(Written in 2011)
Dearest ……,
“The media sees what is wrong with the world and exposes it; Christ saw what was wrong and died for it. If one could gaze into the image being created within the heart of the church, one would find that it would be more the cynical attitude of the news media than the redemptive attitude of our Shepherd. Righteousness must ascend higher than ascribing to the moral views of our political party; we are called to the standards of God.”~ Francis Frangipane, “Not Judgemental, But Prayer-mental”
I was very touched when I read this, and would like to share this with you!
When I read about what was happening in Malaysia, I felt very sad and distraught. I’ve grown up loving the multicultural, multiracial harmony that Malaysia has. One of my best friends in secondary school was a Malay…and I was proud of my unique nation, and am still proud of it (as this multicultural, multiracial harmony still exists)… however, there is a tear in the relationship among certain groups with different ideas… and in this season, some people are becoming angry at the injustice they see. Some people have become so discontent that they become disrespectful of those in authority and hurl bitter insults. Of course, some people are more rational. I believe that these are times when we are all the more called to intercede and ask God to heal our land. We need the Holy Spirit’s help to empower us to extend the Love and Mercy of Christ, even as we seek for social justice.
Recently, two articles from Francis Frangipane caught my eye and gave me a timely reminder that we are to love our nation (as broken as it may be) just like Moses loved complaining and sinful Israel. Moses loved with such a passion, that he wouldn’t allow God to “destroy” Israel (reminding me of Abraham and Sodom). Moses bargained with God, requesting Him to extend grace. And to what extent was Moses’ love? To the extent that Moses was willing to give his own life in place of the Israelites.
The sadistic and tyrannical Nero reigned during the time when Apostle Paul was alive… no nation today has experienced having its citizens fed to the lions for public entertainment of the masses! However, even under such an unjust ruler and system, Paul behaved in a manner that was always very respectful to the people that God placed in authority. Despite his chains, Paul gained an audience with them and was able to share the gospel with different rulers precisely because of the fact that he loves those in authority and prayed for them regularly (1 Timothy 2:1-2). (In the Old Testament, some leaders of the Persian kingdom were also known for their atrocities and brutality towards their enemies. However, Nehemiah, Ezra, Daniel and his friends, Esther, etc come to mind. When I think of the tense-filled political situation in Malaysia today. I pray that many Christians will be full of mature Christ-like love towards those that God has set in authority in Malaysia, so that they might be people of positive influence at the right time when God allows them the opportunity to do so.)
In a way, I’m glad that JAIS paid DUMC a visit. I don’t think any government would insidious alliances to be formed. I’m glad that they were asked to check on DUMC. I believe that Pastor Daniel Ho and his church are people who respect those in the government, and hence, this was a non-issue later. The Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim understood this and issued an apology for what has happened. People might try to incite more arguments and conflict over the matter, however, if we keep our focus on God and what God wants us to do and respond, we will respond in the right manner.
Hurt people, hurt people; loved people, love people… hence, we must bask in the Love of God, in order to love with the Love of God. It is not that we should not point out what is wrong, but, we should be careful not to demonize, be condemnatory in tone, or even keep harping on wrongs… (Proverbs 17:9 ….whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.) 1 Timothy 5:1 of the New International Version (NIV) says, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.” Instead of using the word exhort, many other Bible verses use entreat, which means “to plead with especially in order to persuade”. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) Through the Grace of God, when we do have the right chance and place to speak out, what we say will not provoke needlessly, but instead bring reconciliation and restoration.
In this email, I’ve attached the two articles that have greatly blessed me:
1) Not Judgmental, But Prayer-mental (http://www.facebook.com/notes/ministries-of-francis-frangipane/not-judgmental-but-prayer-mental/10150270101587252)
and
2)”The Commitment of An Intercessor” (http://www.facebook.com/notes/ministries-of-francis-frangipane/the-commitment-of-an-intercessor/10150250870017252).
A friend of mine from my seminary pointed out that civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. was whom he looked up to. I agree that social justice is part of the gospel. When I read Francis’ articles, I was reminded of the attitude that we must hold… Vindictive or redemptive words makes a difference… the Holy Spirit points out our faults to redeem us, not to accuse us (unlike the Accuser of the Brethren in Revelations). Hence, Jesus spoke the Truth; but Jesus spoke the Truth with such Perfect Love, that He died even for His enemies and He interceded for them, even as He was placed on the Cross. Such amazing love!
One of my Malaysian friends (whose name is also Francis) said: ” The redemptive part still needs a voice that’s why we had a peaceful protest otherwise we would be in a very difficult situation. We are not against the man in the system but against the system of the man (which is opposed to what is right).” Agreed.
I think you’ll like some of Martin Luther King Jr’s quotes related to peaceful protest… “The way of acquiescence leads to moral and spiritual suicide. The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But the way of nonviolence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community.”
“There are certain things we can say about this method that seeks justice without violence. It does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent but to win his friendship and understanding….”
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.”
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
And my favorite… “But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends. The type of love… is not eros…not philia… but it is agape which is understanding goodwill for all men. It is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. It is the love of God working in the lives of men. This is the love that may well be the salvation of our civilization.”
So, yes, I believe that we should seek justice in our nation, and at the same time, we must be careful to not allow bitterness to taint our hearts, so much so that we lose our love for the people that God loves… God loves our “enemies”, and wants us to love them as He loves them. I pray that God protect our hearts, so that we continue to be so full of His Passion and Love, as we gaze upon Him who died on the Cross for our sins, that we will overflow with His Love at all times.
God loves you passionately, I love you too!
Keep in touch!
With love in Christ,
Lilian Yap
