I have stuffed all the notes I picked up from the Living The Word course because the last few weeks had been hectic. This evening is the third session and I am still very ‘kekok’ or very uncomfortable with the charismatic style of worship. The regulars can joget and lift their hands up high. They know the hymns. Me? My hands won’t budge. Nah ah, I am not bothered because it has to come from within. And within is still very stiff. I haven’t even heard of some of the hymns and I guess charismatic prayer group won’t be my style.
Anyway….I adore the couple who leads, i.e. Maureen and Ernie. Maureen always make me feel at ease as she is the RCIA facilitator too. So, I won’t be running away and hiding in a corner. I am actually quite the participative attendee and with me, there is no holds bar. I just told the group members that though we Christians are called to love one another and not wearing a mask, I told them we have to do that sometimes to maintain peace. I cannot pretend to love one another when the person annoyed me or create hell for me. I told the group members (not that I care if they find it too shocking) that I will just get out of the way if I cannot stand a person, whether in church or not, whether for God’s kingdom or not.
The home reflection for Session Three:
1 (a) Read Eccl 4:10. In your BEC can you share a time when this verse was practiced?
10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
I am BEC-less because I am not ready to move church. But, I think one does not need to find a BEC to belong and do stuffs as I believe that regardless where we are, we have the human grace to help others.
(b) In Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-37 we see examples of the true fellowship of the early Church. What principles can we learn from these verses?
Both chapters from Acts of the Apostles are the most ideal way of the Christian fellowship. However, in as much as I want to believe that we are still living that way, I am afraid that even amongst Christians, we have our divisions. So, we can strive to live like the Apostles but I guess we can only try so much.
(c) What are some things that can prevent true fellowship from happening in your life, BEC or Church community?
Pride, ego, over ambitious, self-serving interests, too territorial (heh, that’s what BEC is to me), looking for rewards (e.g. if I donate this amount of money, I expect the whole church to look up to me and be treated like VIP) and too self engrossed.
Being social does not equal fellowship. Some people are born to be PTA leaders, resident committee president and that kind of wanting to be the leader. They may not fit in the kind of humble, selfless Christian community.
(d) Read 1 Cor 1:10. What does it mean for believers to be of “one mind”? What is the difference between “unity” and “uniformity”?
Unity is being one, whether you agree with the community or not. Being one does not mean that you follow blindly, keeping quiet when you see things that need some changes, not wanting to break the monotone and just being part of the zombie group. LOL, being zombie is uniformity. No doubt St. Paul called for the Corinthians to be bersatu, sehati dan sejiwa and seia sekata sehingga tidak ada perpecahan di kalangan kamu, I suppose we can only try so much. After all, when St. Paul urged the Corinthians to do that, little did he know that the Christians are going to break into so many denominations later on. So, I personally will not try too hard to be in uniformity. However, unity is there with other Christians and even other religious faithfuls to do good for the world. Amen.
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