How great is our god

char(:

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

today we had a very interesting Theory of Knowledge (TOK) lesson. it's something like KI, for you guys in jc. basically philosophy. something that my dad says i absolutely should not do because he thinks you have to be top calibre to do that. and he thinks that i hate to think. so then i think to myself, do i hate to think? and okay im just obsessed with the word think now.

it was supposed to be a light-hearted lesson in which we once again intro ourselves. but then suddenly it got so into religion and everyone was introducing themselves as atheists and christians and what not. teachers did that on purpose cos they wanted to find out who were the more vocal ones, the ones who can talk but held back (me), and those who didnt want to talk at all.

there was this hardcore atheist. he said something interesting.

i believe the default question should be why do you believe there is a God? and not why do you not believe there is a God?

if you think about it, it kinda makes sense. shouldnt you ask the more "positive" side of the question first?

but then you think about it again, and you realise that how can there NOT be a God? you dont have to be in new zealand to see the beauty of creation all around you. even the hardest of the hardcore atheists absolutely have to agree that somehow, we were formed. and since darwin's theory of evolution has been proven wrong even by scientists, how else do you explain how the universe came into being without a Creator?

one of the points brought up was the universe is sooooooo big, why would God care for you when you're a tiny speck in the universe?

so there was this huge debate and they got kinda aggressive. sir had to stop it because he wanted all of us to get a chance to speak. so then my turn.

me: hi im charlene. and i can talk about something with reference to that? (points at atheist)

atheist: bring it man!

me: well i believe in God. and i believe that He created every single one of us. and He loves us because He has moulded us.

at this point i got interrupted. such passionate people, tok lessons are going to be such a blast.

but what i really want to put forth is this:

God has a heart for each and every one of us. so what if if the cosmos is so big and you feel that you are less than a speck of dust?

Matthew 6:26

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 6: 28-30

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet i tell you that not even Solomon in all his spledor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

you are THAT precious in God's eyes. and that you is both plural and singular. the plural you is because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to die for us on the cross. but then if you're Will Smith in I am Legend as the last man on earth, God would die for you as well. and that's when the singular you comes in.

because God so loved YOU that He gave His one and only Son to die for YOU.

it is truly hard to comprehend how such a great and mighty being would care for you when you are seemingly insignificant, but then God's a God of ironies. it's our world that has everything twisted around, and us living in it thus find such concepts strange and hard to grasp.

God, is love.

not because of who I am
but because of who you are
not because of what I've done
but because of what you've done

just accept it people ;) God is just DYING to show you what true love really is about.

another interesting point.

we have a religion because we want comfort?

to some people i guess it's true. religion gives them comfort because they have this being or force that they believe in and can call upon for blessings. it also brings structure and order to society, even unity and bonding when people celebrate festivals together.

but why do I have religion?

firstly, Christianity is not a religion. according to the world it is. but really, it is a relationship with God. and that sets us apart from all the other "religions" because in others, the god does not speak to his devout believers.

secondly, Christianity is hardly comforting. okay, so we know that we have eternal life in Christ. hurrah and thank God. but here on earth, we suffer persecution particularly in communist or Muslim countries. it is a calling to follow Christ. life as a Christian is not smooth sailing, rather it can actually be the opposite. because we are called not to love the things of the world (materialism and whatnot), but rather to be the light and salt of the earth. that means we're gonna stand out, we're gonna be criticised, and in the worst case, persecuted. how is that comforting?

my third and final point. why am I a Christian then? because i believe in God, that He came down to earth as a man to die for our sins. and i believe that i was created to worship Him.

Aravind (Hindu) to atheist: If you happen to come back in your next life as a tree, don't go to Indonesia cos they have forest fires.

ah, i love my class =D

trembling at His voice,10:42 PM
You are worthy of our praise