Difference between Christianity and other religions?

Pastor Daryl told us a story on Sunday about a pastor who was asked what the difference between Christianity and all the other world religions was. This pastor, who at that moment had one foot on a ladder and the other foot on a boat he was getting into, didn't have the time for a long and lengthy explanation.

His reply?

The difference between Christianity and other religions....is the difference between 'done' and 'do'.

I've been reflecting on these words, and have to agree with how absolutely true they are. I remember I used to struggle with finding the difference between the religions, trying to find something distinctive. I remember thinking "sure they may have different ways, but in the end it's all about the same thing, right?"

But then as I examined the claims of the different religions, I was struck by a somewhat startling fact: all the beliefs and religions I came across, barring Christianity, was all about what you could do to make life better for yourself. Whether it was being 'enlightened', or being 'in peace', or 'this is how you be a good person'...the main message that came across was this is what you can do for yourself.

I'm not talking about just the major religions here, but even all the new age beliefs that are springing up everywhere - in our current culture, where spirituality seems to be a good thing, there is this prevailing idea that if you do this, that and the other, you will have a good life. And maybe some of them are true, in that the things they tell you to do will have good consequences in life. The message seems to be to believe in yourself, think good things about yourself, and stuff will be good for you.

But then I came upon Christianity...where the work's already been done! Saved not because of how polite you are to your parents, not because of how diligent you are at your schoolwork, not because of nice you are to people, not because of how good a person you are...but because God came to Earth, as Jesus, and took our punishment upon himself in his death. And we are saved if we confess that we are, after all, not good but bad people, and accept that sacrifice.

I must say, I can see the attraction of the other religions/beliefs. There's a feeling of accomplishment and pride that you can make things better for yourself, by yourself. Being told that we have the power to change things for the better, that we have the power to change the world - who doesn't want to hear that?

But in the weighing up of all these different religions, there was one thing that kept coming back to me: we are not God. We can't change the world. If we told the Earth to stop spinning, the Earth would not. The beauty of nature - of blue skies and sun, of waterfalls and rainforests - try as I might to convince myself, I cannot make them. And, as much a good person I would like to believe myself to be, I know there's lots of things I've done wrong and bad things I've thought. Things that need forgiveness.

How freeing it is, then, to know that I don't have to pay for every single bad thing that I've done! To know that I've been forgiven, by the one who made everything good in this world...that, ultimately, is such humbling but wonderful knowledge, and I for one do not regret making the choice to accept it.

Ahh...relax :)

A long week over, what with midsems and assignments and reports all due in the same week...what can I say, I'm glad it's over and can get back to 8 hours of sleep/night (hopefully) + being generally alive!

So, not blogging about anything in particular, although been thinking over a comment Keith made at UBT 2(?) weeks ago. This comment was talking about how we as Christians have so much to be joyful about (I think he mentioned something about how Christianity is the only religion where singing is a prevalent part of it? incl. OT times).

This was not the point of the talk, which I also thought made an interesting point on the Holy Spirit and its role in the whole scheme of things...made me think of the charismatic/pentecostal/evangelical positions...but more about that later. Anyway, at that point in time I was probably whining/complaining at everyone who would listen about what a crap time I was having at uni and generally being very down in the dumps. Keith's point that we Christians are, or should be, joyful people, kinda wacked me on the head at that moment, and I remember asking myself "why the heck do you keep complaining when it's only uni assessment, which in the whole scheme of things is really quite unimportant"? The answer, of course, was that I was being stupidly self-centred. Grr!

So, been trying to not take everything for granted and be more other-people-focussed :) I think it's awesome how seeing other peoples' joys and triumphs can be such a great balm to whatever worries there are, and makes me wonder why I keep thinking for myself only anyway!

Anyway, not quite sure where I was going with this post...oh well :P Until next time, ciao!

August

So, long time no update because no time...what has happened this month?

• RICE Rally (Brisbane)
• RICEfever (Sydney)
  
• Baptism!
  
• BLT+
• Winter decided to become summer for a week
• A few birthdays
  

Above mentioned events...except for the last two, all were very spiritually encouraging and refreshing :) I won't expand too much here, simply because technically I should be sleeping or working and not blogging...but yes, August has been a busy month with many good things, of which I am very grateful and glad for.

Unfortunately, uni is starting to run me down as I'm sure it is for anyone else doing 2nd year elec engg...an unlimited supply of assignments that our lecturers seem to feel more than happy about giving us --> falling behind in other longer-term assignments due to weekly ones always being due --> doing late nights and panicking because falling behind so much --> not sleeping enough and not enough energy + screwed up brain --> repeat...

At times it's been very hard to remember what the ultimate goal is, and that it has nothing to do with uni and assignments. Every uni day seems to be a monotony of never getting enough work done, feeling guilty because of not getting enough done as well as not putting God first enough, and then beating self over the head for both mentioned.

Aaah. I'm so grateful for this weather. Everyday I can look up at the sky and the clouds and at the green grass and birds flying around...and put my mind back in its right place, at least temporarily.

And lastly: to all my friends, I'm very sorry I haven't really given much time to you lately, and that goes for everyone! I hope I haven't hurt anyone with my behaviour, but please know that it's nothing personal and I will try harder :)

[Note: I realise this was very disjointed and probably rant-y and not-making-sense. Sorry!]

Harry Potter, Fantasy Novels & Jesus

Okay, so I haven't posted here for quite a while...but then last night, as I was driving home, I found myself pondering about the plotlines of various fiction books (mostly sci-fi/fantasy) and comparing it to the gospel.

Now this may seem like a very odd thing to do, so please attribute that to a strange brain. Nevertheless, here are some thoughts that came out of that:

[Note: Harry Potter 7 spoiler alert]
As an avid reader of fantasy/sci-fi novels, one of the biggest 'plot thrillers' is when a main character nobly sacrifices him/herself for whatever cause. Think Harry Potter, who walks out to meet death with love and in doing so cements the J.K.Rowling storyline. I'm sure every kid (or almost every) who reads that part loves how good triumphs over evil and yada yada yada yay happy.

Or think (here are some less widely known books I think...) of Fiona McIntosh, who's written several trilogies where ultimately the main character defies death (through magic or whatever), or Robin Hobb (similar scenario)...or even Transformers (I just thought of this one!) where Optimus Prime gets 'brought' back to the living.

I mean, I won't say that this type of plot = awesome book, but there's something to be said about it being quite effective in capturing people's imaginations and interest.

And then, I realised that this type of plot, written and used by so many authors, has in fact already been written. In real life. In Jesus. And God was the one who wrote it.

I have to confess I sat there somewhat stunned for a few moments when I realised this (while driving...I'm not sure that was a good thing!). God, who wrote this perfect story and had every single plotline mapped and planned out in a way that it all just fitted together...made it happen. We, the hapless victims that were being slaughtered by the 'Dark Lord', were given the chance of freedom because of Jesus' willing sacrifice for us. This act of love and his triumph over sin and death is so much more real than any Harry Potter book.

All this pondering led me to wonder...why do I so eagerly pounce on those massively thick fiction books to read 'awesome' plots, but find it so hard to read the real and original story with the same zeal and motivation? And why does the world insist on ignoring this story, instead of rejoicing and telling everyone we know about the gospel, like the people in Harry Potter did?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this :)

Communities...Christian and non-Christian

Some of the events of today reminded me of something someone (a pastor? can't remember) once said about a church community in relation to any other community...that church communities are much more prone to conflict and dissent than any other community.

Why? Because a church is a bunch of people chucked together, with different interests, values, ages, backgrounds, you name it. The only common thread linking everyone is that all know and admit that they are sinners and confess that they need saving through their faith and belief in Jesus Christ.

Contrast this to any other community, and the unifying force will be people's interests, people's hobbies, people's backgrounds...where people can pick and choose who they want to be friends with and who they want to hang around with. People that they won't pick fights with. If they don't like someone, then the solution is easy: don't hang around them.

Add to all this Satan who would do anything to tear churches apart...is it any wonder that so many difficulties arise in church communities? No picking and choosing, and constantly under attack...which is why there is such a great need for Christians to continually support, encourage and pray for one another in love.



Don't ask me why I'm posting this, because I don't know...yay for exploiting a blog's purpose as a 'place to write down thoughts' :P

Holiday timeee

Well, upon first thought of finishing CSSE2000 exam: YAY I'M FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

A few hours later, at home: Free to do what?

So, I'm probably doing what thousands of people do and say that I want a productive holiday...but don't really know how to make it productive!

Apart from the much-needed catch up with lots of friends, a trip to Sydney, accompanying a fellow SDBC-going violinist in her exam, having dad back from HK, and hopefully helping out a little with RICE...holiday calendar is sadly quite empty.

So lately been thinking that I want to do some volunteer work, but as Sandy and I were discussing earlier, it's actually quite hard to find a suitable one. Sooo if anyone knows of any short-term volunteering stuff out there, please give a yell :D

Ooosh. Let's hope this holiday is a good one! :)

What is Christianity about?

From the back of the church bulletin today...

What is Christianity about?

There are many different churches and styles of Christianity which can be quite confusing to enquirers but at its heart Christianity is NOT a religion but a Revelation and a Rescue. It reveals to us what God is like. He is the Creator of all matter, energy and living forms, especially us. He is personal, relational and Triune. As to His nature or character He is morally perfect, good, kind and loving. He is in a word: nice. As to His abilities He is powerful, all knowing and completely aware of all that is going on. He is outside of time and there He doesn't age or need a rest, ever.

Christianity teaches that in the beginning of human history our first parents/ancestors disobeyed God's command and the result is we are now separated and estranged from Him. All of us make choices that perpetuate this aloofness. Yet this God has gone to great lengths because He is willing to rescue us and wants to restore the relationship we have ruined.

Christianity therefore is not a matter of churchgoing, ceremonies, creeds or conduct. Although it embraces all of these in different forms/styles it is fundamentally about Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him.