Church in 21st Century

Lately, I have been wrestling a lot on the subject of 'Church in the 21st Century'.

I have seen many varieties on the development of Churches in this 21st Century particularly dealing with the 'physical' nature of a church. Starting from the subject of the church building until the use of multimedia/technology. Some churches remove the 'cross' symbol as part of the new building project, some introduce 'cafe' style kind of building where people can buy a cup of coffee or cakes or other hot food inside the church, some will have a Christian bookshop, and perhaps much more which I may not be aware of. Multimedia technology has also been used as part of the worship time, projecting the announcements, songs and perhaps much more. The lighting also plays a role in this 21st century churhes, so many lighting projecting to the centre of the pulpit with so many varieties of colours, even the chairs also play a significant role.

Why does a church need to remove the 'cross' where it is the symbol of Christianity ? Not saying that we worship the 'cross' but one cannot deny it is the identity of Christian faith.

Why does a church need to introduce a 'food bar' or 'cafe' ? If the church is really serious about this in order to reach out to the community, then why the church doesn't provide this service for free not even receiving a single cent ?

Why is there so much colourful lighting as if it is an entertainment centre?

I honestly couldn't stop thinking why the church needs to do this drastic changes. Is it to keep up with the changes in the society on how they perceive what a church is ? Is the church afraid on losing its relevancy to the community ? Is the church afraid losing its congregation (ie. numbers) ? Thus, it needs to do this drastic changes.

Sometimes, I wonder in the midst of this drastic changes, has the church lost its focus? Has the church lost its identity ? Has the church really placed God as the only head ?

I wonder whether there is still 'reverence' to God with all the hypes of this drastic changes.

I wonder if the church becomes the same as the world in this century, the only difference perhaps adding the name/label 'Jesus' or 'Christ' but the way it has been managed/run is no difference with secular organisation.

I wonder if the church becomes 'commercial' driven rather than 'humility' driven as the servant of Christ ?

Time Flies

Twice a week every morning, I used to take my son to his 'Kindy'. As soon as we arrived at his classroom, he waved good bye to his daddy and not long after that he started to mingle with other kids, or I should say his friends.

I looked from a distance, outside his classroom, thinking to myself how time has flown very quickly. Seems that not long ago he was still a baby, but now he is already at 'school' playing with his friends, telling stories, running around, and so on. Somehow, deep inside my heart, I have to say I am kind of miss his 'babyhood', thinking if I have been spending quality time with him all this time.

Not long after this, he will go to prep-school, then primary, then high school and so on, and there will be time when he will become a grown man and independent and I guess, by that time me and my wife will not be able to carry him again as if he was still a baby.

Time has flown very quickly for sure, and perhaps is a reminder for us that time is such a precious thing, once is gone, it cannot come back again, once a child has grown up, he or she cannot come back as a baby anymore, and perhaps it is at this time, that none of us should take 'Time' for granted but instead use it wisely and hopefully full of quality moments, because every moment counts ...

The Game of Chess

The chess players must think through on the next move, must be able to see the opportunity, and hopefully make the right move so that the opponent will lose at the end. All the pieces need to be placed in a strategic position, so the opponent will not be able to find the loophole, or if there is a loophole it won't be found easily. It's a mind game which requires patience, endurance, and motivation to keep moving.

Perhaps one may wonder if life is also like the game of chess, where every move and decision that are made need to be carefully thought and need to be a wise one. It is crucial since every decision that is made is affecting how a person survives. Life is about survival, I guess, where each person is in a race. A race that requires training, patience, endurance and motivation because it won't be an easy race. Rest assured that one will face lots of obstacles in this race, because life never meant to be easy.

The question is: Are we going to be consumed in facing the obstacles of life? Is there anybody that one can turn to in the midst of chaos?

Is God Silence?

The day after Christmas in year 2004, the world particularly in the Asia region was shocked by the nature's act - earthquake event called 'Tsunami', hundreds of thousands people died, children lost their parents, some are still being identified, and some are still being searched until now in the new year of 2005. Nobody expect this to happen as the year 2004 approaching to its end. Another tragedy that people have to suffer and is a very bad one.

One cannot stop thinking in the midst of this tragedy, where is God and why is He silence? There is no easy answer to this, perhaps there won't be any 'satisfaction' answer to comfort those people in the tragedy.

Job in the Old Testament of the Bible experienced the most painful moment in his life, a good man, but somehow must face a painful reality which he lost everything - family, wealth, even he, himself did not escape from what so called 'disease'. His agony was very painful, searching for an answer why it happened to him. At the end, did God answered his question? Well to make things more dissapointed the answer is 'No' instead God's answer was somehow a unique one - taking Job to a tour of 'creation' but yet it is at this time that Job's faith was strengthen, and that he could see the sovereignty of God even though his question is not being answered. God is still in control.

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He cried out 'Father, Father, why have You forsaken me?' Did Jesus get an answer from His question? Again, no. And He died. Is God silence and in control? On the third day, Jesus rose up from the death, and His dead, resurrection were nothing less God's purpose so that mankind can be saved from the sins of this 'fallen' world and have eternal life.

Is God silence?

People from all over the world are now united helping those who are in the 'Tsunami' tragedy. The sun will always come out after the cloudy/rainy day. Perhaps if God is silence, we will never exist, the whole creation may never exist in the first place.

Keep praying for those who are in the 'Tsunami' tragedy that God may give them encouragement, comfort and strength in this troubled time.

Christmas

Christmas is very near, it's only 2 more days to go. While it's getting closer and closer, people are rushing to do the shopping, some shopping centres even open for 24 hours. It's like madness looking at people do the shopping.

While people are rushing for buying gifts, or perhaps looking for any bargain, one may wonder if the meaning of Christmas has disappeared.

Thinking about the word Christmas: 'Christ - mas', I wonder if we have forgotten the word 'Christ' which what the Christmas is all about. His birth in a very simple manner, in the manger, and later followed by His death, and His resurrection is such a precious gift for all mankind.

Perhaps, this Christmas may remind all of us in the midst of 'chaotic' world, that the precious gift has been given unto us in which we can find hope, peace and eternal life in the person named Jesus, saviour and the Lord of lord.

Word of the Day - 1

"What you are is God's gift to you, and what you can become is your gift to God."

Welcome To My Sharing Room

I will use this Sharing Room as a place to put down my writings. Hopefully, the writings can be source of encouragement for lots of people.