Sunday, April 26, 2020

Are we not done with the disparity yet?


Most of the people are victims of some form of discrimination based on caste, gender, creed and so on. For example discrimination based on caste in rural areas where people are categorized as someone from a lower caste therefore have a lower status making them vulnerable to abuse of various kinds. They are treated as if they are worthless human beings. The basic privileges are limited, in most cases, denied to such people group. On the other side of the globe, the western world has so much racial discrimination, the white considering themselves superior than the blacks or immigrants and outrightly show hatred in many cases.

Now, the power and position struggles are another battle which is also reflecting in this pandemic, where one country plots to destroy the world and brings it to submission. Are we not yet done with our disparity?

If we do not learn our lesson in time like this when do you expect to learn about humanity and divinity? Is Corona virus affecting people based on status, gender, religion and power? We all know the answer to that question. I guess Coronavirus to a larger extent is inculcating the right perspective of human being in such a time like this. Common individuals, NGOs, citizens, are now concerned about those who are struggling without food and reaching out to them.

In true sense the gestures of love is exemplified. This is how humans are made, to love one another. The Bible is constantly talking about love because He demonstrated His love to all on the cross of Calvary to offer salvation and forgiveness of sins. Love your neighbor irrespective of caste, creed and gender. In some of the religious scriptures it is said, hate those who are not followers of your faith. But in the Bible it says, “If you do what is good to those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that....Love your enemies do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great and you will be the children of most high". For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. May God keep us safe and help those who are stranded and have lost their loved ones. Let us call them if possible and speak the words of hope and love.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Human response to divinity!


A recent article in the news spoke about our mitigation and response plan to any crisis, especially when it is a plague. During this Covid-19 many religious people have turned to their religious responses. Some looking to their renowned spiritual leaders to know if they have anything to say, if any words of wisdom or mantras to keep one safe and protected. But the Government's directives and protocols request all citizen to “Stay home & Stay Safe”, because at this point, everyone are worried about their personal safety. A time which proves to mankind that no one is greater than God.

Some of us have watched the movie, “The Ten Commandments” won the Academy Award in 1957 in which God prescribed the ten commandments for the goodness and well-being of humans. The first commandment says, “I am the Lord thy God! Thou shalt have no other Gods before me! Well, this is not about a religious emphasis. The fundamental truth is when man tries to replace God and create a God of his own imagination; and in some cases, people thought they can become God themselves and started playing God, skewing the moral laws to suit their imagination, all problems started.

A recent news highlighted that a particular religious system refused to keep their Shrine, (place of worship) closed because they believed Corona wouldn’t affect their religious institution. But sadly, they failed to realize that they are creating a threat to others in the process and becoming the cause for more to be infected. They also failed to realize that structures, however magnificent it can be, don’t hold God. If you read the world history and Bible narratives, after Jesus was crucified the tomb was sealed with an immovable large stone, but then Bible and history records the stone was rolled away.

Now, there are others who are engaged with actions that create connection and care. They do not directly address the pandemic, but nonetheless offer them emotional relief. People have always searched for meaning in their misfortunes in difficult times. It can be comforting to believe that things happen for a reason and something can be learned in chaotic situations.

In Christian worldview plagues are seen as God’s response to human debauchery and trying to make God for themselves that do not hold-up, cling to renowned spiritual leaders, mystics who existed when thing went well and now become dormant when there is a crisis. The greatest commandment of Jesus which may sound frivolous to many is, Love your God with all your heart and Love others as you love yourself. Can you learn to make a commitment to love the true God and align your lifestyle with honesty and genuineness, at the same time love the deprived and people who are less fortunate?

Sunday, April 12, 2020

What is so significant about this day?


This is the day where the whole world celebrates Easter. A day where Jesus rose from the dead after three days having experienced a gruesome death. This exacts high significance because His death was recorded in the Bible thousands of years ago. Not only that, the way He will be born, exact place, the kind of life He would lead and the kind of death He will die.

If you do a little research you will see that all the happenings were the fulfillment of prophecies, recorded in the Bible, which was verified in history and by all fields of science. Why is it then, some are still skeptical about this greatest event? Simply because people are so used to knowing history of many other prominent personalities who claimed to be God, but used power to fight back, wage war, throw kingdoms, marry in most cases and lead a life like one of us or some after disappointment from sorrows went to find answers. And now to accept someone who was completely exceptional makes it difficult for us to believe.

Our human mind is so used to believing the views of the majority. It is like if you are born in a particular country where the majority are followers of one creed, you assume all have to be following the creed, therefore the belief that anyone who is different is abnormal, insane or a traitor is a false assumption.

If you read, Jesus did not marry for a simple reason. If He claimed to be God, He is therefore claiming the creation to be His children. Thus, it doesn't justify to marry His own creation, in other words His daughter. We all have our own view in this pluralistic culture but all that matters is to find God who can live in our hearts. A God who transforms us to be a better person and who has defined moral boundaries for our good and for our safety.

Today most of the world is suffering because of the moral failure, and God has to bring to a halt man's selfishness in order to help us align our relationship with God. We wrong to think that God is obliged to us. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. It is we who are obliged to accept the salvation offered to us by God and to find the Savior who assured forgiveness of sin, peace and assurance to spend our eternity with God forever.

You are saved by a right belief system not by religious structures of any religion. May this day resurrect new hope, new life and peace in the midst of all challenges.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

When the whole creation is struggling!


When challenges are turning to a crisis and things are going berserk, what is one supposed to infer from all of this? Is there a way of escape? If yes, how long one has to wait? These questions are all too familiar, especially in the spiritual, logical and philosophical realm that inundates our mind. Most often in a crisis we are sustained by “Hope” to a larger extent, but then the actual problem and the struggle is to handle time, especially when and how long before we all come back to normalcy?

In the Bible it tells that the even creation is struggling to find solutions to many challenges it is facing. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.” (Bible). Hold on! Why is all of creation, the nature and entire universe struggling? Have you thought about it? Because of man’s disobedience and sin, there is an increase in rebellion and debauchery which has a capacity to condemn all of us to punishment and death. Even the nature, the entire creation was seriously affected by human beings. The whole creation groans with labor pain because it is struggling as to how it is supposed to behave. It is we who have tampered with the freedom of choice but the poor creation is bearing the brunt.

God gave us the right to choose despite knowing that we would probably make the wrong choice. The fact that God didn’t create a species of robots that had to obey Him blindly underscores the awesome privilege and responsibility we have for making choices.

All religion has a philosophy to offer salvation. Basically, demanding to work out our own redemption of soul through visiting to so called holy places, temples, mosques, Churches and many other shrines that have recently gained prominence. Now what? When all the so-called holy places and famous shrines are shut down and the mediators (priest) or whoever you name, the godmen of any religion have gone to hibernation mode in order to protect themselves from this deadly virus, how does then one reach God and find help? It's a point to ponder!

In the Bible it says we cannot work out our own salvation, nor does our good works will lead towards the same. Therefore, God in the form of man had to come to this earth and die for our sins in the cross and resurrected which is historically recorded and proved by all science. Going to Church or any holy place is not going to deliver our soul and give redemption. It is when we believe and accept the salvation offered to us will make all the difference. 

The Bible is all about prophecies, which have been fulfilled and more importantly all that is supposed to take place as part of the end days and it also records that Jesus is going to come back again for all those who are redeemed by faith. The concept of Heaven and Hell, which is very conspicuous in the book tells us that we will spend our eternity with God. In all over the world People are directing their attention towards God and trying to find what is important for their soul.