My Journal

A common question, but the answers I've heard are mostly not to the point, useless. Such as at the last Friday's CCCNY Bible study. The pastor's reply was: We are not qualified to judge, it is God's decision, leave it to God.

Yes, we are not better or equal to God. But that's beside the point. The question, especially when asked by a non-Christian, rises from motive questioning God's fairness. So, the question was not answered.

This is a key to identify who has the burden to preach the Gospel. One who has such burden would not play the "Leave it to God" card so hastily. Because the key to answering the question lies in the understanding of sin. One must understand, even for the one who is answering, how serious sin has damaged the relationship between the sinner and God. How we as sinners, are enemies of God, all of us. Once that is understood, it is not likely that one would consider someone worse than a murder to be pardoned so easily. Then, we see the grace of God in full understanding.

A while back, there was a youtube video that went viral. It is Jeff Bethke's "I hate religion, but love Jesus". Kevin DeYoung attempted a seminary examination on Bethke's poem. Subsequently, he thought Bethke listened to him. Did Bethke do anything about his post though? hmm...

Other prominent Christians from Todd Friel to youtube subscribers, even Catholics, have discerned rightly of Bethke's misuse of terminology in a very straight forward way. That Bethke should have used "Legalism" instead of "Religion"...but I supposed that's too unpopular and boring for Bethke's video promotion.

My favorite response is, unfortunately, from an atheist. @ min 5:30, he has put it rightly by saying Bethke's "Religion" and "Jesus" notion is the same as a marketing scheme if Coca-Cola advertise: hate "Soda", but love "Coke". Aside from being an atheist with many profane language, I give him two thumbs up for rightly pointing out the problem.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Tim Keller aligns himself with Bethke or vice versa, which appears to be evident on youtube. My prayer now is on the atheist. There are people with sound mind that needs to submit to Christ.

Yesterday's Advent celebration at Redeemer was excellent. Professional choir singing Christmas choruses with great clarity and dynamics. With only 21 singers, they could blast like a 200 chorister choir.

After lesson readings, some by children, Dr. Tim Keller gave the sermon. The foolish entrance of Christ our Savior is the ultimate wisdom of God. He brought in a good analogy of how had we plan for at least 2000 years of impact of our own teaching, our fame, our glory, we would never think of choosing a manger birth, avoiding politics, and finally going to the cross when success appears to be at hand.

Isaiah 11:1-10 already predicts the coming of the divine. For who can be both shoot (v. 1) and Root (v. 10) of Jesse, but Christ?