Funerals are a part of life; more precisely, the end of a person's life on earth. Funerals can be very heartrendingly, devastatingly sad, or they can be exceedingly joyful, albeit tempered with the sadness of loss. I have been to several Buddhist/Taoist funerals and also to many funerals of those who belong to Jesus Christ and of those who were nominal Christians. They are rather different.
Of the Buddhist/Taoist funerals I've been to, there was some chanting and some burning of "hell notes" (paper money) and sacrifices of food or of paper models of cars, houses, laptops, etc that get burned. It is thought that the deceased will be able to use them in their afterlife. I suppose to some degree it depends on the surviving family as to how much is done to send off the departed loved one.
I've witnessed an almost parade-like procession of the deceased from the home; I've seen at the funeral parlor, all night vigils to keep the person "company" all the while the Hell notes are being burned in the oven while a recorded chant is continuously played in order to help the departed find his or her correct way 'home' and then at another funeral the close family members circled the coffin with a Buddhist monk at the lead. They circled about ten times. The ten times corresponding, I suppose, with the number of levels they believe hell has. This is to help the departed to find their way out of each level of hell. All of this is to 'hope' all will be well.
For the Christian funerals, they are mostly joyful because of the belief that the departed one has gone to be with Jesus. The most recent Christian funeral I have attended was that of my own dear father. For years and years he had been looking to go to meet His Lord and Savior. He had no fear of what life after death on earth would be. His favorite motto being, "Perhaps today!". Perhaps today he would be "with Christ". No, he was not suicidal. He was looking for and longing to be with His Savior who loved Him and died for Him and was living for Him in Heaven.
Dad's funeral was joyful although of course the sadness of the loss for us family members and of those who knew and loved him. Although Dad had had Alzheimer's Disease, he did come out of his fog now and again before he went away from us, especially if something may have triggered a remembered response. One day my sister and I were singing, Oh Haste Away My Brethren Dear, a song he liked to sing and he sang along with us,
"Oh that will be joyful, joyful, joyful, oh that will be joyful to meet to part no more...on Canaan's happy shore..."
Among other songs and hymns we sang this at his funeral. Many folks afterwards said it was the most joyous funeral they had ever been to! This is how it can be with those who hope in Christ their Savior.
One young girl that I knew was walking along the road one day and was hit and killed by a car. She had professed to belong to Christ. However, her parents did not know Him although they were likely nominal Christians. They did not know or understand the sure hope their daughter had. There was a tormented, soul agonizing, strangling cry of despair from the mother in the otherwise quiet of the funeral service. Understandable. Yet, without the hope that we followers of Jesus Christ have, those cries will come forth.
My husband and I lost our firstborn, a daughter. We too sobbed in agony of loss yet not without hope of ever seeing her again. At her funeral I so vividly recall looking and looking at her there in her coffin. She had her very nice red with white polka dot dress on and a bunch of flowers clasped in her wee hands. She was but 15 months old.
As I sat there viewing Sze Hwa, my thoughts swirled: "Oh she will never be sweet sixteen; oh she will never graduate from high school or university..." Then the next thought, "She will never be married!" I wanted to cry again, but wait, the Holy Spirit comforted and gently whispered in my ear, saying, "This is her wedding day!" Oh, my own spirit quieted down and I could rejoice for her, even feel somewhat jealous of her! Imagine, that glorious scene! Gone to be with Jesus Christ forever.
Those have been some of my funeral experiences.
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, author of What Buddhists Believe has some other perspective. He indicates that Buddhist funerals are actually simple affairs;
"...simple, solemn and dignified" (Page 229).
He says funerals need not be expensive. Those who burn 'hell' notes; paper cars, houses, computers, etc, are wasting their effort and money (Page 229).
Sri Dhammananda explains that to truly honor a departed person the surviving ones will perform some meritorious act in the name of the dearly departed and transfer the merit points to the deceased. This in and of itself is seen as a 'sacrifice' and sacrifices have good merit; therefore, both the receiver and the giver benefit.
In Burning Quest - Part 20 it was mentioned that as a person would not need their bodily organs for 'rebirth', they can donate them to help prolong another's life, thus, incidentally, gaining merits for the organ gift. (Of course, this is the deceased helping a living person, not the other way around.) Following similar lines of thought, in rebirth a person does not need their body ever again, therefore cremation is a most preferred choice upon death unless, of course, they have donated their body to science, gaining even more merit points.
Speaking quite bluntly, cremation is very ideal as ashes take up a whole lot less room as compared to a whole burial plot of land. It is also less costly. It is easier to take care of and transport in moving house if the ashes are kept in an urn at home.
Spending a lot of money to bury or even to place the ashes strategically is a waste and does not gain any merit for anyone. Dr. Sri Dhammananda claims that (Page 231) if a bereaved person really wants to honor the dead, then donate money or engage in some other charitable work in memory of the deceased, thus gleaning merits for both parties towards the
"...goal of bringing everlasting happiness" (Page 393)
of Nirvana.
This transference of performing...
"...acts of merit in a religious way (Page 397)
is the...
"...greatest gift one can confer on one's dead ancestors" (Page 395).
Such acts include...
"...giving alms to others; building schools, temples, orphanages, libraries, hospitals, printing religious books for free distribution and similar charitable deeds" (Page 392).
In the Bible we only ever read of the various deceased persons being buried, some being hastily thrown into another's grave (2 Kings 13:21); and as in the apostle Paul's case, "left [contemptuously] for dead" where he lay after being pummeled with stones (Acts 14:19). Jesus's burial was very honorably and lovingly tended to by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (John 19:38-42).
These are examples of being bodily buried in tombs. Generally, when the Bible doesn't state in black and white as to doing or not doing something, we'd take the general principle of precedence as the way God would be pleased and honored. Yet, in the case of burial vs cremation we may be able to plead the case of "tradition" or "culture" as that's how they interred corpses back then.
Yet there are two curious accounts dealing with the burning of bodies; both in the Old Testament. In 1 Samuel 31:11-13 we discover that King Saul and his valiant men, who had died in battle, later had had their bodies burned yet their bones were collected for burial. Amos 2:1-3 exposes that God punished Moab for burning the bones of Edom to lime.
The burials of many of the significant men of God throughout Scripture does point to "proper burial" yet I would not be dogmatic about it. There are countries where space is limited and therefore the norm is cremation. Perhaps this would be a matter of conscience for the follower of Jesus Christ.
A guideline Bible verse, although speaking about meat vs vegetable eating, could be applied here. Look at what Romans 14:23 ESV tells us...
"But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."
Pray and seek God's will for your situation and then proceed in good faith and conscience.
India at one time built funeral pyres for their deceased. This practice is still being commonly maintained to this day yet mostly without burning the living widow along with her deceased husband. In history there have been those burned alive at the stake as punishments for going against The Establishment; generally in relation to a religious nature. Nowadays, cremation is more common in many places for a dearly departed's 'shell'. It's true we do not need that 'shell' in the after-earth-life. God is going to give us new, incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42).
Our bodies were "fearfully and wonderfully made" ( Psalm 139:14) by God who made us in His image (Genesis 1:27). The body needs to be respected but God is also able to raise a person up from wherever they've been interred whether in cemetery, the ocean depths (Psalm 68:22; Revelation 20:11-13) or from ashes in an urn or scattered to the four winds.
At many funerals there are often eulogies bespeaking of the many fine points of the character and conduct, and of how the departed family member or friend had touched one's life. They do this to give honor to the deceased and to keep fond memories of him or her in their heart.
Many followers of Jesus Christ have made donations to charitable organizations "in memory of the departed loved one" or created scholarship funds for the brilliant marginalized and named after said person. These are all good and helpful acts but they have not been done for the benefit of the giver nor to stock up merit points for the good of the departed to help them in a next life or "rebirth"; rather to honor the memory of their family member or friend.
Many Christian funerals are joyous, bittersweet occasions as we know that the late family member or friend has gone to be "with Christ" and that all tears, pain, suffering, and trials and tribulations of life are over. Final. No more misery, ever. However, surviving relatives or friends miss and mourn their loss. God comforts in His good time.
One day those bodies will be raised from their grave, "incorruptible". Our bodies have been rendered corruptible since The Fall of man (Adam and Eve) and thus our bodies fail us and die. However Christians can look forward to being raised with Him, to meet Jesus in the clouds and so be forever with Him; spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). In this we can comfort ourselves.
We will be known then as we have been known here on earth despite the body change from corruptible to incorruptible (1 Corinthians 13:12). We are the same person with the same "mental continuum" (it has not been given/transferred to anyone or anything else [human being, animal kingdom or deva or devi]). We will have the same soul and spirit. The only different or new 'thing', I repeat, is that our body will then be incorruptible. Again, I repeat that others will know who we are and we will recognize others. Because of this, we followers of Jesus Christ know we will not need to "reuse" our bodies and therefore to cremate upon death could be a viable option.
I like what Jesus told Martha when her brother Lazarus had died. He told her,
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die..." (John 11:25-26 ESV).
Jesus said this very shortly before He raised Lazarus from the dead. It was Lazarus who had died, it was Lazarus whom Jesus called forth from the grave, "Lazarus, come out" (John 11:43), and when they had unwrapped the mummy cloths from him, the sisters and friends, other mourners and rubberneckers saw it was indeed Lazarus whom they knew and recognized.
"The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth" (John 11:44).
Pretty cool. And that's an understatement!! We call this "being raised from the dead" as opposed to being "resurrected". 'Resurrected connotes not going to die ever again. Lazarus is not walking the earth anywhere now. I do look forward to seeing him, though, some day in Heaven.
This is not the general dinner table topic but death and funerals are the inevitable life stage we cannot avoid. One needs to prepare for it's coming before it is forever too late. I plead with those who do not as yet know Jesus Christ as Savior to come to Him this very day and accept the free-to-us offer of salvation from God's outstretched hands. When we come to Him by faith, accepting His gift we attain forgiveness of sins, eternal life and a certain sure hope to going to be "with Christ" and that for all eternity. Won't you come to Him today?
~ERC 2018~
Additional reading:
1. More about funerals...
https://euniqueegirl.blogspot.com/2016/11/on-doorstep-but-dont-get-to-enter-part-8.html
2. About babies that die (Part 10)...
https://euniqueegirl.blogspot.com/2016/11/on-doorstep-but-dont-get-to-enter-part.html
We can give thanks to the Lord for His righteousness. It is by His righteousness that we human beings can be made righteous.
Jesus is often described as the Lamb of God (John 1:29). This hearkens back to the Old Testament story in Exodus 12 where the Israelites had to find a spotless, without blemish, lamb and use it's blood to sprinkle on the two side posts and the lintel of the door. The angel of the Lord would pass by and if he did not see the blood, the firstborn son would die. The lamb was the substitute for the son.
Jesus Himself is the blameless, sinless, righteous Son of God who took our place and died for the sins of the human race.
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
When God sees the blood of Jesus upon the heart of His human creatures, He then sees us as righteous. The righteousness of God has been imputed to those who, by faith, have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior (Romans 5:18-19).
We could never have achieved this on our own accord. All our efforts to save ourselves and be righteous fall short. We could try and try and try but it would never be enough. I like what the writer from Grace Communion International wrote about Mark 2:18-22...
"When we're really honest with ourselves, we know that despite constant trying, we still sin. Where does that leave us? We can either work harder and harder to keep up the whitewashed facade of personal righteousness, or we can turn it over to God and trust Him to forgive us and make us righteous. If we take God at His word, then we can rely on Him to do in us and for us what He says He has...."
The Psalmist declares,
"I will give to the LORD the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High." (Psalm 7:17).
As we reflect on the Lord Jesus in His death and resurrection through the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup on Lord's Day, let us also give Him the thanks and praise due to His Name and righteousness; that righteousness that He so graciously and freely gives to those who accept His offer of salvation.
Sing along with this rendition of It's the Blood that Cleanses Me by Vineyard.
~ERC May 2018~
It really grates on the nerves to hear folks say, "Oh you are so intolerant!" or "What a bigot!" when others make certain statements that goes against what they themselves believe. Just think of all the suppression of not being allowed to greet those you meet in public with, "Merry Christmas!" Praise God there is someone like President Donald Trump of the USA with courage to stand up and make a difference.
I do have to agree with Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda to a certain extent. Sri Dhammanana, author of What Buddhists Believe, rightly admonishes those of other faiths, as well as of his own, that they are all very intolerant nowadays. If only we would practice what our 'creed' exhorts, there would be peace and harmony instead of all the ongoing bickering, fighting and wars (Page 228).
Sri Dhammananda states,
"The intolerance that is practiced in the name of religion is most disgraceful and deplorable" (Page 228).
From the Christian perspective, how many of us followers of Jesus Christ actually knuckle down and live "The Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5:3-12). Perhaps to varying degrees. Of course when we attempt this type of living under our own steam there will not be much success. This may be where the intolerant accusation would hit a raw nerve.
However when a follower of Jesus Christ walks in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26) he or she will be living to please God. We will be blessed peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
Colossians 3:12-17 are excellent verses to live by especially when we put them into our lifestyle practice and...
"clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (vs 12).
And then when we...
"...bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another..." (vs 13)
we do a lot for being tolerant.
The overcoat virtue is...
"...love which binds [all the above] together in unity" (v14).
There is to be a 'ruler' and that is...
"...the peace of Christ" (v 15).
We are to...
"...let the peace of Christ rule [our] hearts..." (v 15).
We do all the above in the...
"...name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (v 17).
The New Testament is chock full of these ways of Christian living. Those that instruct us towards "tolerance" are such as:
"Bear with one another and forgive" (Colossians 3:13); "bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2); encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:15); "be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50); "Be of the same mind with one another (Romans 12:6; 15:5); "tolerate one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2) and many more.
Here's a Google definition of 'tolerant':
1. " Showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
2. Able to endure (as in plants withstanding harsh weather conditions, etc)."
Granted, we followers of Jesus are also told to be salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-16). If we are truly living according to the peacekeeping ways, forgiving others, etc, we will be 'showing willingness to hear others opinions" and withstand others's behavior. The more we do this the more "light" we will shed in ever increasing radius like a lighthouse beacon.
The light shows up the rocks, guiding the ships to safety. Salt in a wound, stings but heals. Salt in food enhances flavor and preserves food. What the cruncher is, in being salt and light to the world, how does "tolerance" fit in?
To get a clearer picture of what type of "tolerance" we are and are not talking about: there's "traditional" tolerance and shall we say, "new definition tolerance". These distinctions I've gleaned from the radio broadcast by Dr. James Dobson and son Ryan with their guest speaker, an apologist, Josh McDowell who gives a very strong message on the topic. Click the link: tolerance vs the intolerable.*
Basically, the "traditional" meaning is as above mentioned by Google, recognizing and respecting others beliefs but not necessarily agreeing with them. Nowadays this is labelled "negative" tolerance" by those of the new definition, which they term "positive tolerance".
This "positive" tolerance, according to what Josh McDowell reported, is what today's generation of children has been taught and imbibed. This is that...
"every single individual's beliefs, values, lifestyles and truth claims, all are equal, there is no truth greater than another"; "NO hierarchy"
of these so-called 'truths'.
Those of the 'positive' tolerant's camp call those 'negative' ones "bigots". They want the negative tolerant people to give "permission and praise from society to live in peace". "Tolerate us!" they demand. If the traditionalists do not, then they are further labeled, "intolerant".
McDowell went on to say these 'new generation tolerant people' give "permission to be tolerant of the tolerant but not to be tolerant of the intolerant, therefore they would not be so very tolerant after all which in turn, would they also not be "bigots"?
Dr. James Dobson said,
"'Tolerance' seems to apply to everyone except those who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ."
If we Christians are to be salt and light in this world, we would be lumped in with the negative intolerant bigot group. If we believe God's Word, the Holy Bible, to be God's standard for living, that God Himself is our "basis of truth", our morality standard; then all we do and say needs alignment to Him and His Word. Our daily living needs to reflect our Heavenly Father's standards. He made us. He knows what is good for us.
So do we go bashing people over the head with all this? Do you recall in the previous Burning Quest - Part 21, about the Hindu guru who became a follower of Jesus Christ? Did you note his meekness? He could have eaten beef and said that his family and friends were intolerant of him. He chose though to not let any beef pass his lips.
There was balance and compassion, love and respect of his family and friends. He wanted to maintain a good relationship with them. He also, of course, wanted to be able to share Christ with them. If he had been so intolerant of their ways, so uncaring, he would have heartrendingly alienated them all with absolutely no chance in a thousand of being salt or light in their lives. He definitely would not have gotten a chance to win many to Christ.
I like the injunction of Romans 14:21 ESV...
"It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble..."
To be salt and light in this world is good but to force a way of life upon someone else is not Christ-like. Those of us who belong to Christ need to keep this in mind even as we live as a beacon for Christ.
Yet in the case of those who should know better due to a heritage such as the Americans have with their founding fathers who based their constitution of freedoms on God's Word, those may need blunt confronting such as mentioned in the opening paragraph example of President Trump and Christmas.
Outsiders looking in at our life may indeed find our salt and light living an offense as Sri Dhammananda suggests. We do not compromise our God-given standards but we do not force them on others. When we have opportunity to speak up for God and His standards when folks ask, have courage and endurance, despite opposition, to do so with humility, gentleness, compassion, kindness and patience lavishly gilded with God's love.
The 'positives' may never hear from anyone else.
~ERC May 2018~
Note:
*There is a second broadcast of the same title, a part 2 of the broadcast.
For further insight please read 1 Corinthians 8:1-12; Galatians 2:11-21.
In his book, What Buddhists Believe (4th Edition), Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda states that ...
"If we believe that animals were created by someone for the benefit of men, it would follow that men were also created for animals since some animals do eat human flesh as part of their nature" (Page 223).
Sri Dhammananda also states,
"Buddhism cannot accept that animals were created by someone to benefit human beings... (Page 223).
These are fair statements yet somewhat misdirected. Perhaps even some Christians believe animals were created for humankind's benefit. God's Word enlightens us that all creation came into being for God's pleasure. God...
"...rejoices in His works" [speaking of creation] (Psalm 104:31).
In Colossians 1:16 we read that...
"...all things were created by and for Him."
Later in Revelation 4:11 we're told that the living creatures are worshiping God as He had...
"created all things"
and by His
"will they were created".
In Genesis chapter 1 we discover God saw His works of creation and said...
"it was good" (verses 9, 12, 18, 21, 25).
After all was created He saw what He had made and He declared,
"it was very good" (verse 31).
Why does God delight so in His creation? A brother and author named John Piper * suggests at least five reasons.
One of those reasons, Piper explains, is that God's works are an expression of His glory (Psalm 104:31) and from Psalm 19:1 we learn,
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hand..."
It is not that God is worshiping His own creation but He sees that His glory shines through and is proclaimed to all who will look and see and know. We do well to run to God through seeing His glory. He wants us, His human creatures to turn to Him. We ourselves enjoy making things and delight in the finished products even when they are inanimate objects.
Two...In Psalm 148:3-5, 7,
"God rejoices in His work of creation because they praise Him."
Have you ever gone whale watching? The whales cavort for the fun of it and may even breach in a most spectacular offering of "praise to God". Dolphins do so similarly. Bees buzz about diligently doing what they do to make honey (food) for themselves. In deep jungle, or the depths of the seas, as yet undiscovered, by human beings, creatures are just simply doing what they were created to do and God "rejoices". We human beings get to see and enjoy God's creatures too. Are you glad; are you awed? Rejoice in God their Maker. Indeed, rejoice in God your Maker.
Three...
"The works of creation reveal God's incomparable wisdom" (Psalm 104:24).
God delights in the expression of His wisdom.
Four...
"the works of creation reveal God's incomparable power" (Isaiah 40:26).
God calls the hosts of heaven (even the stars), "by name". Can you comprehend that?!
Five...
"God rejoices in the works of creation because they point beyond themselves to God Himself" (Psalm 104:31-34).
The point of sharing all this is to emphasize that all of creation was brought into being not for each other, as Sri Dhammananda believes some believe, although granted, they are in a balance of nature, but for God's good pleasure. We can share in it too but remember to praise and worship the Creator not the created.
God saw all of creation as being "very good". Yet here comes the crunch...then there was "The Fall" of Adam and Eve. The first man and woman ever on earth sinned and brought the curse of suffering and death upon all of creation.
Thenceforth,
"All of creation groans" (Romans 8:22-24).
It is out of sync, if you want to use that terminology. It's now a "dog-eat-dog" world; often quite literally. Animals eat other animals and sometimes human beings. Human beings eat animals and have in the past eaten other human beings!
Originally, human beings and animals only ate plants. Post Fall, God made clothes, "garments of skin" (Genesis 3:21) for Adam and Eve. Where did God get the "skin"? At least one animal had to die. How devastating a sight that must have been for Adam and Eve, not to mention for God Himself! The consequences of sin were, and still are, horrendous!
However, up until post-Flood time the people still ate only a vegetarian diet (Genesis 9:3, 4). God gave permission to eat
"anything that moves...just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything..."
The only restriction being
"not to eat meat with the blood still in it" (Genesis 9:4).
God provided an abundant variety.
Man was not to shed the blood of man. There would be an accounting thereof (Genesis 9:6) if that occurred.
During the Israelite's time of wandering in desert wastelands and later in the Promised Land, God imposed stipulations on the types of birds, fish and land animals that could be eaten; clean as opposed to unclean (Leviticus 11:1-47). This was for their own good and health when they obeyed.
When we come to the New Testament we come to the story of Peter on the rooftop, praying. He saw in a vision a sheet let down from heaven with all manner of creeping creatures: clean and unclean and the voice from heaven saying,
"Rise, Peter, kill and eat."
Peter was in shock! How could God ask that of Him?! Yet God said,
"Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15; 10:9-23).
Of course this was an object lesson to Peter, you will see if you read on in that portion of Scripture but the implications for everyday life and eating were there too.
God puts other types of conditions of eating of clean/unclean meat or even back to our earlier discussion, that of eating only green plants (vegetables) or of eating both veggies and meat.
Jesus said in Matthew 15:11 that its not so much about "what goes into a man's mouth" as to "what comes out" that can defile or make a man "unclean".
In the letter to the Romans, the author says in 14:3,
"The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him."
Romans 14:15 exhorts,
"Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died".
Romans 14:19-20 gives further perspective,
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble."
No power plays here; the one who eats or doesn't eat meat is not superior to the other. If a person does eat meat they have God's permission with the continued condition from the Old Testament...
"...to abstain from meat of strangled animals and from blood" (Acts 15:20).
First Corinthians 10:31 addresses the issue by adding...
"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
That is the best motive; "for the glory of God". When we come from that perspective we will also not offend nor stumble another.
The apostle Paul sums it up when he writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 but especially verses 3-5...
" They (deceiving spirits) forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer."
I once read a book by a brother-in-Christ who was once a Hindu guru til he came to Christ. As you may know, Hindus do not eat beef. When this ex-guru came to Christ he realized, "Oh, now I can eat beef". However, he chose not to as it would have alienated him from his non-Christian family whom he wished to bring to Christ as well.
If he had eaten beef, even if they wouldn't know it, he would definitely have 'lost' his family and likely a whole section of people among whom he wished to minister and witness. This meekness gave him integrity and respect. No doubt he was blessed of God in so doing.
Dr. Sri Dhammananda confronts cruelty to animals. We can understand that killing animals or mutilating them for sport is cruel and wrong. Slaughtering animals as quickly and, ahem, "humanely" as possible, for food, is permissible by God. However, when one believes that upon "rebirth" the "mental continuum" can be 'given' to an animal, one can understand this reasoning to give...
"...all encompassing equal care and compassion for each and every creature in the universe" (Page 225).
His concern is also for the environment, extinction of creatures, and the imbalance that comes to nature. These are legitimate concerns. We Christians need to have concern as the injunction to mankind, to Adam, was to "work and take care of" the garden of Eden (Genesis 2;15). They were also to "rule over the fish...birds...livestock,...all the earth..." A huge responsibility. How it must distress and disappoint God to see the present state of His creation. But bless God, He has sent His Rescuer, Jesus Christ to redeem us and in time to come He will create a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1, 2) which we will not be able to destruct.
This does not mean we relinquish our responsibility because a 'new' one is coming. Absolutely not! As far as I know, the Scripture doesn't get us off the hook and God's mandate to man, as seen in the Genesis reference, is still relevant today.
Ok. So what about killing mosquitoes, rats or cockroaches? Would you allow a bear or a crocodile attack you without defending yourself if you could? How about letting a boa constrictor or black mamba wrap around you and give you a not so friendly squeeze?
In the Bible we read of the shepherd lad, David, defending his sheep by killing a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:4). With God on his side he believed he could defeat the enemy Goliath, the giant; he did. David killed many people in the wars. But God would not allow him to build the temple for Him as He said David was a "bloody" man (1 Chronicles 28:3). Defending his sheep and defending his people by killing animals and men, although necessary, was not a holy thing for David.
In self defense Samson killed a lion (Judges 14:5-6).
It is a fallen world where peace among the animal kingdom and interaction of mankind and animal kind is often at variance. God gave man rule over the other creatures. On one hand he must care for and look out for them; for example, no cruelty to animals for sport, and to slaughter humanely only for food. However to defend oneself and/or one's family and possessions seems to be indicated as not a violation of God's mandate per se of...
"Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:30).
God knows the strength of nature and the need to protect oneself therefrom. Of course we do not go out and start killing our neighbor just because we do not like what he/she does or has done to us.
"Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:30-31).
And God also says in Romans 12:19-20 ESV, especially verse 19...
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
We can surely benefit from the flora and fauna on our planet and they can surely benefit from human beings when said human beings make the effort of fulfilling God's mandate, taking up the responsibility to care for their planet and all that is therein even in many small ways. Many small acts add up and soon have good big effect.
We look forward to the time to come when God will put it all to rights and the lion and wolf can lie down safely together. The child can play at the adders den (Isaiah 11:6-9). Nothing will kill or be killed any longer; back to Garden of Eden-type living, only better. God will be rejoicing evermore.
In the meantime, let us praise God our Maker; glorify Him in our words and actions living according to His will and way as recorded in the Holy Scriptures", the bible" which are able to make us wise unto salvation" (2 Timothy 3:15). Let us worship our heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ; doing what we were created in God's image to do; commune with God; "glorify God and love Him for ever: (Westminster Confession of Faith); "Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13); and be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Let God rejoice in the works of His hands; made to give Him pleasure.
~ERC 2018~
*I do not always agree with what John Piper has to say but the above references to his thoughts are those I can accept.
If a little loving-kindness and charity goes a long way, how far does a whole lot of it go? Hmmm...
The Five and Eight Precepts that Buddhists observe can be viewed as "the don't's" of their religion. These "don't's" are ideally coupled with the Five Ennoblers which we could term "the do's". These were listed in Burning Quest - Part 19. One of those five is the twosome, loving-kindness and charity.
What is the connotation of loving-kindness to the Buddhist; why does he or she observe/practice it (what benefit is gained) and to what extent would a Buddhist bequeath the loving-kindness and compassion? What is meant by "charity"?
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, author of What Buddhists Believe, explains on page 214 of his book that...
"...loving-kindness or compassionate love purifies the mind and the mind becomes a very energetic force to radiate for the well-being of others."
About charity he says,
"We perform real charity if we can give freely without expecting anything in return in order to reduce our selfish desires" (Page 218).
Sri Dhammananda states that there are several types of love such as that of a husband for a wife; a parent for a child; or friend for a friend. However the 'love' Buddha prescribes to is called "altruistic love" (Page 215). This is...
"...where a self that does the loving is not identified..."
...it is not...
"emotional or selfish; it radiates through a purified mind after eradication of hatred, jealousy, cruelty, enmity and grudges" (Page 215).
All this is put into practice "to maintain real peace" simultaneously "working for our own salvation"(Page 215).
On the one hand it was stated that this is "altruistic love". The motivation is unselfish. On the other hand it is "working for their own salvation". That puzzles me; it is not fully altruistic if one advances one's salvation via acts of loving-kindness and charity. Ultimately it is working to benefit self.
There are two types of charity according to Sri Dhammananda: "giving as a normal act of generosity and dana" (Page 219). The former is motivated out of a compulsion to "give out of compassion and kindness when we realize that someone else is in need of help and we are in the position to offer that help" (Page 219). The latter, that is, dana, is giving "as a means of cultivating charity as a virtue and a of reducing selfishness and craving..." This is motivated by being a means "to reduce and eradicate the idea of self which is the cause of greed, acquisitiveness and suffering" (Page 219) A person also performs dana in appreciation of the great qualities and virtues of the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma [Teachings] and the Sangha).
An example of such great dana piety was the world renown Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whom I admire. She embodied loving-kindness, charity and compassion in serving the multitudes of India's "poorest of the poor". She truly cared.
She had come from a well off family but, came to help the destitute, living among them and bringing them dignity even in their last hours and minutes of life. In fact, she began a whole order of Roman Catholic nuns called the Missionaries of Charity, who followed her example.
The Catholics Team blog entry re: A Clarification of Good Works says...
"Those who enter heaven are those who have helped Jesus through the good they have done for others."
Later on they say,
"God will judge them by their actions done their entire life".
But the Team also says there needs to be faith in Jesus Christ; the faith being evidenced in the good actions (works). Unfortunately they continue to say that...
"Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification at the beginning of conversion."
To reiterate two Bible verses that have popped up before from Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV...
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
You see, what I have learned from James G. McCarthy, a former Roman Catholic and the author of The Gospel According to Rome, which compares Catholic Tradition with the Word of God, is that there is a process to achieve salvation for the Roman Catholic. In much the same way the Buddhist must take many lifetimes of rebirth to train their minds and build up enough good thoughts and deeds to overcome the bad and their consequences in order to eradicate suffering. For the Catholic, it takes from birth to death, the process starting with baptism very early in the baby's life; quite possibly the same day or the next. This makes the person "safe". It is believed that baptism is when...
"...sanctifying grace is initially infused." (Page 112-113 of McCarthy's book).
McCarthy goes on to explain on pages 112-113 that ...
"This makes the soul holy and inherently pleasing to God. Other sacraments and good works further justify the soul and make it increasingly attractive to God."
Going through purgatory is included in the Roman Catholic process of salvation. It is believed that it also helps clear people of their sins.
This process of salvation includes what's known as the Seven Roman Catholic Sacraments, namely:
The three of initiation: baptism, Eucharist, confirmation;
The two of healing: penance & anointing of the sick (or for "last rites": penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick); and
The two sacraments of service: Holy Orders (priests and nuns) and matrimony." (Pages 333-334).
If a person can get through all this process then they should be okay, but then they are never sure and become fearful of their final destination.
Purgatory puts the fear into people, coercing them to live a righteous life. However McCarthy goes on to say, and I agree with him,
"...Biblical salvation involves a new birth that results in a new creation (John 3:7; Ephesians 2:15). A born-again Christian wants to obey God. He is motivated by the love of Christ, not the fear of painful retribution (2 Corinthians 5:14; Romans 8:15)" (Pages 112-113).
I do not want to minimize all the good and self-sacrificing work of Mother Teresa's or of anyone else's philanthropy. However, I want to say that if she was doing all those wonderful good deeds to earn her salvation then very sadly, her belief was misplaced. She could not earn salvation by works, no matter how exceedingly good they have been.
Many other missionaries have gone out and done much to alleviate the suffering of the masses of mankind at great cost and personal sacrifice. In fact, many of the early missionaries, by just answering the call of God to full time service, lost their lives from shipwreck en route to their chosen ministry field, disease and even murder by those to whom they ministered. It was very much like writing themselves a death certificate in order to do good works, deeds or actions.
As in the McCarthy quote above, the call of the follower of Jesus Christ to service is "motivated by the love of Christ". So the bottom line is, what is the motivation of the good deeds done? To earn merit towards salvation? Out of love and gratitude for what Jesus has done in earning salvation personally for the individual (and all mankind for that matter)? The former reason is out of selfishness. The latter, self-giving out of thanksgiving to God and a concern for the spiritual and physical welfare of those to whom they minister.
Jesus Christ is our supreme example of self LESS giving. He gave His very life, not just for one or two people, but for all humankind! He gave so that He could take the punishment for the penalty of the sin for each and every single person, for all Time. Let's repeat that: Jesus Christ gave Himself for all humankind, for all sin for all time!
The penalty for sin is death and Hell for eternity.
"The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23).
That is a for sure thing.
Look at more of Jesus's loving-kindness and compassion and motivation.
While Jesus trod upon the earth, He went about doing many kind deeds and this out of selfless love for mankind: He healed; He restored to life; He forgave; He met, talked with and healed those despised by the rest of society; and He gave hope among His many other deeds and actions. (You can read about this in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament of the Bible). Jesus did not gain for Himself but for the good and benefit of one and all whom He met.
The goodness and love of the Savior that reached out to touch human hearts to bring to repentance (Romans 2:4) was bestowed upon the human race. This love and goodness and grace was to draw mankind to Christ and to God through Jesus and to have a relationship with Him. Salvation through Jesus Christ bequeaths eventual end of suffering along with the forgiveness of sins and life with Christ in Heaven and that for all eternity.
To end the suffering of mankind...what could be any more 'kind' and 'charitable' than that? To bring relationship with God and man, Jesus was...
"...pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5 ESV).
That's a whole lot of loving-kindness and compassion and charity straight from God to you.
Jesus encouraged...
"Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
This morning I read from Romans 11 and verses 34-35 caught my attention; reading from the ESV...
"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?"
Indeed, can we really give God our good deeds in payment for salvation? After all He has gone and done for us? Would that not be an insult; a throwing of God's free-to-us offer of salvation back into His face? We could never repay God enough thus we just have to accept His offer free and clear.
It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves. Not of works, so no one can boast of what and how much they have done. And to any Buddhist person reading this, I know you do not even believe in the existence of God but I would like to say, wouldn't an everlasting life with Christ (Whom I believe does exist) in Heaven, where all bad/evil thoughts and actions and pain and suffering has been eradicated, be a viable "end" rather than a ceasing to exist in the Nirvana state? All selfish desires will have ceased and our, uninhibited sin and wrong deeds will be no more; to be with Christ in Heaven is very compelling.
To the Roman Catholic, I say, you can be assured of a definite destination: Heaven; this by faith alone in Jesus Christ. There is no need of the salvation process nor of purgatory because the...
"blood of Jesus Christ cleanses (or purifies) us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 ESV).
Good works are for afterwards, done out of gratitude to God for His salvation. Yes, they are evidence of the faith you have. The book of James was written to followers of Jesus Christ, not to unbelievers, and so the recipients of the letter understood the life of service was an expression of their faith and man's responsibility, not of earning salvation. Our salvation is based on faith and God's grace; both gifts from Him.
"So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would not longer be grace." (Romans 11:5-6 ESV).
Out of loving-kindness and compassion springs charity. An interesting type of charity that some may be reluctant to give is organ donation. I suppose this would include blood donation. In Buddhist thought this comes under the 'dana' charity. Dr. Sri Dhammananda says in his book What Buddhists Believe, that ...
"Instead of allowing the organ to rot away, and to go waste..."
let them..
"...be used or transplanted to restore life" (Page 222).
He further shares that he saw a bumper sticker which read...
"Leave your organs behind, God knows we won't need them here."
True enough. Jesus gave His whole body, blood and being by dying on the cross to take the penalty for our sins and to give us eternal life (John 3:16). Praise the Lord, He has risen again and is our Living God.
Why not help extend someone else's life? In time they may well have opportunity to come to Christ no matter how wicked a life the person who receives the blood or organ may have led. Give with a prayer for repentance and salvation and a turning to God's righteousness for the recipient. May God bless the giver as well as the receiver.
To one and all, know that followers of Jesus Christ were brought to Christ, have forgiveness of sins and eternal life and look forward to no more pain and suffering in eternity. Out of thanksgiving to God for His colossal intervention in our lives, and because of the "good deeds He ordained for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10), post salvation, let your life be one of continual offering of kindness and charity motivated, not for benefit to ourselves nor for the earning of salvation but to give glory and praise to God, for all the works HE has done for us.
Make your service a thank offering.
~ERC May 2018~
 |
| Mom |
Being a mother is a big job. Being a father is too, but this focus is about Mother's Day so this entry will be relate to mothers. Being a mother is not for sissies. One must stand up and take the job seriously and with great responsibility yet with a touch of the sense of humor.
A friend asked me to answer some questions. I have chosen four out of his many. Although some thought has gone into the answers, the answers will not be too in depth except maybe for the first one; rather more quick replies.
The first question to be addressed is: What do you think about young children using electronic devices in this day and age?
If this had been asked of me a year or more ago, I'd have dogmatically declared, "Take them all away; they are no good for the children!" Today, I'd still say "NO good!" on one hand but that on the other hand, such devices are a necessity in today's world especially in the looming and inevitabe Fourth Industrial Revolution . [Click on the link to find out what that revolution is about]
Why the reply, "NO good!"? Obvious reasons are damage to the eyesight. Have you seen how close people in general, not just to pick on children, hold their device to their eyes? A Googled article states that there can be damage to brain and sensory processing ability in children. Children can have difficulty in falling asleep when they stay too long on the devices and there is not a significant break between using the device and bedtime. The child will still be "plugged in and hopping" so to speak.
Check this out for further collaboration of children being affected by tech devices..
They list obesity, short attention span, even to becoming a hunch back from constantly peering at their devices with head bowed. I would also add anti-social behavior and not knowing how to go outside and play interactive games that do not require electronic devices.
When asked to stop playing and do some chores or to just chat face to face with a family member, the child often becomes angry and insolent as they do not want to be torn away from the all engrossing game or what ever is taking their interest at the time on the device. They do not learn how to relate and interact in a face to face encounter.
Parents please do not perpetuate such things by condoning them, allowing the device to be your babysitter in restaurants or in church. This will become your child's "opium" and he or she will become addicted. The electronic device becomes the master of the child.
Instead, when used wisely, a person can be the master of the electronic device. Have you ever heard of the Fourth Industrial Revolution? The First Industrial Revolution was when water and steam were used to power mechanical machines such as the steam engine. The Second Industrial Revolution used such for mass production such as factory output. The Third Industrial Revolution was electronics and IT information. What a blast from the past that propels the world towards the Forth Industrial Revolution which if you googled the link mentioned above, you would have learned that it is a fusion of technologies creating self-driven cars and drones, robotics and the like. Doctors are using this new fusion for 3D images, aiding them in performing major surgery.
The children are going to have to learn how to use the devices so it is necessary to learn how to operate them. Having such knowledge could well help them to get a job when other jobs are no longer viable because modern technology of their times has swallowed the need for actual manpower of those specific jobs.
A mother's job is not easy in knowing how to balance electronic device usage with occupation of other activities. Certainly teaching self-control would be a big help. It is, after all, one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. And there is a verse in Philippians 4:5 KJV that advises...
"Let your moderation (or reasonableness-NIV) be known to all men..."
Another question asked is: What one thing do you think a mother should pass on to her children?
I answer this one in joint effort with my own mother. She must have taught me well, as I had the same thought even before I asked her what she would say. Pass on to your children a love for Jesus and God because HE loves your children and cares for them. Teach them to trust Him in all things as He cares about every thought and need of their life.
A third question is: What was the hardest thing about being a mother? The most rewarding?
I believe the hardest thing for me was/is letting go of my child. There are different reasons one must let go. When one's child dies that is a huge letting go. My husband and I had to let go of our little girl who had leukemia. Between diagnosis and when she passed away was about one week's time. That certainly puts a parent into a tailspin!! Very difficult.
Letting a child leave home, even just to go to kindergarten for the first time was hard for me. That was a huge letting go. My precious little lamb being sent out to the wolves was the image that came to mind. But one had to let go and let God watch over the little lamb that He, too, loves.
Letting go of a child that is leaving the nest to go off to university, going out into the wide, wide world and who may or may not follow the teachings they learned at home and church all their growing up years. But again, one has to release the children into God's more than capable hands and be at peace because He cares about them even more than I do.
There is a poem I call "Mother's Covers" (author unknown) which I often think of that goes like this...
"When you were small And just a touch away, I covered you with blankets Against the cold night air. But now that you are tall And out of reach, I fold my hands And cover you with prayer."
So prayer has become a BIG THING for me in overcoming the difficulties and worries of motherhood.
I believe that one of the most rewarding things about being a mother is having your child come to Christ. I still remember one of my son's conversion. He was still so young maybe about four years old. He was having a bath and he remarked, I'm washing all my sins away in the water.
I told him he could wash the dirt off his body with soap and water but the only thing that washes away our sins is the blood of Jesus Christ. I then asked him if he wanted to do that and to pray as ask the Lord for his salvation. He said he did and so we prayed together and he became a child of God right there and then. That was thrilling for me.
I believe that having one's child then continue to walk in God's ways would be part two of that most rewarding thing. Prayer again, is needed to cover ones' children to follow after God and seek His will and ways in their individual lives.
The fourth question to be addressed is: What advice would you give to a new Mom?
I have a scrapbook which is a compilation of good advice collected from the many parenting books I've read over the many years of child rearing and were of great help to me. There are also related jokes and funny stories I've picked up along the way.
That scrapbook I call Bouncing Babies and Powerful Parenting and is about one and a half inches thick and chock full of advice and anecdotes for new Moms and Dads. However, when all is said and done, I'd say, make a habit of going to God in prayer in the Name of Jesus as He is the best and greatest friend anyone could ever have.
In the book of James, we are encouraged to ask of God when we feel we lack wisdom because God will give "generously to all..." (James 1:4-5). Ask away...
May God bless all you Moms out there and your parenting.
Have a Happy Mother's Day 2018!
~ERC May 2018~
