Living under borrowed 'light'

Today on the news was the cancellation of Lady Gaga's concert in Indonesia after threats from muslims in the country opposing Lady Gaga's widely known explicit values(1).

It got me thinking: where were the Christians in the story? And why did not this uproar also happen in Christian-based countries? Shouldn't they have shared the same values in opposing the entertainment with declining social and moral values?

Have the believers become lazy? Have they finally taken the idea of "hate the sin, love the sinner" a few steps too far and forget to stand up to what they believe in? Have they finally sinked into an excuse that Jesus could have stopped it if he wanted to and therefore they don't have to do anything else to prevent it?

Have we been living under borrowed 'light' of other people instead of shining our own light? Have we fooled ourselves into thinking that the idea of "faith without action is useless" doesn't apply to a circumstance like this? Is it wrong to "overturn the tables" just like Jesus did with those of moneychangers on the temple courts(2)?

I am drawn to Jesus' words in Matthew 24: "At (the end of age) many will turn away from the faith... and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."(3)

It is quick for us as believers to take these verses and say that it is just part of the sign of the end times when any of these degradations of godly values appear. However, most of us fail to reflect on a verse right above these verses: that we "will be hated by all nations because of (Jesus)."(4) Why should we not try to make this a reality? Why are we so afraid of being hated by others because of our love towards Him who love this world so much he was willing to pay it with His own blood?

Why can't we be bold? Have we skipped the next verse in the chapter which states that "the one who stands firm to the end will be saved"(5)? Or should we really say that this whole chapter is out of context in regards to the news?

Or can we answer these questions by saying that what we hear on the news was the results of our prayers? That God has answered our cry for holiness and sent other people to act on our behalf instead of calling his own children to do it? How confident can we draw this conclusion in an absence of concrete explanation?

Or to the contrary, am I merely a victim of the fast-paced world we live in and think that if we are to make an impact it has to be right here and right now? Has the idea of "instant results" polluted the arguments that I made for this case?

I can only utter more and more questions as it looks like I as believer for once have run out of excuses to answer all of them.

1) http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/lady-gaga-cancels-indonesia-concert-after-threats-from-islamic-hardliners/story-e6frfn09-1226368434793
2) Matthew 21:12
3) Matthew 24:10-12
4) Matthew 24:9
5) Matthew 24:13

Salt and Light Revisited

There have been many discussions, thoughts and ideas about salt and light, but the uncovering of salt and light from Pastor Frengky Utana was one great revelation that takes it to a whole new level.

Salt needs to come at the right amount in order for food to become delicious. When there is not enough salt in the food, people will quickly notice and say "there is not enough salt in this food". The same happens when there's too much salt in the food, in which they will say "there is too much salt in this food."

However, when applied at the right amount, the praise will go towards the food and the chef who cooks the food, but not the salt.

The same goes with light. People will immediately comment if the light is too dim or too bright, but when it is of the right brightness, the focus will not be on the light but rather on the subject that the light shines on.

Many believers have mistakenly led to believe that to become an impact to the world they live in, they have to be noticeable, and that they need to occupy the spotlight in order for the world to notice how great their God is.

Jesus suggested otherwise when he asked us to become salt and light. Our impact comes by applying ourselves on the world that needs our salt and light -- and when we apply it correctly, the acknowledgement will not be directed towards us but towards the world that God loved so much that we unreservedly gave his only Son.