With Due Respect: They killed Jesus!

Accusing groups of people of killing Jesus diminishes what Jesus intended to accomplish at the cross

One of the most disheartening things I read on social media, especially Facebook is the rising antisemitism posts that has been spurred on by recent global events, chiefly the Israel-Hamas war. 

Banking on this, some political leftists see the Jews as an oppressor in the oppression-oppressed Marxist narrative. Weirdly these leftists find themselves aligned with some members of the political right who hold racists views that the Jews are the source of the problems.

Thus one of the common accusations I hear is that the "Jews killed Jesus" in an attempt to stir up hatred among the Christian community. 

So who killed Jesus then?
While one can point out the Jewish leaders of the time plotted to kill Jesus and the Roman authorities carried out the execution, it clearly states in Isaiah 53 that Jesus died for our sins ("he was pierced for our transgression").

Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all. -- Isaiah 53: 4-6

This is further corroborated by the New Testament authors.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:24

In other words, we (humans) in our sinful nature, killed Jesus. To single out a single group and blame them for the death of Jesus is to defeat the message that Christ died for all humanity.

So how should Christians respond?

Instead, Christians should acknowledge that Jesus's death was good news - good because his death has provided us a way to reconcile with God, and news because this is true.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. - 1 John 4:10

Theology 1.0: Who are the St. Thomas Christians?

 

Kerala, India

One of things I like to highlight is the different Christian communities in Asia. Today I want to bring to attention the St Thomas Christians, who mainly hail from Kerala, India.

Origins
According to their traditions, they claim that St Thomas (an Apostle of Christ) came to Kerala in 52 AD to evangelise. Locally, the St Thomas Christians are also known as Nasranis, derived from the Syriac word for Christians. St Thomas converted 32 Brahmin (priest/scholar) families to Christianity during his time there. The earliest document detailing St Thomas's trip to India was the Acts of Thomas written in circa 240 AD.

The church also grew bigger when Christians from Persia migrated to India during the 3rd Century (200s AD). This brought the St Thomas Christians to be in connection with the Church of the East.

In 1498 the Portuguese open a port in India, and attempted to bring the St Thomas Christians under the Roman Catholic Church. In 1795, some Indian regions became tributiaries to the British East Indian Company, allowing contact with the Anglican Church.

Theology
Historically, the St Thomas Christians adopted Nestorianism (the belief that Christ is both human and divine but not at the same time), use the Syriac Rite and practise seven sacrements (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick). 

However, some of these changed with the coming of the Western Christians. For instance, the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is in full communion with Rome and maintains an Eastern liturgy. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is also aligned with Rome but influenced by the West Syriac tradition. The Mar Thoma Syrian Church is a reformed church with Protestant influences. 

Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Singapore

Practices

Indian culture is integrated into their Christian practices, such as wearing saris in church and adapting local architectural styles for their churches.

They maintain a strong communal identity, with unique traditions like the margam kali, a Christian dance-drama.

Alternative Culture: The Pope's Speech in Singapore

 

In September 2024, Pope Francis visited Singapore as part of his tour of Asia. He gave a speech about the importance of inter-faith relations at the Catholic school, Catholic Junior College. The transcript of the speech is here. 

As usual I will give a theological take on current events, also for this speech in this post.

The good
"A young person must be a critical thinker, and it is not good never to be critical."

"Do you have the courage to criticize but also the courage to let others criticize you?"

"Young people must have the courage to build, to move forward and go out of their “comfort zones.”

The Pope advocated for critical thinking, and that is always good. Too often we Asians tend to have overly fear authority. We rather go through the motion pretending a fallacy is correct then to questions the legitimacy of a claim and risk upsetting the harmony of a team project, or upsetting the boss.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

This applies doubly for Christians. As Jesus claimed to be the truth, Christians should not be afraid to examine any claim or study any research with a critical and sceptical mind in order to find truth.

Although the pope's speech started out well, it went downhill from there.

An inter-religious gathering in Singapore, 2017

The bad (wasted opportunity)
"If you start arguing, “My religion is more important than yours...,” or “Mine is the true one, yours is not true....,” where does this lead? Somebody answer. [A young person answers, “Destruction”.] That is correct."

"All religions are paths to God. I will use an analogy, they are like different languages that express the divine. But God is for everyone, and therefore, we are all God’s children. “But my God is more important than yours!”. Is this true? There is only one God, and religions are like languages, paths to reach God. Some Sikh, some Muslim, some Hindu, some Christian. Understood? Yet, interfaith dialogue among young people takes courage."

Instead of advocating for the exclusivity of Christianity, Pope Francis chose the safer, political path. He claimed that religions are pathways to the same God, and that arguing a single, right path is "destructive". 

To me, this was a great wasted opportunity. The pope had a stage to preach Christ to a multicultural Singapore, and threw it away. It is not like this platform was unprecedented; the Apostle Paul took his chances at multicultural Athens 2000 years ago and preached the following in Acts 17:

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, - Acts 17: 22-28

While as Christians we are taught to be live in peace with our neighbours, ultimately we are also to speak of God's love and sacrifice for everyone.

Conclusion
While we Christians should strive to live in harmony as far as possible, we are called to evangelise.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28: 18-20

My Confession: My Reflections on Job 12 - 14

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Job rejects the idea that he is deserving of punishment
After Zophar accuses Job of being guilty of hidden sin, Job counters that Zophar should not claim to know the mind of God,

“I have become a laughingstock to my friends,
    though I called on God and he answered—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!" - Job 12:4

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
   or let the fish in the sea inform you.
 Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?" - Job 12:7-9

“My eyes have seen all this,
    my ears have heard and understood it.
 What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.
 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
    and to argue my case with God.
 You, however, smear me with lies;
    you are worthless physicians, all of you!
 If only you would be altogether silent!
    For you, that would be wisdom." - Job 13:1-5

Job puts his trust in God
Job continues to trust God, even though he does not understand the reason for his plight. He asks for God to hear him out.

“Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
Withdraw your hand far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.
 Then summon me and I will answer,
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.
 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
    Show me my offense and my sin.
 Why do you hide your face
    and consider me your enemy?" - Job 13: 20 -24

Job also recognises his life and legacy is in God's control.

“At least there is hope for a tree:
    If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
    and its new shoots will not fail.
Its roots may grow old in the ground
    and its stump die in the soil,
 yet at the scent of water it will bud
    and put forth shoots like a plant.
 But a man dies and is laid low;
    he breathes his last and is no more." - Job 14: 7-10

Thus Job knows that his only hope for restoration lies with God.

"Surely then you will count my steps
    but not keep track of my sin.
 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
    you will cover over my sin." - Job 14: 16-17

Impressions
One thing I did admire is while Job rejected the idea that he is in the wrong (as accused in the earlier chapters). He also rejects the idea that he needs to justify himself in front of his friends and knows the only being that holds his fate is God. God may choose to spare or strike him.

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

    I will surely defend my ways to his face." - Job 13: 15

Again, Job is willingly to be honest with his feelings about his circumstance with God, and not cover it up with pomp and flattery.

"If only you would hide me in the grave

    and conceal me till your anger has passed!

If only you would set me a time

    and then remember me!

If someone dies, will they live again?

    All the days of my hard service

    I will wait for my renewal to come." - Job 14: 13-14

Although I do not want Job's circumstance, I do pray I have faith and honesty to that closest with God.

With Due Respect: Did the 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony mock Christianity?

 

Comparing a scene from the opening ceremony and The Last Supper

Every four years, I enjoy watching snippets from my second favourite sporting event -- the Olympics. [My favourite is the FIFA World Cup.] 

While I overall did enjoy the games (I enjoy watching fencing and wrestling) and many moments were meme-able and memorable, the 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off with controversy. In one particular performance, the actors seemed to parody the painting The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci painted that during the Renaissance as a tribute to the last meal Jesus had with his disciples before his execution.

This caused uproar from the Christian community including the Vatican and Orthodox bishops, and secular entities like the Italian government and C Spire (a technology company).

Almost immediately, Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony quickly claimed that his critics were mistaken and that his ceremony was a tribute to the painting The Feast of the Gods by Dutch artist Jan van Bijlert. (Note that both paintings are the property of France.)

The Feast of The Gods portrays the Greek Gods having a party. Since the Olympics were originally conceived to be a tribute to the Greek gods, thus Jolly saw fit to have it in the opening ceremony. According to him, Christians were overreacting to his artistic direction.

Comparing a scene from the opening ceremony and The Feast of the gods 

How should Christians respond?

Christians should expect mockery

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." -- John 15: 18-19

Firstly, Christians should not be surprise when non-believers mocked them. After all, Jesus predicted that (as stated in the quote above). In fact Christianity has been researched to be the most persecuted religion in the world.

Christians should not be naive

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." - Matthew 10: 16-20

Secondly, Christians should not be so trusting. The actors were obviously portraying the Last Supper and not the Feast of the Gods. Look at the positioning of the actors and the popular image it invokes. The Last Supper is way more popular in the human psyche than the Feast of the Gods. 

Even the actors themselves thought they were portraying the Last Supper. To pretend that it was something is else is simply asinine. In addition, the organisiers have apologised for the portrayal, fully that there is validity to the claim of the similarity to the Last Supper.

In the words of Judge Judy, "don't pee on My leg and tell me it's raining". Such an action would be equivalent to wear a Buddhist swastika to a Holocaust museum and laugh at the offended people who were uneducated on the difference between a Buddhist and Nazi symbol.

Christians should not resort to violence

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." - Luke 6: 27-31

Nevertheless, Christians should not be violence over this. In fact, Jesus Himself said to bless those who cursed you. When Jesus was a arrested, he instructed Peter to sheath his sword (John 18:11) when Peter tried to defend him.

Conclusion

Christians should be aware that Jesus call us to live a life foreign to the world, and not to be shocked when the world persecutes us, either directly or indirectly. 

For more information
The issue covered by Salt and Light

Alternative Culture: The attempted assassination of Donald Trump

 

After the shooting, Trump raises his hand to encourage his base

On 13 July 2024, a person opened fire at presidential candidate Donald Trump at a Trump Rally in Pennsylvania. While Trump survived, two others (David Dutch and James Copenhaver) were wounded and one (Corey Comperatore) was killed. The secret service opened fire and killed the shooter. Trump later would attribute his safety to a chart (Trump shifted his head to look at it, causing the shooter to hit Trump's ear), the secret service, and God.

The purpose of this post is not to talk about the politics, security or even any conspiracy regarding the incident. This blog is a theological blog, and I will give my theological thoughts on this.

Is Trump the anti-Christ or the chosen one?
As with any major public event, there many Christians who are too hasty to condemn or praise Trump. 

Because of Trump surviving a head wound and Revelations 13, some point out that that he could be the anti-Christ, or the beast of the anti-Christ. 

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. - Rev 13:3

On the other extreme end, some supporters see him as divinely chosen as he was shot at 6:11 pm. 

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil - Ephesians 6:11

As with any interpretation, Christians ought to be open but cautious. In fact, the Bible itself encourages believers to be wary of following such trends.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. - 1 John 4: 1-3

In my sceptical mind, I reject notions him being the anti-Christ because his wound was obviously not fatal. And I also reject the use of Ephesians 6:11 to support Trump as it is obliviously arbitrarily chosen. Why not John 6:11 or Hosea 6:11?

Was his survival the luck of the draw?

How did Trump see his survival?
On 19 July 2024, Trump gave a speech at the Republican National Convention. As part of his speech, he covered the assassination attempt from his point of view. I put a few quotes below:

"There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet in a certain way I felt very safe because I had God on my side."

"I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God."

"But if the events of last Saturday make anything clear, it is that every single moment we have on Earth is a gift from God. "

Trump felt that his survival was due to the intervention of God. In my opinion, his speech at the RNC surprisingly showed much humility as he thanked the Secret Service for protecting him and his supporters for not panicking at the event.

"Bullets were continuing to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage. And they really did. They rushed to the stage."

"This massive crowd of tens of thousands of people stood by and didn’t move an inch. In fact, many of them bravely but automatically stood up, looking for where the sniper would be. They knew immediately that it was a sniper. And then began pointing at him. You can see that if you look at the group behind me. That was just a small group compared to what was in front. Nobody ran and, by not stampeding, many lives were saved."

He also provided a moment of silence for Corey Comperatore, a retired fireman who was killed, shielding his family from the bullets.

His speech was also more unifying than usual.

"As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart. I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America."

Now I do not know how much God intervened for Trump's survival, but I do know that whatever happens, God is in charge. 

"The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord." - Proverbs 16:33

Looking ahead
Now whether America becomes more or less divisive from this incident, or whether Trump goes back on his speech of unity remains to be seen.

Regardless of outcome, know that God is ultimately in control.

Do you not know? Do you not hear?
    Has it not been told you from the beginning?
    Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
    and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
 who brings princes to nothing,
    and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. (Isaiah 40: 21-23)

Theology 1.0: How did Christianity come to Myanmar?

 

Adoniram Judson was a missionary in Myanmar for almost 40 years

Myanmar (Burma) is a historically resistant to Christianity. It has banned most Christian mission work and religious material since independence in 1948, and burning of churches is reported in the southern regions.

Yet the number of Christians has grown (especially among the minority races) from 6% in 2016 to 8% to in 2023. Of this 8%, two-thirds are from the Baptist denominations. This is due to the efforts of Adoniram Judson.

Adoniram Judson
Although the Portuguese had made occupied parts of Myanmar during the early 1600s, their mission work stopped in 1613 after they were repelled by the Burmese.

In 1813, Americans Adoniram Judson and his wife Ann arrived in Burma after the British did not want them preaching to Hindus in British-controlled India. Despite suffering a miscarriage and the death of their two-week old child along the way, both Adoniram and Ann dedicated their time to studying Burmese and their culture. In 1817 he translated the Gospel of Matthew to Burmese.

Isolated from European or American help, Adoniram finally held his first public service in 1818, and had his first convert less than a year later. Although he unsuccessfully petitioned the Burmese king Bagyidaw to remove death sentences for Burmese who converted from Buddhism to Christianity, the Judsons managed to gain 18 converts by 1823. Adonriam also made his first Burmese translation of the New Testament.

Anglo-Burmese war
In 1824, the British Empire warred with the Burma. Despite not being British, Adoniram was jailed for being a Westerner.

Ann visits an imprisoned Adoniram

As the war went poorly for the Burmese, Adoniram was recruited by Burma to act as a negotiator and translator. He was freed when the war ended in 1826. That same year, Ann passed away and their third child passed away in 1827.

With the minorities
In 1827, Adoniram made contact with the Karen people. Unlike the majority Burmese population, they were not Buddhist but animistic, and were oppressed. He surprisingly found them receptive to Christianity, and focused his efforts to the Northern Karen tribes.

He finally translated the entire Bible to Burmese in 1834. He married Sarah Hall Boardman in the same year. They continued the minister in Burma until 1845. Sarah had fallen ill and was recommended to return to America. She died en route the same year.

Adoniram married a third time to Emily Chubbuck in 1846. Adoniram and Emily both travelled to Burma to continue the mission work there. 

In 1850, Adoniram fell ill and was recommended a sea voyage. He died the same year at the Bay of Bengal. By this time, Burma had about 100 churches and 8000 converts.

Today, Myanmar has the third largest number of Baptists worldwide, behind the United States and India.