Talking About Christ

One night, a conversation was struck between a man and a woman. It was ignited by a curious point made by a teacher who mentioned an interesting fact about John Calvin, the Swiss theologian. Interestingly enough, prior to that they were just talking about what they were seeing on Netflix.

So that escalated quickly.

Then a conversation about Church History led to a discussion about theologian’s controversial doctrines. They were talking about the doctrine of election, and how people may see it as unjust.

The man had several arguments up his sleeve, yet in his patience, he waited and listened instead. He then smiled and nodded, “I know right, that’s such a mystery.”

The woman replied, “Yet, although I don’t embrace it in full, I know He loves me, by everything that He had done and the blessings He poured over me in abundance.”

Thank God he didn’t shoot her with his many ammunition of rhetoric, for then his heart wouldn’t be overwhelmed with praise, knowing that although they disagree, the redeeming work of Christ remains a beautiful treasure cherished by His people!

Personally, I experience such pleasure when talking about religion.

There are many occasions in which people’d start opening up and sincerely express their feelings not only about theological statements or the newest findings of scholars nor archeologists, but about how they make sense of life. Despite of all our stance in what we believe in, each of us has a certain worldview, a certain lens by which we look at the things around us.

The sun rises and sets each day, and it’s witnessed massively by the inhabitants of the world. Some overlook it as something ordinary, yet others would tremble with joy as the warmth touches the skin, as they see the beauty exerted as the light is refracted through drops of water, knowing that they are signs pointing to a Creator.

Our beliefs tell us of how we see suffering as it happens to everyone around us and ourselves. One may condemn suffering as a proof that there is no one who cares for us, yet for some, it encourages them to lay their all unto Him who works all things to good, even the bad ones (Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 3:13-17).

Our view on life says a lot about us for they are the fuel by which we say what we say, and do what we do.

So although it’s not without its negative consequences (this might be one of the fastest way to make debate nemeses!), I think religion (how people see God) is one of the best topics to talk about.

Perhaps one of the best parts of these kinds of conversation is that we’d get to talk about Christ. Unfortunately, there are occasions in which it could be a haunting name to even mention. Some people may laugh, see you with disgust, or start attacking you with the worst weapon there is — words. Yet some listen, and are curious about This Man from Nazareth who lived a perfect life, died on the cross, resurrected, and promises that He shall come again to judge everyone. I mean, if I were in their place, I’d be interested!

The story between the man and the woman continues. Now they’re starting to share their own experiences and their friends’ — how they have questions and doubts about God. The man’s smile’s starting to fade, and his posture changes as he’s starting to listen to the woman even more intently. Instead of answers, unfortunately, the man says nothing. He could only nod as the woman makes her points, expressing his sympathy and his sincere intent to be a respectful listener.

Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there.

The same woman then shared the other side of the coin, the experiences in which she couldn’t explain, yet strengthens her faith. The story doesn’t necessarily sound supernatural — there’s no instantaneous healing or anything — yet it’s a miracle that deserves a similar praise, it’s a miracle of forgiveness and her unrelenting passion to serve the Lord.

The once fading smile’s starting to make its return.

Then it’s the man’s turn to share his stories. Yet not his own experiences that was told, but his friend’s. It was a tale of a prodigal son and his unexpected return, showing how the Lord sovereignly orchestrates all seemingly ordinary circumstances as the instruments of His glory.

As the story ends, both shared how the exchange of stories had blessed them, and they ended the conversation saying, “The Lord works in amazing ways indeed. Just look at how we finally get here and got to have such a conversation!”

A quote that still remains with me about such conversation is one from D. T. Niles, “Evangelism is telling one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread.”

Oh such beautiful truth! We are beggars, indeed. As beggars saved by grace (Ephesians 2, Romans 8), it is only fitting that we tell other fellow beggars of the Bread of Life, Christ Himself. He shall fulfill our deepest needs — better than money or power — He shall give you life and you shall have it in abundance, in moments of joy or sorrows.

He shall be your greatest joy, for who could satisfy your longings but the One who creates you?

Friends, I invite all of you to give much thought into this — sharing the faith, and thinking about Christ and its implication to how we see the world. The gospel of Christ is the power of God to save (Romans 1:16), and we’ve been given the grace to proclaim it in even what seems to be ordinary circumstances.

May we pray all the more for courage, wisdom, humility, and gentleness as we join our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ proclaiming the greatest news there is that is Christ!

Grace Alone

It was November 2017 when I first heard a hymn written by Scott Wesley Brown, Grace Alone. It was sang by a huge choir group — there must have been at least 50 people on the stage — and done so excellently. I’m not ashamed to say I teared up a little (haha!), not merely because of the performance though, but rather also being captivated by the beauty of the lyrics. It’s not that long of a song and the lyrics aren’t necessarily hard to grasp, yet it’s full of God’s glorious truth. It’s missional and unashamedly God-centered.

This hymn has also been part of my mornings these past couple of days. Having joined the bands of people who had finished their studies and now en route to “building a life”, I found myself often forgetting why do I get up every morning, go to work, and wandering around the office for the next 8 hours, and then go home to just resume the same routine the next day.

It’s like that hymn, isn’t it, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love?” Sure, I didn’t renounce the Christian faith or anything, but the fact that I’m not doing this routine joyfully indicates there’s something wrong. And for more times that I could count, the answer’s this: my heart.

Every promise we can make

Every prayer and step of faith

Every difference we can make

Is only by His grace.

This hymn then encourages me every morning to take that step of faith — to rely not on my wisdom and strength — but rather on Him who grants wisdom and strength to those who ask (James 1:5, Daniel 2:20). And that God in His infinite love, doesn’t deal with me according to my sin, but rather holds my life for my ultimate good and His glory (Romans 8:28, Psalm 103:10, 12). That Christ has lived a life I could never live, one that is unblemished and is pleasing to the Father, and yet also took my place to completely receive the punishment I deserve. That each day is blood-bought and it’s not for us to own or control. And all these things should compel our hearts to worship Him, even in our daily labors.

Today, Sunday September 19th 2018, I encountered an unexpected surprise about 30 minutes out after the service started. The church’s choir started singing this hymn — the song without which I honestly think I could never last a week. Having written a series of blogpost about God’s grace 2 years ago, I can now testify that His grace is truly inexhaustible and oh how this knowledge brings warmth to this frail heart of mine!

Friends, join me in meditating the glorious truth of God’s grace each morning.

May doing so remind you to present yourself as a living sacrifice, seeing Christ as your all, and approach each day confidently with God-given humility, wisdom, strength, and love, all for His glory.

Amen!

On Movies

People say it is wise to read books since life is short.

Somehow, books transports you to places and gives you the opportunity to be in other people’s shoes. May it be a detective duo uncovering the identity of an evil professor in 19^th century England, a hobbit going through hills and mountains bearing himself a magical ring, a group of young adults exploring the vast world beyond a wardrobe — books offer a passage into limitless possibilities. As long as someone thinks of it and puts it on paper to be read, it’s as if a new world can be constructed in a flick of a finger.

Now, that’s exactly how I feel about movies.

Whenever I see Shawshank Redemption, I feel as if I am part of Andy Dufresne inner circle, laughing every time he shares the story of how he made fun of the guards.

Or joining Cooper and Brand in interstellar travel, traveling through the complex nature of time and space in order to find a new home for the sake of humanity.

Perhaps entering the world of Inception, exploiting the world of dreams with Cobb and his crime circle.

These feelings may even last until the last credits roll, following even to the way home, taking up a distinct space on the mind.

Roger Ebert, a renowned film critic, testifies of the same thing:

Movies are the most powerful empathy machine in all the arts. When I go to a great movie I can live somebody else’s life for a while. I can walk in somebody else’s shoes. I can see what it feels like to be a member of a different gender, a different race, a different economic class, to live in a different time, to have a different belief.

The first memory of movies that I have was watching The Green Mile at a cinema that I still go to even until this day. It was 1999, which means I was only four, and I remember that I was half scared seeing a convict played by Michael Clarke Duncan opened his mouth and hundreds of dark-colored particles came out after he supernaturally healed a prison guard played by Tom Hanks.

I still remember the moment when I was getting ready to watch the first Harry Potter movie after reading about it on a magazine. It is rather surprising to realize that I was only six, and it happened over 16 years ago. Whoa.

The cinema looks completely different now. It was once surrounded by dark blue wall, having a large selection of arcade games near the left entrance with their blaring arcade-y sounds, and there was a section near the line of movie posters where people can see photos of shots that are in the movie they were about to watch. Now the cinema looks much more elegant with better lighting and a dark cream and golden tone covering the walls. There are also more studios and a distinct room filled with arcade machines so the blaring sound of the games wouldn’t fill the atrium anymore.

The place may have changed, yet the memory remains timeless.

As I got older, I realized that some movies aren’t only moving pictures where the main character hops around until two hours pass and a happy ending is presented. Some seem to want to talk about tough topics. Off the top of my head, the Oscar-winning musical drama, La La Land for instance seems to focus on the topic of achieving one’s dream. The same could be said for Whiplash which portrays a realistic and rather brutal depiction of working hard to make it to the top.

It’s as if those kind of movies speaks, that the lines that were uttered when combined with the moving images captured by the camera, the looks and expressions of the characters are trying to calmly whisper a voice that transcends the realm of the movie itself — the voice of the filmmaker.

Directors and screenwriters seem to have a way with relating to human emotion, getting us to cry on moment’s notice, ignites laugh, or even contempt. Their creative approach in doing so testifies of a certain truth that binds all audiences — the human part in each one of us.  Of great movies, George Ebert says, “The great movies enlarge us, they civilize us, they make us more decent people.”

The way movie communicates about the mysterious, the sacred, the beautiful, and how all these elements relate on a personal level, I think is the main source of awe. In a way, my whole worldview is shaped by these things I watch over the years, tested and polished, in order to find the answer of what makes us human.

Movies and the Christian Faith

One of the reasons why I like to watch movies is that I can think most clearly when I am feasting on these moving pictures. While this may sound like going to the movies isn’t a relaxing activity for me, it actually is.

After long hours of sitting in a classroom or an office, for instance, it is such a great moment to just lay back with a bag of popcorn and drink on each side of the armrest, and reflect on life itself. Being a follower of Christ, I’d feel stimulated whenever a movie explores the theme of love. Not exclusively on romantic love, but rather on a higher kind — a lasting, and an eternal kind. Just like when Brand, a character from Interstellar says of love:

Love is the one thing that we’re capable of perceiving, that transcends dimensions of time and space.

That line really did an impact on me. Contemplating on the theme of love biblically, I find this to be consistent to the Christian faith. Jesus says of the greatest commandment, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31).

About love, John writes, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10).

In the great epistle to the Romans, Paul writes, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). He continues, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).

The eternal and inscrutable love of God, bestowed unto His creations and His people, O how mighty and mysterious is this truth! O how this should change how we view our relationship with other people who are also created in God’s image, and most importantly, how our all devotion should be directed to Him alone.

Another example would be paternal love, a theme that can easily be found in most family movies. Of parents the Jesus says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

The captivating love between a woman and his son portrayed in the 2015 movie Room for example, a portrayal that surely is an effective tearjerker, when compared to God’s Word should then invite us to meditate on a love that is more transcendent, that even the strong bond of a mother and her child don’t come close. O how this should point us to the inscrutable love of Our Heavenly Father!

How immeasurable is this love! May we join Paul contemplating with other Christians, “.. the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,” (Ephesians 3:18-19). O how such knowledge should compel us to love God more!

These are several examples of why movies are really precious to me. For me, these movies are great because they make most of Christ. Even though the directors don’t intentionally mean it to be so, the messages that they’re trying to deliver for me are whispers of deep yearning for something transcendent, Something awe-inducing in which all pleasure dwells, the One that deserves all praise and honor, the Trinitarian God Himself.

In the end, I love watching movies because they make me a believer. I hope it does the same to you too.

Graduation

Last week, September 23rd was my graduation (yay!), an end to a four-year journey. Previously I wrote about the early days of my university life with all the bumps, the days of spending a semester in Germany, and I think it’s only fair to write one more as my days of learning came to an end.

For the past few days, I’ve been reflecting on everything that, by God’s grace, I’d been enabled to do and found myself keep adding to what an already long list.

I was only reminded to do so a couple days ago as I was in a car and passed through a road that was oddly familiar — one filled with memories of laughter, traffic jam, and utter fatigue. I realized that it was the usual route I took on my way from the office to my dorm during my internship days, more than two and a half years ago.

It was as if the traffic, the skyscrapers, and the bright lights then brought me back to those times.

One thing came to mind: God’s good.

As I relived what used to be my regular commute, I couldn’t help but think how He’s been faithful; how I could finally end up here, writing these words to you. I realized how even in those seemingly regular days, things beyond my comprehension are about to come to pass.

Without that internship, I would not be introduced to a lecturer who really inspired me and ended up guiding me in doing my thesis work.

Without that internship, my semester in Germany would look completely different.

Without that internship, I would not meet someone who graciously invited me to church and finally get baptized.

What seemed to be a mere necessity for my study turned out to be something else entirely — to which I could do nothing but be humbled as I praise Him for His goodness.

And oh what a joy it was to have my parents pleased, seeing that their hard work is not in vain.

And how thankful I was that I was mentioned as one of the best graduates.

Oh these things are none of my doing, indeed.

What Now?

One of the reasons why I decided to write this blogpost is that I need a reminder similar to those times — moments when I was still studying, anxious about the upcoming internship abroad, swamped with the never-ending schoolwork — with the hope that, God willing, if I’m given the privilege to do even more, I could see that even in moments that I perhaps see as dull, God remains sovereign, and His perfect will shall come to pass.

The Bible writes that He shall do everything He pleases (Psalm 115:3), that nothing shall thwart His plan. And that His will far outweighs ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), His will is perfect, and that everything is done for His glory and our ultimate good. May we hold these truths closely in our hearts.

May in times of uncertainty we may be reminded of one unchangeable truth, fixing our eyes on Christ who at the right time died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6), accomplishing the will of the Father (Isaiah 53:10). May we remember that even in times of our suffering He remains close, for He was once clothed with the similar frail flesh and bones as we do (Hebrews 4:15), to be tortured with the worst punishment imaginable, died and rose victoriously that we may see that He is the only Way of life and there is nothing to fear in death. And that He encouraged us that we may take heart, seeing that He had overcome the world (John 16:33).

May we see that there is nothing in this world to boast in but Christ, for everything is from Him and to Him alone.

In times of despair and joy, may we draw near the all-sufficient Christ, and by His grace be strengthened to say with Paul, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philipians 1:21)

I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure,
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other.
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

As summer flowers we fade and die
Fame, youth and beauty hurry by
But life eternal calls to us
At the cross

I will not boast in wealth or might
Or human wisdom’s fleeting light
But I will boast in knowing Christ
At the cross

— My Worth is Not in What I Own (Keith & Kristyn Getty)

 

 

 

Reflections on Baptism

Yesterday, July 15th 2017 was the day of my baptism after years of embracing the Christian faith. I personally never thought that day would never come, to have fellow families and friends showing their support by witnessing this moment.

Looking back, years prior I was still reading my Bible in secret, fearing if my family were to find out. The Bible was a NKJV New Testament Gideon Bible, with a two-column side-to-side translation in Indonesian language. I would normally read before sleep, illuminated with a night lamp with yellowish hue placed above my bed. I would place the Bible beside my head pillow, start reading, and put it there for the rest of the night after I had finished. This fear-induced nighttime ritual was really challenging, and now that I think about it, was quite silly. Despite my own anxieties at that time – which were immense – it is not right to fear for my family to find out that I was practicing the Christian faith. As a matter of fact, I think my fear at that time was the fear of shame – one of the worst kind of fear.

To finally have the same people I once feared for expressing my beliefs coming to my baptism was beyond words. For years I thought that they were the problem, while it had actually been me. It felt easy to position myself as a victim, to feel self-righteous, for I was the only Christian in my household. But the problem had actually been shame – ashamed of embraching the gospel of Christ – making it even a worse kind of fear. But perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), and this perfect love is shown in Christ.

The desire to be baptized had been there ever since the moment I read the Bible for myself. At that time, however, I thought of being baptized as nothing more of a commitment, as if I have something to prove. While there is nothing necessarily wrong with a commitment that comes from a pure heart, my desire, on the other hand was self-centered and was highly contrary to God’s Word.

According to the Scripture, baptism is a symbol of “having been buried in him … you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God” (Colossians 2:12). It is also written, “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;” (2 Timothy 2:11). Baptism glorifies Christ, that we may boast in His death and resurrection, in which all our hope rests. The death and the resurrection of Christ – the gospel – is our sure foundation (1 Corinthians 15:14). If baptism was the proclamation of our self-sufficiency, it would diminish the glory of Christ, the very thing that awakens our heart to the incomprehensible beauty of God.

Therefore baptism is more than a personal commitment, but a proclamation of the glory of God, an expression of faith that relies solely on God’s grace. The baptism is a one-time event, as Christ had died and rose once and for all, that we may be set free from the enslavement of sin, and live eternally with Him, in whose presence is the fullness of joy.

I could have seen baptism as the proclamation of the confidence that was similar to Peter’s just before he was about to deny knowing Christ three times (Luke 21:33). But may our confidence rest in the finished work of Christ instead, and in Him who intercedes for us (John 17), as He also prayed for Peter lest his faith fails (Luke 22:31).

My journey towards this moment hadn’t been a smooth sail. In the past there had been countless moment of unbelief and constant failure. Yet God’s faithfulness prevails, for “if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13). It is Him who works within us and it is His righteousness that is imputed to us, so that all may be made right as we know our place as His creations, and worship Him as Our Creator, forever.

Baptism screams nothing but God’s faithfulness over people who least deserve it; it screams nothing but God’s grace. May this hymn be our daily prayer,

“My heart is filled with thankfulness
To him who reigns above,
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose ev’ry thought is love.
For ev’ry day I have on earth
Is given by the King;
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow him.”

Amen.

Yet Another Thoughts on Grace

The concept of God’s grace had always been strange for me. I struggled a lot trying to understand how God can graciously give salvation for us, the fallen beings, through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. What’s the catch? In those times of confusion, I could do nothing but hope that my heart can be enlightened.

I think God answered my prayer through a road incident.

About a year ago, as I was driving, I suddenly felt like I had  just bumped into something. I backed up the car and saw a motorcycle tipped over on the road and 2 boys laying down beside it. Oh the panic.

The Little Things

A few weeks ago on a Sunday morning, I hopped on a bus to go to Aachen, as what I would normally do on a weekly basis. However, this particular bus ride was really special for me.

University: A Look Back

So it’s 2016 already! And as of now I’ve been studying Information Technology for more than 2 years. A lot of things have happened along the way, and now I’m going to share a bit of my experience and lessons that I have learned.