Happy Reformation Day everyone!
Tonight at 8pm we’ll be spending some time at the Father’s House (BLC Premises) to consider the relevance of Martin Luther’s life and thought for our own context in Malaysia. 🙂
Here are some question for starters . please allow me to throw in some quotations from Luther (and here) to get our brain juices bubbling! 🙂
- What are the historical resources we can tap on as we confront the issues of our day as Christians and the Church in Malaysia?
Religion is not ‘doctrinal knowledge,’ but wisdom born of personal experience.
Superstition, idolatry, and hypocrisy have ample wages, but truth goes a-begging.
If you are not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there.
Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.
- In what ways do we see similarities and differences, what could be ways forward?
If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong (sin boldly), but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign.
War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.
When schools flourish, all flourishes.
- What kind of “reformation” is needed for Christians and the Church in Malaysia today as we are faced with much uncertainties and challenges both internally and externally in all social, cultural, political, theological dimensions?
When I am angry I can pray well and preach well.
We are all ministers of the Gospel. Some of us just happen to be clergymen.
A theologian is born by living, nay dying and being damned, not by thinking, reading, or speculating.
Pray, and let God worry.
- How can we discern God’s will and know Him in the midst of our struggle to be faithful to the Gospel here and now?
Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace.
Peace if possible, truth at all costs.
Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.
