sa social media ng mga taong inutangan at hindi binayaran. Maaaring ang iba dito ay talagang salat at walang pambayad nais man nilang magbayad. Ngunit sadyang may mga tao rin na walang kabalak-balak magbayad ng utang. Ang habilin ng Apostol Pablo, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another” (Rom. 13:8a NIV).

Kung lahat ng paraan ng pagnanakaw ay ating iisa-isahin, baka hindi tayo matatapos. Kaya tatapusin na lang natin ito sa pagbibigay ng ilang prinsipyo:

Unang prinsipyo, biblikal ang karapatang magmay-ari

Sa utos pa lang na “You shall not steal” (Exo. 20:15) ay meron ng pagpapalagay (presupposed) na ang tao ay may karapatang magmay-ari. Sa Pentateuch o sa naunang limang aklat ng biblia, ang salitang ito ay ginamit upang tukuyin ang pagnanakaw ni Rachel sa mga diyus-diyusan ng kanyang ama (Gen. 31:19). Pag-aari ni Laban ang mga iyon. Ito rin ang salitang ginamit ng mga kapatid ni Joseph ng kanilang itanggi na ninakaw nila ang kopang pag-aari ng punong ministro ng Ehipto (Gen. 44:8). Sa Exo. 22:1, ang salita ay ginamit upang tukuyin ang pagkuha sa baka o tupa na pag-aari ng iba. Samakatuwid, ang bokabularyo ng Pentateuch ay kumikilala sa karapatan ng iba na magmay-ari.

Ikalawang prinsipyo, ang lahat ng pag-aari natin ay bigay at ipinagkatiwala ng Diyos

Hindi lang ang karapatang magmay-ari ang galing sa Diyos; sa kanya rin galing ang lahat ng ating mga tinatamasa. <1> Sa sinambit ni Job na "The LORD gave and the Lord has taken away" (Job 1:21), ito ay pagkilala na ang dati niyang kasaganaan pati na rin ang paglaho nito ay nasa pasya ng Makapangyarihang Diyos. Sa dulo ay pinagpala ulit ng Diyos si Job ng higit sa dati (Job 42:12). <2> Noong siya ay tatawid na muli sa Jordan, naalala ni Jacob na noong una siyang tumawid doon ay isang tungkod lang ang kanyang dala-dala. Ngunit sa ikalawang pagkakataon ng kanyang pagtawid ay dalawang pulutong na ang kanyang dala-dala kasama ang kanyang pamilya, mga lingkod, at napakaraming mga alagang hayop. Kinilala niya na ang kanyang kasaganaan ay dahil sa kagandahang-loob at katapatan ng kanyang Diyos (Gen. 32:10). <3> Karaniwang ugali ng makasalanang tao na kapag siya ay umaasenso ay kanyang aakalain na ang kanyang kasaganaan ay bunga ng kanyang sariling kakayahan at sikap. Bago pa man makarating sa Lupang Pangako ang mga Israelita ay may paunang bilin na si Moises. Kapag nadoon na sila at nagkaroonon ng magagandang bahay, maraming mga hayop, ginto at pilak, ang panganib ay baka malimot nila ang Panginoon at magmalaki sa pagsabing “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” (Deut. 8:11-17; cf. Prov. 30:9a). Kaya ang paalala ni Moises, “remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. . .” (Deu. 8:18).

Samakatuwid, hindi lamang ang ninanakawan ang nalalapastangan kundi pati ang nagbigay nito sa kanya. Kung ang payong na bigay ko kay Kim ay nanakawin ng iba, hindi lang si Kim ang masasaktan kundi pati ako na pumili ng payong na iyon para kay Kim. Gayundin naman, kapag ninakaw mo ang alagang kambing ni Mang Carding, hindi lang si Mang Carding ang nilapastangan mo kundi pati ang Diyos na nagkaloob nito sa kanya.

Ikaapat na prinsipyo, kadalasang kalakip ng pagnanakaw ang iba pang mga kasalanan tilad ng kawalang pananampalataya at kasakiman.

<i> Kawalang pananampalaya. Ipinapakita nito na hindi ka naniniwala sa isang Diyos na pumupuno sa bawat pangangailangan ng kanyang mga tagasunod ayon sa yaman ng kanyang kaluwalhatian kay Hesus (Phil. 4:19). Ang magnanakaw na idinadahilan ang gutom niya at ng kanyang pamilya ay hindi naniniwala na ang Diyos na nagpapakain ng mga ibon sa himpapawid ay siya ring Ama na nagpapakain sa kanyang mga anak (Matt. 5:26). Tuturuan ba niya tayong manalangin ng “Bigyan mo kami ng aming pagkain sa araw-araw” (Matt. 6:11) at hindi tutugunin iyon?

<ii> Kasakiman (Greed). Hindi lahat ng nagnanakaw ay gutom o salat sa buhay. Sa isang bagong-bagong artikulong inilathala sa Philippine Star, giniba ng kolumnistang si Jarius Bondoc ang haka-haka na hindi nagnanakaw ang mga mayayaman. Nabanggit doon ang mga political dynasties ng ating bansa na nagpapakasasa sa pork barrel. Nabanggit rin doon ang ilang mga diktador sa modernong daigdig na nagkamal ng nakakalulang mga halaga ng ill-gotten wealth. Syempre hindi nagpaiwan ang Pilipinas dahil mayroon sa kasaysayan natin ng conjugal dictatorship nina William Saunders at Jane Ryan (a.k.a. Ferdinand at Imelda). Salungat sa nagkalat na propaganda sa internet na galing daw umano sa legal na paraan ang kanilang yaman, pitong milyong piso lang ang idineklara nilang yaman sa kanilang SALN sa mga panahon na iyon— halagang malayo sa kanilang maluhong pamumuhay.

May malapit na kaugnayan ang pagnanakaw at kasakiman, kaya siguro sa listahan ni Pablo ng mga taong hindi magmamana ng kaharian ng Diyos ay magkasunod ang magnanakaw at ang sakim (1 Cor. 6:10). “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed”, ika ng Panginoong Hesus (Luke 12:15a). Sa pagkakasabi niya dito ay malinaw na kailangan ng pag-iingat at pagmamatyag sa ating sariling makasalanang puso. Ang kasakiman ay hindi lamang makikita sa mga pulitiko o sa rich and famous. Ito ay maaaring sumibol sa puso nating lahat. Pagpapatuloy ni Hesus, “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15b). Ito ang susi laban sa kasakiman— ang kaalaman na ang buhay ng tao ay wala sa dami ng ari-arian. Bagkus, ang kasiyahan sa buhay ay bumubukal mula sa pagkabatid na ikaw ay nasa panig ng Diyos. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)

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Paglinang ng Isang Pusong Monogamous; Part 02: Huwag Kang Mangangalunya (Part 08: Etikang Kristiyano Para sa Karaniwang Tao)

Image by Olessya; freely available at Pixabay

Napatunayan natin mula sa nakaraang paskil na ang kalooban talaga ng Manlilikha sa pag-aasawa ay monogamy o ang pagkakaroon ng isa lamang na kabiyak. Samakatuwid, imoral ang maghangad ng karagdagang karelasyon kung ikaw ay may kapareha na. Imoral rin para sa isang tao ang paghahangad na makarelasyon ang isang taong may katipan na. Winakasan ko ang paskil na iyon sa paggiit na hindi sapat ang pagiging legally monogamous; ang kalooban ng Diyos ay monogamous ka rin sa puso at isip. Wika ni Hesus: “Narinig ninyo na sinabi, ‘Huwag kang mangangalunya.’ Ngunit sinasabi ko sa inyo, na ang bawat tumitingin sa isang babae na may pagnanasa ay nagkasala na sa kanya ng pangangalunya sa kanyang puso” (Mat. 5:27-28 AB 2001). Hindi lang ang ating mga panlabas na ikinikilos ang mahalaga kay Yahweh. Maaaring marangal kang tignan at wasto ang bawat kilos; magaling! Sapat na yan sa mata ng kapwa-tao. Ngunit hindi lamang ang nasa labas ang nakikita ng Diyos kundi pati ang nasa puso at isip (1 Sam. 16:7). Hindi sapat na walang kahalayan/kabastusan sa iyong pananalita— dapat ay maging katanggap-tanggap rin sa Diyos ang mga pinagbubulayan ng iyong puso. Hindi sapat na malinis ang iyong mga kamay sa pagsamba sa burol ng Panginoon— dapat ay dalisay rin ang iyong puso (Psa. 24:3-4).

Sa loob nagsisimula ang lahat— the inner man. Kaya naman sa Kawikaan 4:23, ang bilin ng pantas sa kanyang anak ay ingatan ang “puso” (MBB 2012) o “isipan” (ASD 2015) "sapagkat mula rito'y dumadaloy ang mga bukal ng buhay" (AB 2001). Ang puso/isip ang siyang bukal ng ating pamumuhay. Kaya sa paskil na ito ay maghahain ako ng mga dapat alalahanin— mga puntong teoritikal na huhubog sa puso at isip at makakatulong sa paglinang ng isang monogamous heart.

Alalahanin na monogamy talaga ang disenyo ng Manlilikha- Ito ay nahahayag sa Genesis 1-2. Kung tatanggihan ng tao ang kaayusang mula sa Diyos (divine order), tiyak na kabaligtaran ang mangyayari— at ang kasalungat ng kaayusan ay kaguluhan (order vs. confusion). Alalahanin na siya ay Diyos ng kaayusan, hindi kaguluhan (1 Cor. 14:33). Sa perpektong disenyo ng Diyos, ang lalaki at ang babae ay nagiging isang laman. Kung may third party, ito ay isang manghihimasok (intruder) sa orihinal na disenyo ng Diyos— at kapag may manghihimasok, nariyan ang kaguluhan.

Alalahanin na kapag may pangangalunya, nasisira ang pagtitiwala ng kabiyak- Sa Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas, ang betrayal of public trust ay isang lehitimong dahilan ng impeachment. Ganun din sa mag-asawa— ang pangangalunya ay betrayal of marital trust (at ito ay lehitimong dahilan ng paghihiwalay, Matt. 5:32). Ito ay isang malalang paglabag sa sumpa at pangakong magiging tapat habang-buhay. Kahit hindi ka pisikal na nambubugbog o nananakit ng asawa, ang pagtataksil sa sumpaan ay nagdudulot ng mga mental at emosyonal na sugat na matagal bago maghilom. At hindi lang ang asawa ang nasasaktan, pati na rin mga anak. Mahihirapan silang irespeto ang magulang na nangalunya.

Alalahanin na ang kultura ng pangangalunya ay may masamang epekto sa lipunan- Ang kaayusan ng pamilya ayon sa disenyo ng Diyos ay hindi lamang sa kabutihan ng pamilya kundi para sa buong lipunan. Sa isang bahagi ng blog series na ito kung saan tinalakay ko ang kahalagahan ng pagbibigay-galang sa mga magulang, aking idiniin ang papel ng pamilya bilang basic social unit ng lipunan. Kung mahina ang pamilya, mahina rin ang pamayanan, lipunan, at bansa. Kung walang kaayusan sa mga pamilya, wala ring kaayusan sa lipunan na binubuo ng mga pamilya. Kung sinira mo ang tiwala ng iyong asawa at mga anak, paano magtitiwala sa iyo ang ibang tao? Kung ang taong dapat sana ay minamahal mo higit sa lahat ay iyong pinagtaksilan, kami pa kaya? Kung ang pinangakuan mo ng katapatan at pinag-alayan ng matatamis na tula tulad ng "Susungkitin ko ang mga bituin sa langit at iaalay sa iyo" ay iyong tinalikuran, kami pa kaya na hindi naman ganun kahalaga sa'yo? Kung hindi ka mapagkakatiwalaan sa iyong tahanan, paano ka namin pagkakatiwalaan sa negosyo, pulitika, at iglesya? Kung sa mga pamilya ay laganap ang panlilinlang (deceit) at pagkakanulo (betrayal), ito ay microcosm lamang ng nangyayari sa lipunan.

Alalahanin na binubura ng pangangalunya ang larawan ni Cristo at ng iglesya- Sa layunin ng Diyos, may espesyal na papel ang Christian marriage sa daigdig. Ito ay ang paglalarawan ng relasyon ni Cristo at ng iglesya. Kapag nagtataksil ang lalaki, winawasak nito ang larawan ng isang mapagmahal na Cristo na naghandog ng kanyang buhay para sa iglesya (Eph. 5:25). Hindi larawan ng sakripisyo ang lalaking nakikiapid kundi masagwang larawan ng pagiging makasarili. Kapag ang babae naman ang nagtataksil, binabasag nito ang larawan ng layunin ni Cristo sa pagtutubos niya ng iglesya; sapagkat ang iglesya ay tinubos upang maging malinis at walang kapintasan (Eph. 5:25-27).

Alalahanin na ang adultery ay larawan ng idolatry- Bukod sa binabalukot ng pangangalunya ang dapat nating i-modelo — 'yan ay ang relasyon ni Cristo at ng iglesya— may iba itong inilalarawan. Sa Banal na Kasulatan, ang pagtalikod ng Israel sa pakikipagtipan ng Diyos ay itinuring bilang ispirituwal na pangangalunya. Ang kanilang pagtataksil sa Diyos at pagsamba sa ibang mga diyos tulad nina Baal, Molech, at Astoreth ay spiritual adultery— it is an illustration of idolatry! (Hosea 1-3). Hindi kataka-taka na laganap ang pagtataksil sa Diyos sa isang adulterous generation (Matt. 16:4)

Alalahanin ang iyong obligasyon na parangalan ang Manunubos sa pamamagitan ng iyong katawan- Ang mananampalataya ay tinubos ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng dugo ni Hesus na natigis sa Kalbaryo. Kung ikaw ay tunay na Kristiyano, ang iyong katawan ay templo ng Banal na Espiritu at ikaw ay pag-aari ng Diyos mula ulo hanggang talampakan. Kaya naman dapat lamang na parangalan mo ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng iyong katawan. Ang utos ni Apostol Pablo ay lumayo ka sa seksuwal na imoralidad (1 Cor. 6:18-20).

Alalahanin na mabigat ang babala ng Diyos laban sa seksuwal na imoralidad- Nabanggit ko na rin lang ang utos ni Pablo na layuan ang seksuwal na imoralidad (1 Cor. 6:18), babanggitin ko na rin na ang salitang Griyego sa orihinal na teksto ay porneia— ito ay isang blanket term na sumasaklaw sa lahat ng uri ng kasalanang seksuwal. Ito ay kabilang sa listahan ng mga gawa ng laman at ang sinumang nagpapatuloy sa mga ito ay hindi magmamana ng kaharian ng Diyos (Gal. 5:19-21). Nasa listahan rin ito ng mga dahilan kung bakit paparating ang poot ng Diyos (Col. 3:5). Matapos ituro na pangangalunya ang pagtitig sa babae ng may mahalay na pagnanasa, isinunod agad ni Hesus ang aral tungkol pangangailangang dukutin ang mata kung ito ang sanhi ng pagkakasala. Oo alam nating ito ay hyperbole, ngunit naihatid nito ang punto na kailangan ng mga radikal na hakbang upang makalayo sa mga seksuwal na kasalanan. Sapagkat kalagim-lagim ang dadanasin ng katawang makasalan sa impiyerno (Matt. 5:27-30)

Babanggitin ko na rin ang nais ng puso ko na magsulat Sexual Ethics series, sa ilalim ng mas malaking serye na Etikang Kristiyano Para sa Karaniwang Tao. Napakalawak ng paksa: pre-marital sex, pornography, masturbation, homosexuality, transgenderism, atbp. Hindi ito madali, kaya idalangin ninyo na magkaloob ang aking Diyos ng kakayahang mag-aral, mag-isip, at magsulat pa. Siya rin ang pinagmumulan ng karagdagang enerhiya, karagdagang mga araw, at karagdagang mga hininga. Sa kanya ang luwalhati, ngayon at magpakailanman! Amen.

Talasanggunian

• Grudem, Wayne (2018), Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning (Crossway)
• Mohler, R. Albert (2009), Words From the Fire (Moody Publishers)
• Mounce, William; Greek Dictionary < https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary >