#wtsarticles

Putting on Kindness

Words by Johanna Loh

Without kindness, part of our soul shrivels. Kindness is a key expression of our lives as children of God. We cannot profess to love God and yet be unkind. But while we live on this earth, we are still bound by imperfections which can limit the measure of our kindness.

I know when I’m peeved or frustrated, unkind words tend to escape my lips more easily then they ought. And before I know it, I’m just seconds too late to take back statements uttered thoughtlessly. More often than not, the recipients of my harsher moments are those that I’m close to. During times like these, my brain would be going through mental reiterations of, “Now, that wasn’t a wise thing to say…”

If unkindness cuts deep, kindness runs deeper.

The thing is, when I’m unkind – especially to loved ones – I can gauge their reaction to my unkindness pretty well. A slight furrowing of the brow, a clenching of the jaw and a hurt expression in their eyes all serve to indicate that my words have cut and bruised them. The effect is immediate, and sometimes, more lasting than I ever thought they would be.

If unkindness cuts deep, kindness runs deeper. I'm still learning how to be a kinder person. I've realised the hard way that even a brief outburst of unkindness produces relational fractures that I didn't bargain for.  Conversely, small acts of kindness give rise to long-lasting, unexpected effects. Kindness is simply  infectious, affecting both the giver and the recipients alike. It then has a manner of rippling further outwards. When Rahab - a known prostitute - hid Israelite spies on the roof of her house to prevent them from being discovered, she couldn't have known that her kindness to them would lead to her becoming an ancestress of Christ.  

We know that kindness is one of the seven fruits of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 states, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." When we purposefully sow and water seeds of kindness, we learn to cultivate godly fruit in our lives. By doing so, we uproot weeds of selfishness that can choke kindness. We grow in kindness by staying close to the Holy Spirit, and understanding his heart for others.

It is vital that we intentionally watch our hearts and be careful of what emerges from our lips and manifests in our actions. We need to ensure that we don't hold back kindness. Sometimes we don't want to be kind because it can be costly, or we're scared of stepping out beyond our comfort zones. Be kind anyway. We need to keep ourselves on edge. It isn't enough to not do bad things as a Christian. We absolutely must engage in actively living for Christ, and kindness to others is one of the key ways we can do so. Colossians 3:12 says this, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." God doesn't drop down kindness like a magical suit (I wish). Rather, we have to consciously put kindness on. It's not always convenient or simple. But it is worth it, as we are gradually transformed from the inside out.

Fullness of Joy

Words by Johanna Loh

The dictionary definition of joy goes like this: “The emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires (Merriam-Webster 2017).” Delight, gaiety and bliss work hand in hand to express a feeling of joy. But as we know, feelings are consistently unreliable if the source of the feelings stems from temporary things. An unexpected gift, job promotion or holiday may have us celebrating for a few days, but the euphoria eventually fades away.

Now, here are a couple of takes on joy from a scriptural basis. Firstly, Rick Warren (2014, The Definition of Joy) sums up joy as “… (the) settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” Joy isn’t based on external circumstances, such as financial success and good health. While it is perfectly reasonable to delight in such things, the ultimate source of joy is God. When we look to God as the wellspring of all our joy, we take our eyes off circumstances and onto God. It molds in us a quiet, gradual, deep happiness that cannot be shaken.

In fact, joy is simple. Behind all the theology and all the philosophy, true joy comes from walking closely with our Heavenly Father.

   Secondly, John Piper (2015, How Do You Define Joy?)  articulates it as “…a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.” This follows on from Rick Warren’s definition. Even in the toughest and most draining of seasons, we still feel steadfast and thankful as we trust and surrender to the Holy Spirit as he opens our spiritual eyes, ears and heart to more of God. It is important to state here that an authentic emotion of joy in God differs immensely from the emotional high we feel when we achieve a goal or get something we want. The outward expression of joy evoked can be similar, but the reason for rejoicing are two different things altogether. One is temporal and passes away. The other is permanent and endures.

In fact, joy is simple. Behind all the theology and all the philosophy, true joy comes from walking closely with our Heavenly Father. It comes from praising Him in the good and the bad seasons. It comes from choosing to let Him have first place in our lives. It comes from surrender and obedience to Him, and letting Him do His good work in our hearts. As we taste and see that He is good, he fills us with a divine joy that sustains us and extends beyond our situations and our struggles.

In Acts 7, we see the persecution and martyrdom of Stephen as he witnessed for Christ bravely and honestly. A few verses later in Acts 8, persecution of the whole church continued. As a result, the early Christians scattered everywhere. However, they continued to witness and preach for the cause of Christ. Even in the face of trouble, they still carried God’s heart and subsequently the joy of the Holy Spirit to others as miracles and wonders took place where they went. Acts 8: 7-8 records, “For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city (Samaria). When God moves, nothing can rob us of the joy He gives.

Called Home

Words by Johanna Loh

The word "home" bears significance for us all. In an ideal sense, home evokes a sense of safety, shelter and rest. It carries the promise of comfort, warmth and peace. There is a permanence and stability to the idea of home. As physical beings, we understand home to be a tangible place. But our true home is contained in the very presence of God.

The Israelites in the time of the Exodus were slaves in the then-powerful empire of Egypt. However, their prison of Egypt was the only place they knew as home. It was familiar. The very location of slavery and captivity had a sense of security, which ended at the moment when they followed Moses out of Egypt. They would wander as nomads for a time before they finally entered their new home of Canaan, the promised land that God set apart for them.

The journey that the Israelites took to enter Canaan was a long and tumultous one, not just in the physical but also in the spiritual. They were so focused at first on the prospect of a new earthly home that they lost sight of their true and lasting home - God himself. In the forty years of travelling and wandering, the initial joy of being free eventually gave way to mostly complaints and disregard of God. At one point, the Israelites even wanted to return to Egypt, despite the brutal conditions of slavery that they would have to endure. They were longing so much for earthly security and familiarity that it overpowered their desire for God.

When we truly make God our home, we learn how to rest.

In Exodus 19:4 (ESV) God says, "You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." While the Israelites had to leave Egypt and trek as nomads through the harsh desert, they were far from being homeless misfits and wanderers. The promised land - their promised home - was never the main point. It was merely an added bonus perched atop the fullness of a deep truth - all along, God was their home. God didn't just bring the Israelites out from Egypt to go to a promised land. He brought them out of Egypt to "bring them to himself". The security and refuge that the Israelites associated with Egypt and the land of Canaan were only faint echoes of what they had in God. And yet, the Israelites missed out on the joy of knowing God as their home due to their own attitude and mindset.

When we truly make God our home, we learn how to rest (Psalm 23:2-3). We know how to have joy and hope afresh (Romans 15:13). God as our home will be our strength and song (Psalm 118:14). We have confidence that we will never lack peace (John 16:33). God our home will always be much more than enough (Philippians 4:19).

Be Generous with Honour

Words by Johanna Loh

One major transformation that has occurred in the last decade of the 21st century would be the rise of social media. Nowadays, we are more interconnected than ever. We watch cute puppies and cats gone viral on the Internet, whose owners we will never meet or know in real life. We engage in various ways towards news and updates, sharing humour, frustration and joy. Social media is powerful in its ability to draw people together. But on the flip side, it has helped to shape a culture of separation, criticism, comparison and self-obsession. Numerous studies have been conducted on the relationship between social media and narcissism. Statistics show that approximately 93 million selfies are taken daily worldwide. Zoe Williams (2016), poses the very apt questioning statement, “From attention-seeking celebrities to digital oversharing and the boom in cosmetic surgery, narcissistic behaviour is all around us. How worried should we be about our growing self-obsession?” (1)

We should be aware of this, even for those who don’t have issues with self-obsession and don’t grapple with the need to compare on social media. The thing is, we are so immersed in a culture that invites self-gratification, self-elevation and a “it’s all about me” mindset. We should be fighting for exactly the opposite. In a world where “me, myself and I” tends to be prevalent, we need to be generous with the honour we give others. All too often, we can be stingy with the attention we give other people and how we perceive others. In an individualistic world, we have been taught that it’s about my slice of the pie; that we get what we deserve; that threats (i.e. other people) need to be eliminated and it’s all about protecting our self-interests and assets.

We are called to love and honour everyone we meet, despite personal differences, status and background.

But Jesus teaches exactly the opposite. He does not promote a “me” mindset, neither does he invite self-elevation. He knows all too well that we human beings naturally hold ourselves in high regard. Just take a look at his second greatest commandment in Mark 12:31– “The second [commandment] is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” If we were able to esteem other people as much as we loved ourselves and demonstrate that love, how would it change the way we use social media? Would it be posting pictures of others celebrating their good aspects, rather than a selfie that contrives (directly or indirectly) to bring the focus back to us? Would it change our interactions with others, on and off the internet? From the Greek ,honour or “timao” means to esteem, to respect, have great regard for, and value highly. Are we being generous in the way we respect, regard and value others? Or do we simply treat other people politely because we have to behave well and maintain a veneer of politeness?

We are called to love and honour everyone we meet, despite personal differences, status and background. It goes beyond being nice to our boss because he/she pays our salary. It reaches further than showing care to our loved ones just because they have expended time and energy for us. We are called to be generous with our honour for others in a world that honours self to a point of self-exultation. That way, we can make a difference. Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 reiterates the concept, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” That means even loving those who don’t seem to love us in return, or esteeming others who seem to do nothing but treat us negatively. It comprises assigning radical value to others, like how Jesus esteemed us to the point where he willingly surrendered his life for us. Let’s love as we have been called to, and learn to honour others as Jesus honoured us – generously, purposefully and willingly.  

Every time I pray, I move the hands of God

Words by Johanna Loh

We used to sing a song in church about prayer. The chorus goes like this:

For every time I pray, I move the hands of God; My prayer does the things my hands cannot do. For every time I pray, The mountains are removed; The paths are made straight And nations turn to You.

This particular song always spoke to me about the inherent power of prayer. Prayers can be long or short, simple or complex. Sometimes our prayers are simply tears, accompanied by a deep cry within our hearts. Other times, our prayers are sung as praises to God. But prayer – the two-way communication between us and God – is one key foundation that we cannot do without in our Christian faith.

Like the song says, “prayer does the things my hands cannot do”. Through prayer, God moves. It might not always be in the timing or manner that we expect, but the amazing thing is that we see God in action. And God in action is awesome to behold. When we spend time in prayer and we see answers, it takes our attention off ourselves and onto God. It takes God out of the various boxes we have compartmentalized Him in. We start to understand at a deeper level how God operates and how he wants to work in our lives.

I’ll never forget a conference I attended a few years back, where Randy Clark was the lead speaker. He was training us how to heal physically through prayer. The beautiful thing about it was that he wasn’t the sole healer. Every single person who received words of knowledge about people suffering from ailments was given the opportunity to pray for those respective people. And as we prayed for different individuals, there were many whose pain vanished immediately. They experienced instant healing and restoration as the Holy Spirit ministered we prayed and believed for God to move as we did so. This aspect of prayer – the tangibility of answered prayer and clear communication between us and God – evokes a greater joy and deeper understanding of His glory.

All we need to know is that ultimately, God is with us; and He leads us right to His heart as we pray to Him through the harder moments of life.

However, there is also the other aspect of unanswered prayer. What if the mountains we hope to see removed, remain? What if the paths we want to see made straight remain crooked and unyielding? In the face of unanswered prayer, we have mainly two choices: we can either draw closer to God or draw further away from Him out of disappointment or bitterness. No one can claim to know why God doesn’t always give us the answers. But He always sees the cry of our hearts. And as we seek Him, we learn that sometimes we don’t really need the answers that we think we need. What we really need is more of His presence and reassurance that though we walk through the valleys of the shadow of death, we do not have to fear any evil. Because God is with us, and he comforts us. When we choose to journey through the tough times and unanswered prayers with God, it strengthens our character. It builds a steadfast, continuous pursuit of His presence and peace that the good times simply cannot give. All we need to know is that ultimately, God is with us; and He leads us right to His heart as we pray to Him through the harder moments of life.

The Giving of Grace

Words by Johanna Loh

Grace is one of the most definitive terms of the Christian faith. Simply put, it means unmerited favour. However, the Hebrew roots of “grace” stemming from the Old Testament convey a broader spectrum to the concept of unmerited favour. The Hebrew pictograph of grace is חן, pronounced “hhen”, symbolizing a “camp of protection”. This refers to how the ancient Hebrews pitched their tents in a circle, forming a protective outer wall with an inner safe circle (Benner 2017). Benner further states that the verbal roots of the Hebrew grace, “hhen”, can be equated with “…healing, help, being lifted up, finding refuge, strength and salvation (literally rescue); as well as precious and beautiful.” A B.C.-age Hebrew would have understood grace as being a precious and beautiful place of refuge, where one could run to and be safe.

Have you ever encountered true grace? Whether through God or through other people, once we have really tasted grace, it does not leave our hearts the same. Like the camp of protection, grace protects us within it walls. It is within the encampment of grace that we feel strengthened and restored, with enough hope to go on. It is a place where we can let down our guard and know that we are in the presence of a precious and life-changing gift. Grace does not look at who we are, what we have done, or what we might become…it simply looks at the best of who we can be and loves us even more, and no less. That is what grace does for us. It captures us by simply letting us be more free than we have ever been.

It won’t always be easy, but the beauty of God’s grace is that He gives us more than enough to keep the giving going.

We are under grace, as it says in Romans 6:14. Yet this does not mean that grace is weak and wishy-washy because it seems to account for everything good and nothing bad. It is true that grace can be misconstrued and misused, and that some people consciously make bad choices believing that grace will condone it. But if that is the case, maybe true grace has yet to be experienced.

If we know Christ personally and understand how great grace is, we have a responsibility to use it wisely. It is something we need to guard within us and pass on to others. It doesn’t start with Christ and end with us. We are to see that we keep giving grace to others. 1 Peter 4:10 emphasizes this, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” How we apply grace in our lives towards others is one of the most distinct ways we can articulate the love God has for each person. It won’t always be easy, but the beauty of God’s grace is that He gives us more than enough to keep the giving going. In our thoughts, actions and deeds, we should be quick to demonstrate grace. For example:

Grace justifies where others would condemn.

Grace sees the best when others see the worst.

Grace elevates when other people put down.

Grace gives when others take.

Grace speaks out in courageous love when everyone is silent.

Author Max Lucado pens, “God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret-riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid-to-die to ready-to-fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.” As God’s people, are we fighting for this transformational grace? Are we willing to set aside our prejudices, opinions and pride to give life-changing grace to the people around us?

The Truth does set you Free

Words by Johanna Loh

In a 2016 article for “The Daily Banter”, Chez Pazienza expounds upon the question of navigating a world where truth seems to be of little importance anymore. He writes, “Because this is where we are now: in a place where reality doesn't matter anymore. Reality is what anyone believes it is. It is, as Stephen Colbert once brilliantly said, up for a vote. He coined the term "Wikiality" to describe the idea that facts can be affirmed or denied based on a Democratic process, with individual people editing the truth as they see fit.”1

Furthermore, William Barry (2012, par. 3) states, “Meaning is created in life. Neutral events are made subjective by interpreting them through the lens of perception. ‘Truth’ is merely a product of perceptions; perceptions are colored by experience, which is then filtered through the current state of mind and altered even further. By the time the neutral event is processed in this manner, it is little more truth than fiction. Yet personal truth is accepted wholeheartedly.”2  

Interestingly, Barry’s article is titled, “The Truth Will Not Set You Free”.

In today’s world, truth is constantly argued and debated about. And nobody can seem to reach a united conclusion as to what truth actually is, and what is a lie.

The two authors make fair points. Absolute truth is almost unheard of nowadays. We are inhabitants of an era where truth is filtered and edited through the lens of emotion, experience and personal opinions. There is no anchor to ground us in a solid truth that we can count upon. We are swayed easily by wise-sounding, passionate arguments. These words may seem to ring true, but most often they are simply words without the substance of truth. With the advent of social media and keyboard ninjas, it gets even more confusing. There can be a thousand different versions of a single event. And to each person, each version can represent the truth that they believe it to be.

In today’s world, truth is constantly argued and debated about. And nobody can seem to reach a united conclusion as to what truth actually is, and what is a lie.

But the Word of God guides us in this area. John 8:31-32 says, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In a world of constant change, half-truths and falsehoods, our mind can be at war. Sometimes, we overcomplicate things too much. In our search for absolute truth, we have to go back to the basics and remain in God’s Word. Only then, we can be free because we learn how to walk in truth. It is vital because people are looking for real truth, and they are hard-pressed to find it.

As people who know God, we have a responsibility to impart truth to other people. This involves us first listening to the voice of truth – God – before we can do so. Only then can we communicate boldly to others with love and discernment. It is how we demonstrate love to one another: “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18). Interestingly, truth is separate from speech in this verse. What counts is the spirit and the heart, because they determine how truth is conveyed. And there are so many truths of God that people need to know about. For example, His love for them…the value that they possess…the fact that their life has a purpose and meaning.

Sadly, Chez Pazienza passed away in February due to a heroin overdose. I wonder if anyone ever told him that he could have navigated this world with the truth of Jesus Christ.

When we deliberately and intentionally declare God’s words into other people’s lives, and act honestly out of a right spirit; we bring to people a perspective of absolute truth, not truth as a product of syntheses and opinions. We bring God’s reality to them, which cannot be edited or forgotten once it has been tasted. It cannot be made subjective. Every time we choose the way of God, we let His light shine into the lives of others, that they might encounter Him and be made free.

1 http://thedailybanter.com/2016/12/the-post-reality-world/

Righteousness - What’s the Catch?

Words by Johanna Loh

We are so often told that in this world, nothing is given for free. When someone offers us a freebie, our involuntary response is, “What’s the catch?”  It is ingrained within us that we must give something before we get something. It is implied in so many ways through various life experiences. When you get a top mark in school, you are given a gold sticker accompanied with a smiley face drawing. In university, being in the top percentile implies better job prospects. In a corporate environment, a stellar work performance equates to an increased bonus. We need to work for what we want and deserve.

And then we come to God. And church. To be honest, it can get a bit complicated sometimes. Journeying with God isn’t always easy. Most of us have those seasons when we feel dry and disconnected. Bible reading becomes a chore. Praying becomes a rushed five-minute obligation after we wake up or just before we fall asleep. Gradually, it almost seems as if Christianity is a to-do list. If we check all the mandatory boxes, we’ll be fine.

So how does all this relate to righteousness? From personal experience, the concept of “nothing comes for free” was deeply ingrained within me. So much so that I didn’t realise it was shaping the way I understood righteousness, and my relationship with God to a certain extent. Subconsciously and even consciously, I tried to “earn” righteousness for a long time. I knew in my head that I couldn’t be righteous even if I tried my utmost and gave it my best shot. Like it says in God’s Word: “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness…” It was clear that only Christ was my righteousness. Not me, not my actions. But in my heart… things were different. The various life experiences I had with teachers, coaches and peers had shaped expectations, formed views which carried across into Christianity and honed perfectionism within me. Nothing comes for free. I had to earn it, to prove that I deserved it. To show that I was worthy of the good things coming my way.

Now I must let you know – as I journeyed through this process, I genuinely loved God. But at a deep level, righteousness was a hard concept for me to grasp in the heart. It is something that has taken me a while to understand, and even now I can’t say my heart has fully grasped the magnitude and depth of it. In short, I was always striving to show God that I was doing all the things I did for Him, hence I could climb another rung up the ladder of righteousness, into His good books.

We can’t work our way into God’s good books. Righteousness in God’s world comes through grace, given intentionally and willingly.

My heart started to change one ordinary day. I was walking into campus, pondering upon all the things I should have done but didn’t do. All the things I shouldn’t have done but did. And I felt ashamed before God. In my heart, I resolved to try harder. To do more of this. To do less of that. But then, I heard this gentle, still voice within my heart. (Have you ever had that moment when you just know, know beyond any reasonable shred of doubt, that God is speaking to you? No fire, no dramas, no fainting. Just a still, small voice. Well, this was one of those moments.) What he said was extremely liberating, beautiful and divinely profound. The exact words were this, “I have never valued you by performance.”  A burden I didn’t even realise I was carrying, lifted off me then. I think my heart was doing somersaults and my spirit, a cartwheel. (I can’t do cartwheels in real-life. I would probably land myself in the ICU.)

Since then, God has been teaching me in different ways about righteousness. What it means to be righteous in His sight is so different from the human culture of “you-get-what-you-work-for”.  It simply means that Christ justifies you and I. We can’t work our way into God’s good books. Righteousness in God’s world comes through grace, given intentionally and willingly. Righteousness is not earned by our merit or performance. It’s not a “me” mindset, like the one that troubled me for so long. It involves us shifting to a “Jesus” mindset: always focusing on what Jesus does and can do inside us, rather than a distorted view of us desperately striving to “make it” in God’s kingdom. We are a work in progress. We don’t always get it right. We make mistakes along the way. But we are already valued and deemed righteous because of Jesus, who changes us each day and leads us from grace to grace. The best thing? There’s no catch. At all.