My final say...

I actually typed this on monday but didn't want to publish it. But I guess is ok... is my opinion anyway and we are living in world where freedom of speech is allowed (supposedly). This is the reason why I know I can't be a politician and won't be one -

******************************************************************************
Yes... this is indeed going to be my final say on this season's hot issue... ELECTION.

I think a lot of politicians started out innocent and all gung ho to fight for justice and to do things right and different from their predecessors or their seniors.

Hmm... sounded like me when I started chambering... and at the end of my chambering period... I was so disillusionised that I could not tell the difference between the shade of black and white. Actually... it's more like these colours do not exist at all. The truth was what I "cooked" out in the midst of my trial preparation. Who cares what's the actual story... what's important is to win the case.

Aniwei... where was I again? Oh yes... Politicians. Pontius Pilate reminds me of what one christian politician said in his reply to this question "What issues do you think the nation is facing right now? And what can you as a christian do to manage these issues?" He replied, "I know there are many who are not happy with us especially of how we allow certain islamic laws being tabled in Parliament. As for me, do you think I am happy allowing such law being implemented as a christian? I have no choice. I go home and cry whenever such things happen."

Why Pontius Pilate? I got this out from page 245 of John Stott's daily devotional. Pontius Pilate tried 4 ways of avoiding a clear decision. He didn't want to send Jesus to his death... because he knew Jesus was innocent. First try, he tai-chi_ed Jesus to Herod... let another man make the decision. Hahaha... Herod sent Jesus back to him. And so... he's back to square one... 2nd try, tried to release him (right thing to do) in accordance to Passover custom... but for the wrong reason. Didn't work.. and so 3rd try, he flogged Jesus thinking that that would be enough to appease the crowd and will just release Jesus. Wrong again. 4th try, he washed his hand sending the message that it is the crowd who sent Jesus to his death and not him i.e. reverse psychology. Didn't work as well. All these attempts were each an attempt to avoid a commitment by compromising. Why was he so "afraid" to make the right decision by doing the right thing for the right reason? This is because the Jews measured his loyalty to Ceasar by asking him to choose to either be a friend to Ceasar or to Jesus. We know who he chose. His name goes down in the Word of God as one whom Jesus had suffered under... Jesus suffered under PONTIUS PILATE.

So, this christian politician is in a similiar situation as Pontius Pilate. Conform or lose your position and support. Sad isn't it? I am sure this politician had started out gung ho and all for God's glory and for justice and fairness... and to serve this nation with his all. He believed it was God's call to him to go into politics. Unfortunately, fame and fortune and position and power took the better of him now. He can't live without these. He has no choice. All he can do is just go home and lock himself in the room and cry himself to sleep. Poor thing =((

******************************************************************************

I am not condemning the politician. I truly do understand his predicament. I won't know which direction I choose to take either if I am in his position. I can be like Peter who boldly profess to Jesus that he will not deny Him but when the time came, he denied Jesus not once but 3 times. He wept like a baby in a corner when the rooster crows.

These questions came to mind as I was pondering hard and long - Will I ever be ready to hold on to the cross and proclaim His name when facing adversity? Who will I choose - "Ceasar" i.e. fame, fortune and "friends" or Jesus? This has nothing to do whether I am a politician or not.

There are many who had said, even my Senior Pastor, that we can make a lot of difference if we are in politics. I am not disagreeing with that. But I honestly believe that we can make a difference wherever we are... by being whoever we are... if we are willing to allow God to use us as His instruments/agents of change. I can choose to be a friend of Jesus without being a politician. I can make a difference by being myself, a child of God who is willing to allow Daddy to use her to be an agent/instrument of change at wherever Daddy has placed her.

John 21 : 15-17 An account of how Jesus reinstated Peter who had denied Him
"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?'
'Yes, Lord,' he said,'you know that I love you'
Jesus said,'Feed my lambs.'
Again Jesus said,'Simon son of John, do you truly love me?'
He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.'
Jesus said,'Take care of my sheep.'
The third time he said to him,'Simon son of John, do you love me?'
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?'He said, 'Lord you know all things; you know that I love you.'
Jesus said,'Feed my sheep.'"

Amen.