Supper Bowl Sunday!

Many of us are planning to stay home and ready to scream for their team in front of the Television sets. Over 90 millions people are going to view the Supper Bowl XVII this coming Sunday after noon. This is a must see TV event for the culture of United States. If you are not interested in this Supper Bowl game, you will find yourself as if, you are primitive and a little bit off from society. You will notice yourself more often, especially when people at office places, markets or schools, start talking about their favorite teams and games; you are like “no idea” guy among them.

About Supper Bowl; should we, as Christians, have supper bowl party at the church? Some says it would be opportunity to bring people to church. Other says that it is idolatry thing for Christian to endorse such game at church. What is your intake?

I heard this topic was debated on the radio talk show recently. Some Pastors are doing supper bowl Sunday worship. Meanwhile, others are criticizing them as people who make the place of worship as a den of thief.
There are many ways of justification that they make themselves for whatever position they take. Either you are for the supper bowl or the so called “conservative” You have your reasons why you choose this or that way.

If you are for the Supper Bowl party at church, your reasons may be like these;
1. Supper Bowl is an opportunity to reaching out the outsiders.
2. It will be alright for a Christian to enjoy the game at church.
3. It is a part of American culture that everyone participates.

If you are against the Supper Bowl party at church, your reasons may be like these;
1. House of God, the church should be separated from secular world’s affairs.
2. Christians should not be over emphasis on games; anything more is idolatry.
3. It is bad testimony to others if we endorse supper bowl in the church.

Well, both sides are able to support from the Scripture point of view. For the Supper Bowl party people, they said, Paul the apostle encourages us to be able to identify with the people “to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” (1Cor.9:22). On the other hand, Christians are to be distinguishable themselves from the world, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John.2:15); “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” (2Cor.6:17). How can we understand in this situation?

My final thought on this matter is this; first of all, we are to be well balance in our judgment. Either way we choose, we are to give account to God (Rom.14:12; Heb.4:13). We are to glorify God in all that we do “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Cor.10:31).

There are three ways that Church must face the cultures.
1. By ignoring the cultures: which mean Christian barricade themselves from the world. (Wrong thing is that we are totally relinquish the teaching of Jesus, to be salt and light to the world. We can not do that by staying away or ignoring people.)
2. By duplicating the cultures: This means becoming oneness with the world. (Wrong thing is that compromising Christian values and instead of influencing the world but rather influenced by them.)
3. By redeeming the cultures: which means bring cultures into the truth of God. (This is right thing to do; let the Bible speaks into the cultures and let the cultures be confirmed into God’s Word.)

Self defense lesson?

True that we are to be good steward of our processions, time, etc… including our body. Thus we must be responsible and right to protect ourselves. Self defense means to me is just being responsible. But I did not mean that you should go buy weapons and over zealous our selves.

Jesus indeed asked disciples to carry weapons. However, He did not tell the intent of it. The disciples were assuming that it must be for the enemies (in this case for the high priest soldiers). The difficulty about this text is that why Jesus still rebukes Peter when he uses the sword? Jesus said that those who use sword will die by the sword (Matt.26:52). Meanwhile, disciples asked Jesus before they strike one of the soldiers whether they should use the swords (v.49). Yes, Peter went ahead before Jesus even replied. Then Jesus stopped Peter. Jesus asked to bring sword and He rebuked when they used the sword. How can we understand Him?

This text (Luke 22:35-38) do not teach about self defense at all. Disciples assumed that it was for self defense lesson, just like they miss-understood Jesus when he warned them about Pharisees’ doctrine. (Matt. 16:11; “beware of the leaven of the Pharisee and Sadducee.”)

Moreover, Jesus was keep telling the disciples to watch and pray so that they may not fall into temptation. Temptation like compromising faith; when they rejected the Son of God on the way of cross, Peter denied Christ before rooster crow (v.31), etc… They were tempted to abundant God (Master) or their faith when trial came. On the other hand, Jesus teaches us to rely on God with prayer when hardship come not self defense. In reality, our self defense is not good enough to fight back or "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph.6:12).

Therefore, this text is about mission work of God. When you look at context, Jesus referred back to the “two by two” evangelism trip of disciples (Luke 10:1-4). Before, Jesus told them not to bring any items such as money bag, knapsack, or sandals for the trip but now He said bring those items pulse to bring sword. It is to emphasize the seriousness of mission work which is at hand. Beside, Jesus their Master is going to be taken away from disciples. Now they need to be supported or led by themselves in the mission work. It can even suggest that this day onward the job going to be difficult and prolong. It is harder for the disciples to follow Jesus compare to previous experiences.

Hope this will bring us into the realization of our dependency upon God's protection and guidance in our daily life.

Jump in the Pool of Discussion

Tell me, when Jesus said to Peter and other disciples that they should bring weapon (Luke 22:38), did Jesus teach us "self Defense" lesson? Another word, can Christian practice self defense when God ask us to trust Him in every ways of our lives? Leave me your thoughts in comments section.

The Answer

Thanks for those who play this Q & A game. The answer is "all of the above."
Indeed, Judas Iscariot was greedy with money. Even when a woman poured expensive oil on Jesus, Judas was interrupting her not to waste it. For he wanted to steal it later. (John 12:4-6) Talk about money! Money! He also hated Jesus, just he being pointed out as betrayer at the last supper, obviously. (Matt. 26:21-25) He was also unsaved; Jesus said better for him not to be born (Matt. 26:24). In fact Scripture said about him as devil has entered in his heart. (John 13:2)

Happy Holiday! or Merry Christmas!

Happy Holiday! Or Merry Christmas! Which type of greeting do you use when you greet someone in this season? I realized that in every public television or social gathering people are using “Happy Holiday!” in their greetings. I just wonder how I should greet someone when I meet them during this season. I like to say, “Merry Christmas!” how nice. But some does not like this kind of greeting. The expression of their faces is changed the moment they hear “Merry Christmas!” Why?
You may know the answer. It is simply “Christ” was in the middle of it. Some say that “it is politically incorrect.” For those who reject Christ, it is definitely offensive for them to hear, “Merry Christmas!” In the news, an Atheist is undermining these words; “one nation under God” and “in God we trust.” They want God to be totally out of picture. In Scripture, Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart there is no God.” What a picture God painted. The mercy of God is enduring. Even though they refuse Him, yet He sustains life for them. God wake them up every morning yet they wake up and say, “There is no God” for another day.
So let us say, “Merry Christmas!” with heart full of praise and glory for our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus is the reason for this season. May we all share this good news of Jesus Christ to our love ones. May those who can’t see God shall see His light and truth. Let them be merry for this very reason, Christmas.