Editorial ] Hope cannot be defined as a thing in itself. One cannot say that one has hope without identifying in whom or what one has hoped in. To hope is to put our trust and confidence in something or someone. Hope must have an object. Biblical hope cannot be defined outside of the object on which that hope is placed in: Jesus Christ, who is the object of our hope for salvation. In this edition, we study what it means to have Christ as the object of our hope and what happens when we place our hope on something other than Christ. We live in a world that puts confidence in material things. With so much emphasis on what is seen, it becomes increasingly difficult to place our hope on what is unseen. When trials and tribulations come, most of us are prone to take matters into our own hands without consulting the Lord. We put our confidence in ourselves or in material things like money rather than putting our confidence in Christ’s abilities. Before we know it, we have set one foot on Christ and one foot on the World. Slowly but surely, we lose warmth in our relationship with Christ and become practitioners of lukewarm Christianity. The dangerousness of lukewarm Christianity cannot be overstated. A Christian’s fading enthusiasm for God and His Word is a reflection of the strength of his or her confidence in Christ, the hope of our salvation. To lose fire for the Lord is to lose confidence in Christ’s love, ability, and identity. Placing our hope in something or someone other than Christ is also an act of idolatry. What happened to the Church of Laodicea in Revelations 3 illustrates how idolatry can cloud one’s judgment and self-perception and cause spiritual blindness. The Church of Laodicea placed their hope in their material riches and believed that they are rich; however the Lord declared them to be spiritually “wretched, pitiable, (and) poor” in reality (Revelations 3:17).The Church of Laodicea thought that their eyes can see when they were actually spiritually blind (Revelations 3:17). The Lord exhorted the Church of Laodicea to be zealous and to repent
CHRISTMAS 2011
Advisors Rev. Wilson Suwanto Daniel Loe Editors Rachel Atmadja Kenny Gozali Merissa Halim Hubert Kusdono Jocelyn Lee-Tindage Hendry Wijaya Designers Buddy Chung Harold Doryumu Eva Leony Michael Matunry Fransisca Sugianto Vincent Yobeanto Cover Page Buddy Chung Printing Semiwati Oei E-mail
[email protected] Production of GII Azusa 539 N. Sunset Ave. Azusa, CA 91702 Telp: (626) 812-0326 http://lax.gii-usa.org Christmas 2011
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Christmas 2011
N
6TH ST.
AZUSA ave.
2
foothill blvd.
SAN GABRIEL ave.
Agape Team
Senior Pastor: Rev. Kristianto Hosea Associate Pastor: Rev. Wilson Suwanto
ANGELENO ave.
Regards,
539 N. Sunset Ave. Azusa, CA 91702
SUNSET ave.
-from ‘My Hope is Built on Nothing Less’ by Edward Mote
Indonesian Evangelical Church, Los Angeles
ORANGE ave.
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.
Contributors Janice Atmadja Tjandra Afandi Lany Kiatkwankul Marie Kusdono Andrew Kusnohadi Anna Marhero Rev. Wilson Suwanto Pdt. Dr. Stephen Tong David Wangsa The Babies' Parents IEC Members
vernon ave.
from lukewarm Christianity (Revelation 3:18). He counseled Laodicea to discard their reliance on themselves and material riches and instead look to the real hope that is found in Christ. In Romans 1, Paul unabashedly declares the futility of an idolatrous heart. He declared idolatrous people to be “foolish and darkened,” that “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him” (Romans 1:21a). A person who does not hope in the Lord lives under the illusion that he can control the direction of his life. Centuries later, the modern church still struggles with the problem of lukewarm Christianity.We are no longer on fire for the Lord as the early Christians in the past were. Our waning interest in the study of the Word is an alarming indication that we no longer place a premium on God and His Promises.We find security in material things from money to technology. Regretfully, we treat the Lord as a last resort when all other hope is gone. Let us repent and regain warmth for Christ. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to “put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). We must let go of the illusion that we can hope in anything or anyone other than Christ. Let us regain warmth in our relationship with the Lord as we celebrate the Birth of our Hope for Salvation
5TH ST.
210
4TH ST.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
sister churches
SUNDAY Indonesian Bible Study @9:00 AM Indonesian Service @10:30 AM English Service @10:30 AM Sunday School @10:30 AM Chinese Service @4:00 PM
IEC SAN FRANCISCO 400 Brussels St. San Francisco, CA 94134 Rev. Stephen Hosea - (415) 656-0886 Rev. Saumiman Saud - (415) 494-5371
SATURDAY Young Adult Fellowship @6:00 PM
IEC SACRAMENTO 6656 Park Riviera Way c/o Chinese Grace Bible Church Sacramento, CA 95831 Rev. Fam Muk Thiam - (916) 691-3756
FRIDAY Prayer Meeting @7:30 PM Children Bible Study @7:30 PM TUESDAY English Bible Study @8:00 PM
IEC SAN JOSE 600 W. Campbell Ave. Campbell, CA 95008 Rev. Timotius Tjing - (510) 972-0473
IEC SAN DIEGO 2111 Camino del Rio South c/o First United Methodist Church Trotter Chapel, San Diego, CA 92018 Rev. Stephen Hosea - (415) 656-0886 Christmas 2011
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Contents ]
Featuring
10 The Danger of Lukewarmenss 24 Hope in the Midst Crisis Part I 46 Solid Rock or Sinking Sand
By David Wangsa
“Pray and Let God Worry” adalah salah satu ucapan dari Martin Luther yang sangat bermakna. Kata worry dapat digunakan dalam dua konteks yang cukup berbeda.
5 Pray and Let God Worry Do you have comments, ideas or suggestions related to
33 Hope in the Midst of Crisis Part III
Pertama, worry dapat berarti kuatir/khawatir
Pergumulan untuk memecahkan persoa-
seperti dalam kalimat: “Don’t make your par-
lan yang tengah dihadapi. Pergumulan un-
ents worry” (“Jangan membuat orang tuamu
tuk mencari jalan keluar. Pergumulan untuk
Agape Magazine or GII
41 Christmas 2011 Wish List
kuatir”). Di lain pihak worry juga dapat ber-
mencari jawaban. Lepas dari konteks yang
Azusa?
44 Just Stuttering?
makna berusaha mencari penyelesaian sep-
manapun, kedua-duanya mengandung makna
erti dalam penggunaan: “She kept worrying
ketidaktahuan atau ketidakpastian.
Please email it to
[email protected]
52 The Christian Pilgrimage
at the problem all day” (“Ia berusaha mem-
or send it to one of our
58 Hope in Hell's Despair
ecahkan persoalan tersebut sepanjang hari”).
Kalau kita bicara soal worry yang leb-
staff.
62 The True Master
Di dalam konteks yang pertama ada terkan-
ih condong kepada "kekuatiran", maka
dung unsur ketakutan. Takut akan sesuatu
cukup
yang tidak diketahui. Takut akan sesuatu yang
utarakan terutama jika anda hidup di
we're also online:
4
28 Hope in the Midst of Crisis Part II
65 Wise Gifts
banyak
topik
yang
kita
bisa
www.gii-usa.org/
69 Baby's First Christmas
buruk yang mungkin akan terjadi. Konteks
Amerika Serikat akhir-akhir ini. Resesi eko-
agape.php
72 Comic Strip: The Christmas Present
yang kedua mengandung unsur pergumulan.
nomi yang sedang melanda dunia saat ini
Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011
5
menghemat biaya. Mengurangi pengeluar-
yang kewajibannya dapat digandakan atau
menjadi luar biasa. Hal ini bisa menyebab-
an-pengeluaran yang tidak perlu. Sampai-
dialihkan kepada pekerja lain. Cepat atau
kan penderitaan yang menyeluruh atas
sampai memotong gaji karyawan agar ti-
lambat akan tiba saatnya untuk menempat-
suatu bangsa atau negara. Mari kita tengok
dak perlu mengurangi jumlah pekerja lagi.
kan diri kita di daftar tersebut. Kita juga
kondisi kekuatiran yang mendorong pend-
Bahkan
besar
kuatir berapa lama lagikah majikan kita ma-
eritaan di sekitar kita.
yang sudah mapan di arena bisnis tiba-tiba
sih mampu menjalankan usahanya sehingga
sar hutang negara mereka pada saat mer-
hilang dari peredaran. Perusahaan saingan
kita tidak perlu kehilangan pekerjaan. Ma-
eka beranjak dewasa dan siap terjun ke
Sebagai sarjana yang baru lulus atau
kita menurunkan tawaran tender mereka
kin lama makin besar peluang kita untuk
masyarakat? Bagaimana dengan kehidupan
seorang pencari kerja kita kuatir apakah
(dimana kita juga ikut bersaing) sampai ke
kehilangan pekerjaan. Kita makin kuatir.
sosial mereka di tengah-tengah masyara-
kita akan mendapatkan pekerjaan yang kita
tingkat "tidak untung pun tidak apa asal
Kita makin stress. Penderitaan yang terus
kat yang sangat liberal yang makin men-
inginkan ataupun kita butuhkan pada saat
menang tender” demi mendapat proyek
mendera.
jauh dari Allah. Makin kita pikirkan makin
angka pengangguran mencapai 9.2% dari
tersebut agar memperpanjang peluang
total lapangan pekerjaan. Bukan saja para
hidup perusahaan mereka. Lalu perusa-
Sebagai orang tua kita kuatir tentang masa
hidup mereka menderita karena polah
pengusaha mengurangi jumlah karyawan,
haan kita ini bagaimana? Berapa lama lagi
depan keluarga kita terutama anak cucu
dari generasi sebelum mereka.
sebagian mereka juga menutup lowongan
usaha kita ini dapat berjalan dalam kondisi
kita. Kita kuatir apakah kita akan terus
(hiring-freeze) sehingga jumlah perusahaan
seperti ini. Kekuatiran meningkat. Akibat-
mampu untuk merawat, memberi makan,
Masih banyak lagi yang dapat kita sebutkan
yang masih mencari karyawan berkurang
nya kesehatan kita menurun. Hidup kita
mendidik dan mengasihi mereka hari demi
satu per satu, namun, sebagai orang-orang
sedangkan jumlah pencari kerja bertam-
pun menderita.
hari. Kita kuatir apakah suatu hari kelak
percaya yang mengenal Allah yang hidup
kita akan kehilangan tempat berteduh kita
kita perlu tahu apa yang Allah Firmankan
perusahaan-perusahaan
bah. Akibatnya peluang kita mendapatkan
6
Worry are caused by: 1) Knowing our inability to answer the uncertainty of the future 2) Not-knowing God’s ability.
mendorong kadar kekuatiran yang biasa
kita kuatir. Makin pusing. Kita tidak ingin
pekerjaan makin mengecil. Saingan pun
Sebagai karyawan kita kuatir apakah pe-
kalau kondisi ekonomi tidak juga membaik.
tentang kekuatiran. Kalau kita boleh jujur,
bertambah. Indeks kekuatiran kita pun
kerjaan kita aman. Pada saat kita melihat
Bagaimana kalau sampai hal itu terjadi? Di
acapkali kekuatiran itu disebabkan oleh
meningkat. Hidup pun jadi menderita.
produktivitas perusahaan tempat kita
mana kita akan tinggal? Siapa yang akan
dua hal yang berlangsung bersamaan:
bekerja menurun dalam arti tidak ada
menolong kita? Bagaimana dengan studi
1. Sangat kenal akan ketidakmampuan kita
Sebagai usahawan kita kuatir apakah usaha
pesanan-pesanan baru sedangkan proyek-
mereka? Dari mana kita dapat membiayai
2. Tidak kenal akan kemampuan Allah
kita akan dapat bertahan sampai resesi
proyek yang sedang berjalan hampir ram-
mereka sampai selesai perguruan tinggi?
berakhir. Segala upaya kita lakukan untuk
pung semuanya, kita mulai mereka-reka
Bagaimana dengan hutang Amerika Serikat
Segala pertanyaan yang kita kemukakan
mengatur cash-flow perusahaan. Gonta-
dan menyusun daftar orang-orang di dalam
yang saat ini sebesar 14 triliun dollar. Bera-
di atas berasal dari ketidakmampuan
ganti perusahaan asuransi kesehatan untuk
perusahaan yang kita anggap expendable,
pa besar jadinya tahun depan? Berapa be-
kita untuk menemukan jawaban mer-
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7
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear ... 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ... 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow ..." (Matthew 6:25-34) 25
apa yang hendak kamu pakai…. Siapakah
dan luka. Dengan pemikiran yang sama,
di antara kamu yang karena kekuatirannya
kita juga tidak tahu apakah ekonomi akan
dapat menambahkan sehasta saja pada ja-
membaik atau memburuk beberapa bu-
lan hidupnya?.... Sebab itu janganlah kamu
kita tahu bahwa pertolongan kita datang-
lan di depan. Lebih jauh lagi kita juga tidak
kuatir akan hari besok,…”
nya dari Allah yang menciptakan langit dan bumi. Banyak orang yang menyatakan
tahu apakah kita akan kehilangan tempat tinggal kita terlepas dari apakah kondisi
Martin Luther melandaskan ucapannya
bahwa penderitaan membawa mereka
ekonomi membaik atau tidak di masa yang
“Pray and Let God Worry” atas janji Al-
lebih dekat kepada Allah. Mereka lebih
eka. Pada saat kita bertanya “Apakah kita
akan datang. Jadi kekuatiran kita akan hal-
lah melalui firman tersebut di atas. Seperti
sering datang ke gereja. Kalau dulunya
akan kehilangan tempat tinggal kita kalau
hal yang di depan tersebut hanya menjadi
Luther kita sepatutnya mempercayai janji
pergi ke gereja itu hanya kalau ada kes-
kondisi ekonomi ini tidak juga membaik?”
beban dalam kehidupan kita. Beban yang
Allah tersebut dengan sikap yang sama.
empatan, maka sekarang di dalam kesem-
saat itu juga kita menyatakan ketidak-
“mencuri” sukacita kita. Beban yang meng-
Tahu akan ketidakmampuan kita men-
pitan mereka menemukan banyak waktu
mampuan kita untuk menjawabnya. Kita
hambat kehidupan kita. Beban yang mem-
gadapi penderitaan hidup ini. Kemudian,
untuk datang ke gereja. Mereka juga lebih
tidak tahu apa yang akan terjadi beberapa
buat hidup ini menderita.
membawanya di dalam doa kita kepada
banyak meluangkan waktu untuk memba-
Allah, dan akhirnya percaya bahwa Allah
ca Alkitab. Tetapi kunci utama yang harus
detik di muka kita. Mungkin kita pernah mengalami hal yang mirip dengan ilustrasi
Bila demikian halnya, apa yang dapat kita
akan memberikan jalan keluar pada wak-
dilakukan adalah membawa kekuatiran
ini: “Aku tadi sedang jalan di depan rumah.
lakukan agar kita tidak perlu kuatir akan
tunya. “Let God Worry” bermakna “Allah
kita di dalam doa kepada Allah. Dengan
Tiba-tiba dari bawah mobil muncul seekor
hal-hal yang tidak kita ketahui akan atau-
yang menyelesaikan persoalan kita” atau
berdoa kita mengikut sertakan Allah di
kucing yang lari sangat cepat karena dike-
pun tidak akan terjadi di masa depan kita?
“Allah yang akan memberi jalan keluar.”
dalam pergumulan kita. Dengan berdoa
jar anjing tetangga. Karena kejadiannya
Di sinilah “Pray and Let God Worry” me-
Kita perlu perhatikan bahwa ada dua
kita merendahkan diri kita di hadapan Al-
sangat mendadak kaki kanan yang sedang
miliki makna yang sangat penting bagi kita.
hal yang tersirat di dalam ucapan Luther
lah, mengakui ketidakmampuan kita dan
melangkah terantuk kucing tersebut. Aki-
Matius 6:25-34 mencatat perkataan Tuhan
tersebut. Berdoa, dan berserah kepada
memohon pertolongan tangan Allah yang
batnya aku terjatuh, kaki kiriku terkilir,
Yesus yang khusus membahas tentang
Allah (jangan kuatir lagi).
maha kuasa. Seperti seorang Bapak yang
dan sikuku terluka.” Bila kita tahu apa
kekuatiran. Inti dari bagian alkitab ini ialah
yang akan terjadi satu detik sebelum kuc-
8
When we pray, we humble ourselves before God, admitting our incompetency - Pray.
ya, kita tidak tahu dan akibatnya kita jatuh
tengah memperhatikan anak-Nya yang Berdoa (Pray). Seringkali pada saat hidup
berusaha menyusun beberapa kubus kayu
ing tersebut lari memotong langkah kita,
"…Janganlah kuatir akan hidupmu, akan apa
kita mencapai titik kekuatiran atau pend-
untuk membentuk sebuah bangun. Allah
pasti kita akan menahan langkah kita dan
yang hendak kamu makan atau minum, dan
eritaan tertentu kita mulai mencari per-
akan memperhatikan kita anak-anakNya
menghindari kecelakaan tersebut. Faktan-
janganlah kuatir pula akan tubuhmu, akan
tolongan. Sebagai orang-orang percaya,
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9
Our souls cannot be idle. If we feel disinterested about certain things, then we will feel excited about other things. When people are not interested in Christ, they are actually excited about
By Reverend Wilson Suwanto
other things, like worldly pursuit and others. In short, it is impossible to be excited about Christ and sin at the same time. Such possibility simply does not exist.
Somebody might say, “But I know somebody who is active in the church ministry, and at the same time, is active in cheating others in his business. In fact, he gives much money to the church.” Well, he seems active and excited about the things of God, but in actuality, he is not interested at all. In other words, outwardly speaking, he looks active, but inwardly, he is indifferent about Christ. Honestly speaking, he does not care about God. When it looks like that he cares about the church, he sees some selfish gains in doing so.
10
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The above example is the prime example of lukewarmness.
gets it wrong. His desire for the things of
devotion as it is clear from Jesus’ word: “You
He is neither hot nor cold. He leads a double life, and he
this world will dampen his fire for the Lord.
shall love the Lord your God with all your
believes that he can be passionate about God and the world
His love of the world will reduce the space
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
at the same time. A lukewarm person is someone who does
of his love for God.
mind” (Matthew 22:37).
not care about God, or who is indifferent about the things of
God desires a wholehearted
The antithesis between the love for
God. He is called a “lukewarm” Christian because he looks and
God and the love for the world is clearly
acts like a Christian. He goes to the church regularly, he sings
written by the Apostle John, “Do not love the
Christian hymns, he is baptized in the church, and so forth.
world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). They are like water and
Jesus Christ rebukes the church in Laodicea not because they do not go to the church anymore. In fact, the Laodiceans are proud of their church that they feel that they lack nothing (Revelation 3:17). Apparently, the church is going through the motion. It is business as usual, Sunday after Sunday.They retain the form of the Christianity, but they lose the essence. In a way, they have lost their first love (compare Revelation 2:4).
fire.They neutralize instead of complementing each other. God also makes it clear that He is a jealous God in the sense that He demands our full devotion, and He deserves it anyway. He loves us to the fullest extent with everything He has, including giving up His only Son for our salvation.
WHAT CAUSES LUKEWARMNESS?
1
12
Lukewarmness is caused by divided loyalty.
2
Lukewarmness is caused by idolatry
The lukewarm Christian believes that he can serve
Related to cause #1 above, idols entice our
both God and the world. He knows that he needs God, but
heart and drag it farther from God. The
he finds the world attractive. He believes that his devotion
first idols do is distracting us from God and
to God is unaffected by his worldly pursuit. This is where he
His love, and this causes divided loyalty as
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13
described in #1, but they do not stop
failure. Many people remember God when
the formula of our success and to find it within us. We hope to
there. They continue to distract us with
they fail, but very few Christians remember
reproduce the success and teach others how to reproduce it.We
more worldly things and promises that
God when they succeed in something.When
lose sight of the most important factor in our “success,” that is
we are drifting away from God. We can
we fail, we realize how imperfect and fallible
God’s grace.
say that lukewarmness is a slow and
we are. That humble recognition helps us
What is even more dangerous about success is that what
gradual process instead of an overnight
acknowledge God and His grace. When
we often call “success” is actually failure in God’s eyes. Think
phenomenon. The attractiveness of those
we succeed, we are often tempted to find
about the church in Laodicea.They think that they are successful
idols like greed, lust, covetousness, and so
because of their wealth, stable ministry, and their city’s fame.While
forth makes us remember God less, and
these things are not bad in themselves, making them indicators
they continue to overwhelm us until we forget God and His love for us. At this point, the process of becoming lukewarm achieves its objective, namely that person ignores God altogether. Thankfully, God does not allow His children to continue in that lukewarm state. God allows emptiness, meaninglessness, and despair to trouble the conscience of a lukewarm Christian. That is how God rebukes and revives the person, just like Jesus came to the church in Laodicea with His strong rebuke about their condition.
Complacency of success is very bad, and in fact, sinful. The church in Laodicea feels that they do not need anything else.They are satisfied with their condition, and they feel successful. We call this mentality “complacency.” Complacency is a form of spiritual pride because the person believes that he has reached the climax of something. He believes that he does not to learn anything else, or there is nothing better for him out there. The Bible tells us that we live in a fallen world. Nothing in this world is perfect, and that includes our spiritual growth.We
3
Lukewarmness is caused by complacency
Success is often more dangerous than 14
Christmas 2011
should never stop growing. We should never think that we have reached a certain level of spiritual maturity that we do not need to pursue further knowledge of God. Complacency is an attitude Christmas 2011
15
of self-sufficiency, and it shuts itself from further growth, repentance,
but Jesus rebukes them as being poor, naked,
The worst thing that lukewarmness can do
and God himself. Instead of a spiritual maturity, complacency is a
and blind. Jesus’ evaluation of the church
is to deprive us of the real hope that Christ
spiritual decline. It fails to look to the future where Christ will come
is 180 degrees different from the church’s
offers. The lukewarm church believes that
back, and we will be made perfect just like Christ. It fails to look
self-evaluation. Lukewarmness truly blinds
it has arrived at the heavenly city. What a
forward to the better city, not built by human hands but by God himself.
us to God’s point of view.
sad outlook! God promises us a better
False Hope
city made by His hand, but we prefer this
2
It gives us false hope
mediocre city made by our own hands.
Since the church in Laodicea
God says that the best is yet to come, but
feels that it is self-sufficient, it resists any
we prefer the “good enough” reality. The
reformation, change, or further growth.
problem is that the things of this world will
Their only hope is to maintain their present
pass away, and those who put their hope in the present world will lose hope. If they
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF LUKEWARMNESS?
1
It blinds us to our spiritual condition before God Jesus calls the church of Laodicea “blind” (v. 17).
Lukewarmness blinds us to the true condition of our spiritual life. We think that we are okay, and we do not need anything. We do not need to grow in our walk with God. We believe that we have reached the peak of our spiritual journey, and nothing else needs to be done.This is very dangerous. It deludes us into thinking that we are okay with God, and that whatever we do will be approved by God. It replaces the true God with the idols of our creation. The church in Laodicea thinks that they are fine before the Lord, 16
Christmas 2011
spiritual condition. They are satisfied with that.The problem is that spiritual condition is not a static thing. It either moves forward or backward. It cannot stay still. Stagnancy is decline.When the church does not grow, it does not stay where it is; it is moving backward. To think that we can remain where we are and not decline is to believe in false hope. Jesus tells the Laodiceans that they are naked, poor, and blind. False evaluation leads to false hope.
do not look forward to the new Jerusalem, what is left after the passing of this world? Nothing. They deprive themselves of the true and real hope that God offers. They believe that they have their best life now already. All believers look forward to the future where Christ’s great kingdom will come to earth, the perfect creation, and the eternal bliss. Our idea of “best” is nothing compared to God’s idea of best. What He will provide for us far exceeds
3
It deprives us of the true hope
our expectation, imagination, and in fact, experience. What we never see, hear Christmas 2011
17
or touch, those things will be provided
trouble. This recognition will drive us to
When we look back to the first moment when we believed, we can recognize how far we
by God in the new heaven and earth.
Christ for forgiveness.
have moved from our first love for God. When we first encountered Jesus through the
Lukewarmness is very dangerous because it robs Christians of the hope that belongs
Gospel, our hearts were on fire for the Lord. Lukewarmness has dampened that fire. Hidden
2
The cross of Christ
idols have extinguished that fire. God’s word speaks to us and revives our conscience, and
The shame and grief that comes
we remember the cross. This is how we regain the fire for the Lord that we once had in
Having identified the causes and
from our lukewarm attitude should drive
the past. We will not be complacent, and we will never forget again how God loves us. In
dangers of lukewarmness, let us proceed
us back to the cross. How can we be
fact, whenever we lose the first love again, we know right away that hidden idols are on the
with the remedies.
indifferent and ungrateful for what Christ
attack, and divided loyalty is preparing its way, and complacency starts to kick in. Flee to
to them in Christ.
Christ, and remember that we have been united with Christ. He loved us, and He saved us with His blood. He continues to pray for us as our High Priest in heaven. This should keep
What are the remedies to
did for us on the cross? How can we be
spiritual lukewarmness?
untouched and cold to Jesus’ suffering and
us humble, awake, grateful, and always on fire for Him. [MH]
death for our sake? Romans 5:8 reminds
1
Humble recognition and
that while we were still sinners, Christ
confession
has died for us. In other words, while
Indonesian Translation
Bahayanya Suam-Suam Kuku
First, we need to recognize and confess
our conscience was dead and unable
our spiritual pride and complacency, and
to respond to God, Christ has suffered
Tidaklah mungkin seorang manusia mempunyai
ask God to forgive us. Lukewarmness
and died for us. While we did not know
hati yang tunduk kepada Tuhan dan dosa pada
numbs our conscience, but recognition
Him at all, He has done everything to
saat yang bersamaan. Memang kita mungkin
Orang-orang seperti ini dikatakan di dalam
of our own sins and pride remove that
earn our salvation. Beside contrition and
pernah melihat seorang yang aktif di dalam
Alkitab sebagai orang-orang yang suam-suam
numbness, and reawaken our conscience
repentance, our hearts are filled with
gereja dan aktif juga berbuat curang di dalam
kuku (tidak panas atau dingin). Mereka telah
to the fact that we are unworthy sinners
thanksgiving and joy for the cross. This
business dia.Walaupun uang itu akan diberikan
berhasil membohongi dirinya sendiri untuk
who stand in the presence of the holy God.
will rekindle the fire that has disappeared
untuk gereja, dia hanya terlihat aktif bekerja
berpikir bahwa mereka bisa dekat kepada
We cannot and will not be indifferent and
in the cloud of lukewarmness.
untuk Tuhan padahal dia sama sekali tidak
Tuhan dan dunia pada saat yang bersamaan.
tertarik akan Tuhan. Kebayakan orang yang
Tuhan Yesus menghardik jemaat di Laodikia
demikian aktif di dalam gereja karena melihat
dan menyebut mereka jemaat suam-suam
lukewarm to the things of God because we realize that we are in spiritual crisis and 18
Christmas 2011
3
First love for God
adanya keuntungan bagi dirinya sendiri.
Christmas 2011
19
kuku karena mereka telah kehilangan kasih
memerlukan waktu, bukan sekejap mata.
rohani kita sesungguhnya. Kita berpikir bahwa
sekarang. Mereka melupakan bahwa dunia
yang mula-mula. Mereka menyamakan gereja
Ketertarikan berhala seperti tamak dan napsu
kita baik dan kita tidak memerlukan apa-apa
yang sekarang ini hanyalah sebentar dan tidak
seperti tempat kerja, yaitu untuk mencari
daging akan membuat manusia melupakan
lagi. Bahkan kita bisa berpikir apa pun yang kita
untuk selamanya. Mereka melupakan akan janji
keuntungan.
Tuhan dan melupakan kasih Tuhan untuk kita
lakukan adalah baik di mata Tuhan dan ini akan
Tuhan tentang Yerusalem yang baru.
orang yang berdosa.
membuat kita menganti Tuhan dengan berhala
Apa penyebab suam-suam kuku?
1
Kesetiaan yang tidak penuh atau terbagi
Mereka percaya kalau mereka bisa melayani
yang kita ciptakan.
3
Bagaimana kita berpaling dari suam-suam kuku?
Kecukupan Seringkali sukses lebih berbahaya
daripada kegagalan. Manusia lebih gampang mengingat Tuhan ketika mereka gagal daripada
2
Salah pengharapan Karena gereja Laodikia menganggap
kalau mereka berkecukupan dan baik, maka
1
Sadar dan pengakuan Kita harus bisa menyadari dan
Tuhan dan dunia pada saat yang bersamaan. sewaktu mereka berhasil meraih sesuatu.
mereka menolak perubahan dan pertumbuhan. mengakui akan kesombongan rohani dan
Mereka ini merupakan orang-orang naïf
Kita gampang sekali melupakan bahwa
Sama halnya dengan kita ketika kita telah
perasaan cukup kita dan meminta Tuhan untuk
karena mereka tidak menyadari bahwa kita
keberhasilan kita pun merupakan anugrah
menjadi suam-suam kuku, maka kita akan
mengampuni kita. Suam-suam kuku akan
mulai memperkecil tempat di dalam hati
dari Tuhan. Jadi apa yang kita sebut “sukses”
menolak sindiran dan pertumbuhan rohani. membuat hati kita menjadi kebal dan tidak
untuk Tuhan dan mengisinya dengan hal-hal
belum berarti sukses di mata Tuhan seperti
Ketika kita berhenti maka kehidupan rohani
mendengar, tetapi kesadaran akan dosa kita
dunia, ketika hati mulai diberikan kepada dunia. jemaat di Laodikia. Jemaat di Laodikia merasa
kita akan mulai mundur karena pertumbuhan
akan memekakan hati nurani kita.
“Jawab Yesus kepadanya, ‘Kasihilah Tuhan, kalau mereka tidak memerlukan apa-apa
rohani bukan hal yang statis. Ia hanya tahu
Allahmu, dengan segenap hatimu dan segenap
lagi, termaksud Tuhan, karena mereka telah
maju atau mundur saja.
jiwamu dan dengan segenap akal budimu’”
berhasil memiliki semua kekayaan dunia.
(Matius 22:37).
Apa bahaya suam-suam kuku?
2
Berhala
1
3
2
Salib Tuhan Malu dan sedih yang kita dapatkan
Kehilangan harapan
dari suam-suam kuku akan membawa kita
Hal yang terburuk yang dapat
kembali kepada salib Kristus. Bagaimana
dihasilnya dari suam-suam kuku adalah
kita bisa melupakan anugrah yang diberikan
Membutakan kondisi spiritual
kehilangan harapan kepada janji Tuhan. Tuhan kepada kita orang yang berdosa? Ketika
Tuhan Yesus menyebut gereja
Orang-orang yang suam-suam kuku percaya
kita menyadari akan hal ini maka hati kita
menjauhkan kita dari Tuhan perlahan-lahan. Laodikita “buta” (Wahyu 2:17). Suam-suam
bahwa mereka telah sampai kepada kota
seharusnya menjadi rendah hati dan penuh
kuku akan membuat kita buta melihat keadaan
sorgawi karena mereka telah berasa “cukup”
rasa terimah kasih. Hal ini akan menyalakan
Berhubungan dengan hal diatas,
berhala akan mengisihi hati kita dan Suam-suam kuku adalah suatu proses yang 20
Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011
21
api di dalam diri kita kepada Tuhan dan menghilangkan kondisi yang suam-suam kuku.
3
Kasih yang semula Ketika kita mengingat kejadian
Pray and Let God Worry
The next step is to surrender to God for He will take care of our problems - Let God worry.
melihat ke belakang melalui kaca spionnya. Yang dilihatnya membuatnya menggelenggelengkan kepala karena bingung. Si petani
di dalam setiap pergumulan kita dengan
sepenuhnya ke tangan Tuhan. Hal ini berarti
berdiri di bak truknya sambil terus memikul
mata kasih-Nya. Ia ingin kita menyatakan
kita betul-betul menyerahkan kekuatiran
beban hasil bumi yang akan dibawanya ke pasar.
bahwa kita tidak sanggup lagi dan minta
sewaktu kita pertama kali percaya, kita akan
kita kepada Allah karena kita percaya Al-
pertolongannya. Masalahnya, sering kali
lah akan membuka jalan keluar untuk kita.
menyadari seberapa jauh kita telah hilang dari
kita sebagain anak-anakNya terus beru-
Tidak lagi kita mempunya kuatir yang ber-
Kita mudah untuk menertawakan perbua-
kasih yang semula. Suam-suam kuku telah
paya meskipun tidak pernah menemukan
lebihan (stress berat) karena kita Let God
tan si petani di dalam cerita di atas, tetapi,
memudarkan api yang membakar di dalam
jalan keluarnya. Lebih buruk lagi situasinya
worry.
bila kita tengok kebelakang mungkin kita
diri kita, dan berhala telah mematikan api
bila kita mengambil jalan pintas agar bisa
itu. Tetapi Tuhan berbicara kepada kita dan
meninggalkan (lepas dari) pergumulan
Sebagai ilustrasi kita sering mendengar
kan hal yang sama. Bukannya kita menyerh-
tersebut tanpa pernah meminta perto-
cerita tentang seorang petani yang kele-
kan beban pergumulan kita sepenuhnya ke
longan Allah Bapa kita terlebih dahulu.
lahan berjalan berkilo-kilometer sambil
tangan Tuhan, kita tetap kuatir akan hal yang
Sebagai contoh adalah berita-berita yang
memikul hasil bumi yang akan dibawanya
telah kita bawa di dalam doa kita kepada Tu-
membangkitkan hati nurani kita sehingga kita mengingat akan salib Tuhan. Ini merupakan cara kita untuk menyalakan api kita kembali
perlu mengakui bahwa kita sering melaku-
kita pernah dengar di televisi atau radio
dan membuat kita tidak melupakan kasih
ke pasar untuk dijual. Pada saat kelelahan-
han. Kita mohon campur tangan Tuhan tapi
dimana seorang ayah tega menghabisi hid-
nya hampir mencapai puncaknya seorang
kita tetap ingin penyelesaiannya menurut
Tuhan kepada kita. [HW]
up istri dan anak-anaknya dan kemudian
pengemudi truk yang iba hati melihat sang
skenario kita. Berserahlah sepenuhnya ke-
hidupnya sendiri karena beban penderi-
petani yang kelelahan tersebut berhenti
pada Allah. Percayakan sepenuhnya kepada
taan akibat resesi ekonomi yang dianggap
dan menawarkan si petani untuk naik me-
Allah untuk memilih jalan penyelesaian yang
tidak ada jalan penyelesaian lain. Di dalam
numpang ke atas truknya sampai tiba di
terbaik untuk kita. Let God worry.
Tuhan selalu ada pengharapan. Berdoalah.
tempat tujuan si petani. Tentu saja tawaran
Akuilah ketidakmampuan kita dan mohon
tersebut diterima dengan sangat senang
Sebagai penutup ingatlah akan dua hal ini
pertolongan Bapa kita yang di surga.
hati oleh si petani. Maka nailah ia ke bak
pada saat kita merasa kuatir, penderitaan
belakang truk tersebut. Setengah perjalan-
kita tidak tertahankan lagi, tidak ada hara-
Berserah agar Allah yang menyelesaikan
an si pengemudi mendengar seruan dari si
pan lagi untuk hari depan kita: 1. Berdoalah.
persoalan kita (Let God Worry). Langkah
petani yang memintanya untuk berhenti se-
2. Biarkan Allah bekerja untuk menyele-
berikut yang perlu diambil setelah ber-
bentar agar ia bisa beristirahat. Maka her-
saikan kekuatiranmu. [MH]
doa ialah menyerahkan pergumulan kita
anlah si pengemudi akan hal tersebut lalu ia
22
Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011
23
Bagian ke-I
HOPE IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS
IMAN DAN PENGHARAPAN
PENGHARAPAN DI TENGAH KRISIS (Ibrani 11:13-16)
Mengapa demikian? Karena "tanpa iman,
iman kita menang atas dunia ini.
tak seorang pun bisa diperkenan oleh Allah" artinya: dengan iman kita datang ke hadapan
Pengharapan berasal dari iman kita
Tuhan. Iman adalah mengakhiri peperangan, kepada kesetiaan Tuhan. Dengan kata lain, pergumulan pribadi lalu bersandar pada kes-
kesetiaan Tuhan adalah dasar dari penghara-
elamatan yang Allah sediakan di dalam Kris-
pan kita, dan janji Allah yang didasarkan atas
tus. Iman berarti tidak lagi mencoba mem-
kesetiaan-Nya adalah jaminan bagi penghara-
perkenan hati Tuhan dengan jasa kita, iman
pan kita. Karena iman kita menang atas du-
berarti kita tidak datang ke hadapan Tuhan
nia ini, karena pengharapan kita dimampukan
dengan kelakuan kita, iman berarti kita ber-
untuk mengarahkan pandangan kita pada du-
sandar pada keselamatan yang telah dige-
nia yang lain. Maka setelah kita beriman, kita
napkan oleh Tuhan Yesus. Maka iman adalah
segera masuk pada tahap pengharapan. Yang
dasar yang paling penting dalam kekristenan. kita harapkan bukanlah dunia yang nampak
By: Pdt. Dr. Stephen Tong 24
Christmas 2011
Iman jugalah yang membedakan kekriste-
ini, karena dunia yang nampak sementara ad-
nan dari agama-agama lain. "Tanpa iman tak
anya, sedangkan dunia yang kekal adalah dunia
seorang pun bisa diperkenan Tuhan" melalui
yang tidak nampak. Apakah yang membawa Christmas 2011
25
26
hidupnya dekat den-
adalah orang yang berpengharapan. Paulus
gan Allah waktu menai-
berkata, kita bukanlah orang-orang yang ti-
kkan puji-puji lupa akan ber-
dak mempunyai pengharapan. Itu sebabnya,
kita menemukan dunia yang tidak nampak?
Allah. Siapakah orang Kristen?
Pengharapanlah. Jadi, iman menghasilkan
Orang Kristen adalah orang yang
pengharapan dan pengharapan membawa kita
memandang kehendak Allah dari tempat
lalunya waktu, karena dia sedang menikmati
tatkala orang kafir kehilangan anggota ke-
mengarah pada kekekalan. Dengan demikian,
yang jauh. Siapakah orang Kristen? Orang
kekekalan.Yang dimaksud tentu bukan sema-
luarga atau orang yang paling mereka kasih
iman memampukan kita menang atas du-
Kristen adalah orang yang menikmati kasih
cam pelarian, karena faktanya orang Kristen
akan menangis begitu rupa, karena mereka
nia ini dan pengharapan memampukan kita
Allah dan membagi-bagikannya kepada orang
yang sudah beriman masih tetap hidup di
tidak mempunyai pengharapan. Tapi kata
melintasi dunia ini melihat akan dunia yang
lain. Iman
dalam du-
Paulus, kamu bukanlah orang-orang yang
ada di sana, itulah yang membuat kita tidak
adalah
nia
yang
seperti itu, mengapa kamu bersedih seperti
terlalu mengutamakan dunia yang nampak
suatu
real, tapi
layaknya orang-orang yang tidak berpeng-
ini. Iman dan pengharapan memampukan kita
p e n -
dia
pun
harapan? Tidakkah kamu tahu, bahwa kita
melalui hidup rohani yang melampaui hidup
erobo-
mampu
adalah orang-orang yang berpengharapan?
di dunia ini. Baru setelah itu timbul hal yang
san dan
melalui
Allah mengambil orang-orang yang kita ka-
ketiga: kasih. Setelah kita mempunyai iman,
pelam-
h i d u p
sihi adalah lebih dahulu membawa mereka
kita mampu menang atas dunia ini. Setelah
pauan
rohani
ke tempat yang kekal, yang bahagia, saat itu,
kita memperoleh pengharapan, kita mampu
d
secara
mereka berhenti dari segala pergumulan
melihat dunia yang ada di atas dunia ini den-
peng-
nyata. Se-
hidup untuk menikmati sukacita di dalam
gan jelas. Setelah kita memiliki kasih, kita
harapan memampukan kita melampaui sik-
bab itu, orang Kristen bukan lari dari realita
ribaan Allah yang kekal. Sebab itu, bagi orang
mampu menoleh ke belakang untuk memu-
saan waktu, melampaui proses penderitaan.
melainkan melampaui realita dan kemudian
Kristen, baik hidup atau mati, baik hidup yang
lihkan dunia ini. Puji Tuhan, tidak ada satu
Orang yang hidupnya lancar merasa waktu
mengubah realita. Seorang yang berpeng-
sekarang atau pun hidup yang akan datang,
agama pun yang sanggup mengungkapkan
berlalu dengan begitu cepat, tapi orang yang
harapan tidak dibelenggu oleh kenyataan
baik yang nampak ataupun yang tidak nam-
unsur rohani yang lebih jelas daripada apa
sedang menderita merasa waktu adalah
hidup masa sekarang, karena dia mampu
pak, kita sudah menang. Karena tak seorang
yang diungkapkan oleh Alkitab. Belum per-
penyiksa yang kejam. Tatkala kita mampu
melihat dua realita: adanya masa kini dan ad-
pun sanggup memisahkan kita dari kasih Al-
nah ada satu filsafat yang mengajarkan kepa-
melampaui siksaan waktu, barulah kita me-
anya otoritas kekekalan. Orang yang hanya
lah, kasih yang berada di dalam keselamatan
da kita tentang intisari hidup rohani yang be-
nikmati substansi kekekalan.
mengutamakan realita masa kini adalah pen-
Yesus Kristus. Dengan demikian, orang Kristen adalah orang yang berpengharapan.
a
n
SEORANG YANG TIDAK DIBELENGGU HIDUP MASA ORANG MENGUTAMAKAN ADALAH PENGANUT
BERPENGHARAPAN OLEH KENYATAAN SEKARANG. YANG HANYA REALITA MASA KINI MATERILISME.
gitu limpah. Siapakah orang Kristen? Orang
Allah menganugerahkan penghara-
ganut materilisme, tapi orang yang mampu
Kristen adalah orang yang beriman kepada
pan kepada kita, maka orang Kristen yang
memandang akan adanya otoritas kekekalan
Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011
27
Bagian ke-II sejarah gereja, sebelum terjadi sesuatu sudah
ASAL MULA PENGHARAPAN
terlebih dahulu menemukan janji Allah dan mereka melakukan pekerjaan Tuhan dengan
kitab mempunyai kaitan satu dengan yang lain. Puji Tuhan! Mengapa iman bisa menghasil-
Allah memberikan janji-Nya kepada kita:
penuh keberanian. Mengapa? Karena mere-
Aku akan berbuat ini, berbuat itu. Istilah
ka yakin,Allah yang mereka percaya adalah
yang dipakai untuk janji:
Allah yang memberikan pengharapan ke-
A.
Testament, sesuatu yang ber-
pada manusia, Allah yang berfirman dan memberikan janji-Nya kepada manusia.
kan pengharapan? Kalau iman kita sudah
hubungan dengan testimony.
dibangun di atas kesetiaan dan kesejatian
B.
Allah, yang berjanji pasti akan menggenapi Istilah iman di dalam Bahasa Yunaninya
memberi jaminan bahwa apa yang di-
semua yang tertulis di dalam firman-Nya,
disebut pistos, di dalam bahasa Latinnya
katakan itu benar adanya.
itu artinya kita berpengharapan. Allah bu-
disebut fide. Apa artinya? Yang setia, yang
C.
kan hanya Allah yang setia dan sejati, Dia
sejati, yang bisa diandalkan. Kalau seorang
lah Latin: pre (yang kemudian berubah
juga merupakan Allah yang berfirman ke-
berkata "Aku beriman" "apa yang kui-
menjadi pro) dan mission (yang kemudi-
pada manusia. Alkitab lebih dari 6.000 kali
mani?", "Allah yang setia, yang sejati, yang
an berubah menjadi mise), gabungan dari
menuliskan: Allah berfirman, Allah berfir-
bisa diandalkan". Karena Allah itu sejati,
pre dan mission itu kemudian berubah
man, Tuhan berfirman, artinya Allah kita
Allah itu setia, Allah itu bisa diandalkan,
menjadi Promise. Mempunyai arti yang
adalah Allah yang berfirman dan tak satu
sebab itu aku percaya kepada-Nya. Kalau
sangat dalam: sebelum Allah meletakkan
kalimat pun yang Allah ucapkan tidak
Allah berdusta, kalau Allah mengatakan
misinya ke atas bahumu, Dia terlebih da-
disertai dengan kuasa. Allah kita adalah
sesuatu yang hampa, tidak berarti, bu-
hulu memberitahukan sesuatu kepadamu;
Allah yang memberikan janji-Nya kepada
kankah imanku kepada-Nya sia-sia adan-
before the mission is given to you, God had
kita. "Tuhan, siapakah nama-Mu?" jawab-
ya? Tapi sebaliknya, karena firman Allah
told you something previously. Sebab itu, se-
Nya, nama-Ku Yahwe. Apa arti Yahwe? Al-
adalah sejati, maka bila aku tidak mena-
belum seorang menerima misi dia sudah ter-
lah yang ada sejak dulu dan yang akan
ruh imanku pada firman-Nya, bukankah
lebih dahulu menerima janji Allah.
ada sampai selama-lamanya itu mem-
itu berarti aku bodoh adanya? Sebab itu,
berikan janji-Nya kepada manusia. Apa
Ada sebagian orang Kristen yang
dalam firman Allah adalah kemajuan yang
Allah yang sejati dan firman yang sejati
yang dimaksudkan dengan janji? Dia telah
seumur hidupnya tidak pernah melakukan
sejati: sesuatu yang tadinya tidak ada men-
adalah dasar di mana kita membangun
menetapkan rencana-Nya bagi kita, lalu
apa-apa bagi Tuhan, ada sebagian orang Kris-
jadi ada, orang mati dibangkitkan adalah
iman yang sejati. Itu membuktikan istilah
memberitahunya kepada kita dan menja-
ten sudah memberi sedikit bagi pekerjaan
iman dan firman yang terdapat di dalam Al-
min pasti akan menggenapinya.
Tuhan, ada juga orang-orang penting di dalam
pekerjaan Tuhan yang mendadak, yang ber beda dengan pekerjaan-pekerjaan lain.
28
Christmas 2011
Covenant,
dengan
nyawanya
Promise, gabungan dari dua isti-
Maka sebelum Allah menyerahkan tugas kepada mereka, Dia sudah terlebih dahulu memberikan janji-Nya kepada mereka. Jadi seorang yang mempunyai visi adalah seorang yang mengemban pre mission, seorang yang akan, melaksanakan misi itu dengan berani. Dengan cara seperti itulah pekerjaan Tuhan digenapkan. Allah menjadikan segala sesuatu dari tidak ada menjadi ada, Allah membangkitkan orang dari kematian, perubahan itu bukanlah perubahan yang dibahas oleh teori Evolusi -- terus berkembang -- melainkan perubahan yang terjadi secara mendadak, yang dilakukan oleh Allah sendiri. Hanya perubahan mendadak yang dicatat di
Christmas 2011
29
Puji Tuhan! Karena Dia adalah Allah yang
kan anak? Tidak mungkin. Kau harus sabar
rarti, khususnya kesabaran yang dibutuhkan
belati yang tajam di jantung. Tentu saja, apa
memberikan janji, itu sebabnya, berpegang
menunggu sampai sembilan bulan. Bagaima-
dalam prinsip pertumbuhan, tidak boleh
yang baru saya ungkapkan adalah menga-
pada janji Allah membuat pengharapan kita
na tergesa-gesa pun tidak ada gunanya, ha-
tidak kita miliki. Waktu kau menyaksikan
nalisa huruf Mandarin bukan menelaah Al-
terjamin.
rus menanti dengan tekun. Apakah nilai dari
seorang Kristen yang baik sekali rohanin-
kitab, karena Alkitab yang asli bukan ditulis
penderitaan? Allah menginginkan kita belajar
ya: kata-katanya selalu membangun orang,
dalam bahasa Mandarin. Namun di dalam
bersabar. Adakah semua kesabaran bernilai?
lalu kau berkata, saya ingin menjadi sep-
pemikiran orang Tionghoa terdapat kon-
Saya membagi ketekunan ke dalam dua kat-
erti dia dalam waktu dua hari. Itu tidak
sep ini: seorang yang sabar kekuatan-
egori:
mungkin. Tahukah kau bahwa Allah per-
nya besar sekali. Keberanian orang yang
nah memberinya pengalaman menderita
memukul orang belum bisa dibilang be-
Ini merupakan satu hal yang sulit dipahami, tetapi begitulah ajaran yang Alkitab beri-
1.
membutuhkan
selama 20 tahun, selama itulah kerohani-
sar, karena keberanian orang yang dipu-
kan kepada kita: penderitaan mendatangkan
ketekunan, janganlah kau lakukan dengan
annya bertumbuh perlahan-lahan sampai
kul tapi masih bisa menahan diri lebih besar dari padanya.
Untuk
hal
yang
ketekunan, ketekunan mendatangkan tahan
tergesa-gesa.
menjadi begitu berlimpah, jiwanya men-
uji, dan tahan uji mendatangkan penghara-
2.
jadi begitu mantap, pemikirannya men-
pan. Di sini kita temukan empat langkah:
dak perlu bertekun.
Untuk hal yang tidak penting, kau ti-
jadi begitu teliti. Sebab itu, ada kesabaran
Dari manakah datangnya penghara-
yang tidak kita butuhkan namun ada juga
pan? Kesusahan mendatangkan keteku-
Contohnya: ketika saya akan berkhotbah
kesabaran yang tidak boleh tidak kita mi-
nan, setelah bisa tekun satu kali, dua kali,
di Hong Kong, kau berkata, pak Tong,
liki. Kita perlu membedakan: kesabaran
tiga kali, lambat laun bisa tahan uji. Masih
Mengapa penderitaan bisa meng-
jangan naik pesawat, naik kapal laut saja,
mana yang bernilai.
ingatkah anda saat menantikan kelahiran
hasilkan ketekunan? Karena manusia
biar bapak belajar bersabar. Maka kalau
yang, tidak pernah menderita ingin serba
saya harus berkhotbah 2 jam pada tgl
terburu-buru. Ada hal-hal tertentu meski
2 April, saya perlu menghabiskan enam
lai selalu mempunyai hubungan yang positif
pir kiamat, telpon ke sana ke mari, mencari
kita tidak sabar lagi menantikannya tetap
hari di kapal laut untuk menuju ke sana,
dengan penderitaan, apa sebabnya? Karena
dokter, membuka kamus, menanyakan kepa-
harus menanti. Contohnya: mungkinkah
dan setelah selesai khotbah, memerlukan
kesusahan membuat seseorang tahan men-
da tetangga, apa yang bisa saya lakukan? Tapi
kalau kau berkata kepada isterimu, sudah
enam hari lagi untuk kembali. Kesabaran
derita, memupuk kekuatan batinnya menjadi
ketika anak keduamu mengalami hal yang
sejak lama saya ingin punya anak, sekarang
seperti itu adalah kesabaran yang tidak
semakin kuat. Bagaimana bentuk huruf ke-
sama, kau akan berkata dengan santai, tidak
saya sudah menikah, bulan depan kau ha-
ada artinya. Apalagi tiket pesawat juga ti-
susahan di dalam bahasa Mandarin? Seren-
apa-apa, sebentar lagi darah akan berhenti
rus melahirkan seorang anak. Tentu tidak
dak lebih mahal dari tiket kapal, selain itu,
tetan perkara menusuk hati kita, sebab itu,
dengan sendiri. Ketika anak yang ketiga men-
mungkin, bukan? Kau harus menunggu dia
dua belas hari perjalanan itu sebenarnya
kita perlu belajar bersabar dalam kesusahan
galami hal yang sama, kau tidak menghirau-
hamil. Kalau isterimu baru hamil satu bu-
bisa saya pakai untuk melakukan banyak
bukan? Bagaikan bentuk huruf kesabaran di
kannya. Ketika anak yang keempat mengalami
lan mungkinkah bulan depan dia melahir-
hal. Meskipun demikian, kesabaran yang be-
dalam bahasa Mandarinnya? Menusukkan
hal yang sama, kau hanya berkata, sana, minta
penderitaan, ketekunan, tahan uji, pengharapan. (Baca Roma 5:2-3).
30
Christmas 2011
anak pertamamu begitu tegang? Ketika Kesabaran-kesabaran yang berni-
anak pertama mimisan serasa dunia ham-
Christmas 2011
31
tolong kepada kakakmu. Ketika anakmu yang
menjadi penakut. Pernahkah kau tahu ada se-
kelima mengalami hal yang sama, kau bahkan
bagian orang yang semakin tua semakin ta-
memukul meja sambil berkata, kalau mau
kut ini, takut itu: takut kalau-kalau ada orang
mimisan di luar saja, jangan di dalam kamar,
jahat atau pencuri datang, sebab itu, pintunya
coba lihat, karpetnya menjadi kotor. Menga-
harus dipasangi tujuh, delapan buah kunci
pa begitu? Karena kau sudah terbiasa meng-
baru berani tidur, sebagai akibatnya: dia tidak
hadapi hal itu. Orang yang sudah banyak
berani melakukan apa-apa. Di dunia ini hanya
mengalami kesusahan, meski kesusahan lain
ada dua jenis manusia:
Bagian ke-III
HASIL DARI PENGHARAPAN 1:8-11). Bagian firman Tuhan ini memberitahu kita, pengharapan bukan hanya membuat kita menyadari keberadaan kita di dunia hanyalah seorang musafir, pengharapan juga membuat kita menyadari bahwa kita tidak
menimpa dirinya, dia juga tidak ambil pusing. Sebab itu, orang yang belum pernah men-
1.
galami kesusahan, waktu kesusahan datang
tan, jadi sebaiknya tidak melakukan apa-apa.
bisa bersandar pada diri sendiri melainkan
Melakukan apa pun pasti ada kesuli-
dia menjadi begitu tegang. Tapi orang yang
2.
sudah sering mengalami kesusahan, meski
jalan keluarnya.
Kesulitan apa pun terjadi pasti ada
menghadapi kesusahan yang besar sekalipun masih tampak tenang luar biasa.
Mana yang lebih baik? Yang kedua. Permisi tanya: anda termasuk yang mana?
Kesusahan mendatangkan keteku-
Yang ketiga. Apa itu yang ketiga? Tidak
nan, ketekunan mendatangkan tahan uji,
peduli kedua-duanya. Sesungguhnya, di
tahan uji mendatangkan pengharapan.
dunia ini hanya ada dua jenis konsep:
Dari manakah datangnya pengharapan? Dari iman. Dari manakah datangnya peng-
1.
harapan? Janji Allah. Dari manakah datang-
sulitan apa pun menghadang, saya tetap
nya pengharapan? Kesusahan. Puji Tuhan!
mengerjakannya.
Setelah seorang mempunyai pengharapan,
2.
kuasa apa yang dia miliki? Orang yang ber-
bertemu kesulitan, saya pasti akan ber-
pengharapan adalah orang yang aktif, yang
henti.
Harus membuahkan hasil -- ke-
Perlu mengamankan diri -- kalau
harus bersandar pada Allah yang membangDunia ini bukan rumah kita yang kekal, se-
kitkan orang dari kematian. Di bagian firman
bab itu, tidak seharusnya kita mencurahkan
Tuhan inilah Paulus mengemukakan keadaan-
semua pikiran, semangat dan kekuatan kita
nya ketika berada di Asia, katanya, kalian
hanya bagi dunia ini saja, kita perlu menga-
semua tahu, kami menghadapi kesulitan, kami
dakan persiapan bagi hari depan. Mentalitas
ditindas begitu rupa, kekuatan kami tidak
seperti ini hanya mungkin kau miliki, apa-
mampu menanggulanginya, bahkan penghara-
bila kau sungguh menyadari dirimu adalah
pan untuk hidup pun sudah tidak ada lagi,
seorang musafir. Kita mempunyai peng-
kami sudah tidak mempunyai pengharapan,
harapan yang kekal. Itu sebabnya kita perlu
apa jadinya?
membangun sistem konsep nilai yang kekal, juga perlu menghasilkan buah-buah yang bisa
Di dalam keadaan seperti itulah dia
tinggal tetap sampai selama-lamanya. Pemiki-
mendapatkan satu pengalaman: meskipun
ran seperti itu yang mampu menyatukan
hatiku sudah memastikan: aku pasti mati.
pengharapan dan pelayanan kita.
Tak jelas apa sebabnya, kita sering mengaitkan susah dengan kematian: susah setengah mati (bahasa Mandarin: susah sampai mati).
kuat. Di dunia ini ada dua macam manusia: ada yang belajar berani melalui penderi-
Pengharapan menghasilkan kuasa yang be-
taan yang dialaminya, ada juga yang setelah
gitu besar, yang membuat kita mampu un-
mengalami begitu banyak penderitaan malah
tuk maju terus.
32
Christmas 2011
Waktu kita mengalami kesusahan juga condong mengatakan, mati aku. Kalau sudah Setelah memperoleh pengharapan hidup kita
mati, mana bisa komentar? Meskipun kau
menjadi lebih sempurna. (Baca 2 Korintus
berseru 'mati aku', kau masih hidup bukan? Christmas 2011
33
Paulus pun mempunyai pengalaman seperti itu: hatiku sudah memastikan, aku pasti mati. Adakah dia mati? Tidak. Mengapa? Karena dia masih punya pengharapan. Pengharapan membuatnya tidak bersandar dirinya sendiri, hanya bersandar kepada Allah yang membangkitkan orang dari kematian. Puji Tuhan! Maka seorang yang berpengharapan akan memutar arah hidupnya: kalau dulu dia bersandar pada dirinya, pada kepandaiannya sendiri, pada pengetahuannya, pada pengalamannya, pada talentanya, tapi sekarang dia menyadari, semua itu tidak dapat disandari, maka dia berbalik arah dan berkata, Tuhan, aku hanya bersandar kepada-Mu. Karena Engkaulah Allah yang membangkitkan orang dari kematian.
Paulus berkata, karena kami mempunyai pengharapan, maka kami menantikan datangnya hari itu dengan sukacita, meskipup kami berada di dalam kesusahan kami tetap bersukacita. Mana mungkin orang yang sedang menderita bisa bersukacita? Ada dua orang wanita yang sama-sama menggendong anak: yang seorang menggendong anaknya sendiri, yang lain menggendong anak maji34
Christmas 2011
kannya. Berat badan anak yang digendong ibunya 6 kg; berat badan anak yang digendong pembantu hanya 5 kg. Mana yang lebih berat: anak yang mempunyai berat badan 6 kg atau anak yang mempunyai berat badan 5 kg? Tentu yang berat badannya 6 kg bukan? Namun mana yang merasa lebih berat? Yang menggendong anak 5 kg. Bagaimana mungkin? Karena yang dia gendong adalah anak majikannya bukan anaknya sendiri, maka kalau dia nakal bisa saja dicubitnya, kalau ibunya tidak melihat, bisa saja dipukulnya. Tetapi si ibu yang menjaga anaknya sendiri, meski dilihat orang atau tidak dilihat orang, dia akan terus menerus mengelus-elus kepala anaknya sambil berkata, kau anak manis, cepat besar ya! Mengapa bisa begitu berbeda? Karena si ibu mempunyai pengharapan: meski lelah menggendongnya dia adalah anakku. Sedangkan si pembantu tidak mempunyai pengharapan seperti itu, dia justru berpikir untuk apa saya berharap dia bertumbuh besar. Saya menggendongnya setengah mati, setiap bulan hanya diberi Rp. 200.000. Maka kalau ibunya tidak di rumah, letakkan saja di tempat tidur, biarkan dia menangis setengah hari, tidak usah dipedulikan. Bila dia mendengar ketukan pintu, tahu majikannya pulang, dia segera menggendong anak itu sambil mengatakan, sayang, sayang, sam-
bil membukakan pintu. Dia mengerjakan pekerjaannya tanpa sukacita, karena dia tidak mempunyai pengharapan atas anak itu. Kalian yang sudah menjadi orang tua tentu memahami apa yang saya katakan ini. Setiap kali memandangi anakmu, kau tidak lagi mengeluh dirimu sudah tua, karena anak yang masih kecil, yang ganteng itu adalah wakilmu, meskipun harus menjadi tua pun kau rela. Tetapi bila kau tidak mempunyai anak, setiap kali bercermin dan menemukan dirimu semakin hari semakin tua, kau merasa tidak rela. Waktu kau melihat anakmu mempunyai anak dan kau menggendong cucumu, kau akan tertawa dengan begitu senang. Meski terasa berat kau tetap mau menggendongnya, semakin berat semakin merasa senang, "Lihat, cucuku begitu besar." Apa yang menyebabkan semua itu? Pengharapan. Orang yang mempunyai pengharapan, meski berada di dalam penderitaan masih tetap mempunyai sukacita.
Seorang yang berharap kepada Tuhan akan menantikan kedatangan Kristus yang kedua kali.Orang yang menantikan kedatangan Kristus tentu akan memelihara kesucian dirinya. Semua ini saling kait mengait. Mana ada orang yang sambil menantikan kedatangan
Kristus sambil berbuat dosa dengan sengaja? Hari kedatangan Kristus sudah dekat, aku akan memelihara bajuku yang putih, supaya pada waktu aku menyambut Dia di tengah-tengah kemuliaan, tidak terdapat cacat cela. Saat pengantin wanita menantikan kedatangan pengantin pria, dia tentu mengenakan gaun pengantin yang putih. 10 Menit lagi pengantin pria akan datang, dilihatnya ada anak yang sedang main layang-layang, mungkinkah dia ikut main layang-layang dulu sampai pengantin prianya datang? Tidak mungkin. Karena 10 menit lagi pengantin pria akan datang, maka harus memelihara kebersihan gaunnya begitu rupa, tidak akan membiarkan barang setetes tinta menodai gaunnya, juga tidak akan membiarkan debu melekat di tubuhnya. Dia akan menyucikan diri sambil menantikan kedatangan pengantin prianya. Demikian juga setiap orang yang menaruh pengharapan pada Tuhan pasti akan memelihara kesucian dirinya. Adakah hidupmu tidak suci? Karena kau tidak mempunyai pengharapan. Adakah kau sungguh mempunyai pengharapan? Maka kau harus melalui hidup yang kudus. (Baca 1 Yoh. 3:2-3). Kiranya Tuhan memberkati kita, agar kita yang mempunyai pengharapan ini berani melakukan pekerjaan Tuhan, melalui hidup yang kudus, sambil menantikan kedatangan Kristus yang kedua. [HW] Christmas 2011
35
of time when worshipping God because he
English Translation
is enjoying a taste of eternity with God. It
HOPE IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS
is not an escapist experience as Christians
By Rev. Dr. Stephen Tong
live in this physical world; but they are able
who have developed faith in God still have to to live by the Spirit. A Christian does not run
The Word of God is the foundation of our
of God, which are based on the faithfulness
from reality but transcends reality and then
faith, and faith enables us to put our hope in
of God, are the guarantee of our hope.When
changes reality. Someone with hope is not
God’s eternal plans. The word faith is pistos
we believe, we no longer hope in the world
imprisoned by the reality of this life because
in Greek and fide in Latin. It means ‘what is
that is seen because what is seen is only
he is able to see a second reality: the ex-
faithful, what is true, what is reliable.” When
faith, hope, and love, and the greatest is love. temporary. Our faith overcomes the world
istence of this present but temporal world
someone says that “I have faith,” who does
Why are these three equally important? Be-
because hope enables us to fix our eyes to a
and the existence of eternity. The person
that person have faith in? The God who is
cause faith, hope, and love form the foun-
world that is unseen and eternal. Faith gives
who focuses on the reality of this present
faithful, true, and reliable. If God speaks lies
dation of our Christian life. Faith is impor-
birth to hope and hope brings our eyes to
world is materialistic; but the person who
and makes empty claims, would not our faith
tant because it ends our inner battle against
look to what is eternal. Focusing on eternity
focuses on the reality of eternity is one who
in Him be futile? But the Word of God is
self-sufficiency. It is turning to the salvation
allows us to worry less about the present
has hope. The Apostle Paul said that we are
true; so if we do not put our faith in His
that the Lord provided in Christ Jesus. Faith
world. Faith and hope enable us to over-
not without hope. When unbelievers lose
Word, we would be foolish. How can faith
means that we no longer strive for God’s fa-
come the world. After faith and hope comes
their loved ones to death, they grieve be-
yield hope? If our faith is built upon the faith-
vor by standing on human strength or merit. love. After we receive faith, we are able to be
cause they have no hope beyond this life. But
fulness and trueness of God; the One who
Faith means totally relying on the salvation
victorious over the world. After we receive
for Christians, we do not cry out of despair
promises is faithful and will fulfill His Word.
that has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus. The
hope, we are able to see this present world
when death comes to claim our loved ones
That is what it means to have hope. Our
importance of faith can not be overstated
clearly in its temporariness. After we receive
because we know that God has called them
God is a God who speaks and every word
as “…without faith, it is impossible to please
love, we are able to look back and alleviate
to an eternal home where they can joyfully
that He spoke is filled with power and “will
Him (Hebrews 11:6).” It is faith that gives us
the suffering of this present world. Faith en-
live in the presence of God. Because of that,
not come back empty.”
victory over this world.
ables us to overcome the torture inflicted
whether dead or alive, whether living in the
by time through the process of suffering.
present temporary world or in the future
Hebrews 11:13-16
In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul wrote that there are three things that remain, namely
Hope comes from our faith in God’s
eternal world, whether what is seen or is
faithfulness. In other words, the faithfulness
God grants hope to Christians. A
unseen, we are already victorious because
God gave his promises to us; here are the
of God is the basis our hope. The promises
Christian that is close to God loses track
nothing can separate us from the love of God.
phrases used to denote 'promise' :
36
Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011
37
a)
Testament – something that is relat-
ed to testimony. b)
and endurance produces character, and
Hope makes us realize that we can not rely
character produces hope” (Romans 5:2-4).
on ourselves, but only on the God who rais-
Covenant – using one’s life to give a
guarantee that what is said is true and will
es us from the dead. In 2 Corinthians 1:8Why does suffering produce en-
11; Paul recounted the gravity of his afflic-
come to pass.
durance? Because without suffering we will
tions in Asia. “We were so utterly burdened
c)
Promise – A combination of two
not learn to wait; our tendency is to desire
beyond our strength,” Paul wrote, “that we
Latin words: pre (subsequently changed to
instant gratification. Endurance is positively
despaired of life itself (2 Cor. 1:8b).” Paul
be pro) and mission (subsequently changed
correlated with suffering. The more a per-
felt as if he had received a death sentence;
to be mise). The Latin words pre and mise
son suffers, the higher his or her ability to
but hope enables him “to rely not on our-
combines form the word ‘promise.’ Before
endure is. Suffering brings endurance. One
selves but on God who raises the dead (2
the mission is given to you, God had told you
has to become accustomed to suffering that
Cor. 1:9b).”
something previously. Because of that, before
one no longer frets when suffering comes.
Paul has said that although he is suffering, he Before God gives a task to his fol-
experiences joy. How can a suffering person
lowers; He will first give His promises to
experience joy? Take for example the case of
them. Because of God’s promises, His ser-
two women. The first woman carries her in-
vants are able to undergo His missions
fant son who weighs 15 pounds. The second
bravely. The Word of God records a series
This world is not our eternal home; as
woman carries her master’s infant son who
of drastic, not subtle changes: God takes
such it is fitting that we should not focus
weighs 12 pounds. Obviously the 15-pound
something that does not exist and makes it
most of our thoughts and efforts solely on
infant is heavier; but the woman carrying
exist; he raises the dead to life.These drastic
this earthly life. This mentality is only pos-
her master’s 12-pound infant feels that her
changes reflect true hope in the promises of
sible if one has the mindset that one is only
burden is emotionally, not physically heavier.
God.
a pilgrim on earth. We need to develop an
The first woman who is carrying her baby
eternal mindset; producing fruits that last to
son does not mind the heaviness of her son
eternity.
38
Christmas 2011
A person who is anticipating the coming of Christ will carefully attend to the holiness of his life before God. No true Christian waits on the coming of Christ while sinning on purpose. The true Christian’s mindset is that “The Lord is coming soon, I will take care that my garments stay white and clean so welcome Him.” Likewise, a bride waiting for
receive God’s promise.
knowing that suffering produces endurance,
forward to the Second Coming of Christ.
that I may be found without blemish when I
someone receives his mission, he will first
“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings,
A person who hopes in the Lord will look
her bridegroom will take care that her dress be spotless so when the bridegroom comes; he will find her without blemish. If you realize that you are living an unholy life, then you are without hope. In other words, if you have hope, you must live a holy life. May the Lord bless us so that we who have hope dare to do God’s work through living a holy life while waiting for Christ’s Second Coming. [RA]
Edited from Transcribed Sermon: because she has hope in the baby who is her Tong, Pdt. Dr. Stephen. Momentum 38 Desember 1998. LRII. Pg. 25-35. flesh and blood. The second woman regards
Christmas 2011
39
1. Albert Halim : 2nd coming of Jesus because life is a pain. 2. Opa Kiatt : peace on earth. 3. David Liu : want to drive. 4. Andrew Kusnohadi : Everything. 5. Justin Lee : X-Box 6. Edwin : world peace. 7. Harld Doryumu : college student will be guided togerther studying the Word of God. And complete the works of Norman McLaren (animator). 8. Stuart Kusdono : to be the best chess player. 9. Brently Macamay : iPad 10. Sarah Lam : a dog. 11. Joseph Wangsa : a puppy. 12. Joel Suwanto & Steven Tjandra : Beyblade 13. Herwi Trisnadi : go to Indo and spend time with family and parents. 14. Pastor Wilson : see Jesus. To be with my extended family in Indonesia and celebrate 15. 16. 17.
Christmas togerther. Ester Dharmosetio : a calm mind, no stress. Ivan Gani : vacation. Harry Kawilarang : health for family. Tante Mona : to sing everday for the Lord. Valerie Wijaya : iPhone.
18. 19. 20. Randy Tindage : Jesus to come.
by: Kenny Gozali and Hubert Kusdono
40
Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011
41
Pastor Wilson
Herwi Trisnadi “Go to Indo and spend time with family and parents. “
“See Jesus. To be with my extended family in Indonesia and celebrate Christmas together.”
Albert Halim Tante Mona
“2nd coming of Jesus because life is a pain.”
“ To sing everyday for the Lord.”
Edwin “World peace.”
Steven Tjandra “Beyblade”
Valerie Wijaya Brently Macamay “ iPad ”
“ iPhone “
David Liu
“ Want to drive. “
42
Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011
43
Agape Writing Contest Winner
Just Stuttering? No. It’s A Lot More.
activities. But it has. For example, in school,
Andrew Kusnohadi Grade 8
H
that the teacher never calls on me and that
their problems get in the way of their hopes
the teacher never assigns oral presentations. and dreams. I still have this problem in my But when I had to do oral presentations I
life but I don’t let it get in the way too often.
sometimes was able to say it smoothly. Now
Now I’m taking drum lessons and TaeKwon-
my stuttering problem has gotten better, but
Do, participating in NJB, attempting to get
is still a complication in life.
straight A’s in Chaparral Middle School, and
when the teacher asks me to read part of
have been the song-leader for the Sunday
the book we are reading, I cannot read the
Stuttering can hold me back in life, School since last year. God has shown hope
paragraph smoothly. Even though this is a
but I try not to let that happen. A few exam-
in my life not only for these reasons but also
major problem in my life, I know that this is
ples of people who have had stuttering but
because I know God has great plans for me.
a part of God’s plan for me. Jeremiah 29:11
were still successful are Bill Walton,Winston
He always has and always will make a way for
says, “ ‘For I know the thoughts that I think
Churchill, Reverend Charles Swindoll, Mari-
me. But it’s not only just for me, but also for
toward you’, says the Lord, ‘thoughts of
lyn Monroe, and even King George VI. This
you, too. [JT]
peace and not of evil, to give you a future
just shows that people like them don’t let
ave you ever had a problem and
and a hope.’” (NKJV) Another verse is Psalm
wanted to fix it? I have. My problem is stut-
71:5:“For you are my hope, O Lord God;You
tering. About 3 million people in the U.S. are my trust from my youth.” (NKJV) These have this problem. I have had this problem
verses give me hope because even though
since 1st grade. Many people think that this
I am young, God still cares for me and will
is just a small problem. But it’s a lot more
guide me through my whole life.
trouble than that. Another big problem with stutterWhat is stuttering? Stuttering is to
ing is that people just don’t know how it
speak in such a way that the rhythm is inter-
feels like and start making fun of people with
We're also on Facebook Group Search for: Los Angeles Indonesian Evangelical Church
rupted by repetitions or sounds or syllables, this problem. I have been made fun of many sometimes accompanied by contortions of
times. And only my family knows about this.
the face and body. Has this complication af-
So now in school I never raise my hand even
fected me? Of course, but I try not to let
if I know the correct answer. And I never say
this get in the way of schooling or any other
anything that I know I cannot say. I also pray
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Pe ng antar Salah satu bagian Alkitab yang banyak dikenal oleh kalangan luas—baik orang Kristen maupun non-Kristen—adalah Khotbah di Bukit. Rangkaian khotbah ini penuh dengan intisari iman Kristiani, yang disampaikan oleh Tuhan Yesus sendiri di awal pelayananNya kepada banyak orang yang mengikutiNya waktu itu. Begitu mendasarnya khotbah ini terhadap hidup manusia, dan begitu “pas”-nya dengan ideal etika dan moral manusiawi, sampai-sampai Mohandas K. Gandhi, seorang pemimpin besar India awal abad ke-20, berani berpendapat bahwa kunci menyelesaikan masalah-masalah dunia adalah ajaran dalam Khotbah di Bukit. Bila anda ada waktu, silahkan baca dan renungkan sejenak Matius 5-7. Melalui perikop ini, Tuhan Yesus mengajar kita akan hubungan yang benar: antara diri dengan Tuhan, diri dengan sendiri, dan diri dengan sesama. Di sana dijelaskan akan bagaimana kita sebagai anak-anak Tuhan harus punya integritas iman Kristen yang 46
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sejati: menjalankan ibadah kita untuk Tuhan dan bukan untuk dilihat manusia, mengerjakan kasih yang sejati terhadap sesama dan bukan untuk keuntungan diri kita sediri, menghidupi hari demi hari bersandar kepada Tuhan lebih sungguh, dan secara aktif menjalankan Firman Tuhan dalam setiap langkah kita membangun hidup yang berkenan di hadapanNya. Setelah anda selesai membaca Khotbah di Bukit ini, adakah perasaan takjub sama seperti pendengar saat itu? Adakah hati yang bertobat dan direndahkan? Mampukan anda berkata “Ya, Tuhan, firmanMu sungguh benar”? Terlebih lagi, beranikah anda melangkah untuk melaksanakannya? Pe n d e n g a r a t a u Pe l a k s a n a ? Coba baca lagi seluruh Khotbah di Bukit itu. Sadarkah anda akan banyaknya katakata kerja (“action words”) di sana? Lebih jelas lagi, coba perhatikan apa yang dikatakan Tuhan Yesus di ujung
khotbahNya: "Setiap orang yang mendengar perkataan-Ku ini dan melakukannya, ia sama dengan orang yang bijaksana, yang mendirikan rumahnya di atas batu. Kemudian turunlah hujan dan datanglah banjir, lalu angin melanda rumah itu, tetapi rumah itu tidak rubuh sebab didirikan di atas batu. Tetapi setiap orang yang mendengar perkataan-Ku ini dan tidak melakukannya, ia sama dengan orang yang bodoh, yang mendirikan rumahnya di atas pasir. Kemudian turunlah hujan dan datanglah banjir, lalu angin melanda rumah itu, sehingga rubuhlah rumah itu dan hebatlah kerusakannya." (Matius 7:24-27) Dengan kata lain, Khotbah di Bukit diajarkan bukan untuk didengar dan disimpan saja. Tujuan Khotbah di Bukit diajarkan adalah untuk dipraktekkan! Memang kita butuh mendengar, dan alangkah bagusnya kalau kita bisa mengingat firman yang kita dengar. Namun seperti yang Tuhan Yesus katakan, bila kita hanya mendengar namun tidak melakukan firman, apa bedanya dengan kita membangun rumah di atas pasir?
Dengan kata lain, kita membangun kehidupan kita dengan sia-sia! Bila kita pikir lebih jauh lagi, puaskah anak Tuhan dengan hanya mendengar firmanNya? Tidakkah orang Kristen sejati akan rindu menjalankan kehendakNya? Bila anda tidak melihat pentingnya menjadi pelaku firman, alangkah berbahanyanya konstruksi hidup anda. Semua itu akan rubuh dan porak poranda! Lukas 6:47-49 memperjelas perumpamaan Tuhan Yesus ini: “Setiap orang yang datang kepada-Ku dan mendengarkan perkataan-Ku serta melakukannya—Aku akan menyatakan kepadamu dengan siapa ia dapat disamakan—; ia sama dengan seorang yang mendirikan rumah: Orang itu menggali dalam-dalam dan meletakkan dasarnya di atas batu. Ketika datang air bah dan banjir melanda rumah itu, rumah itu tidak dapat digoyahkan, karena rumah itu kokoh dibangun. Akan tetapi barangsiapa mendengar perkataan-Ku, tetapi tidak melakukannya, ia sama dengan seorang yang mendirikan rumah di atas tanah tanpa dasar. Ketika banjir melandanya, rumah itu segera rubuh dan hebatlah kerusakannya." Christmas 2011
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Sadarkah anda apa yang diungkapkan di sini? Mendengar firman tanpa melakukannya adalah sama dengan mendirikan hidup Kristen kita tanpa fondasi. Tidak perlu kita menjadi lulusan Teknik Sipil untuk mengerti akan hal ini; semua orang yang berakal sehat pasti akan setuju bahwa rumah yang didirikan tanpa dasar tidak akan berdiri teguh. Rumah itu akan hancur total dari atas sampai bawah! Bila rumah itu adalah hidup anda: maukah anda bangun rumah anda rapuh seperti ini? Memang kelihatan enak membangun hidup tanpa “banyak pikiran” seperti ini: Jadi orang Kristen ga papa, ke gereja dengerin khotbah oke-oke aja, asal jangan berlebihan deh! Setelah kebaktian selesai ya sudah... khotbahnya diinget silahkan, tapi jangan gaya-gaya mau dipraktekkan dah! Hidup setiap hari dinikmati, cari uang, berusaha jadi orang terkenal, ga usah sok munafik lah! Kalo mau dianggep orang Kristen yang baik, ya kasih sumbangan sana, ikut kerja bakti, tolongin orang kalo ada yang butuh. Bila anda setuju dan salah satu penganut “trend” ini, maaf—anda bagaikan orang bodoh yang membangun rumah di atas pasir itu! Saat kesusahan melanda dan pencobaan datang, dan Iblis menggoda anda, dan penghakiman Tuhan di ambang pintu, semua yang anda bangun selama ini, termasuk amal ibadah anda, 48
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adalah sia-sia belaka! Satu-satunya cara untuk bisa keluar sebagai pemenang hanya satu: memiliki hidup yang berdasar kokoh di atas firman, yang dibangun dengan melakukan firman. Itulah hidup orang yang bijaksana. Rekonstruksi Internal Tidak mudah menjadi pelaku firman. Seperti yang ditulis di injil Lukas, itu sama seperti pembangun rumah yang harus menggali dalam-dalam hanya untuk meletakkan fondasi rumah di atas batu. Itu baru meletakkan fondasi—dia masih harus membangun di atas fondasi tersebut. Hidup yang dibangun di atas fondasi batu yang kokoh: itulah kehidupan Kristen yang sejati, yang hanya bisa dicapai dengan menjadi pelaku firman. Mari kita introspeksi sejenak. Hidup kita setelah sekian tahun ini bagaikan rumah yang telah kita bangun dengan susah payah. Adakah dasar yang kokoh di rumah itu? Ataukah hidup kita dibangun di atas ajaran-ajaran duniawi yang tidak benar? “Aku”-kah yang menjadi penopang rumah kita, atau Tuhan? Adakah hati yang mengasihi sebagai pintu rumah, dan mulut yang menginjili sebagai jendelanya? Doa, pengajaran, dan pelayanankah yang menjadi dinding dan atap pelindung hidup kita?
Bila anda menjawab ‘tidak’ akan semua hal di atas, inilah saat untuk merombak total rumah anda. Jangan sayangkan apa pun, karena semua bakal hancur saat banjir melanda. Dengan kerendahan hati, akui Yesus sebagai Tuhan yang memerintah hidupmu. Bertobatlah dari cara-cara kehidupan duniawi, dan berjalanlah dalam kebenaran. Isilah hidupmu dengan doa, dan berpeganglah kepada kebenaran firmanNya. Kerjakanlah keselamatanMu. Jadilah pelaku firman! Jangan memasalahkan hal ini mudah atau tidak mudah—ini adalah suatu keharusan bila kita mau selamat. Mau tidak mau, kita harus bongkar semua yang sudah kita bangun, meletakkan dasar yang benar, dan membangun kembali rumah kita sedikit demi sedikit di atas dasar ini. Inilah yang disebut Rekonstruksi Intenal: perombakan di dalam hidup kita. Ko n k l u s i d a n R e f l e k s i Khotbah di Bukit adalah khotbah yang radikal. Khotbah ini memisahkan pendengar ke dalam dua kelompok: orang-orang bijak yang mendengar dan melakukan, dan orang-orang bodoh yang merasa cukup dengan mendengar saja. Termasuk kelompok yang manakah kita? Bila kita merasa cukup hanya mendengar
saja, benarkah kita ini anak Tuhan? BIla kita ingin menjadi kelompok orang yang bijak yang melakukan firman, hendaklah kita senantiasa ingat pula bahwa hidup yang bisa berdiri kokoh adalah hidup yang dibangun di atas dasar yang kuat. Untuk itu dibutuhkan renovasi total dan rekonstruksi menyeluruh di dalam kehidupan kita, dan “... bangunlah dirimu sendiri di atas dasar imanmu yang paling suci dan berdoalah dalam Roh Kudus.” (Yudas 1:20). Adakah Kristus sebagai landasan yang teguh yang menopang kuat kehidupan kita? Adakah kita menyatakan Kristus di dalam segala aspek hidup kita? Adakah kita menjalankan firmanNya dan melakukan kehendakNya? Sebagai penutup, mari kita mundur selangkah dari perumpamaan ini dan membaca Matius 7:21-23 dan Lukas 6:46. Bukan orang yang berseru Tuhan! Tuhan! yang akan masuk Kerajaan Sorga. Bukan orang yang melayani luar biasa yang akan diterima Tuhan. Ia tidak melihat perbuatan yang kelihatan—Ia melihat jauh ke dalam hati kita: adakah kita melakukan kehendakNya? Hanya dengan dasar inilah kita akan diterimaNya. [MH]
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English Translation The Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5 to 7) chronicles Jesus Christ’s teachings on how we are to conduct proper relationships with God, ourselves, and others. Jesus called Christians to have integrity in our relationship and worship of God; that our acts of worship is solely for God and not for the eyes of men. The Sermon of the Mount forces Christians to evaluate whether we have been building our lives according to Jesus’ teachings. Jesus’ point is that in order to build our lives on His teaching, we must become the doers of His Word. It was significant that Jesus chose to conclude the Sermon on the Mount with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. In this parable, Jesus likened the doer of His Word to a wise builder who built his house on a solid stone foundation. The listener (not doer) of the
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Word was likened to a foolish builder who built his house on sand. One day “the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house (that was built on sand), and it fell, and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7: 27).” There is a word of warning here. Jesus intended His teachings to become the foundation that we build our lives and relationships upon. In order to do so, we cannot be mere listeners of the Word. Jesus warned that to be a mere a listener of the Word is the same as building one’s house on sand. Although the house may look sturdy from the outside, a storm will expose the inherent problems of the house: its weak (and almost non-existent) foundation. No matter how much time, money, and effort are exerted towards the house, in the end they were all futile because the storm of life will wash the house away in the end. The only foundation able to withstand the storms of life is the Christ the Rock Himself.
Our lives and relationships must be built on Christ, and the only way to do so is to become doers of His Word. Let us inspect our ‘house.’ Is it build on the solid teachings of Christ or is it built on the false teachings of the World? Is it ‘I’ who hold the house up or is it Christ? Is there an open door of love for others or an open window that shares the gospel to others? If Christ is not your foundation, then it is time to reconstruct your house. Do not be saddened when you must discard many old ‘items’ in your ‘house’ during the reconstruction process. If you do not reconstruct your ‘house’ on the solid rock foundation that is Christ, the storm will come and destroy everything and leave you with nothing. The Sermon on the Mount was as radical then as it is now. It separates the listeners from the doers of the Word. It separates the wise builders from the foolish builders. Let us turn to the true Foundation to build our lives upon. [RA]
“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7: 21
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By Janice Atmadja
Setting the Context for the Christian Pilgrimage: Our Destination and Purpose
........................................................................................................................ Christians today are modern-day pilgrims. Those who have been chosen by God and accepted into the grace and fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ, are on a lifelong pilgrimage to the new heaven and new earth; a place where the glory of the Lord provides light and our occupation day to day will only be to praise the Lord for who He is. For the Christian, our destination and purpose for which we undertake this journey lie outside the domain of earthly understanding. What is the Christian pilgrimage? To answer this let’s start with what it is not: 1. Unlike other pilgrimages, the Christian’s journey is not to an earthly “holy” place as it is in Islam for our promised place is a heavenly city. 2. The purpose for our pilgrimage is not to attain “enlightenment” or human wisdom as it is in Buddhist religion for the Lord has said that the wisdom
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of men is foolishness in the eyes of God, and that understanding comes only through Jesus Christ’s revelation of the Father (Luke 10:22). 3. Our purpose for this pilgrimage is not to attain a divine power, for by the grace of God He already sent us that power to overcome sin by means of the Holy Spirit. Because of the ascension of Christ, the Spirit has come down to be with us so we are filled with all speech and knowledge even now as the Holy Spirit renewed our spirits with power, love, and discipline(2 Tim 1:6-7). The conquering power of the Holy Spirit has been given to us. His power within each of us and His work in the world is accomplished “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” (Zech. 4:16). We, as believers, already possess anointing from the Holy One allowing us to discern God’s will and His truth with the power and aid of the Spirit (1 John 3:24 & 4:13).
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4. Our pilgrimage is not for the purpose of attaining holiness. We will never be holy whilst we are still in this mortal flesh. To Him our good works are like filthy rags. No one is righteous before Him (Romans) and if we do not believe this then we make Him to be a liar and His truth is not in us (1 John). The Christian pilgrimage begins and ends with the Cross of Christ. Our journey begins with the already present state of our Lord. We are not on a journey to find Him. Rather, He has found us. From the very start, we did not “choose” to start the journey; God did. In fact, the journey has begun long ago when He made the promise to Adam and Eve to send a savior to redeem them of their sins. Our fall into sin that happened years ago did not escape the foreknowledge and plan of God. Even Jesus’ life, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension are all part of God’s plan for salvation, which are done for the glory of God to save the chosen ones. The message of the Gospel is not of humans making their way to God; instead it is one of God making His way to us. It is the act of God to save His chosen people. It is the unique message of the Gospel which says explicitly that Jesus Christ has himself come for the very purpose. That is to reach down to save human kind as we are unable to save ourselves through the gift of grace, so no 54
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one may boast. We praise God that He Himself has provided the way through His own son, Jesus Christ. The Christian Pilgrimage is Daily Repentance. And Daily Repentance brings HOPE. Is it enough for us to simply agree that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He alone is the way to the Father? No. The message of the Gospel does not end simply at “agreement”. If that is so, then we are like the seed that fell on the ground, sprang up, but quickly died for there was no “depth of earth” (Matt. 13). Repentance and salvation are not separate and can not be separate. Repentance is the act turning away of men from sin to God. “and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’ ” (Mark 1:15 ESV) “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV) “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2 ESV). Because of Christ, we may glorify God even though we are sinful for we are simultaneously justified by faith in the blood of Christ. Because of Christ,
our repentance has a purpose, which is a God-glorifying purpose. John makes it clear that in our state of sin, our glorification of God is possible through confession, repentance, and gratitude for His gift of salvation. The act of repentance is the turning away from sin towards the grace and mercy that Jesus Christ offers through the cross. Repentance is marked by the grief and sorrow towards sin and anything that displeases God. This is what we are to do every day. This is our act of pilgrimage. The Christian repents daily by preaching the Gospel to himself daily. Our daily repentance is our spiritual act of worship. Repentance is Jesus’ commandment; it is the first thing He utters early on in His ministry. Does that not highlight the importance of repentance? It is in-line with the message John the Baptist’s message of repentance. Let us be clear, repentance is not something that happens separately, apart from receiving the Good News; neither is it something that happens only once. Repentance, true repentance, happens simultaneously with the receiving of the Good News.When we understand the depravity of our state through the help of the Holy Spirit, we joyously receive news of salvation offered through Jesus Christ alone. If not, the Good News will not be good to us! It is good precisely because it makes our repentance and daily walk
with Jesus a joy, knowing that our good works are as filthy rags and because of that the work and Lordship of Jesus Christ is even more affirmed. WHY must we repent? 1. Because God is holy a. God is holy. God abhors sin, and not a day goes by that we do not sin. However, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us. (1 John 1:9) This is enough reason for daily repentance, but we must not stop there. b. God is holy. Therefore, He is just. Christ’s gift of salvation is redemption fulfilling the law, by grace, through faith. The Gospel does not negate law; the gospel and Jesus’ very life fulfills and completes it. His justice through the gift of Christ is the mark of His holiness and most of all, His love. c. God demands that we too be holy so we must obey. i. Obedience is a commandment of God. Repentance is the commandment of Jesus. Therefore, we must repent. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.“ (John 14:15 NIV) 2. Repentance is the mark of those born of God. Continuation in sin is not possible for those born of God. Repentance does not bring salvation, Christmas 2011
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but repentance is the mark of a person who has truly received salvation. If we habitually walk in sin, then we are mocking the holiness of God, we are taking lightly the enslavement of sin, and we are mocking what Jesus did for us. A person can never continually commit sin and still claim to know the Holy God. “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:8-9 ESV) 3. Repentance allows sinful human beings to fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. Mission and evangelism exist so that there is worship on Earth for the one true God and fellowship between the Triune God and us. For this very reason, Christ came down to us. “The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:2-3 ESV) 56
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a. Through repentance and salvation, we sinful humans may walk with a Holy God through the veil of Jesus Christ. In Christ’s righteousness we hide; we are not made righteous, but in Christ’s righteousness are we declared innocent before God. b. Repentance allows us to know God and being known by Him is our ground of assurance. 4. Daily repentance keeps us away from idols. On this Earth, there is no such thing as comfort zone for the Christian; we are sent out as sheep amongst wolves. If we are always on guard, how then can we be complacent? Complacency arises from forgetfulness, forgetfulness leading to doubt. At the root of it all is idolatry. Straying away from Christ means idola-try. It means forgetting to repent which is forgetting the standard of God. When we “stray away”, we replace God’s standards for our own standards of good works assuring ourselves that it is enough. This is a direct mockery of Jesus’ infinitely more precious sacrifice, which is the real, high, cost of our sin. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:20-21 ESV)
5. Daily repentance reminds us of where we place our hope. It reminds us to run the race to the end. Repentance is the mark of a Christian who continues to hope in Christ. In our repentance, the realization of our depravity makes us turn to Christ. Our assurance of salvation comes from Christ, which is the grace of God, alone; but confirmation of our salvation may be seen in our pursuit of the things that please God. “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. “ (1 John 3:19-20 ESV) [MH] INDONESIAN TRANSLATION Arti dan Tujuan Perjalanan Orang Kristen Orang Kristen sekarang bisa disebut penjiarah (pilgrim) jaman baru. Kita bisa disebut penjiarah karena orang Kristen yang sudah mendapatkan anugerah keselamatan akan menantikan surga dan bumi yang baru. Kita menantikannya karena itu merupakan tempat tinggal tetap kita sesungguhnya. Kalau begitu apakah arti dan tujuan ziarah kita? • Ziarah kita tidak sama dengan ziarah agama lain karena tujuan ziarah kita bukanlah ke tempat suci di dalam dunia tetapi ke dalam surga.
• Tujuan ziarah kita bukanlah untuk mendapat penerangan atau kepintaran manusia karena pengertian sesungguhnya hanya bisa didapatkan melalui Tuhan Yesus. • Tuhan ziarah kita bukanlah untuk mendapatkan kekuatan ajaib karena jika kita sudah mendapatkan Roh Kudus ketika kita percaya (1 Yohanes 3:24 & 4:13) • Tujan ziarah kita bukanlah untuk menjadikan kita suci karena selama kita masih berada di dalam dunia ini kita adalah manusia berdosa dan tidak bisa menjadi suci (1 Yohanes) Tujuan ziarah kita di dunia ini hanya ada 1 yaitu untuk kemuliaan Tuhan. Ziarah orang Kristen bermula dan berakhir di salib. Kita tidak memilih untuk menjadi penziarah tetapi Tuhan lah yang memilih kita. Kita sudah dipilih dan ditetapkan sebelum dunia dijadikan. Jadi kita tidak dapat membanggakan diri sama sekali karena semua kemuliaan hanyalah untukNya. Ziarah orang Kristen adalah pertobatan dan pertobatan akan mendatangkan harapan. Percaya akan Tuhan Yesus bukanlah tujuan akhir orang Kristen tetapi merupakan permulaan. Setelah kita percaya maka kita harus ada pertobatan karena keselamatan dan pertobatan tidak dapat dipisahkan. Pertobatan sehari-hari adalah bentuk ibadah kita.
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"Hope "H Hop pe in in H Hell's elll'l's De e D Despair" esp spai a r" r
By Jocelyn Lee Tindage
The woman burned with a fever. Before her was the Yellow River, vast and wide. Beside her were one hundred orphans displaced by war. They were starved, tired, but worse, trapped. In the midst of war, all the ships had been called away, leaving a lone English missionary and one hundred war orphans standing on the wrong side of the river. One little girl asked the missionary if God would part the River as He had parted the Red Sea for Moses. The missionary replied, "I am not Moses, Sualan." 1 And so they stood, stranded. The woman was Gladys May Aylward, born on February 24, 1902 in Edmonton, London to Mr. Thomas Aylward, a mailman. She was the oldest of two sisters and a brother. Though her parents brought her to church regularly, she did not realize that 58
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God had a claim on her life until she went to a revival meeting at the age of 18. Suddenly, her eyes were opened as the preacher exhorted the congregation to "giving one's life over to the service of the Lord."2 According to her autobiography (Little Woman), she "joined the Young Life Campaign, and in one of their meetings…read an article about China that made a terrific impression on [her]. To realize that millions of Chinese had never heard of Jesus Christ was to [her] a staggering thought, and [she] felt we ought to do something about it."3 This seemed to have been the seed of God's purpose for her. Gladys eventually applied to the China Inland Mission and took their courses for preparation at the age of 26. However, at the end of the course, the mission center rejected her application on basis "that her 4 education background was too limited." As
a young girl who disliked school, Gladys had dropped out of school at the age of 14 and became a parlor maid, cleaning houses in the city while taking acting classes at night in the hopes of becoming an actress. But God's plans do not always coincide with the plans of man; and God always prevails. In the same way, just because the mission center denied Gladys the chance to go to China, that did not mean God had denied her. God's method of sending her was just a bit different, and unexpected, perhaps. After the rejection from the mission center, Gladys accepted a job offer to work as a maid in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Fischer. While that had seemed like a step backwards from Gladys's perspective, God spent the next few years to prepare her for the missionary work He had planned for her and called her to do. With the certainty of God's call for Gladys to go to China, she set out to prepare for her trip. She planned to work hard and save up every penny possible that she might be able to travel to China on her own in three years. She was going to China without the help of China Inland Mission. However, with God's help, she managed to save enough funds to start her trip in just one year. Then, in God's perfect timing, Gladys attended a Primitive Methodist Gathering where she learned that a missionary named Jeannie Lawson was looking for an assistant in order to continue her missionary work in China after her husband's death. Gladys wrote, and was accepted by Mrs. Lawson. Thus, on October 15, 1932, age 30, Gladys began a five-week journey from London
to the city of Yangchen in the province of Shanxi, a little south of Beijing. The train ride across Europe and Sibera was wrought with danger because of the war between Russia and China. At one point, Gladys was detained, but managed to escape via a Japanese ship which took her to Kobe. From there, Gladys sailed to Tianjin and eventually made her way to meet Mrs. Lawson. Traveling through foreign land, narrowly escaping detention, meeting friendly helpers - one can only say that God was with Gladys every step of a dangerous way. Once in Yangchen, Gladys and Mrs. Lawson needed to figure out a way to preach the gospel. The two women opened up an inn, Inn of Eight Happiness. It was appropriate since Yangchen was an overnight stop for many mule caravans, and the travelers needed a place to stay. After feeding the mule drivers, Mrs. Lawson gathered the travelers for story time. Each night, she told stories of a man named Jesus. After Mrs. Lawson's death shortly following Gladys's arrival, Gladys carried on her work, but soon, God granted her the opportunity to take the gospel further. During this time in China, the government had issued a ban on the tradition of foot-binding. However, many families refused to comply. The government therefore needed a woman whose feet were not bound (as an example) and who was willing to travel. In this manner, Gladys was able to take the gospel everywhere she went to inspect feet. When God has a plan, He provides a way. Gladys Aylward, a woman who was considered in capable of learning the Chinese language by China Inland Mission, was now preaching the Christmas 2011
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gospel fluently in Chinese all over the province of Shanxi. Five years after Gladys's arrival in China, however, what was considered the "Golden Age" for missionaries in China would come to a drastic end. In 1937, Yangchen was beginning to hear reports of war as the Japanese began their attack of China. The curtains for one of the world's most devastating war in all of history had just lifted. In 1938, the Inn of Eight Happiness was bombed and damaged. She would spend the next two years tending the wounded, fleeing to the mountains for safety, and tending to the large group of orphans that had collected over the years. One could say that her missionary work took a completely different direction than she had perhaps anticipated. The greatest challenge during that time came in early 1940. By then, Gladys had become a wanted woman of the Japanese government, who wished to arrest her for spying. She often spied on the Japanese and gave the Chinese Nationalist forces intelligence. It was time to flee, but Gladys was taking care of over two hundred orphans at the time. One hundred of those orphans would leave with Gladys's co-worker in early 1940. Days later, Gladys rounded up the other hundred and began the long mountainous trek from Yancheng to Xian where they would be safe. The first few days of the journey was filled with excitement, but soon their shoes worn out, feet covered in bloody blisters, food supply depleted, and health 60
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eroded. Gladys was plagued with fever, the children weakened by exhaustion, and all were tormented by hunger and fear. After twelve days of traveling, they finally came to the Yellow River, but all the nearby villagers had already escaped, taking the boats with them. So before them was the great divide, behind them were Japanese soldiers. It was no wonder the little girl Sualan thought of the story of Moses and the Israelites before the Red Sea. However, as Gladys had said, she was not Moses, and had no staff to part with river with. "But God is always God," the girl reminded Gladys. And so they prayed. The children prayed and sang. God did not part the Yellow River for them that day, but He did bring a Chinese officer who had heard the songs of the children. In three trips, all the children and Gladys were transported safely across the Yellow River. From there they journeyed still many days until they reached safety. Gladys was not Moses, the children were not the Israelites, and the Yellow River was not the Red Sea. Between Moses and Gladys spanned three millennia. But despite the change of time and space, God is still God, and He has cared for His people all the same. After Gladys recuperated from a string of illnesses that followed the journey, she continued her missionary work in Chengdu. Then in 1949, she returned home to England. Though she longed to return to China, the place she called home, Communists took over and sealed off China from all foreigners. Consequently, Gladys moved to Taiwan instead, and continued her work -
opening orphanages, preaching God's word - until her death in 1970. In the eyes of men, Gladys Aylward was perhaps just a parlor maid who was not good enough to enter the mission field. But by the will of God, she made it to China, survived through a treacherous journey, World War II, and carried out the work that God had created her to accomplish. In the end, her life is a testament that no circumstance, time, or men can ever thwart the will of our Almighty God. May it be an encouragement to us all, that in Him, there is always hope in hell's despair. [END] 1
Aylward, Gladys, and Hunter Christine. "Little Woman." TCCA Taichung Christian Congregation. Trans. Huang Wan-Hsu. TCCA, n.d. Web. 29 Oct 2011. . 2 Fritzius, John. "Gladys Aylward." tlogical. Theology thru Technology, 2006. Web. 28 Oct 2011. <www.tlogical.net/bioaylward.htm>. 3 Piper, Noel. Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God.Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2005. 72. eBook. 4 Ibid, p. 72 5 For further reading, refer to Faithful Woman and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper and Little Woman by Gladys Aylward and Christine Hunter.
The Christian Pilgrimage Kenapa kita perlu bertobat? • Karena Tuhan kudus adanya o Tuhan membenci dosa o Tuhan menebus kita dari dosa o Tuhan mau kita untuk turut ke pada perintah-Nya • Pertobatan adalah tanda lahir baru. Walaupun pertobatan tidak mendatangkan keselamatan tetapi pertobatan merupakan tanda orang yang telah mendapatkan keselamatan. • Pertobatan membuat manusia bisa mempunyai hubungan dengan Tuhan melalui Yesus Kristus. o Dengan pertobatan kita bisa berjalan dengan Tuhan yang kudus. o Dengan pertobatan kita dapat mengenal dan “diketahui” oleh Tuhan. • Pertobatan sehari-hari menjauhkan kita dari penyembahan berhala.Akar dari semua dosa kita adalah berhala dan manusia yang menjauh dari Tuhan pasti telah menyembah suatu berhala. • Pertobatan mengingatkan kita dimana kita bisa menaruh harapan kita.Tuhan Yesus merupakan sumber harapan kita karena di dalam Dia saja kita mendapatkan anugerah keselamatan dan hidup yang kekal. [HW] Christmas 2011
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It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. -from ‘Invictus’ by William Ernest Henley
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illiam Henley’s ‘Invictus’ is well-regarded as a source of inspiration to many notable figures. The poem has been quoted by famous actors and songwriters. It has inspired Nelson Mandela during his twenty seven years of political imprisonment. It is also the poem that Oklahoma City Bomber, Timothy McVeigh recited on a piece of paper on his execution day. Somehow the poem’s message of ‘self-mastery’ appealed to both men although one man is considered a respectable leader and the other a terrorist. t the heart of ‘Invictus’ is a declaration of man’s desire to direct the course of his life. It is a prideful man’s anthem that sings of independence from his Creator and elevating himself to the status of master of his fate. The Bible speaks of material things that can become masters of us. However the most dangerous master that we can have is ourselves because when we elevate ourselves to become captains of our lives out of pride, we claim that it is for
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sake of self-preservation. For example, one feels that one simply cannot wait for God to act and decide to take matters into his own hands without consulting the Lord. Man in his sinful nature sees it as self-preservation, but God sees it as contending for supremacy against Him. f we are honest with ourselves, we will find that we like to control the direction of our lives. We take great pains in ensuring the level of comfort that we are used to having continues for as long as possible. As long as one is open to God’s leading in his or her life, there is nothing wrong with studying hard for a future in your chosen profession or to save money for rainy days. However when one does not submit to the Lord’s direction and insist having a right to control the trajectory of our lives, then one has wrestled control away from God. When I insist on going my own way and disregard God’s directions for my life; I have robbed God of his position as the true master of my life.
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egretfully we all have robbed God of his legitimate position as the true Master of our lives. At times we take tomorrow for granted and make plans without consulting Him first. At times, we expect that God will give us a life that matches our human expectations and desires. At times, we expect and demand that God aligns His will with our wills when it is us who should be aligning our wills to His. If we say that we believe in God but yet do not trust Him with determining the direction of our lives, then we are liars and we do not know in whom we have believed in. n Matthew 6, Jesus spoke with regards to storing up treasures on earth: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24
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n many ways, serving money in the end is serving our selves. Money is just a means of self-preservation in which we find security and false strength that can be used to control the direction of our lives. Just as Jesus explained, to serve two masters is to disobey one of them. Do we declare with our mouths that God is the Captain of our souls and yet conduct our lives as if we are the captains of our souls? Let us choose our Master wisely.
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By: Hubert Kusdono and Kenny Gozali
Christmas
comes with gift givings: parents giving gifts to their
children and children giving gifts to their parents as well as to the other family members, the extended family and friends. This Christmas we asked a few parents to give advice on what are the thoughtful Christmas gifts they can offer to their Children. Let’s take a look below. 64
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“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.” – Psalm 127. Each Christmas, children ask their parents for anything they dream of, whether it is a toy car, doll, or new video game system. A wise, thoughtful parent would not only think of materialistic things to buy for their children, but values to instill in their children which will benefit them throughout their whole life. Implanting spiritual values and pointing their children towards Christ and His faithfulness is a great Christmas present that any parent can give to their child. Because God does not waste children on parents and calls them “gifts,” parents should have a commitment to raise and train their children in Christ. Even if it doesn’t suit to the preference of the child, discipline, without losing temper or embarrassing them in front of their peers, is still a way of teaching a child the rights and wrongs in life. Practicing a sincere respect for the child’s worth as an individual is something that all parents should do for their children, not only during Christmas, but every day. Respecting a child’s worth as an individual includes giving them emotional, physical, and 66
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spiritual security. Also, especially during the Christmas season, parents should be good friends to their children. They should be listening and attentive parents, encouraging their children’s dreams and telling them how proud they are of them. This Christmas, even with all the hectic and difficult times of work, parents need to slow down and spend time with their kids. This is probably one of the best things any child could ask for Christmas. Most importantly, pray for their wisdom, protection, and strength. Not only should parents give their children spiritual gifts for their children, but children should also give their parents gifts that are not necessarily materialistic. First and foremost, as a Christmas gift that any parent would want, children should obey their parents. They should pursue righteousness and remember Jesus Christ in all their actions, as well as educate themselves in the Bible’s promises. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:1, children should live a pure life that pleases God. As a gift to their parents, children should apologize to their parents and be willing to change themselves when they have done wrong. Practicing good manners and keeping a good attitude is also something that parents would like from their children. Most importantly, children should not be afraid to open up and communicate
with their parents, for this creates a healthy will last forever. Gifts such as toys may only relationship. They should thank their satisfy a child for a period of time, whether parents for all the sacrifices they have made. it may be short or long, but a memory that is made from the special bonding between This Christmas, materialistic items may be a parent and child is sure to last a lifetime. nice to give, but a perfect gift that both parents and children could give to each other Spending family time together may just is the gift of love and compassion. Not only include anything ranging from going to an should they spend time with each other, but elaborate vacation spot to just eating dinner they should love each other in Christ. [HK] as a family. What is most important is the quality time that parents and their children should spend with each other, regardless of where they are. No matter the location, parents should be sure to give their children A wise gift that any parent could give to a great time and create memories that they their children is their time, even in the midst will always remember as they grow older. of the struggles, hardships, and stressful For example, a couple years ago, my husband times. Even though children may prefer and I went to the Grand Canyon with our materialistic gifts such as new toys, quality children during the Christmas vacation. Just time that is spent will create memories that spending quality time and strengthening our loving bond as a family helped create special memories that my children still remember to this day, even though they were very young at the time. It does not have to be at the Grand Canyon. Watching movies together, going out at night to get dessert, or just having a nice family meal will generate great times and memories that children will enjoy. While Christmas season and summer vacation are great times for parents to spend time with their children, Christmas is especially important and significant because it is a time not only for spending time and having fun, but a time to remember God. As a Christian parent, one should not only make their kids happy but also make sure they grow in Christ. They should spend time with their children and guide them in the Word of God while training them to be good Christmas 2011
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Christian fo l l owe r s in the eyes of the Lord. Family time is a perfect time to i n s t i l l Christian values and help them spiritually g r o w . Worldly gifts and toys may make children happy, but the happiness and will never last as long as the joy from all the memories that were created from the great times spent with their parents. As a good Christian parent, one may delight their child by giving them gifts, but what is most important is creating a special bond and healthy relationship in Christ that will last a lifetime. [HK]
The wonderful and awesome Christmas gift everyone loves and needs is the gift of God, “Eternal Life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6: 23). This gift without doubt is the most wanted, especially for someone who knows and experiences the down fall point of one’s life. This gift is also for friends who almost have everything in life such as electronic items: an I-pod, I-touch, and I-phone and still feeling emptiness in their hearts. The gift of God is the best gift ever. After getting this gift, you need to wrap it with a very special wrapper, the Words of God. In addition, 68
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you might need to drop a bit of decorated items on the top of the wrapper. Those are your love, comfort, care and attention. Guaranteed, the person who receives this gift will love it the most. Another thing that you might give as Christmas gift is a quick grabbed one in many stores, such as a headphone jacket, a flash drive, or a Polaroid instant camera. These gifts are unisex items. They temporarily satisfy everyone. Their characteristics are immediate wants, short satisfactions, never enough updates, and fast bored desires. All suggested Christmas gifts are mentioned above, the best one or the better one, you can think of for this year. [KG]
Baby's Full Name: Clement Christopher Setiawan The Parents: Heri Sebastian Setiawan and Christal Setiawan Date of Birth: 29 December 2010 Weight and Height: 7.3 pounds and 19 inches Future Occupation: Anything that God wants him to be. (a.k.a we don’t know yet) We as Clement’s parents are very glad and thankful to the Lord, who has given us grace to experience parenthood,even though we do not deserve it.As time goes by,we can really experience that Clement has brought so much blessing in our family. So many times throughout the day, we hear laughter and singing from everybody in the house, including Clement’s grandparents.We see smiley faces around the house.We pray that this translates continuously that even when Clement grows up, he still can be a blessing to others around him because Christ lives in him. Our hope for Clement: 1) May God reveal more of Himself to Clement. 2) May Clement truly recognize his state of fallenness as a sinful human being, so that he will come to Christ in humility and repentance. 3) We hope that Clement will love God will all of his heart, mind, and soul and love others just as himself. 4) We also hope that God will grant him the fear of the Lord which will produce humility, obedience, and heavenly wisdom which will guide him in all aspects of his life whether throughout his childhood, education, friendship, trials that God allows in his life, career, ministry that God entrusts to him, and his future. Christmas 2011
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Baby's Full Name: Charlene Aimee Chung The Parents: Buddy and Linda Chung Date of Birth: 18 February 2011 at 2.35PM Weight and Height: 6.3 pounds and 18 inches Future Occupation: Athlete (said Mommy) or Doctor (said Daddy) I (Linda) was very scared with the idea of giving birth, so I had been praying to God for the strength and courage. On Friday, February 18th at 9 AM (Home, Alhambra), Buddy was already off to work. I was about to bring Marshie, our dog for a walk when I suddenly heard popping sound. I did not feel any pain but noticed the carpet under me was all wet. I remembered one of my childbirth sessions and thought "Oh, maybe my water just broke... but it might be a false labor." I took a shower to clean myself and then called my doctor to tell her what had happened. The nurse who answered the call insisted that I should have it checked at the hospital. So there, I was driving alone to the hospital and called Buddy saying, "Don't worry, I just need to have it checked." At 10 AM (Methodist Hospital, Arcadia), I was told that I had to stay because I was already 3 cm dilated. At 11 AM, Buddy finally arrived at the hospital after making several wrong turns in the neighborhood he was familiar with, just because he was too nervous. I had not felt any pain yet at that moment, so I was thinking, "Wow, this is easy." About an hour later, it was not easy anymore. The contraction started, and I began to experience the pain. Buddy was trying hard to comfort me. All of the things I saw on TV when someone giving birth was happening to me. I was screaming, tossing, and turning. An anesthesiologist came and gave me an injection. Five minutes later, I was calm like a cucumber. Finally, after a few pushes, Charlene was born at 2:35 PM.This is all by God's blessing. It was the greatest feeling in my life. God knew I was terrified, so He made everything quick and unpredictable for me. Our hope for Charlene: Is to be a wise woman who fears the Lord. 70
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Baby's Full Name: Angela Elaine Zheng The Parents: Jinzhang Zheng and Linda Tjhu Date of Birth: 02 November 2011 Weight and Height: 10.8 pounds and 20 inches Future Occupation: Dentist
We were really surprised that our baby weighed more than 10 pounds because the doctor predicted only 8 pounds.Our baby who was born overweight had low blood sugar after delivery and had a higher risk for diabetes.We were concerned about her conditions. Finally after a few tests were done, her blood sugar came back to normal, and nothing was wrong with her.We are blessed for our baby girl. Thank God for giving us an adorable, big, and healthy daughter. Our Hope for Angela: When we named our baby girl "Angela Elaine," we hope she can be a light and blessing to her surroundings. Christmas 2011
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By: Eva Leony
