Sivin Kit’s Garden

Archive for January, 2008

I’m happy the two earlier blog posts Christian Perspectives on Politics in Malaysia I and Christian Perspectives on Politics in Malaysia II is generating some conversation even though there isn’t an avalanche of comments. Maybe the Invisible Blue Gang isn’t that provocative or controversial. Then again, we always meant to join the panel to talk about the issues not to focused on rhetoric. Tonight we carry on the third installment. Let’s see where this will lead us. perhaps to a better tomorrow?

Chun Wai: In Malaysia, politics have always been quite partisan and even emotional at times. While the church may agree on certain issues, there’s always the question of approaches that can divide the congregation. For example, the pastor can be very anti- or pro-government, and the congregation is made up of people with various political affiliations and they may not be too happy with the stand taken by the pastor. Will that create division in church?

Steven: There are many issues that can divide an institution not just politics, but I guess this is where maturity and the Christian’s concept of brotherly love comes in. Everyone ought to be welcomed and given the space to express themselves and with such space respect ought to be given for the persons even if we differ in ideologies. We cannot treat our congregation as childish and immature to handle differences.

Hermen: You just take one issue, let’s say our response to a certain concern. And then, you will find in the church some will say get involved, others say don’t. They are no different from the rest of society.

Sivin: The church has always dealt with divisions since day one. And we still do, whether we like it or not. We have been learning and still learning how to cope with diversity of legitimate view points without being divided, and yet sometimes division maybe inevitable on this side of heaven. This may range from the what may seem the most trivial like musical taste to the more critical doctrinal differences. I’m confident we can learn to deal with the issue of politics. My reading of the Gospels give me an impression that even Jesus early disciples came from differing political persuasions. Historically and even today we can locate a diversity of responses to politics and our relation to the government. So handling strong diverse views is a constant challenge.

The question for me, is why do people take these positions? What are the factors influencing them to decide their conclusions? Even if a pastor’s stand may at first glance appear to create division. Perhaps, we need to ask deeper questions beyond whether one is happy or not with the pastor’s opinion. We’re talking a little too abstract here. Which frustrates me a little. Let’s take a concrete example, if I take a stand to choose to dialogue not only with UMNO or MCA politicians but also am willing to engage PKR, DAP or PAS politicians (which usually is seen as anti-government), it is potentially divisive because we are seen as being used by either party, but then it may also reflect the maturity of the church in engaging strongly opposing views. What if the dialogue is in order for me as a religious leader not only to clarify their views, but also hopefully they would be open to our input?

Chun Wai: Teresa, you are a Catholic and Catholic churches are known to be more vocal, please share your experience.

Kok: We are duty-bound to speak up for justice. If you can’t speak up, can’t act, at least pray for the situation. I used to attend mass in Petaling Jaya and during the community prayer time, the priest always has no choice but to bring certain issues into prayer, and certain religious words banned, you have to pray for that. And ISA being used, you pray for the detainees and the families. And we pray for press freedom, religious freedom, for independence of the judiciary, pray for the Prime Minister so that he has the wisdom to rule the country – that is all for the good of the society.

What I also find interesting is that the priest also prays for Chua Soi Lek, so that he can have reconciliation with his family. All these, you can say they are political messages of prayers, but it is our duty to pray over what is happening in our country. People might think this is political. But, in fact, for me, it is not. It is our duty as Christians to bring out all these messages to act, and to pray, and participate in the restoration of the wrong things that are happening in the country.

Chun Wai: But when certain approaches are taken, do you feel that sometimes this particular church can be seen to be anti-government? Will it help at all?

Steven: I must reiterate that the church is called to be biased towards justice, peace and truth. While we are non-partisan, we must not be seen as afraid to play the prophetic role of speaking against anyone who sought to compromise these values. I must say though, there are many ways we can go about doing this but whatever we do, our undergirding principle must be that of charity, love.

Sivin: I’m trying to understand where we are heading if we are locked into this “anti-government” or “pro-government” talk … if the government has failed in any of it’s promises, and there’s concern or even criticism coming from the church, even helping the church members articulate their frustrations in prayer and intercession, is that not a legitimate response. We also have times where we express affirmation to good government policies or give thanks for good changes, does that make us “pro-government”? The fact is churches or pastors taking a more critical reflective stance towards how the faith of the community is connected to sociopolitical concerns is a minority (especially in the protestant circles), and I think these voices are needed. I’ve always been challenged by the Catholic church which like Chun Wai said is more vocal.

Kok: I have heard that some parishioners had left that parish and they go to other Catholic parishes because they don’t like the priest to talk about or pray like this. But it has also encouraged parishioners to be more socially and politically concerned.

Lee: I think you have to differentiate between current issues and also party issues. There is nothing wrong for a church to talk about or pray about issues of the day. But I don’t think there is any church that will say, oh, I support the MCA or DAP .

Church leaders have to be neutral on the pulpit but on the ground, if he or she supports a political party, or take part in a rally, or attend a pro-government activity, I think he or she has that right.

Bob: The polemic of being “anti-government” is something that those who are in power will have to deal with. We didn’t invent it and don’t appreciate it being imposed on our discourse. I don’t think the church is going to abdicate theological interpretation to the state.

I have yet to see partisan politics being advocated from the pulpit. This may have been true in the past when the pulpit was used to bash “ungodly” ideologies like communism, et al, but I think those times are over.

However, to have social concerns being voiced and advocated over the pulpit ought to be expected. If the powers that be are consistent in their practice with principles and values that Christians hold dear, then there ought to be no concern for any form of “anti-government” feelings by the former.

Chun Wai: But Datuk, if pastors, whether they wear their collar on Sunday, and after that, never wear their collar, should they be involved in politics?

Hoh: Definitely not, because it can be very sensitive for both sides. But let’s say it is a social programme like a charity and they help as individuals, that is a different story.

Sivin: In one sense, Datuk Hoh is right. If I were to join a political party as a pastor, this is problematic because it’s harder to play the role of a guide when one has to campaign for a party position. That’s why at least in the denomination I serve in we are not allowed to do so. And what he mentions in terms of social programs is one level of engagement. But I think for some of us even as pastors especially in the Malaysian context, who in the process of seeking to be in solidarity with the poor, the powerless, the disempowered and marginalized, and also helping churches to be in touch with the suffering of others, suddenly find ourselves unable to ignore the political dimension and systemic problems beyond what is seen on the surface.

Like it or not, in all honestly and being true the calling of following Jesus, one is moved to another level where the we’ll have to ask the hard questions, and in good conscience apart from being more politically informed and aware, step into some form of engagement with those more directly involved. This may range from participating in a candle light vigil to giving a voice to issues in specific forums, and this does not mean  involvement in such activities is officially alignment  to a political party or endorsement to political personalities. It’s a road not many will travel, but some will. And of course, some will go further. While I personally won’t do get involved in party politics, I respect those who feel this is a move they want to make.

Bob: It really isn’t that uncommon elsewhere. A person’s decision to participate in partisan politics ought to be the person’s prerogative; even if that person is a pastor. There are, of course, concerns that due to a pastor’s position, he or she might have undue influence over their respective congregations.

This can, in part, be mitigated by better public education about the role of politics and civics in general. Unfortunately, due to the lack thereof in Malaysia, this is a legitimate concern. This is where individual denominations and churches will need to prayerfully and wisely consider and decide on their policies as to whether or not to allow serving clergy to take up non-clerical roles outside their official functions.

Having said that, I believe that there are circumstances, especially in cases where mitigating factors exist, that pastors, as community leaders in their own right, need to take up a more overt political role and challenge existing systems. This isn’t unique. In the 20th century alone, these pastors from the various Christian traditions have all taken similiar paths – Dr Martin Luther King, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dietrich Boenhoeffer, Oscar Romero et al

Steven: I cannot do better than Bob to raise the example of Christians ministers who wear their collars and brought real transformations to their society because of a direct involvement in politics.

Raj: And lets not forget people like William Wilberforce who helped end slavery in England.

Sivin: In Wilberforce’s example, while he was in the frontline, the pastoral support and encouragement was more hidden and invisible played an important and I believe an influential role. This is a more indirect way of being involved in politics through specific members who are called to confront specific issues and play key roles in society. This can be one good model for us to consider.

Chun Wai: Rev Wong, in Sabah and Sarawak, it is very common for pastors to be involved in politics. I think there are quite a number of pastors in PBS. Why do you think it’s different in Sabah and Sarawak?

Kim Kong: They are slightly different in terms of political engagement because of the social fabric of the community. They are more conscious of the political process because their social economic status compels them to be more politically orientated.

As a result of that, pastors being much more exposed and educated, the chances for them to alleviate the social condition are much higher compared to Peninsular Malaysia. As a result, some of them engage in politics but there is a very clear demarcation, in a sense that if you have to be involved in politics, you have to resign as a pastor.

Then, the second issue is, Christians or people in general need to distinguish between political parties and the Government. I may meet the Prime Minister or minister, but it does not reflect that I am meeting the Umno president or the MCA president. I think there’s a need to distinguish between the role of the Government, of the Prime Minister and their role as the presidents of the political parties.

Chun Wai: Teresa, can you tell us about the DAP fielding a pastor in the election?

Kok: This is a pastor from Sabah, Pastor Jeffrey Kumin. I was introduced to this pastor and every time we pray together and he’s the only pastor who is willing to pray for me and the DAP … (panel laughs). My party approached him and he agreed to stand as a party candidate.

Sivin: I think the many of us would love to sit down and hear Pastor Jeffrey Kumin’s story. (The Invisible Blue Gang members Bob, Steven and Raj, all nod their heads virtually in smiling agreement)

We started the ball rolling with our little creative non-fiction experiment with Christian Perspectives on Politics in Malaysia I. And here’s our second installment. Again nothing fancy, just raw from the heart stuff hopefully with enough clear headedness from a bunch of nobodies (I mean those of us responding in blue…) But then, while we maybe nobodies depending on who looks at us. We are still part and parcel of Malaysia, and also belonging to the Christian family as well. So here goes…. I repeat we were not there for the original interview, but thanks to the internet, we are virtually there now from the future ….

Politics from the pulpit

Chun Wai: In one particular church in Petaling Jaya, we have received feedback that the person concerned had been bringing up strong political views which some in the congregation perceived to be anti-government. And sometimes, the members feel uncomfortable because when they go to church, they want quiet time with God to unload their burdens, but they end up hearing political views. Does this kind of orientation fit in?

Steven Sim: I guess we have to relook at going to church for “quiet time with god”. I think that’s important but more than that we need to realize that the church is not an escapade to go into some sort of religious state of denials and god should not be made to be an excuse to run away from the problems of the world. Christians are called to groan with the suffering world. St Paul said that the Church needs to identify and suffer with the world where it is at pain. And while we are at this, god through his Spirit will groan in us and through us.

Pastor Raj: Going to church is not just for quiet time with God. We are called to carry the needs/pains of the people to God, and this is where being aware of situations in our nation is important. As we go to God in worship, we also bring the needs and pain of our fellow citizens to God. We reflect on God and the situation and that should inform us on how to respond as followers of Christ to the situation in the nation.

Kim Kong: I think the Bible is very clear – the church has to be apolitical and not be involved in the political process directly. The church is a neutral institution; we cannot take any political inclination towards any particular party or candidate. However, the biblical value of good government can be taught.

Steven: While we may mean other things, to me using the word “apolitical” is like putting an apathetic period to the issue. I think what is clear in the Bible is that Christians are called to be utterly biased for justice, peace and truth. In this sense, we are never to be neutral. Of course, I can agree that the church as an institution cannot be partisan, but we are never to be passive and neutral, and still less apolitical. We have to differentiate between being political and being partisan, that’s important.

Whom did the ancient prophets addressed? Usually kings, rulers, lawmakers, policy makers, community leaders, land owners, employers. And what issues did the prophets raised? We’ll be surprised, they were usually on good governance, justice, tax laws, trade, exploitations of workers and foreigners.

Hermen: In my 25 years in the ministry, I have been exposed to churches here and in the world councils. Notwithstanding what Rev Wong has said, I think church comprises human beings and human beings are caught in the social context, and much of the politics of the day are reflected in the social context. They always look after their own interests and everything is communal here. Urban constituencies more exposed to a modern way of life will be more interested in engaging different parties.

Bob Kee: Again I’d like to question what it means to be “anti-government”? Aren’t partisan political parties who choose to participate in the process of government; ie. through participation in the elections, taking oaths to serve as legislators; et al, part of the government? The legislature (both Federal and State) are integral parts of the government too.

As the Gospels quote Jesus, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. It would seem far fetched to accuse those who participate in the process of government; irregardless of which side of the house they sit on; to be against the very institution that they themselves are part of.

Having said that, I disagree with Rev. Wong when he says that the church has to be apolitical. Perhaps what he may have wanted to mean was that the church has to be non-partisan. The church by its nature is part of society and has to engage the society in which she finds itself in; whether as an institution or as individuals. Couple that with the mandate that the church needs to intervene and care for the poor, the sick, the hungry, et al, and it would be inevitable that the church would engage and have to deal with systems and the exercise of power – the very essence of politics

Raj: I think we need to consider what being “political” means. It is far beyond just being involved in part politics. Its being involved in the affairs of the nation. This idea of being “apolitical” can lead to churches being so uninvolved in the affairs of the nation and we just end up isolationg ourselves in the comfort of our Christian activities and sub culture. I don’t believe that this is what the gospel calls for.

Rev. Sivin: I remember an old line where it said the church needs to be a place where the disturbed are comforted, and the overly comfortable are disturbed. I just came across an interesting book entitled “The Bible in Politics” by a highly respected Christian scholar Richard Bauckman with a fascinating subtitle : How to read the Bible politically. One of the mind grabbing chapters is “the Political Christ”. I highly recommend the book for further conversation among Christians who may hold different views in how they individually, and corporately as the Church could or should relate to the different representatives in all level of politics.

Like many words today “Politics” is a word which need unpacking. The church has often been scorned as playing church politics. So in some ways we are “experts” in politics (*grin*). On a more serious note, when the church sees injustice, corruption, abuse, and the disregard of what is right, we cannot and must not be neutral. So there is a “political” dimension as part of our role in society. But at the same time, Religion and the church or Christians specifically as we can see in the west can be easily co-opted by political powers for the politicians gain. So, I would prefer not to say the church is “apolitical” – I would frame it as the church should not be dragged into partisan politics which would mute our prophetic voice and calling to keep those in direct political involvement in check, as well as in touch with the needs of the Rakyat and especially the poor and marginalized. When appropriate, I think there is a place for pastors to relate more explicitly Christian teachings to social political realities even in the pulpit. It’s a delicate step …and caution is needed so it’s not a political campaign speech for or against specific individuals or parties.

For me even if we don’t explicitly mention specifics, whoever speaks out against injustice and wrongdoing cannot escape having political implications and overtones. One way of saying it is that we walk in the line of the Prophets of old challenging what has gone wrong with society and especially those who are entrusted with the power, authority and resources to govern the environment in which all of us live in day in and day out. Many Christians may find it strange or uncomfortable because we are more familiar with the pastoral or caring role of the church towards society in terms of social concern and welfare work. The Church has a dual role whether pastoral or prophetic here depending on the issues before them. This approach is beyond being pro or anti government wholesale. It’s about being for what is for the common good for all.

Last Sunday, CAFE LATTE CHAT had an interesting conversation with Christian leaders and Politicans on how they viewed the involvement of Christians and the Church in the politics of Malaysia. A group of us were not invited, but we thought it might be a stimulating exercise in creative non-fiction to have some voices from the ground interacting with what was talked about … Of course, I do not have the editorial back-up of the Star Newspaper. And I do not have the skill, so what’s coming out from us will be pretty raw. I’m glad to bring together two active on the ground concerned Christians Steven Sim (a twentysomething in Penang), Bob Kee (a thirty something in Kuala Lumpur) and two pastors, Pastor Raj Singh (who’s church is a member of the NECF) and my self (who’s church is part of the Lutheran denomination which is a member of the council of churches Malaysia) for added virtual interaction. Of course, we cannot represent the bigger institutions we are part of but we are part of the wider church family. Just to be clear we’re adding to the conversation, all our parts will be in blue. So here goes … enjoy the ride …

ACCORDING to the Malaysian Census 2000, Christianity in Malaysia is practised by 10% of the population, the majority being in Sabah and Sarawak, where they make up 40% of the population in the two states.

In the urban areas of Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Penang, Ipoh and Johor Baru, the profile of a typical Christian is one who is middle-class, English-educated, professional, conscious of issues, articulate and critical. And they will certainly play a crucial role in the coming general election.

There is no single Christian group that can claim to represent all the Christians in Malaysia but the major denominations include the Roman Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, and independent charismatic churches.

Church groups like the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM), the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) are the constant voices that speak out on Christian issues in public.

In this session of Cafe Latte Chats, we bring together Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng, Balakong assemblyman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee, secretary-general of the National Christian Fellowship (NECF) Malaysia Rev Wong Kim Kong, and Council of Churches Malaysia secretary-general Rev Dr Hermen Shastri to ponder on the issues that are of concern to the Christian community and how these will impact on the general election.

Christian voice: (From left) Datuk Hoh Hee Lee, Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, Datuk Lee Hwa Beng, Datuk Wong Chun Wai, Teresa Kok, and Rev Wong Kim Kong in serious discussion during the Cafe Latte Chat at Menara Star.

For those of us participating in blue, we are invisible (please don’t read too much into what I just wrote!)

Christian perspective on the elections

Chun Wai: The typical profile of a Christian in an urban area is likely to be middle-class, possibly English-educated and one who is very conscious of issues. Datuk Lee, Datuk Hoh and Teresa fit into this profile. We are beginning to hear of more churches organising activities and dialogues relating to the general election. What are the churches doing about the elections?

Steven Sim: If you ask me, the majority in the Church are concerned about certain situations in the Country such as economy, political stability and natural disasters, and yes, there are prayers for the political leaders and all, though usually this means those in the “government” , but we are still struggling to put politics in its place within the Christian religion.

There are also certain groups which, like Chun Wai mentioned, are organizing activities to interact with the issues of politics and general election but these are still far and between. More in fact could be done by the Christian community to promote awareness and take more active stance in this area.

Kim Kong: The general election is very important for all citizens, Christians included. The government is one of the institutions ordained by God for a very definite purpose to do good, to maintain law and order, as well as ensure what is right for the well-being of the nation.

Most churches will pray about the elections. Christians look for spiritual guidance as to what is God’s plan for the nation. It is inevitable for pastors to preach on issues relating to good governance like justice, righteousness, fairness and moral principles.

Bob Kee: How common is it actually to see churches pray specifically for the elections? Or for any other “temporal” needs in the first place? In my own experience having been with a few churches, it isn’t as common as one would think. Even rarer is to actually hear principles of good governance being preached from pulpits.

Steven: I agree with Bob to differ with Kim Kong, things like this are not very commonly preached in churches. I doubt most pastors are well informed enough to communicate this kind of message to the congregation.

Pastor Raj Singh: I agree with Steven that most pastors are not well informed enough about issues in order to communicate it to the church. Partly this is due to a lack of transparency in the reporting of these issues in the mainstream media. That is where the newsletters and press statements from CCM and NECF play a crucial role in informing Christians. I also would like to say that the general profile of Christians as mentioned by Chun Wai is a very narrow one and ignores the fact that there are a lot of Christians in non urban areas and are not middle class English educated.

Rev. Sivin Kit: I think it’s high time for churches, church leaders and pastors to discover a more proactive role when it comes to the elections and the democratic process in our country. This would mean tapping onto a variety of resources from more official voices like the Christian Federation Malaysia to Christians who are involved in politics but I think it also involves a listening ear to civil society groups and also other independent voices especially non-mainstream perspectives.

It’s good to see more forums and dialogues organized to discuss issues surrounding the elections, I get the sense issues surrounding religious freedom usually is the door in which churches naturally feel drawn into the debate whether through prayer or some form of protest.

However, a great challenge for many pastors and church leaders is to have a framework to see our role in the political process which affects all of us. And I think increasingly the challenge is how do churches encourage their members to participate more fully in the political process whether it’s from voting to more engaged postures (whatever their political persuasion or affiliation). This would require quite a bit of hard work on pastors and leaders to stretch themselves from more “religious” pursuits to see the role of religion for positive influence in politics. it’s not easy, and those who begin to speak up or try to make connections might be misunderstood.

Chun Wai: Some believe this election will be a very tight fight between the BN and the opposition, especially for the urban votes. Are churches being courted by both sides?

Hermen: I have not heard of political parties going to churches but I have heard of churches wanting to have dialogues with political leaders. The churches have taken it upon themselves to raise issues that are close to their hearts.

Chun Wai: Has the NECF been courted by political parties?

Kim Kong: NECF did not initiate any dialogue with political parties. However, Christians involved in politics have been extended the opportunity to meet with pastors and Christian leaders. Just a few weeks ago, an MCA contingent came to meet 100 over pastors. There was also a question-and-answer session. We continue to maintain an open door policy.

Chun Wai: Teresa, maybe you can share your experience as an MP from the DAP.

Kok: Not only in the past few months. All this while, we have been concerned about subtle religious persecution issues. We take the initiative to meet with the religious councils, especially when (former Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared Malaysia as an Islamic country. Sad to say, when I approached pastors back then, some of them said it was the job of the NECF and they did not want to meet us. They did not want to be involved in politics. I said it was just a closed-door dialogue but they still refused.

Chun Wai: Was it because you are from the opposition?

Kok: I think so. This is the kind of phobia for some pastors. However, times have changed. More pastors are now politically conscious of the present situation. Some of the charismatic churches I attended even hold special sessions to pray for every segment of the administration. So I think this is an encouraging sign.

Steven: I have personally encountered Christians who still think that being in the Opposition means you are going against the Bible, and this is really a sad untruth.

Raj: Unfortunately I agree that this is true. If a politician from the government approaches the church, most are very happy to accommodate them, but not when the opposition approaches them. This is partly a reflection of the churches situation where they are mostly interested in what the government can do to help them and this leads to an unhealthy situation for some where the churches are too closely tied into the government and then loses its voice in speaking out on issues affecting the nation.

Lee: To answer directly to Teresa, MCA’s view is that Malaysia is not a theocratic Islamic state. It is a secular state with Islam as the official religion. The Catholics have always been politically conscious, but lately the Methodists and the rest have also become more aware. We in MCA have taken cognisance of this.

Sivin: I think we in church leadership and church membership need to be secure, and be open to engage and dialogue with all parties whether those in power or those in opposition. And this engagement does not necessarily mean uncritical endorsement on any specific political agenda prematurely. I’d like to pull in again the need to keep a keen ear on the voices of those in civil society. There is a bigger picture here.

Chun Wai: Does being more politically conscious mean being more anti-establishment?

Lee: Not really, but Christians realise it is their duty to vote. They will look at the candidates and choose those who come closest to their Christian values.

Hoh: I never consider the church as a specific group of supporters. I treat them as I will the others in my constituency. If they need help, I try to assist. I am very careful not to bring the church into politics and I do not want the church to be involved directly.

Bob: I reckon it depends on how consistent to values such as integrity, justice, righteousness et al, the establishment really is. If one were to be conscious of the need to have their public representatives represent such values, and those that represent the “establishment” reflects those values, then it would logically mean that consciousness does not automatically bring about “anti-establishment” feelings. Of course, what the term “establishment” itself means is another open question. I don’t believe any single party can claim exclusive rights to being the “establishment”.

Raj: I believe that being more politically conscious is to be more aware of the issues facing the nation and what we as Christians can do about it. Its more about the issues and not the party we are aligned to.

Sivin: Tragically, to be seen as “anti-establishment” might be the immediate impression. Take the recent Bersih Rally for example, I know of Christians who participated in the event because of increased political awareness. And in agreement with Raj here, many Christians would probably start with a focus on an issue more than mere allegiance to a political party. The few I know who went for the Bersih Rally were not aligned to any political party but they believed in a clean and fair election and thus wanted to express that view in public with other like-minded people.

So, it was not so much of being anti-establishment for the sake of being anti-establishment as in unthinking anarchy, but a sincere desire and demand for the establishment to be kept accountable. In that sense, it was a move towards “a better establishment”. But then the Bersih Rally’s participants were painted by some in the media as being anti-establishment or used by the opposition. That to me seems to close the door to really talk about the issues that concern the Rakyat and an insult to the intelligence on those who are seriously thinking through the issues.

I believe being politically conscious is part of our Christian discipleship here on earth, because while our message as Christians is not primarily political in a partisan political sense, there are political implications for those who believe that God desires justice and mercy to be seen in our own lives and the society we live in. So, our faith while maybe deeply personal, it must not be privatized and devoid of public contribution for the common good. Another way of putting it is, we are for the establishment of what is just, good and fair for all. The route there would involve lots of listening, working through issues with those whom have different views, balancing respect as well as challenge of perspectives, trying to identify with one another’s fears and worries, …. this political conscious thing is hard work when it’s logical conclusion get’s set in motion. A lot of bridge building and constructive efforts will need to follow up after any form of justified criticism.

Early in the morning, the whole rhythm of school starts again. It’s still a major adjustment in terms of energy.

Some sad moments surfaced last week … they come without invitation and then we’re called to pay attention to them again. The challenge is how one doesn’t get paralyzed by them and yet find growth.

So often, one wishes we could have done this or done that, or why another development didn’t occur. There are always some regrets in our most vulnerable valleys of solitude.

One thing for sure, there are times when we are more able to work through mentally and emotionally, the hard questions before us. Other times, we are simply drained energy wise. Those are not good times to be conclusive. That is when we need a little space in our heads and hearts to say …. I’ll park it here for a while until a better time.

The capacity to handle more may grow as we age, or we may also land up with less patience It’s so unpredictable.

It’s good to see how what I’ve struggled to articulate — being articulated so well by trusted guides. This little dance I’ve been alluding too … orthodoxy, orthopathy and orthopraxis does make loads of sense to me. And it’s great to have extra vocabulary to deal with it.

There are times I wish others could see how it’s possible to access many gifts, and guides along our journey. I’m always puzzled when one may feel stuck or unable to find a better way out. I don’t wish to downplay their struggle and even suffering. But deep down, I know and I pray they see that we are indeed not alone and are not left with nothing to press on. What’s left for us … is the openness to receive those gifts and the humility to give some advice a try.

The weather is still hot and drives me crazy.

Nice to see another happy couple getting ready for the wedding and a life time together

So sadness and gladness … interwoven in the fabric of our human existence.

The school of life goes on … and never stops …

I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon Richard Bauckham’s book The Bible in Politics: How to Read the Bible Politically in BLC’s not-yet-organized library. Scanning through it was very rewarding before and after dinner. Imagine my left hand trying to get Ewan to sleep, and my right hand flipping through the pages

Tomorrow, a special creative non-fiction post related to Christians and politics in Malaysia will emerge in this blog with many thanks to a number of friends. I would have wanted at least one woman’s voice. But since it was a hurry, I landed up all guys. But at least they are men on the ground.

The weather is so HOT! Phew! I praise God for the people who invented the air-con … at least right now. From an environment point of view, I confess it’s a struggle.

I’m surprised how tired I was today … age is catching up. Opps … I need to get my blood check results. Better not wait another year. Exercise awaits me … Nice to get some encouragement last week.

I noticed the clutter is returning … and I can feel it. It’s leaking out … Need to re-GTD myself again. For now the next action is to do what is next …

Glad the children are all asleep … earlier for a change, They too are pretty tired.

Nothing much right now. Apart from a quiet call to breathe slowly, re-center, pray, and pause …

One of the highs for me this week, to catch up with old friends and getting to know new ones. While it was FREE for all of us, many thanks to those who made the Monday dinner a reality. Someone paid for it and Pastor Victor Wong managed to organize it with his team. I heard we might have more to come.

Each of us present had our own uniqueness, and special calling in our respective context. Nice to have the wives or husbands (and also kids) join the event. Very often they are left out.

The friendships are what holds us all together, as well as a commitment to Christ and what we believe God has called us to do to fulfil His vision for this world. Apart from that, I think there is room for much diversity.

Personally, I’m discovering more and more the road I’m traveling … not sure whether it’s the one less traveled, but I know I’m not alone. I think it’s appropriate to acknowledge my amazing wife May Chin, and fantastic kids .. inquisitive-looking baby Ewan, Yawning-tenderhearted Gareth, Determined-cheeky Elysia!

It feels great to finally finish reading and begin probing initial thoughts from Constructing Local Theologies. There’s so much covered in the book that I will need to slow down and dwell on quite a number of concerns and observations with a specific Malaysian focus.

I’ve also tried to give it a little bit more kick and thinking through the eyes of a pastor in Kuala Lumpur.

The weather is killing me. It’s just too hot!

Nice to finally get some peace and quiet with ALL the kids asleep.

But then, off I will go for a 5pm small group meeting which I hope will give us a chance to consider (1) What are our fears and desires as a group and individuals? (2) How can we pay attention to those fears and desires? (3) How can we create space to deal with what emerges (4) How can we reorder our lives when we encounter the still small whisper?

My gut feeling is that we’re too “muddled” these days by 101 things. And precisely because we are so “muddled” that we need to “force” ourselves .. go against the grain more and deal with them. Clear our some space. So we won’t become sick humans.

5 more minutes.

Breathe slowly.

I hear the ceiling fan moving.

Can’t get Schreiter’s phrase our of my head … “Dual Religious systems”. It just gave me a way to look at the way we live our lives.

off I go.

The Mutuality of Theology and Science: An Example from Time and Thermodynamics

After Leron’s visit I’ve been thinking a little bit more on a trialogue between two religions and science, I can see some immediate insights here.

The Three-fold Sense of Scripture: An Evangelical Grammar for Theological Hermeneutics

conventional, canonical and contemporary … or I’d include in contemporary … contextual to our time and location.

On Lecturing

I sent this to the local seminary

Resources for Christian Engagement with Islam: A Self-Starter Guide

I wonder how many of us seriously want to engage the “other” …

A LUTHERAN UNDERSTANDING OF PASTORAL MINISTRY

Waiting for some responses from my fellow co-workers

Nanoethics: General Principles and Christian Discourse

The challenges ahead are overwhelming.

This is awesome.

There’s is a lot from the west and especially the United States of America which I don’t find helpful for our context.

But …

These are good vibrations which needs to reign from Brother Martin to Malaysia.

I missed a segment on Leron talking about money. But here’s two clips related to fame. So we had quite a journey from Food to Fame during the intense day sessions. I’m glad to read Leron is safe back at Norway. I’d be looking forward to read his reflections soon.

After meeting Leron and listening to him I found reading The Delightful Terror of Reforming Theology with more interest and understanding. Maybe it’s because now I can imagine his voice when I read the words.

The matrix for theological inquiry was a special bonus because I found some of my own musings resonating with his framework. Plus, the Trinitarian accent throughout our personal conversations and underlying his talks and content was much needed, espeiclaly for someone like me who tends towards a Christ-centered approach and articulation. While I believe this is necessary in our context and is part of my own journey, it was good to let the Trinity take center stage.