A Thought for Christmas : Mary, Why Not a Single Mom?

Few days back when I was thinking of the incarnation story, I thought, “Why didn’t God choose Mary as a single mom?” The practice of single moms which looks fascinating in today’s world would have gained much weight if Mary had been a single mom. And what you do think about homosexual parenting? My mind always traces back to the creation story to look for the creation ideal for anything. We find that a typical family that God planned was "One Adam and One Eve" as parents for children. Any other form of parenting a child is an aberration.

I was surprised and shocked during a recent visit to a Gypsy mission field. I saw two girl children there, both of them bought for a mere Rs. 15,000 and 20, 000 each from ‘someone’. Whether legally right or wrong, these were families in the impoverished Gypsy community (commonly called as Narikuravas or Vagiri)  who valued the worth of a girl child and have bought them from the so-called high caste families, where these girls were unwanted and would have been killed otherwise. I was moved. But these poor families were reminding me of a fact that they were obeying to God’s plan of being parents to a baby who was deprived of one.

Joseph and Mary
God planned a family setting for baby Jesus. He neither wanted Mary to be called as a single mom nor baby Jesus to be called as a fatherless kid. He took effort to prepare the traditionally and culturally bound minds of Mary and Joseph and designed a wonderful family unit. Mary and Joseph raised baby Jesus together. They were together in their flight to Egypt in an emergent situation and suffered the plight of being a migrant family there. Back in Nazareth, they went to temple together, executed their spiritual responsibilities together and were together in a crisis situation when child Jesus was lost. Child Jesus in turn obeyed both parents. Joseph probably did not live long. But Joseph and Mary for sure gave Jesus a happy childhood. How can children have a blessed childhood and not an abusive one?

Encourage Adoption
Children who are a gift from God undergo various forms of extreme abuses like abortion and female infanticide. Satan has been playing havoc from time immemorial to play in the lives of children and parents. King Herod ordering to kill male babies testifies to this fact. We can be agents of God’s love when we show unconditional love towards unwanted babies by making them our own like how Joseph proved to be a foster dad for baby Jesus. We should not deprive a child of a happy parentage by a dad and a mom, unless it is otherwise divinely planned by God like how we find in the adoption stories of Moses and Esther where only the name of a single adoptive parent is given. 

Discourage Divorce
One another extreme abuse to children happens when parents opt to divorce each other. When Joseph tried to divorce Mary, God planned an angel to counsel him and give up his divorce plans. In the Old Testament, we read the story of Gomer, being an unfaithful wife to her husband Hosea, but God asking him to forgive his wife over and over again. God equates Hosea’s unconditional love to Gomer to his love for his children. There was a great rise in the divorce rate in the post-exilic community to the effect that God had to say to them, “I hate divorce.” (Malachi 2:16). 

The Pharisees living in the time of Jesus were so much waiting and wanting Jesus to subscribe to the prevailing rabbinic rule of divorcing their wives for anything and everything (if she burns food by mistake, if the husband finds another woman, more beautiful). When Jesus said it otherwise and finally said, “Let no one separate them, for God has joined them together,” and also that remarriage of divorcees in some situations is equal to adultery, the disciples became upset to the extent they said, “Then, it is better not to marry!” (Read Matthew 19:3-12). Apostle Paul goes a step ahead to counsel us that we should not go to lawsuits for anything (for divorces too), instead choose to remain wronged and cheated. (This counsel came in the context of settling disputes in a Christian background instead of taking them to non-believers who lead lawsuits, where we cause God’s name to be mocked. The passage is found in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11).

Children need parents. Parents need children. The Christmas message from the earthly family of Jesus is to celebrate family as a blessing received from God and not to desecrate it by any ways. Giving Jesus a due place in our hearts this Christmas is to give children and families their due places. Wish you a Happy Christmas!

Being Humble and Strong

Humble in Heart

The angel said to Mary, “You have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30) Why was God favorable with Mary? Her song gives an answer to this. She sang that God has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant (Luke 1:48). She continued singing that His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation (v.50). Mary lived in an insignificant place called Nazareth. She and Joseph were so poor that that they could offer “pigeons” as sacrifice which is a marker indicating a low economic status. In spite of the inadequate backgrounds, Mary knew the history of Israel so well which made her long for a Savior for her nation. She also knew the Scripture thoroughly that she could compose a song, which we sing until today. Mary was a thinker too. Luke says later that she pondered things in her heart. Yes God’s favor is even today upon women and men like Mary who fear the Lord and his words. Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

Strong in Head

We also see that Mary took responsibility for herself and her decisions. She lived in a society where women were under father’s care and then under husband’s care like our own Indian society. Here is an unmarried woman who is willing to be pregnant with the seed of the Holy Spirit. She knew that this would bring dishonor to her family and Joseph’s. Any big decision cannot be taken without her father’s and fiancé’s consent. However the angel Gabriel went directly to Mary and gave her God’s proposal for which Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). Mary was independent in her thinking. God knew that Mary was head-strong and so his favor was upon her.

Together in Task

Joseph needed an angel to understand Mary’s situation. He realised that God was calling him and Mary to a very special ministry that they would be working on together. Though they accepted their tasks independently, they faced the world together, supported each other and served God. Mary’s task was more than to serve her husband’s needs. Joseph’s task was more than to make a living. He took her to Bethlehem, was present during the delivery, and was with Mary and baby Jesus. He took child Jesus and Mary in the darkness of night to Egypt to escape the fury of King Herod. No wonder the Scripture calls Joseph as a “righteous” man, a man who offered to serve God by fathering a child who was not his own. In totality Mary and Joseph were together in their task.

The crux of the story for us is that God respects a woman’s worth and responsibility. A humble person can be a head-strong person. God favors women and men who are both humble and head-strong. More importantly, Mary was a young woman who made a pivotal decision on her own to bring the Savior into the world! Even today God needs people like Mary to carry the gospel for the expansion of his kingdom.

(Adapted from Dr Beulah Wood's writing in the book titled, "How many chappathis do you want?")

Good Samaritans in History

The term “Good Samaritan” is generally used even today for those who show love to people in need, even if they are their enemies based on the parable told by Jesus. There are some stories of such people strewn across the Bible and many such have lived through history.

“Good Samaritans” in the Old Testament

I was thrilled to find names of few “Good Samaritans” in the Old Testament in 2 Chronicles 28. In the declining years of the Kingdom of Judah, there was this King named Ahaz.  He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  He led his people to stray away from worshipping the Lord.  So God handed over wicked Ahaz to enemy kingdoms. Judah was defeated by Israel, her own sister. One Pekah from Israelite side killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers of Judah. The Israelites took captive from Judah two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters and a great deal of plunder to Samaria.

There was this prophet least known to us named Oded in Israel who gave the Word of God at an appropriate time to the army of Israel. He spoke against their intention to make men and women of Judah as slaves and strongly admonished them to send the prisoners back to Jerusalem. There were these four leaders of Ephraim – Azariah, Berekiah, Jehizkiah and Amasa who responded to the prophet, whom I fondly call as the good Samaritans. These men took the prisoners who were naked and clothed them. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. They put all those who were weak on donkeys.  They then took the wounded and naked prisoners to Jericho, the city they belonged to in Judah and returned back to Samaria.

“Good Samaritans” in the New Testament

Jesus said that being a Good Samaritan is a pre-requisite to inherit eternal life and this story is found in Luke 10:25-37.  Even a Levite or a priest cannot inherit eternal life if they ignore a person in need.  In the rich man and Lazarus story, the former did not inherit eternal life, simply because he did not care for the needy Lazarus like a “Good Samaritan”. James in his epistle tells us about being a “Good Samaritan”: “Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all - it is dead and useless.” (James 2: 15-17, NLT)

“Good Samaritans” through the ages

I would call the righteousness ones standing on the right side of Jesus on the judgement day as “Good Samaritans” who have lived through the ages. They fed the hungry, gave a drink for the thirsty, showed hospitality to a stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited people in prison.  Whatever these people did it the least of the brothers and sisters of God, they were doing it to God himself! And these “Good Samaritans” would inherit eternal life and needless to say that those who ignored needy people would go to eternal hell! (Matthew 25:31-46)

A question for us now is: Am I a “Good Samaritan?” There are so many such needy people we come across every day in our lives.  I pray that I would have the heart, hands and feet of the "Good Samaritan" and not miss any opportunity to help them.

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." - Luke 6:31

The Power of Forgiveness

One important truth of the Bible is that if we do not forgive our fellow beings, God will not forgive us. Are you aware a story of a slave becoming a soldier for Christ in the New Testament? It is a powerful story on  forgiveness and reconciliation.  There are three main characters in this story that we find in the letter Paul wrote to Philemon.

Onesimus, the wrong doer:

Onesimus was a Phrygian, gentile slave working in the house of Philemon. Philemon, a native of Colossae was a gentile too. Apphia and Archippus mentioned in v.2 could be Philemon’s wife and son, the latter who is praised by Apostle Paul as a fellow soldier. The letter tells us that Onesimus stole some money from his master and ran away. He is also seen as an unprofitable slave to Philemon’s family (v.11). Onesimus was not blessed to have a parent like Jacob who raised Joseph in the fear of the Lord. Joseph as a slave was profitable to his master in Egypt. His Yahwistic upbringing helped him not to sin sexually in a vulnerable situation. Though Onesimus did not have a godly background like Joseph, we still find the love of God towards this run-away gentile, slave and sinner.

Paul, the peace maker:

Onesimus meets Paul in Rome, the city where he ran to, with the stolen money. Paul was in house arrest in Rome because of the gospel. Onesimus heard the gospel and became a child of God. (v.10) He should have also shared his story of how he stole the money. Paul found Onesimus as a profitable young man and wanted to help him get reconciled with his master Philemon. His efforts in doing this is commendable and worth a read.

“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him who is my very heart back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back not to mention that you owe me your very self.” (v.10-19, emphasis mine)

The effort of a peace maker can be clearly studied in these statements. No wonder Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). One question to us therefore is: Am I a peace maker? Or a peace breaker?

Philemon, the wronged who did the right:
Philemon and his family became believers because of Paul’s ministry (v.19). His reaction to Paul’s letter was positive. He followed a quote of Paul said to the Corinthians: “Love keeps no record of wrongs.”(1 Corinthians 13:5). Philemon pardoned him and freed him from slavery, and Onesimus returned to his spiritual father, as Paul had requested. Thereafter he faithfully served the Apostle. Jerome and other Church Fathers testify to the fact that he became an ardent preacher of the gospel and later a Bishop. He died as a martyr in the year AD 95. http://magnificat.ca/cal/en/saints/saint_onesimus.html

An unprofitable slave turned to a profitable person. Paul is even persuading Philemon towards a more commendable humanitarian cause of transforming the status of a ‘slave’  to a ‘son’. Such a heartbeat of Paul is also resonant in his letter to the Galatians: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (3:28) Blessings are hindered by bitterness. There is power in forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiveness is directly connected to the Kingdom of God.

“Your Kingdom come... Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.”

பெண்ணே! எழும்பிப் பிரகாசி! (தெபோராளின் வாழ்விலிருந்து ஒரு பிரதிபலிப்பு)

"கர்த்தருடைய ஆவியானவர் என்மேலிருக்கிறார்; தரித்திரருக்குச் சுவிசேஷத்தைப் பிரசங்கிக்கும்படி என்னை அபிஷேகம் பண்ணினார்; இருதயம் நருங்குண்டவர்களைக் குணமாக்கவும், சிறைப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு விடுதலையையும், குருடருக்குப் பார்வையையும் பிரசித்தப்படுத்தவும், நொறுங்குண்டவர்களை விடுதலையாக்கவும்,கர்த்தருடைய அநுக்கிரக வருஷத்தைப் பிரசித்தப்படுத்தவும், என்னை அனுப்பினார்" (லூக்கா 4:18‍-19)

இயேசுக் கிறிஸ்துவின் இந்த அவருடைய‌‌ ஊழியத்திற்கான‌ அறிக்கை இன்று பெண்களுக்கும் ஆண்களுக்கும் ஒரு சேர பொருந்தும்.

உள்ளிருந்து வந்த ஒடுக்குதல்

ஏகூத் மரணமடைந்தபின்பு இஸ்ரவேல் புத்திரர் திரும்பக் கர்த்தரின் பார்வைக்குப் பொல்லாப்பானதைச் செய்துவந்தார்கள்.ஆகையால் கர்த்தர் அவர்களை ஆத்சோரில் ஆளுகிற யாபீன் என்னும் கானானியருடைய ராஜாவின் கையிலே விற்றுப்போட்டார்; (நியாயாதிபதிகள் 4:1-2).(ஜனங்கள்) நூதன தேவர்களைத் தெரிந்துகொண்டார்கள்; அப்பொழுது யுத்தம்  வாசல்வரையும் வந்தது (5:8). தெபோராளின் நாட்களில் உள்ளிருந்த வந்த ஒடுக்குதலின் காரணம் இஸ்ரவேல் மக்களின் பாவமேயாகும்.

“கர்த்தரைத் தங்களுக்குத் தெய்வமாகக்கொண்ட ஜாதியும், அவர் தமக்குச் சுதந்தரமாகத் தெரிந்துகொண்ட ஜனமும் பாக்கியமுள்ளது.” என்று நாம் அறிவோம் (சங்கீதம் 33:12). விக்கிரக வணக்கத்தை மையமாகக் கொண்டுள்ள நிர்பாக்கியமுள்ள நமது தேசம் சந்திக்கப்பட வேண்டும். எனவே நமது தாயகத்தில் நமது தலையான கடமை ஆண்டவரைப் பற்றி அறியாதோருக்கு அவரை அறிவிப்பதேயாகும்.

வெளியிலிருந்து வந்த ஒடுக்குதல்

தெபோராளின் நாட்களில் இஸ்ரவேல் ஜனங்கள் கானானியப் படையால் ஒடுக்கப்பட்டார்கள். (அதனால்) பெரும்பாதைகள் பாழாய்க் கிடந்தது; வழி நடக்கிறவர்கள் பக்கவழியாய் நடந்தார்கள் (5:6). "இந்தியாவில் என்று  பெண் ஒருத்தி அதன் தெருக்களில் பாதுகாப்போடு நடக்க முடியுமோ அன்று தான் இந்தியா சுதரந்தரமடைந்தாக கருதப்படும்" என்ற காந்தியின் கனவு இன்னும் நனவாகவில்லை. இஸ்ரவேலரிடம் ஒன்றும் இல்லாத நிலையில் அவர்கள் எதிரிகளிடம் 900 இரும்பு இரதங்கள் இருந்தன. அப்பொழுது அவர்கள் கர்த்தரை நோக்கி முறையிட்டார்கள். கர்த்தரின்பதில் என்ன? தெபோராள். ஒரு பெண் நியாயாதிபதி. தலைவி. புரட்சித் தாய்! அவள் சொல்கிறாள்: "தெபொராளாகிய நான் எழும்புமளவும், இஸ்ரவேலிலே நான் தாயாக எழும்புமளவும், கிராமங்கள் பாழாய்ப்போயின." (5:7)

அந்நாட்களில் இஸ்ரவேலிலே ராஜா இல்லை, அவனவன் தன்தன் பார்வைக்குச் சரிப்போனபடி செய்துவந்தான்."(17:6) இன்று இந்தியாவில் பெண்களின் நிலை, அன்று நியாயாதிபதிகளின் நாட்களில் நடந்தது போலவே உள்ளது. அநேக பெண்கள் சரீரத்திலும், மனதிலும் சித்ரவதைக்குள்ளாகிறார்கள். பெண்கள் பாலுணர்வு பொம்மைகளாக கருதப்படுகிறார்கள். ஒரு பெண் ஒரே சமயத்தில் பலரால் கற்பழிக்கப்பட்ட பல செய்திகளை நாம் அறிவோம். கருவறையிலிருந்து கல்லறை வரை பெண்ணுக்கு பாதுகாப்பு இல்லை.

மகளிரின் மாட்சி

தேவையுள்ள சூழ்லிலையிலிருந்த இஸ்ரவேல் தேசத்தை வழிநடத்த தெபோராள் எழும்பினாள். பாராக்கையும் இன்னும் எண்ணற்ற வீரரையும் எதிரிகளிடம் போர் தொடுக்க தூண்டினாள். இன்றும் கூட நாம் பெண்களும் ஆண்களுமாக‌ இணைந்து செயல்பட வேண்டும். சகோதரி, இறைபணியில் உங்களை ஊக்குவிக்கும் ஆண்கள் (தகப்பன்/கணவன்/போதகர் இருப்பாரானால் ஆண்டவருக்கு ஸ்தோத்திரம். இல்லையென்றால் ஆண்டவர் உங்களுக்கு வழி திறக்க ஜெபியுங்கள். நாம் யோசித்திராத வழிகளை அவர் திறந்து தருவார். நாம் எல்லாரும் கட்டாயமாக செய்யக்கூடிய காரியம் என்னவென்றால் நம் வசம் உள்ள ஆண் பிள்ளைகளை லப்பிதோத்துவைப் போல, பெண்கள் தங்கள் தாலந்துகளையும், வரங்களையும் உபயோகிக்க ஊக்குவிக்கிறவர்களாக‌ வளர்ப்பது ஆகும்.

பெண் ஒருத்தி  இறை வார்த்தையை கேட்டு பிறருக்கு அருள முடியுமா? தெபோராள், மிரியாம், உல்தாள், பிலிப்புவின் குமாரத்திகள், கொரிந்து திருச்சபையில் இருந்த பெண் தீர்க்கர்கள் அப்படிப்பட்டோரே ஆவர்.  அவர்கள் தேசத்திற்கும், சபைக்கும் இறை வார்த்தையை கொண்டு வந்தார்கள். பல நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னரே கர்த்தர் சொன்னது: "அதற்குப் பின்பு நான் மாம்சமான யாவர்மேலும் என் ஆவியை ஊற்றுவேன்; அப்பொழுது உங்கள் குமாரரும் உங்கள் குமாரத்திகளும் தீர்க்கதரிசனஞ் சொல்லுவார்கள்; உங்கள் மூப்பர் சொப்பனங்களையும், உங்கள் வாலிபர் தரிசனங்களையும் காண்பார்கள். ஊழியக்காரர்மேலும் ஊழியக்காரிகள்மேலும், அந்நாட்களிலே என் ஆவியை ஊற்றுவேன்." (யோவேல் 2:28-29). நாம் தியானிக்கும் இக்கதையில் இஸ்ரவேல் நாடு ஒடுக்கப்படுகையில் அதற்காக கடவுள் அளித்த‌ தீர்வு ஒரு பெண்ணேயாகும். நமது நாட்டிலும் ஒரு பெரிய மாற்றத்தை பெண்கள் கொண்டு வரக் கூடும்.

ஒன்றுமே செய்யாதிருத்தல் பாவமே

போர்க்களத்தில் தெபோரளை சேராமலிருந்த கோத்திரத்தாரை கர்த்தர் சபிக்கிறதை நாம் காண்கிறோம். "மேரோசைச் சபியுங்கள்; அதின் குடிகளைச் சபிக்கவே சபியுங்கள் என்று கர்த்தருடைய தூதனானவர் சொல்லுகிறார்; அவர்கள் கர்த்தர் பட்சத்தில் துணைநிற்க வரவில்லை; பராக்கிரமசாலிகளுக்கு விரோதமாய் அவர்கள் கர்த்தர் பட்சத்தில் துணைநிற்க வரவில்லையே." (5:23. தேசத்திற்க்காக ஒன்றும் செய்யாதிருப்பது சாபமே! "நான் என் சகோதரனுக்கு காவலாளியோ?" என்று கேட்ட காயீனைப் போல நாம் இருக்க முடியாது. கர்ததர் நம்மைப் பார்த்து சொல்கின்றார்: "நீ உன் சகோதரிக்கு காவலாளி!" "செபுலோனும் நப்தலியும் போர்க்களத்து முனையிலே தங்கள் உயிரை எண்ணாமல் மரணத்துக்குத் துணிந்து நின்றார்கள்." என்று தேசத்த்திற்கு தொண்டு புரிந்த மற்றும் ஒருக் கூட்டத்தைப் பற்றி வேதம் சொல்கின்றது (5:18)பல்வேறு தியாகங்கள் புரிந்து சிறப்பாக பணியாற்றி வரும் நம் மிஷனெரி குடும்பங்கள், மற்றும் சுதேஷ ஊழியர்களுக்காக ஆண்டவரைத் துதிக்கிறேன்.

யுத்தம் கர்த்தருடையது

யுத்தம் எப்பொழுதுமே கர்த்தருடையது! நாம் பிரசங்கங்களிலும் ஞாயிறு பள்ளிகளும் அடிக்கடி "செங்கடல்" சம்பவத்தைப் பற்றிக் கேட்டிருக்கிறோம். தெபோராளின் நாட்களில் அதேப் போன்ற சம்பவம் நடந்தது பற்றி நம்மில் எத்தனை பேர் அறிவோம்? ஏற்கன்வே நலிந்து போன இஸ்ரவேல் மக்கள் கூட்டத்தை நோக்கி 900 இரும்பு ரதங்களை ஓட்டிக் கொண்டு எதிரிப் படையினர் வருவதைக் கற்பனை செய்து பாருங்கள். ஆனால் எதிரிப் படைத் தலைவனுக்கு ஒரு காரியம் தெரிந்திருக்க வாய்ப்பில்லை. அந்த நாளின் யுத்தம் தெபோராளுடையதும் இல்லை, பாராக்குடையதும் இல்லை. அது தேவனுடையது என்று! மட்டுமல்ல எதிர்பாராத சுனாமி ஒன்று வரும் என்று அவன் சிறிதேனும் நினைக்கவில்லை. கீசோன் ஆறு எதிரிப் படைகளை அடித்துச் சென்றது என்று வேதம் சொல்கின்றது (5;21. எதிரி தளபதியை யாகேல் என்னும் பெண்ணின் வீட்டிற்கு செல்ல வைத்து அந்த நாளின் கடைசி வெற்றியையும் ஒரு பெண்ணுக்குத் தர வேண்டும் என்பது இறைத்திட்டமாயிருந்தது.

இறை பெண்களே, சமுதாயத்தை ஆக்கப்பூர்வமாக தாக்கம் செய்யும் பணிக்கு நம் பங்கேற்பையே ஆண்டவர் எதிர்பார்க்கின்றார். தெபோராளைப் போல இறைப்பணிக்கு நாம் நம்மை அர்ப்பணிக்கும் போது அவர் நமக்காக யுத்தம் செய்வார். பெண்ணே, எழும்பு! கர்த்தரை முன் வைத்து செயல்படும் நேரம் இது!

Dealing with Good and Evil

All those who watch movies inherently end up clapping our hands for the hero/heroine who has taken revenge over evil forces.  One difficult teaching of the Bible however is to love enemies and to overcome evil by doing good. Strangely we see in our daily lives the reversal attitude of repaying evil for good happening often. My recent reading of the lives of kings of Judah in the Old Testament, who lived during the fading years of Israel’s monarchy, taught me some valuable lessons. Here is one on Joash, a king of Judah who repaid evil for good (2 Chronicles: chapters 22-24)

Joash was the grandson of Queen Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.  Athaliah was a wicked queen who for her craving for power killed her own grandsons and possible heirs to the throne after the death of her son Ahaziah. Jehosheba, who was the wife of Jehoida, the priest daringly stole Joash the infant son of Ahaziah from the murdering spree of Athaliah. She hid little Joash and his nurse in the temple for six years. Jehoida, the priest then acted wisely and courageously and made Joash king at an appropriate time and murdered wicked Athaliah whe had by then replaced Yahweh and made Baal as God for her nation. The Scripture says, “So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed.” (2 Chronicles 23:21)

Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoida arranged the marriage of Joash. He also helped the young king in his effort  to renovate the Jerusalem temple which was ruined by Athaliah.  Jehoiada then died.  The Scripture says  that, he was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple (2 Chronicles 24:16). But after his death, the king succumbed to the pressures of the leaders of Israel and went back to worshipping Baal and led the nation to idolatry.  He did not heed to the many prophets God sent to warn him. The climax of his unfaithful act happened when he murdered Zechariah, the son of Jehoida who was trying to warn the nation of their wicked ways. The Scripture puts it like this: That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his love and loyalty – by killing his son. Zechariah's last words as he died were, "May the LORD see what they are doing and hold them accountable!"

At the beginning of the year, the Aramean army marched against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the nation. Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the LORD helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was executed against Joash. The Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded. But his own officials decided to kill him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in bed. Then he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery. (2 Chronicles 24: 22-25)

The natural human tendency is to repay evil for evil like what we see in movies. It is also easy to repay good with evil for some reason, like how Joash did. But it is hard to choose to repay evil with good. The Joseph and Jesus model of repaying good for evil needs a divine strength by which we put our trust in a God who is just and simply leave the rest to Him. Sometimes now, if not eternity will reveal this truth, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Joseph said to his brothers: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50: 20-21

When they hurled their insults at him (Jesus), he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23)

As children of a God who is just, we are called therefore not to repay good with evil, but repay evil with good.

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I love to call Him, Daddy!

Airport-silence was broken by a harried couple with twins. Both toddlers wanted mummy, and daddy looked like he had never spent a single day with them. I saw him harshly slam one tired baby into a hard, plastic chair when she was doing the earthworm move (when frustrated, act like you have no backbone and slide off everything till you are carried securely). More cries followed mummy. On the flight, daddy slept, while both babies tore her and fellow passengers apart. (Read Christobelle Joseph in http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/74/201307232013072322005812d8be27a7/Travelling-with-tots.html)

I have seen many such dads during my travels and I tell you, I get mad seeing irresponsible dads behaving as if the kids were not theirs! I used to imagine how much more irresponsible they would be inside the four walls of their houses. I always remember with pleasure how my husband used to take care of our hyperactive baby-son, Giffy in many of our long train rides between Chennai and Calcutta back in the nineties. Even now, any alarm he raises at night, he is there with him, the next second. He wins the race between us running to our son’s room. Does that bring to your mind the many times, God taking care of us and responding to us during a crisis? Another great man in my life is my own dad. In my recent episode of undergoing a surgery, me in my forties, he in his seventies, I saw my dad getting alerted and coming near me (here dad won the race between him and my husband!) with my slightest move in bed, during both day and night. With tears in my eyes, I remembered our heavenly father who neither slumbers nor sleeps with regard to the cause of his children.

How can dads become more responsible to their kids? My love for the Bible always takes me to some character in the Bible. Of all dads in the Bible, I love and revere Joseph! Joseph was the foster father of Jesus. He is termed righteous (Matthew 1:19) for many reasons. One is that he accepted his virgin wife who got pregnant mysteriously. But after the angel spoke to him, he gets the right perspective of the baby Jesus. From then on, he executed his responsibility of a responsible dad to baby Jesus, fulfilling every detail. His dad part amazes me more than his role as a husband. Look at the many travels Mary and Joseph had to do for the sake of baby Jesus. Joseph traveled with a full-term Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for the census (Luke 2:4). After the baby was born, he had to start by night to a distant Egypt with the mother and the baby (Mathew 2:13-14). After some time, he again took the two of them and traveled back to Nazareth (2:20-21). Joseph executed his responsibilities in raising baby Jesus who was not his biological child!

He was also caring for the baby, spiritually. He was with Mary in one accord in bringing up child Jesus according to the Mosaic Law. He accompanied Mary from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to present child Jesus in the temple to offer a sacrifice consisting two young pigeons, the latter meaning he was a poor dad (Luke 2:22-24). Blessed are the poor dads like Joseph who have got great values! Joseph and Mary got baby Jesus, blessed by ministers of God like, Simeon and Anna (2:25-32, 37-38) in the temple. I would say that the spiritual care at home, even as a child, helped Jesus to be in his heavenly Father’s business in the temple (Luke 2:49). Jesus found it easy to obey his righteous dad and mom. No wonder, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men (v. 51-52). I would give Joseph, the foster father the highest credit in raising the Saviour of the world. Jesus, whenever he addressed his prayer to God-the father, had a happy picture of a dad who cared for him.

A dad has a great role to makes his child love to call his heavenly, father, “Daddy!” I am not exaggerating when I say that children who are cared for by dads will find it easy to seek God. Blessed with a loving dad who still cares for me and a husband who is a responsible dad for our son, I love to call my God, “Abba, Father, Daddy.”

"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection" - Sigmund Freud

"நான் ஆவிக்குரியத் திருச்சபைக்குச் செல்கின்றேன்!"

"நான் ஆவிக்குரியத் திருச்சபைக்குச் செல்கின்றேன்! நீங்கள் செல்வது ஆவிக்குரியத் திருச்சபை இல்லை" ‍‍என்பது கிறிஸ்தவ உலகில் நாம் அதிகம் கேட்கும் வார்த்தைகள் ஆகும். போதகர் ஒருவர் எனது உறவினர் திருமணமொன்றில் இவ்வாறுக் கூறக் கேட்டது என் மனதில் ஒரு உறுத்தலை உண்டாக்கியது: “மணமகனும், மணமகளும் ஆவிக்குரிய திருச்சபைக்கு செல்வது எனக்கு மகிழ்ச்சி தருகிறது.” அப்போதகர் மோதிரம் மாற்றி மாலை அணிவிக்கும் முந்தின நாள் நிகழ்வை நடத்த முன் வரவில்லை. ஆனால் அதிகம் நகைகளை அணிந்துக் கொள்ளும் கலாச்சாரமுடைய‌ அக்குடும்பங்கள் வாராவாரம் இப்போதகரின் சபைக்குச் செல்வதில் இவருக்கு ஆட்சேபணை ஒன்றும் இல்லாதது எனக்கு வியப்பை அளித்தது. ஆவிக்குரிய திருச்சபை என்ற வார்த்தைகள் என்னை ஆட்டிப்படைத்த நிலைமையில் மற்றொரு திருச்சபையில் நான் கேட்ட செய்தி எனக்கு வேண்டிய விளக்கத்தை தர ஏதுவாக இருந்தது.

வேதம் எதைக் குறித்து சொல்கின்றது? ஆவிக்குரியத் திருச்சபையா? ஆவிக்குரிய நபரா? ஆவிக்குரிய நபரைக் குறித்தே வேதம் ரோமர் 8 ல் விலாவாரியாக சொல்கின்றது. "மாம்சத்தின்படி நடக்கிறவர்கள் மாம்சத்துக்குரியவைகளைச் சிந்திக்கிறார்கள்; ஆவியின்படி நடக்கிறவர்கள் ஆவிக்குரியவைகளைச் சிந்திக்கிறார்கள்," என்று நபர்களைத் தான் வேதம் இரண்டு பிரிவாக பிரிக்கின்றது (வ. 5).

ஆவிக்குரிய நபர் யார்? 
1. ஆவிக்குரிய நபர்கள், கிறிஸ்து இயேசுவுக்குட்பட்டவர்களாயிருந்து, மாம்சத்தின்படி நடவாமல் ஆவியின்படியே நடக்கிறவர்கள். அவர்க‌ளுக்கு ஆக்கினைத்தீர்ப்பில்லை.(வ.1).

2. ஆவிக்குரிய நபர்கள் தேவனுக்குப் பிரியமாயிருப்பார்கள். “மாம்சத்துக்குட்பட்டவர்கள் தேவனுக்குப் பிரியமாயிருக்கமாட்டார்கள். ஆவிக்குப்பட்டவர்கள் தேவனுக்குப் பிரியமாயிருப்பார்கள்.” (வசனம் 8).

3. ஆவிக்குரிய நபர்கள் தேவனுடைய பிள்ளைகள். “மேலும் எவர்கள் தேவனுடைய ஆவியினாலே நடத்தப்படுகிறார்களோ, அவர்கள் தேவனுடைய பிள்ளைகளாயிருக்கிறார்கள்.” (வ.14)

4. ஆவிக்குரிய நபர்கள் கிறிஸ்துவின் பாடுகளுக்குப் பங்காளிகள். “நாம் பிள்ளைகளானால் சுதந்தரருமாமே; தேவனுடைய சுதந்தரரும், கிறிஸ்துவுக்கு உடன் சுதந்தரருமாமே; கிறிஸ்துவுடனேகூட நாம் மகிமைப்படும்படிக்கு அவருடனேகூடப் பாடுபட்டால் அப்படியாகும்.” (வ.17)

5. ஆவிக்குரிய நபர்களைக் கிறிஸ்துவின் அன்பினின்று எவரும், எதுவும் பிரிக்க இயலாது. “கிறிஸ்துவின் அன்பைவிட்டு நம்மைப் பிரிப்பவன் யார்? உபத்திரவமோ, வியாகுலமோ, துன்பமோ, பசியோ, நிர்வாணமோ, நாசமோசமோ, பட்டயமோ? மரணமானாலும், ஜீவனானாலும், தேவதூதர்களானாலும், அதிகாரங்களானாலும், வல்லமைகளானாலும், நிகழ்காரியங்களானாலும், வருங்காரியங்களானாலும், உயர்வானாலும், தாழ்வானாலும், வேறெந்தச் சிருஷ்டியானாலும் நம்முடைய கர்த்தராகிய கிறிஸ்து இயேசுவிலுள்ள தேவனுடைய அன்பைவிட்டு நம்மைப் பிரிக்கமாட்டாது.” (வ. 36, 38)

மேற்கூறிய வழிகளில் ஒருவர் ஆவிக்குரியவராக வாழ‌த் திருச்சபை உதவக் கூடுமே தவிர, போதகரோ, மற்றவரோ தாங்கள் ஆவிக்குரியத் திருச்சபையை சார்ந்தவர்கள் என்று மார்தட்டிக் கொள்வது தவறானதாகும். உண்மை என்னவென்றால், வேதம் கூறும் ஆவிக்குரிய நபர்கள் /போதகர்கள் பல திருச்சபைகளில் பரவி இருக்கிறார்கள். ஆவிக்குரிய நபராய் வாழ்ந்து, ஆவிக்குரிய நபர்களைக் கண்டறிந்து, அவர்களோடு சாவகாசம் வைப்பதே கண்களால் காணக் கூடாத‌ "ஆவிக்குரியத் திருச்சபையில்" நாம் வைக்கும் ஐக்கியமாகும்!

Faith - Borrowing or Embracing?

All through history there have been two types of people, the ones who followed God and the ones who followed people of God. One classic example of this statement is seen in the lives of Abraham and Lot.

Abraham
Two things that characterized the life of Abraham were that he pitched tents and he built altars all through his sojourn on this earth. Tents are temporary places of dwelling, whereas altars in the context of Abraham literally meant the presence, providence and protection of God. The book of Genesis mentions the altars Abraham built in five occasions. We know that Abraham, a man living in the highest comforts of a highly civilized city, named Ur was called by God to be a nomad for his cause. It should have been a difficult choice to obey God that way. At Shechem which means “shoulder,” Abraham built his first altar, symbolically meaning that he left the burdens of his nomadic life on God’s shoulders (Genesis 12:7). At Bethel he built the next two. The first one was when he received the greatest of all promises, which was about a land and succeeding generations at a time when he had none of the two (12:8). Abraham built the next altar after returning from Egypt where he lied to Pharaoh for his own life. He thanks God for his faithfulness in spite of his wrong at the altar at Bethel (13:4). He built the fourth altar at Hebron after separation from Lot to whom he voluntarily gave a better choice of land (13:18). Hebron means alliance, partnership, symbolically Abraham meant preferring partnership with God than with people. The fifth one was at Moriah (chapter 22) where he unquestioningly obeyed God in sacrificing his precious son Isaac, the promised heir for whom he waited for years. Abraham’s life characterizes a closer walk with God in all of life’s circumstances.

Lot
Lot, nephew of Abraham and a co-sojourner with him had his own family, servants, cattle and properties. But we do not find a mention of him building an altar anywhere while following his uncle. But there are mentions of him pitching tents (13:12). While Abraham followed God worshipping the Lord by regularly building altars, Lot followed Abraham and probably stood at the altar his uncle built. In doing so he borrowed his uncle’s faith. We do not see Lot worshipping God directly. The result: Abraham walked by faith, Lot walked by his sight. While the former was a generous person, the latter was selfish and greedy. His highest concern for earthly life is seen in the choice of Sodom, the fertile place akin to Eden and Egypt. Abraham looked forward to heaven, a city built by God (Hebrews 11:10), while Lot looked at Sodom, the city built by people, which perished to flames. Abraham got his heir Isaac through a righteous life. Lot bore his heirs through an unexpected and unrighteous conduct with his own daughters. In not seeking God for himself, he lost his wife, daughters and his treasured property at Sodom. 

Borrowing faith from others leads to despair and ruin. We cannot borrow faith from our parents, spouses, children, pastor or any other spiritual giant. God looks for faith from every individual. He seeks a person who longs for God’s presence for himself/herself and their families. Though Lot is portrayed as a righteous man, as one who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men in Sodom (2 Peter 2:6-8), we need to look at the losses he encountered in his life. One good news however is that a heir of Lot, Ruth became the great grandmother of Jesus, God incarnate. This talks about a faithful God who loves us however faithless we prove to be! However we need to learn from Lot who though credited as righteous, lost precious people and things in life. Following God is to seek Him for myself, but not by borrowing anyone else’s faith. For all those who stand on their own faith, how often do we build our own altars? It is time to embrace our faith!

Note: I loved this message preached by my husband Suresh at Christalaya Koramangala and so published it here with his permission :)