Saturday, April 23, 2011
What makes the Holy Week holy?
Born different from everyone, I grew up spending what others call as Lenten Season with the people in the church. Once a year, we dedicate time solely for our outdoor fellowship, an activity somewhat favorable to me ─ swimming! The day started with our pastor’s speech reminding us of God’s greatness that we were able to celebrate a day unique from the world’s practice.
Seeing those images ever since I was young always scares me like any other horror emblem in the movies. Raised in a clan of conservative Bible-believer Baptists, we strictly oppose embroiling of graven representation in our faith. As stated in John 4:24, “God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” I do respect other’s diverse spiritual outlook, but I pay higher regard for what the Bible teaches ─ “No to GRAVEN images.” My head shakes in pity to them who hurt themselves, believing God is glorified and their sins, absolved. Jesus once died for His fold’s salvation and having said, “It is FINISHED” defies any other form of reenactment of His death in exchange to the devotees’ make-believe atonement of sin. God being the sole author of salvation needs not anybody’s help to materialize His plans; in fact, we are the ones who badly need a Saviour. When God said, “I am the way...” He truly means there is no other way apart from Him to be saved.
I am no extraordinary creature. Like everyone, I have my own weaknesses too ─ I lie, I kill people in my mind, I disobey my parents, I keep anger and withhold forgiveness. Akin to a needy beggar, the Lord bestowed undeserved favor in me. Today, in the midst of the raging tradition, I am most thankful to define myself as a sinner saved by grace.
More than just witnessing how people highlight a manmade holiness on Holy Week, I look back at the price God has paid for my sins ─ His precious blood, His life. It is not the try to pay back equally His goodness that makes Holy Week or the years following holy ─ living life under His will and glory, that is.
Born different from everyone, I grew up spending what others call as Lenten Season with the people in the church. Once a year, we dedicate time solely for our outdoor fellowship, an activity somewhat favorable to me ─ swimming! The day started with our pastor’s speech reminding us of God’s greatness that we were able to celebrate a day unique from the world’s practice.
Seeing those images ever since I was young always scares me like any other horror emblem in the movies. Raised in a clan of conservative Bible-believer Baptists, we strictly oppose embroiling of graven representation in our faith. As stated in John 4:24, “God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” I do respect other’s diverse spiritual outlook, but I pay higher regard for what the Bible teaches ─ “No to GRAVEN images.” My head shakes in pity to them who hurt themselves, believing God is glorified and their sins, absolved. Jesus once died for His fold’s salvation and having said, “It is FINISHED” defies any other form of reenactment of His death in exchange to the devotees’ make-believe atonement of sin. God being the sole author of salvation needs not anybody’s help to materialize His plans; in fact, we are the ones who badly need a Saviour. When God said, “I am the way...” He truly means there is no other way apart from Him to be saved.
I am no extraordinary creature. Like everyone, I have my own weaknesses too ─ I lie, I kill people in my mind, I disobey my parents, I keep anger and withhold forgiveness. Akin to a needy beggar, the Lord bestowed undeserved favor in me. Today, in the midst of the raging tradition, I am most thankful to define myself as a sinner saved by grace.
More than just witnessing how people highlight a manmade holiness on Holy Week, I look back at the price God has paid for my sins ─ His precious blood, His life. It is not the try to pay back equally His goodness that makes Holy Week or the years following holy ─ living life under His will and glory, that is.
Posted in: biblical truth,personal perspectives
0 comments:
Post a Comment