Some Issues
I was reading this article on the Star today and pondered about the statements made by our Malaysian Christian leaders. Here are some excerpts:
National Evangelical Christian Fellowship secretary-general Rev Dr Wong Kim Kong said it does not approve marriages of the same sex even after one partner has changed his or her sex. “It’s clearly stated in the Bible. There is no such thing as creation of half-half. Therefore, biologically and genetically, there is only male and female,” he told Bernama. “Therefore, there is no chance it (the marriage) will be condoned by the Christian church. As a religious group, we have to follow the religion based on the Bible.”
This really sounded to me like what one of those American Fundamentalist Christians would say. Is it really that ‘clearly stated in the Bible?’ Not to say I’m encouraging homosexuality and sex change etc (and I’m not saying that they are right either), but… ok… maybe it IS ‘clearly stated in the Bible’… it is clearly stated in the Bible that women should be silent in churches and should not have short hair too. It is clearly stated in the Bible that pork should not be eaten. Is it really clear how these verses should be interpreted? ‘Biologically and genetically, there is only male and female’… what about those born without sexual organs… or with a mixture of both? What if future scientific research shows that some males are born genetically with female tendencies and vice versa? What will the Christians say then? If there are people born without hands and feet; without sight or hearing; what makes us think that it is impossible for people to be born ‘half-half’? Should we make such unfounded statements on issues that we have not yet even begun to understand?
Council of Churches of Malaysia secretary-general Dr Herman Shastri said that while churches do not encourage the practice of sex change, churches had their own approach in recognising such marriages. However, he said the church should not discriminate against a person if he or she has proof of being born with imbalance hormones; was undergoing counseling; that his or her parents do not object to the sex change; and the operation was carried out in a proper medical institution.
I think this response is more reasonable. But after thinking for awhile, I realized: what gives me the right to judge these responses? Would I have been able to offer a better answer? NO!
In Kuching, Chung's adopted brother Brian Choot, who coordinated the wedding, said the couple was prepared to migrate if the situation did not permit them to live as husband and wife.
It’s sad that these people have to resort to such measures. Would Jesus have allowed them to be treated as outcasts of society?
While visiting some of the sites linked from Sivin Kit’s Garden, I read this article and its response. It’s sad… that one can talk this way about another person’s death. Who does he think he is?
Meanwhile, Pat Robertson is at it again…
Conservative Christian television evangelist Pat Robertson has warned citizens of a Pennsylvania town of God's wrath after they voted a school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design". Robertson, a former Republican presidential candidate and founder of the influential conservative Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition, has a long record of similar apocalyptic warnings and provocative statements. "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected him from your city," Robertson said on his TV show broadcast from Virginia, The 700 Club. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. If that's the case, don't ask for his help because he might not be there."
Jesus taught us to love our enemies… but who would have thought that our greatest enemies… those that we may find the most difficult to love… can turn out to be fellow Christians?
National Evangelical Christian Fellowship secretary-general Rev Dr Wong Kim Kong said it does not approve marriages of the same sex even after one partner has changed his or her sex. “It’s clearly stated in the Bible. There is no such thing as creation of half-half. Therefore, biologically and genetically, there is only male and female,” he told Bernama. “Therefore, there is no chance it (the marriage) will be condoned by the Christian church. As a religious group, we have to follow the religion based on the Bible.”
This really sounded to me like what one of those American Fundamentalist Christians would say. Is it really that ‘clearly stated in the Bible?’ Not to say I’m encouraging homosexuality and sex change etc (and I’m not saying that they are right either), but… ok… maybe it IS ‘clearly stated in the Bible’… it is clearly stated in the Bible that women should be silent in churches and should not have short hair too. It is clearly stated in the Bible that pork should not be eaten. Is it really clear how these verses should be interpreted? ‘Biologically and genetically, there is only male and female’… what about those born without sexual organs… or with a mixture of both? What if future scientific research shows that some males are born genetically with female tendencies and vice versa? What will the Christians say then? If there are people born without hands and feet; without sight or hearing; what makes us think that it is impossible for people to be born ‘half-half’? Should we make such unfounded statements on issues that we have not yet even begun to understand?
Council of Churches of Malaysia secretary-general Dr Herman Shastri said that while churches do not encourage the practice of sex change, churches had their own approach in recognising such marriages. However, he said the church should not discriminate against a person if he or she has proof of being born with imbalance hormones; was undergoing counseling; that his or her parents do not object to the sex change; and the operation was carried out in a proper medical institution.
I think this response is more reasonable. But after thinking for awhile, I realized: what gives me the right to judge these responses? Would I have been able to offer a better answer? NO!
In Kuching, Chung's adopted brother Brian Choot, who coordinated the wedding, said the couple was prepared to migrate if the situation did not permit them to live as husband and wife.
It’s sad that these people have to resort to such measures. Would Jesus have allowed them to be treated as outcasts of society?
While visiting some of the sites linked from Sivin Kit’s Garden, I read this article and its response. It’s sad… that one can talk this way about another person’s death. Who does he think he is?
Meanwhile, Pat Robertson is at it again…
Conservative Christian television evangelist Pat Robertson has warned citizens of a Pennsylvania town of God's wrath after they voted a school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design". Robertson, a former Republican presidential candidate and founder of the influential conservative Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition, has a long record of similar apocalyptic warnings and provocative statements. "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected him from your city," Robertson said on his TV show broadcast from Virginia, The 700 Club. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. If that's the case, don't ask for his help because he might not be there."
Jesus taught us to love our enemies… but who would have thought that our greatest enemies… those that we may find the most difficult to love… can turn out to be fellow Christians?
posted by sojourner @ Tuesday, November 15, 2005
3 comments
3 Comments:
Agree with you lar! Alot of modern day pharisee nowadays.i agree with the email about ppl being like Job's friends think they know the answer. Regarding the sex change thingie, one pastor told me of someone in his congregation born with both male and female genetelia. It's more than enuff that a young child can bear. Imagine a young child of 12 have to deal not only with indentity crisis, but have to deal with emotional and social stigmata as well. So these things happen in real life lor. The thing is how will the church respond to these cases and what are christian's responsibility to it.
I have started a discussion on this issue in the think_avenue yahoo groups. Would love your inputs. Like I said in one of my posts - 'When we look back at scriptures, the Bible paints an extremely different picture of the early day church. In His days, Jesus kinda attracted the 'wrong-kind' of crowd - the lepers (equivalent to our modern day AIDS patients), the adultress, prostitutes, corrupt tax collectors, the poor and the dirty. While at the same time, the morally-good people - the Jewish priests, politicians, the rich and educated were appalled by His teachings.'
I hope we Malaysian Christians will not go down the same path as the Americans and degenerate the entire issue into a war between the 'morally-right' and the 'liberals'
Foundamentalist vs Liberalist. I believe one day we will find an answer in all these kinds of questions in our own time. Not to say I dont have a stand, but as the years goes, I have learnt alot from my walk with God. We will all learn to make decisions with the questions in mind, "What will Jesus do if he were in our shoes today?". I respect Rev. Wong KK for not only his position but his strength and humility for the Christian community. Its unfair to just criticise him for making a stand. You must understand why he said what he said. He represents the Christian voice in Malaysia and his words hold much weight compared to you or me. I believe that as long as we love people, lines of gray will no longer exist. shalom.
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