Santa = Satan?

Whoa whoa whoa Eric, are you talking about Jolly Ole St. Nick? Kris Kringle? Santa, Santa Claus?! How dare you equate a cherished and beloved symbol of the Christmas season with the Father of Lies, the Prince of Darkness? Come it's not like we're worshiping Santa Claus. We know he's not real, it's just something fun we do like the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny (Don't you know that Jesus and his disciples painted eggs together at the Last Supper?).  You don't need to go all extreme and make things black and white. All in good fun, all in good fun.

Haha, I agree but here are my reservations:
1. We can kind of safely have these pseudo-symbols or characters on religious holidays like Christmas and Easter because America is a Christian-ish country.  And by that I mean, we're now labeled post-Christian, but there's cultural, symbolic, and moralistic residue left over from when America used to be very Christian.  So for the Christians at least, it might be something Christians kind of play along with but everyone knows God is the only true and living God and that Jesus is the reason for the season.  And for non-Christians, Santa can be something to give some kind of meaning to their holiday break from work (as far as I know, no Asian countries give Christmas day off).
2. It might be more okay in America to just play along with these kinds of things because Western materialistic worldview discredits the supernatural as a given. At a certain age, no one's really going to believe that tooth fairies, Santa Claus and the Easter bunny exists.  However, in a more pantheistic, spiritual/animistic Eastern/Asian worldview everything is and can be a god and is able to be worshiped.  For example, P'Mee shared with me once that if you take a funny shaped rock, say it brings good luck and give it to an animistic Thai, they'll put it up on their shelf of religious objects and believe that it's going to give you good luck.  If you come and say a statue changed your life, they'll take the statue and worship that.  If you give them the Bible and say that it changed your life, they.... no they don't take that one.

So let's look at the nature and powers of Santa:
1. Possibly immortal as he's been handing out presents for hundreds of years.
2. Has the power of flight
3. Possibly omnipresent, especially if he's going to every child's house in one night. Or the power of super-speed.
4. Possibly has the power of teleportation, especially when your apartment doesn't have a chimney. (Maybe he's just good at picking locks)
5. Omniscient - He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good... So be good for goodness' sake.
6. Apparently works according to the universal moral law. If you're good, you get a good gift. If you're bad, you get coal. What if you're really bad, like evil? It's been discussed, you get coal. (Five points to anyone who knows where that line is from.)
    a. However, he doesn't seem to keep a real list, or is quite gracious because everyone seems to get gifts on Christmas morning. (Except that one time when I went on vacation to Las Vegas with my family and my mom said Santa wouldn't come follow us on vacation.)

Sounds like a god to me.  I'm not writing this post to point fingers at America and Christians who celebrate Santa with their kids and tell them they're worshiping Satan. I'm not that crazy.  But it's interesting to take a look at Santa from the Thai perspective and understand exactly why the Christian church would dare not bring Santa into any type of Christian tradition.  They have their own cultural residue that they need to get rid of and to bring in an imported tradition that could possibly be received through a spiritual/animistic worldview doesn't sound too safe.  Thai Buddhists look at Christianity through their worldview anyway - either something to be rejected or just another way to nirvana.  I'm sure there's enough confusion trying to explain the idea of a personal creator God and the reason why we need the gospel, so to add Santa is quite unwise.

Is Santa Satan? Is it coincidence that they use the SAME LETTERS?! I'm not going to shove my opinion down anyone's throats but as you make your opinion for yourself, let us consider who we worship and what this Christmas season is for.  Not a jolly old fat man with super powers, but a man who "had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that  we should desire him," a "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."  A man "wounded for our transgressions...crushed for our iniquities," and by whose stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53)

This season is about Christ Jesus:
  ⁶Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
 ⁷but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
 ⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
 ⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
 ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:6-11)

Glory to God in the highest!

Eric's Book Corner - 12/14/09

Because of all the new books people sent and plenty of ample time for reading (although I'm still not reading as much as I'd like), I want to just give some summaries or ratings of different books that I've read while I'm here.

John Piper - Let the Nations Be Glad

My Rating: 4.5/5

Probably the first book I finished in Thailand as I tried to cultivate a heart for missions. Let the Nations Be Glad is an amazing book that points to the glory of God in all things, and how missions plays into that. I mean who hasn't heard the line "Missions exist because worship does not"?  Piper as always writes seeking to take his readers beyond just contentment and satisfaction in relative standards to seeing God through the standard of the ultimate and the infinite. You just want to see the bigger picture in the entire plan of God and his purpose for missions.  There were so many chapters where after I finished I had to just stop and pray. And to me that's the mark of a great great book.  I would give the book a five out of five just because I'm biased towards Piper, but the entire middle section becomes quite heady and academic because Piper takes the effort to biblically support the doctrines of eternal damnation and the definition of "nations" as ethnic people groups through exegesis of original Greek.  I know no Greek and as nerdy as I am, that part just got really boring.  But the first and last third of the book is quite great. I suggest you go pick up a copy now!

A.W. Tozer - The Knowledge of the Holy

My Rating: 3.5/5

I absolute loved Tozer's The Pursuit of God and I remember PJ recommending this book if you wanted to know more about the attributes of God.  It's not a bad book by any means, but Tozer does write from half a century ago and even though that doesn't seem like a lot, a book just has to be amazing to outlast the influences of an ever-changing language (To me, C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity is an example).  Tozer goes through around twenty different attributes and takes the time to make sure that knowledge about the attributes of God will not be head knowledge but heart knowledge.  He wants the reader to learn about a unique attribute of God and overflow in exultant worship. Maybe because I've read books on attributes of God before and I didn't try hard enough to make this into heart-knowledge, but nothing really spoke out to me.  However, if you would like to study the attributes of God for the first time it might be worth your time.

John Piper - The Pleasures of God

My Rating: 5/5

The second in Piper's trilogy (Desiring God, The Pleasures of God, Future Grace), Piper takes a whole book to talk about just why God is most glorified when He is most satisfied in himself - a corollary from Piper's famous line "God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him" from Desiring God.  I let a friend borrow the book so I can't be more detailed about it, but Piper's chapter on how prayer glorifies God was another one of those things you read and you can't help but pray for an hour after.  The book also gives Piper's answers on things like election (and how God is glorified in it) as well as the two wills of God (like can the love in John 3:16 be applicable to all or only God's chosen elect?).  Again, I'm giving this book a biased rating because I want everyone to go pick up a copy. But really, go out and pick up one of his three most famous books (among many others).

Jack Deere - Surprised by the Power of the Holy Spirit

My Rating: 5/5

I rate this book high because it's just something I really really needed to read at this point in my walk and if you're like me, this book is a must read.  The deepening of my walk with God began on a very intellectual basis, starting with like intro books to Reformed Theology by R.C. Sproul in my sophomore year. I'm kind of a rational, logical kind of guy when it comes to how I see things anyway so I ate up these kinds of theology or apologetics books.  But somewhere in that development, I developed a rational framework to deny the power of the Holy Spirit.  And it's something along the lines of "I know that logically God can do anything like heal or perform miracles today, but I just don't believe God will use me to do it." Jack Deere points out how statements or beliefs like these aren't really beliefs in the power of God that God still does work through the giftings of the Holy Spirit today powerfully and supernaturally.  This entire realm of the Holy Spirit is still quite a mystery to me, but I agree with Deere when he argues that the gospel is powerfully supported through signs and wonders, although he makes it clear that ultimately God must open hearts to the message itself.  So for all who feel trapped in a logical rational Christianity (which isn't necessarily bad) and want a biblically supported argument for exploring the power of the Holy Spirit, I recommend this book.

Making Every Moment Count

As mentioned in the previous blog, Grace Fellowship had a going home party for Jinny on December 11, 2009.  The students made a slideshow of her and we went around sharing some memories, feelings and words of appreciation. Then Jinny was able to give her testimony (translated by P'Koy), with the last section of encouragement given in Thai by herself - something she had memorized in the back of the truck on the way to and from Pai.

This is the second going home party I've been to, the first one being for Chungwon, a volunteer from Korea.  And at both parties, sometime during or near the end of the entire going around in a circle and sharing part, I have some kind of mental flash forward imagining my own going home party. (Is that rude of me to wander off into my own thoughts? Or egotistical that it would be a daydream about a party for me? hahaha) But in all seriousness, I don't think about it because I like the idea of a party for me or because I would want people to cry and make me feel special or something, but I think about it because in these moments I realize a culmination of experiences, relationships, feelings and emotions from the entire past year or months is coming together for half an hour of sharing.  How do you put into words the kind of things someone has taught you, the kind of character they displayed, and the kind of memories you shared in a few minutes while still letting them know how important they were to you?

These moments always put some burden on my heart as I think about whether I've been making the same kind of impact or making the relationships in the same way. Again, not because I want to say I've touched someone's heart so much that they cannot help but tear up, but because I realize I have a limited amount of time here and if I'm not diligent and wise about the way I spend my time and make/sustain relationships, an entire year could have gone to waste for me and for people I've gotten to know in Thailand. I think the closest example for people back home could be being a part of doing ministry in eCollege, although you can still see the same people after you go to NEXT.

Sometimes we feel like we can always leave issues or matters, especially in relationships, for later because we don't often have to experience the paradigm changing effects of parting forever.  It's only when you realize that you might never see someone again that you would be willing to swallow your pride or put petty differences aside, especially when it's someone that is deeply cared about. Or we might not take the initiative in making new deep relationships when we think some person will be around for a while.  But the effects of realizing you may never see someone again are truly eye-opening in the way you look at the way you spend your time or maintain relationships.

One of my favorite passages from Acts comes from chapter 20. Paul is about to leave the church in Ephesus not knowing whether he'll ever return and shares some examples from his ministry, some warnings and admonitions.  Afterward, three years of ministry in Ephesus culminates into this powerful and moving scene:

And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship. (Acts 20:36-38)

Paul was a man whose pastoral care and love can be seen when he expressed to the church in Corinth that he would "most gladly spend and be spent for [their] souls" (2 Cor. 12:15).  And here in Acts 20 is the result of being spent for his sheep, as all whose lives were changed, impacted and touched by Paul's ministry weeps, embraces and kisses him not knowing whether they would see him again.

If you had to leave your friends, people you were ministering to and even acquaintances tomorrow, what would be their lasting image of you? I guess this is the question that runs through my mind during these going home parties.  Has what I've done here mattered in an ultimate eternal sense? Has anyone's lives been changed or influenced (although not by the virtue of my own goodness, but Christ in me)?  It's a good reminder to make every moment count.

Pictures from Pai

From December 10 to 11, I was able to go with some students from Far Eastern University to the scenic mountain village of Pai.  It was a great opportunity to take in some beautiful sights, hold a day camp for some Thai/Chinese students, and show the students from Far Eastern University some of the kind of work Christians do as the gospel overflows in our lives.

Check out the pictures on Facebook.

I survived 762 curves on the way to Pai and another 762 on the way back.
A big holler to Paul TJ Park for teaching me how to drive stick and Grace Lee for refining my skills.
But I had to learn how to do inclines by myself. That was scary, but fun. (No stalling!)

Also included, pictures from Jinny's going-home party.

Baptism Retreat Pictures

Find them all here:
Baptism Retreat Pictures on Facebook

Thanks Everyone!

First of all, thanks to everyone who sent all the gifts and goodies with my family. You know who you are. I know who you are. haha.

My new reading list:

Grace Fellowship performing "You Said"

The members of Grace Fellowship performed this body worship as a thank you to its leaders.
I upload this video as a thank you to STEM 2009.

I hope you are all blessed!

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
- Habakkuk 2:14

Grace Fellowship Baptism Retreat

Months of baptism classes, learning about God and Christian life, saving money 3 baht at a time for every missed QT, pastoring and prayer culminated into Grace Fellowship's 3rd Baptism Retreat from December 4th to 7th. Nine baptism candidates and sixteen other church members and missionaries left Chiang Mai for Rayong, a non-touristy beach about three hours southeast of Bangkok.  Before heading over to Koh Samet (Samet Island), the students were asked how they felt about their imminent ceremony.  Some expressed excitement, while others stayed emotionless.  But by the time we arrived on the island and head out onto the beach, electricity was in the air as anticipation began to increase.

There was much to be excited about because this year's trip was quite unique from the previous two baptism retreats.  The other retreats had been held at your everyday Chiang Mai mountain resorts, the same places all the English camps had been held before.  The baptisms in the two years prior had had only two candidates total, but this year God had poured out His blessings upon Grace Fellowship as an unprecedented nine members were about to be baptized.  Many if not most of the retreat's attendees had never seen the ocean before in real life.

 

As the members donned their white baptism robes, a small crowd of tourists and Thai people began to gather.  I thought in my head, 'If I wasn't a Christian, I'm sure I'd think this is weird too. Those white robes remind me of those cults who drink poisoned Kool-Aid before they meet Lord Xenu in the Omega Galaxy...' But in the end I was glad to see these random strangers become an audience in a beautiful ceremony as we sang praises, gave thanks to God and baptized our members.  For all the bad rep (rap?) Christianity can get sometimes, this baptism was a witness of sorts of our God who in the same way revealed his triune presence at the baptism of Jesus proclaiming "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17).  I know God was rejoicing with gladness and exulting over his new children with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17).

 

"Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19

After we returned back to the house we were staying at, the owner of the house came and gave his testimony.  It was about two hours long and for those of us who don't understand Thai was quite torturous.  But the man had all the Thai people's attentions as he shared about his life of wealth before coming to Christ with all its uncertainties and fears and how his life changed afterward.  He destroyed his statues and amulets and other religious trinkets worth well over ten thousand dollars (that's right dollars!). He has only been Christian for five years now and has read through the Bible eight times, converted most of his family and friends and has even been used to bring his father back to life.  But most importantly he wanted to share to the members that they should in no way see baptism as an end.  The members may have "graduated" baptism class but baptism was now the beginning of their new life.  Their baptism represented their new birth into Christ, their union with Him in His death and resurrection and now they must go and make other disciples, baptizing them in the same name they were baptized.

The Sunday after the baptism, the newly baptized members were able to partake in Communion for the first time.  Many of them had been coming to Grace Fellowship for months or years but now they could finally partake of the body and blood of Christ.  As P'Mee began explaining the entire sacrament again, some of the newly baptized members had tears in their eyes.  I found out later that a couple of them in that moment had been thinking about their old meaningless life before this holy moment and they could not help but weep as they thought about how lost they had once been.

One other girl had cried too but for a different reason.  She had grown up knowing about Christianity and had finally gotten baptized at this retreat.  But her tears were tears of a longing for first love.  She saw the others crying around her and began to cry because she wanted to feel God's presence and the absolute certainty of His love that others were now overcome with.  When I heard about this, I couldn't help but remember that story of Charles Spurgeon weeping in his study and when asked why, replying that he was weeping because the gospel no longer brought him to tears.

I know most of the people who read this blog have been Christians for a long time.  To you I want to ask: Does taking communion bring you to tears as you reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ?  Does baptism bring you exuberant joy as new brothers and sisters become united with Christ? Does the gospel still cause you to weep over your depravity and cry in joy over God's goodness and grace? I grew up in the church, was baptized as an infant and confirmed in college, yet I am saddened to think about how easily I have forgotten my own first love again and again.  I had much to think about this retreat as I reflected upon where I was in my own walk, well off the path laid down by Christ and wandering meaninglessly.  Why had God brought me to Thailand?  How could He use a heart that had become so apathetic and complacent?  Better yet, why would He use such a sinner like me?

My heart feels for the girl who cried because she forgot what it was like to cry over her first love with Christ.  Yet I can't even cry about that.  But praise God as he caused my cold calloused heart to beat again as I participated in a ceremony that has become so secondary and has lost so much meaning.  I thank God for reminding me of the first love and the first joys of becoming baptized and partaking in communion.

Perhaps the only way we won't forget or become apathetic towards these wonderful means of grace is for our own love and passion to become renewed by the fresh love of new believers.  I want to see more genuinely new believers coming to know Christ for the first time and falling ever deeply in love with Him that my own heart would beat with excitement and joy over the Lord Jesus as well.

Say Hello to My Bike

Here is my beast of burden. 110 cc's of pure exhilaration.
During the night when the hives of scum and villainy come alive he goes by the moniker "White Ranger" as my valiant steed and I battle the forces of evil.

During the day, his name is Tommy.