Pondering...

Had a relatively stressful day yesterday, with all sorts of things piling up. And most unfortunately, STPM wasn't part of the stress pile. Oh well.

And it was dad's birthday yesterday! Sadly we didn't do anything, mum was busy with some meeting and school dinner, I was.. what was I doing, actually? I had guitar class.. a lot of sleep time (I tend to sleep a lot when I'm stressed I think, helps to wile away plenty of time). Then I was so stressed up I wanted to go for prayer in church (it helps oh-so-much!). But even then I had to find dinner for dad, ended up ordering pizza since he wanted it. And I thought I'd wait for it to arrive and pay for it etc before leaving for church, but PIZZA HUT WAS LATE. They came after 50 mins! Not the usual 30 mins. Left the payment and collecting of pizza to dad after pacing around waiting for it to arrive for so long. Cancelling that order would have meant I'd need to find some other kind of food, so I didn't.

My sincerest apologies for rambling.

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about faith lately, particularly, the Christian faith.

Do we (2nd generation of Christians onwards) hold on to real faith? Or do we hold on to our PARENTS' faith?

When I talk to many Christians, most of what they utter about Christianity is stuff that has been indoctrinated into them. Never once have they thought to question their faith. Which, of course, is not good. When trials and temptations come, such blind faith, merely imitating all we've been taught, will crumble.

Thinking aloud now.. bear with me. This is mostly to do with Pentecostalism, the faith I grew up with.


Which part of the Bible tells us we cannot drink wine?

Which part says we cannot smoke?

Which part says no gambling?

Which part says about being slain in the Spirit?

The list goes on and on.

Truthfully, I cannot seem to find Bible verses that tell me about the questions I've mentioned.

If smoking is so evil because it can destroy our body.. isn't eating unhealthily, leading a sedentary lifestyle just as dangerous? Why do Christians abhor smoking, and yet find other ways to destroy our bodies? Do we have a right to condemn smokers if we ourselves our destroying our bodies in other ways??

To us 2nd generation Christians (onwards), the Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus-the 3 in 1 concept is accepted unquestioningly. Which is why it's good to talk to new believers, or non-believers about such things. They tend to ask questions which force us to think, and oftentimes, we find ourselves answerless. Of course, there is the argument that a too-intellectual faith is dangerous. But if we were to blindly memorise and recite all we learn without actually thinking about them, that renders us no better than.. than some other type of faith.

Why did Jesus teach us to forgive, and yet the Bible also speaks about 'an eye for an eye'?

It's time to let go of blind faith, and to embrace genuine faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. :-)

Oh man. I'm supposed to be studying, not pondering over such things. Growing up is toooough! But I enjoy it. :-)

God bless ya,
Jo