I am thinking about this question: “What does it take to be a good Christian?”
Perhaps some answers will be:
A good Christian worships God every Sunday in worship service.
A good Christian does his daily devotion.
A good Christian talks to others about Christ regularly.
A good Christian gives his tithes.
…
If you ask the Lord Jesus Christ this question, what will HIS answer be?
In today’s Daily Bread’s devotion on Matt 5:3-12
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/08/21/devotion.aspx
Jesus’ answers would be: “your attitude towards God and towards people” Hence we call this passage the Be-attitude.
Our attitude towards God:
(1) poor in spirit v3
(2) mourn v4
(3) humble v5
(4) desire to get right with God v6
(5) purity v8
Our attitude towards people:
(1) humble v5
(2) doing what is right – morally and integrity v6
(3) merciful v7,
(4) purity v8
(5) peacemaker v9
Poor in spirit – seeing our spiritual situation as what God would see (we are spiritual bankrupt in God’s sight, Isa 64:6)
Mourn – to mourn for our sins and sinful nature.
Once we are able to see ourselves just as spiritually bankrupt and as sinful as anybody else, no matter how much I know the Bible, how much tithes I give, or how regular I come for Sunday worship service, then my attitude towards the common people will be more amicable and friendly.
Many months ago, my company employed a part-time middle age Indian man as a cleaner. He either comes to work after office hour or very early in the morning before anybody comes to the office. From the look, I suspect he was an ex-prisoner, with tattoo all over his hands (and body also?). He doesn’t talk to us. He just does his work and went off.
When he first came to work one late evening, I was perhaps the only one to greet him, he appeared surprised. Usually, people keep away from such a person. Now, when he sees me, he would smile a bit.
Likewise, there is the Ah Soh (auntie) who cleans the pantry and clears the office's rooms. Showing some respect to such people by greeting them daily help to build our way of getting along with people
It is not the things we do that make us a good Christian;
It is the Be-attitude inside us.
Perhaps some answers will be:
A good Christian worships God every Sunday in worship service.
A good Christian does his daily devotion.
A good Christian talks to others about Christ regularly.
A good Christian gives his tithes.
…
If you ask the Lord Jesus Christ this question, what will HIS answer be?
In today’s Daily Bread’s devotion on Matt 5:3-12
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/08/21/devotion.aspx
Jesus’ answers would be: “your attitude towards God and towards people” Hence we call this passage the Be-attitude.
Our attitude towards God:
(1) poor in spirit v3
(2) mourn v4
(3) humble v5
(4) desire to get right with God v6
(5) purity v8
Our attitude towards people:
(1) humble v5
(2) doing what is right – morally and integrity v6
(3) merciful v7,
(4) purity v8
(5) peacemaker v9
Poor in spirit – seeing our spiritual situation as what God would see (we are spiritual bankrupt in God’s sight, Isa 64:6)
Mourn – to mourn for our sins and sinful nature.
Once we are able to see ourselves just as spiritually bankrupt and as sinful as anybody else, no matter how much I know the Bible, how much tithes I give, or how regular I come for Sunday worship service, then my attitude towards the common people will be more amicable and friendly.
Many months ago, my company employed a part-time middle age Indian man as a cleaner. He either comes to work after office hour or very early in the morning before anybody comes to the office. From the look, I suspect he was an ex-prisoner, with tattoo all over his hands (and body also?). He doesn’t talk to us. He just does his work and went off.
When he first came to work one late evening, I was perhaps the only one to greet him, he appeared surprised. Usually, people keep away from such a person. Now, when he sees me, he would smile a bit.
Likewise, there is the Ah Soh (auntie) who cleans the pantry and clears the office's rooms. Showing some respect to such people by greeting them daily help to build our way of getting along with people
It is not the things we do that make us a good Christian;
It is the Be-attitude inside us.
3 comments:
do u think that christianity in Singapore at least has become an upmarket religion that only middle-class or upper class, reasonably- or well-educated people can afford to subscribe to? i wonder how we will treat someone who is financially challenged and dresses the part and walks into bethany to worship one morning? or an ex-convict or drug addict for that matter (of course other churches have prison ministry etc but that is another story). seems like the heartlanders, those in the lower strata of society don't really make their appearance in churches but more so in mosques, in temples?
Sumiko Tan wrote quite a thought-provoking article today in Life section about religion being a private thing. sometimes i wonder how christians should behave in a modern-day context - some super "on-fire" christians pen messages in their facebook all the time about how inspiring today's sermon was, post videos of their role model Pastor Kong Hee and say the nicest things about him, how they attended this prayer meeting and that conference which really inspired them. and are very vocal about their faith. on the other hand u have christians who don't not wish to offend people by talking about taboo topics like religion in their everyday conversations with friends e.g. about the 7th month and the christian perspective, they don't want to come across as overzealous. does the bible say anything about this?
2nd question: is there heightened spiritual activity during the 7th month? should we take precautions, "just in case"??
English speaking congregations tend to protray a middle-upper class socially and so heartlanders and those in the lower strata of society generally are more comfortable attending a church with Chinese congregation. Maybe, it is the language (ang-moh more high class lah!) or our behavior? Good observation, Wei Lin. We all need to be aware of our "outputs" (see my previous post). If we have ministries that cater to domestic workers, construction workers, etc like languages or skill ministries, I am sure we can remove the "upper class" mentality people have towards English speaking congregational church.
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