WITNESSING CHRIST IN THE CONTEXT OF POST-MODERN CULTURE

{A sermon delivered by me on 12.03.2018 at Morning Worship Service, Serampore College (CLRC)}

Prayer:

Introduction:
When i was preparing a sermon for today, there are three important topics that occupied my mind; among those themes “Witnessing Christ in the context of Post-Modern Culture” is the theme that captured my inner thought and has remained in my mind. But the theme/phrase seems like too complicated for me, it is not simple as i believe to prepare a sermon for the concern is too vast and philosophical. But when I came to know the theme chosen by final year students in the first day of their creative worship which went along with mine, therefore, the chosen theme somehow encouraged me and then finally I also agreed and believed that God may also approve and may use it for his glory.

Therefore, “witnessing Christ in the context of postmodern culture” shall be our chosen theme for today.

However, to begin with this theme, I would like to mention a bit concept and understanding of post-modernism, including certain ideological concept and challenges posed by post-modernism. Then we will move on to the main focus by mentioning one area of concern through which one may find a suitable answer to become responsible Christian, for witnessing Christ in the context of post-modern world. However, the theme may require little further investigation of the present situation of our society; and this will also be done as we deal with certain ideological concepts and challenges posed by post modernism.

Therefore the area of concern I would like to bring forward to draw our attention and to take heed for this moment is/are;

- What challenges does post-modernism has brought to us?

 - As a theological student / being a disciple of Jesus, what responsible are we going to take-up to witness Christ in this context?

So, in order to give an appropriate answer to these questions, I think, we need to have a little more insight to the concept and understanding of post-modernism and various challenges posed by post-modernism which is one of the appealing challenges confronted by churches today as well as individual Christians.

Post-modernism: By the late 1960’s the term post-modernism began to appear in journals and magazines, but this was first used as a description of a new movement in art, particularly painting and architecture. But as time went on, the term was applied to describe changes in many other areas of human endeavor. The term, however, literally means “after modernism”. And it is used to philosophically describe the current era which came after the age of modernism. Therefore the term ‘Postmodernism’ indicates ‘the end of the modern period, which began with the enlightenment in the eighteenth century and extended into the latter half of the twentieth century, reckonings (by some) into the 1980s.

Thomas C. Oden, who wrote “The Death of Modernity and Postmodern Evangelical Spirituality, ” (in The Challenge of Postmodernism), makes a definite statement - He said – “By postmodern, we mean the course of actual history following the death of modernity. By modernity we mean the period, the ideology, and the malaise of the time from 1789 (i.e the year of awakening and great revolution) to 1989, from the Bastille to the Berlin Wall.”

That means, by this time frame, the postmodern era has already begun. And a new way of viewing the world has emerged. The “modern” way of thinking that dominated the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has become obsolete. Or in another words - the modern ideas are no longer relevant for all.

Therefore, as a result of this drastic change; great numbers of new concepts, worldviews, affirmations and claims holds by modernists have come up and were developed. For example - Philosophy of Postmodernism affirms that there is no objective or absolute truth, especially in matters of religion and spirituality. Therefore, when confronted with ‘a truth claim’ regarding the reality of God and religious practice; postmodernist may response saying - “that may be true for you, but not for me.” Therefore, this kind of mind-set is very dangerous when it is applied to reality because it confuses matters of opinion with matters of truth. And moreover, this further culminated in a philosophy of religious pluralism that says no faith or religion is objectively true and therefore no one can claim his or her religion is true and another is false.

Apart from what have been mentioned, there are also good numbers of examples that may characterize postmodernism. But for sure, since my knowledge is limited in this regards, I would like to mention only certain areas that may characterize the main feature of postmodernism. For example; Along with this new phenomenon, certain ideologies or new concept of understanding have emerged and Simultaneously convinced and deeply penetrated many people of this contemporary world;

Therefore, according to postmodernists;

1. Fact and truth are created by assumption not by observation and logic.

2. They strongly hold spiritual pluralism – which says all religions require assumptive reasoning and are therefore equal.

3. For them- there is no right or wrong lifestyle except those agreed upon. That means everyone has right to choose for his/her lifestyle. It is probable that because of this new affirmation, one of the sayings “It’s my life” is very common among the youth today.

4. Biblical truths are no longer relevant, and they dismissed whatever doesn’t feel compatible with personal journey. In this regards – some postmodernist celebrated what they called it – the death of God (God has no place in their lives, God does not own their life, it is meaningless for them).

5. They also believed that - other gods and culture can also produce ultimate ‘peace and oneness’ to their believers.

6. For them - there can be no moral absolutes. Freedom in all aspects of human life and tolerance is strongly adhered/ supported.

7. They also believe that humans are free to choose their own sexuality and identity. As a result the issue of LGBT becomes a social issue which is compromised and accepted by many people and nations.

8. Judgement of right and wrong is made upon agreed standard.

As a result of these new ways of thinking and perceptions/viewpoints:

- Christianity, the scripture, doctrine, church tradition and practices, etc which in the past strongly held by the church as the best standard for individual moral and spiritual life are no longer used for the best standard to judge and to make decisions on what is right and wrong, good or bad. As a result the best standard of living is now in danger.

- Individualism is promoted extensively, therefore as a result, certain communitarian values (unity, cooperation, participation, tlawmngaihna, respect for others/elders, etc) are no longer put valued in their minds of many people; therefore the ‘values’ become declined and deteriorated.

- People begun to misuse their individual rights and freedom, by overlooking or forgetting the beauty and significance of the same communitarian values.

- Technological messiahnism is spreading and rampant everywhere, as a result; laziness, slothfulness, easiness, too broad-mindedness, permissiveness, and many other negative mind-sets, etc. become our new way of life.

- Our value system and the way we perceive things become totally changed.

- And moreover, changes in our lifestyle are another consequence of this new phenomenon.

- Liberalism and Religious pluralism which according to me is one of the greatest threats and enemies for evangelism and mission of the church is promoted.

- Lastly, the danger of postmodernism is that – as already pointed out; it denies the very existence of truth. This core principle of postmodernism has been called a philosophical earthquake that is causing a radical shift in thinking about the world and reality.

In addition, many people now have put up the lens of postmodernism; they also clothed themselves with the new concepts and worldviews which they considered it as ‘more intellectual thinking and perception’ than anything else. But frankly speaking, the consequent result, we see is - many people now are turning away and have been blown away from the truth, from the sound believed and the core teachings of the scripture, etc for human minds are being controlled and governed by the spirit of materialism, liberalism, individualism, spiritual nominalism, intellectual reasoning and thinking, and other principalities including diverse form of forces.

Paul has rightly said in II TIM 4:3-4: "For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths."

Therefore, one of the undeniable facts, we can see now is - changes have been taken place not only in this temporal world, but in human minds, affecting our spiritual outlook. And this is the reality that the present society is facing or confronting.

Therefore, a part from what have been mentioned, another challenge which is more appealing for God’s people we still have is; - In what way we shall witness Christ in this scenario, in this context?

I would like to propose only one suggestion in and through which one may find the best quality of Christian life to help him/her strong and to witness Christ in this context. I.e FAITHFULNESS which is one of the key defining qualities of God's own character; which is so important to God as well as for man; for it is also listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit in the scripture (Galatians 5).

According to me, Faithfulness is the best quality by which we should measure our spirituality. In academic and Christian circles as a whole; and in our scripture as well – we have seen so many important biblical themes without which our doctrine, our faith, our spiritual growth, as we believed, cannot be completed – for eg: love, transformation, being crucified in Christ, faith, praise, worship, etc and many more. No doubt, and fairly speaking – the themes we mentioned have their own significant importance for our spiritual and temporal life.

But despite of the fact that without ‘faithfulness’, such biblical themes which we considered as prerequisite for Christian living have no meaning at all. We may talk about ‘Love’ – which is one of the core teachings of the scripture, but without faithfulness love does not have meaning.

Therefore, what i mean here is; above all other biblical themes– the imperative and greatest quality that a person need to acquire and ought to emphasize is faithfulness.

However, faithfulness, what I would like to emphasize is – Faithfulness;
- To God, to ourselves, to the scripture, to the call in which we engage ourselves, to the small/smallest thing, Faithfulness in the midst of trails and temptations, Faithfulness which has dependable quality that cannot be broken /shaken even within as well as after crossing the boundary of our comfort zone. And lastly, a faithfulness that will endure/withstand under different pressures and circumstances.

Whenever I think of the term –faithfulness; one biblical figure that often occupied my mind was DANIEL whose charter is outstanding and has convincing power.

As we most often remember Daniel as the one who is in the lions' den, and a lot more to his life – like how they thrown into a furnace of blazing fire . Throughout the first six chapters, we learn about how to remain faithful in all circumstances. He ran into several trying situations that may have caused him to lose faith or bend from his beliefs, but Daniel stayed strong.

- His new environment along with the new culture, he (Daniel) experienced including different forces

- Trails and temptations

- Danger, Prison and other life threatening situations

- The decree of the Persian court

- Principalities and power

- Philosophy and intellectual thinking of his time, etc

All these things could not enable him to shake his loyalty to God and to his standard. He was remaining faithful all the time.

In Dan. 3:16-18 we find very convincing and powerful commitment of expression which say, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king; that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

His honesty and loyalty to his masters never led him to compromise his faith in the one true God. He remained steadfast in his commitment to God.

As already mentioned to us, he faced far more pressures and problems than we are ever likely to face. There were also many temptations, and opportunities for him to become proud or corrupt or to compromise, but he never did. He was remarkably faithful to God, to the Kings he worked for, and to everybody he ever met. Therefore not even his enemies could find any fault in him, even though they wanted to.

Of course/though, there are many positive sides or things that the world has brought in, but the world we live in on the other hand is no longer the world as we imagine – it is full of confrontations, doubtfulness, uncertainties, misleading/deceitful concepts and thoughts, liberalism, ungodliness, slackness/negligence, rebellious attitude, diverse forms of traps, and many more.

Many people now have been trapped and are being deceived by these powers and forces and are turned away from the truth, from the scripture, and from the sound doctrine, from the core principles and values of the kingdom of God. They totally fail to glorify God, neither were thankful to him, but become vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Rom 1:21).

2Chro. 16:9 says – “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Him-self strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

Friends, God is looking for people whose heart is fully His and are loyal to Him. If we are faithful to God, He will show Himself strong toward us in all we do. Let’s search our hearts and make sure it is loyal and faithful to God. Let us remain faithful in the midst of different circumstances as we live and engage ourselves within and in the context of postmodernism.

Let this song be our new spiritual song through which we may publicly confess and re-affirm our stand for the living and only true God.

1. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather b0e His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land,
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

2. I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

3. Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today...

RINAWMNA

THUHMA 1: Bungtlang Baptist Church (BBC), Bungtlang chuan 2018 hian an kohhran Centenary an lawm dawn a,  Centenary Souvenir a chhuah tur thu ziak turin, bialtu ka lo nih tawhna angin  min lo ngen ve a. Thupui pawh hi an thlan sa a ni. Ka blog hi ka kutchhuak hote te ka dah khawm vena a nih avangin kan dah leh ngawt mai a.  Blog tlawhtu hi an tam fahran lo thinin Ka hria a. An tih chhuah hmaa hetia lo post hi a pawi lo turah ka ngai.


THUHMA 2: Mihring mit a hmuh theih loh, mihringin a neih theih 'thil hlu leh duhawm berte zing a mi' chu RINAWMNA a ni ti i la, kan ti sual awm love. Mitam tak hmun sang a dah a, rinawm loh vang a hnuaihnung taka mite hnuk thla thei a ni. A hlutna leh pawimawhna hi tawngkam hnih khat mai a sawi theih pawh niin a lang lo.


He ti taka a mihring nun khawih danglam a nghawng thei - RINAWMNA THU hi erawh mitin deuhthaw hian kan ngaina lo a. Chuvang chuan, rinawmna chanchin kan ziah pawh hi 'a mit la' thei ber tur zawng a her remin; rinawmna avang a mi ten an Nun-a an thil tawn thenkhat kan lawr khawm ang a; chu mi kar-ah chuan, thu pawimawh tarlan kan duh zualpuite tawite tein zeh kan tum dawn a ni.

HUG LATIMER: Kum zabi 16-na lai khan, protestant reformer zing a mi, Hugh Latimer-a an tih hi England-ah a awm a. Thuhriltu ropui tak a nih avangin, a hun lai chuan a lar hle a ni. Thuhril tur a sawmna a dawng nasa hle thin a. Tumkhat chu England lal, Henry VIII telna hmun a thusawi tur a ni a. Pathianin sawi tur a a tuk sak thuchah nia a hriat erawh lal lawm loh zawng tak niin a hria a.


A sawi hma deuh chuan ti hian a ngaihtuah a, “Latimer, Latimer, lal ber - tan-in a khung thei khawp che leh, i lu tan sak thei hial khawp che a thuneitu hma a thusawi tur i ni tih i inhria em? Chuvang chuan lal tana hriat nuam lo sawi lo turin fimkhur ang che” tiin.


Rei lote-ah a rilru thlakin, ti hian a ngaihtuah chhunzawm a, “Latimer, latimer, Lal berte Lal ber, hotute Hotu, a Lalna hma a Henry VIII nen lam a la kun tur, eng tik ni emaw a i hnathawh chanchin i puanna tur hma a thusawi tur i ni tih i inhria em? Chuvang chuan, Latimer, i Pathian-in sawitur a tih chu sawi turin, i hotu tan hian rinawm phawt mai rawh” tiin.


Latimer-a ang lo tak hian, mi thenkhat chuan kan mi hmachhawn turte leh, kan bul hnai a mi-zahawm a kan ngaih te, kan thenawm te, kan hmelhriat thate, adt. avang hian kan rinawmna hi kan hralh fo awm e. Ka sa himna tur a nih chuan emaw, mi lawm lohna ka thlen ai chuan, he ka thil tih tur hi emaw, ka sawi tur hian mi a khak nat ai chuan, adt tiin 'dawt var atang a dawt muhlum' thlengin kan sawi zung zung bawk. Rinawmna a min hringtu, kan nun a lal ber kan van Pa hian, mahni kan inhum duh luatah‟ kan rinawmna zar hi a zo phak lo fo niin a lang.

Dr. F.B. MEYER: Tum khat chu thuhriltu tuaitirte pakhat hian Dr. F. B Meyer hi panin; 'Eng tik niah emaw chuan amah Dr Mayer ang a thuhriltu lar a la nih ve ngei a rin thu' a hrilh a. Dr. Meyer chuan, “A lo thleng ang nge, thleng lovang tih pawh i hriat hauh loh hun tha leh ropui tak nghak khan, i hun khawhral duh mah ta che, thil te-tak-te i kut a Pathianin a kawl tir che hi rinawm takin vawng tha la, chu chu i tan a tawk e” a lo ti a.


He chanchin hrulah hian, ti-hian sawi chhunzawm ta i la; Mizo kristian te hian rinawm hi kan a duh a, mi rinawmte pawh kan rilru chuan a ngaisang em em a ni. Mahse a bul thuta awm; ruam leh lung tawlhlawt lian pui puite zuan kanin rinawmna tlang a lawn hi kan tum fo niin a lang. Kan Pathianthu chuan “Tlemte chungah i rinawm a, tam tak chungah ka awm tir ang che…” (Mt 25:21) a ti a. Kan rinawmna hi sum tlemte kan enkawl dan (manage) danah te, kan hun hman ral dan leh, thil ho te te, adt. kan tih thin dan atangte a teh a nih avangin, 'thil te-tak-te' atang a tan a nih loh chuan „kan rinawmna hi 'fak phuin a thang lian ngai lo' tih kan hriat thar leh thin a va tha em. Mother Teresa chuan – “Thil te-tham te ah hian rinawm hle tur kan ni, a chhan chu chumiah chuan kan chakna a awm” ati a ni.

PASTOR PAKHAT LEH ROBERT MOFFAT: Tum khat chu rawngbawltu pakhat hian an pastor upa tawh tak hnenah tihian a sawi a, “Tun tum chu inkhawm tur a lo kal hma duh chhan ka nei a” tiin ti hian a sawi chhunzawm a, “I rawngbawl dan leh i thusawi-ah hian eng emaw dik lo a awm a ni lo maw? Hei lehchen hi kan kohhranah rawng i bawl tawh a, mahse mipa naupangte pakhat mai lo chu belhchhahtu pawh kan nei thei lo” tiin.

Chu thu Pastor-in a hriat chuan a hrilhai hle mai a, “I sawi zawng zawng chu ka hrethiam e. Mahse, ka tihtur zawng zawng ka tih zia hi Pathianin min hriatpui a, a rahchhuak tur beiseiin Pathian i rinchhan ngawt mai ang” a ti ta ngawt a.


Chumi tum a thusawi tur chu, rilru hah leh lungngai takin pastor chu pulpit-ah a lawn a, mittui nen a thusawi tur erawh a tlingtla ta tho a. Inkhawm ban, amah chauh lo chu, mi zawng zawngin biak in an chhuahsan tawh emaw a tih hnu chuan, biak in chhungah chuan naupang pakhat hi a lo la awm reuh a. Chu naupang chuan putar hrilhai hmel tak hnenah chuan, “Ka pu, zirnaah hian nasa takin bei ta i la, thuhriltu ka ni ve mai theihin i ring em?”. Pastor chuan, “Thuhriltu a?”. Naupang, “Aaa, missionary pawh a ni maithei…”. Hun eng emaw chen an ngawih dun vang vang hnu chuan putar mit atang chuan mittui a lo far a. “Robert, he thu hian tunah chuan ka thinlung natna a tidam ta niin ka hria. Tunah hian Pathian chet velna ka hmu a. Ka Pathian chuan malsawm che se la, thuhriltu i la nih ngei pawh ka rinpui a che” a ti ta a.


Kum eng emaw zat a vei leh hnu chuan; tum khat chu Africa atangin missionary pakhat hi London-ah a lo haw a. Chu pa chu mi ten an ngaisangin, a hming pawh zah tak a an lam thin a ni. Mipui tam tak zing a a luhte hian mipui an lo ding suau thin a. Thu a sawite hian mipui an ngawi thup thin. Vantlang ngaihsan a nih avangin Nobel chhungkua pawhin chaw eiah an sawm a. Afican lal rawva tak leh a mipuite ti piangtharin, hnam hnuaihnungte tan bible hial a let bawk a. He pa, a hnathawh thatte avanga miin an ngaisang em em hi Robert Moffat-a, thlarau bo sang tam takte Pathian hma a hruaitu, hman a Pastor putar nen a inhmachhawn mipa naupang kha a lo ni reng mai.

HUDSON TYLOR: A chung a Pastor pakhat leh Robert Moffat-a ang deuh bawk a chanchin ngaihnawm tak nei, Hodson Tylor-a chanchin hi lo tarlang ve thung teh ang.

Zan khat chu thli leh ruah karah, Birmingham, England kawtthler a schoolroom pakhat a thusawi turin Hudson Tylor hi an sawm a. Chu tiang thli leh ruah karah chuan, thusawi ngaithla a kal peih an awm chu program buatsaihtu ber pawhin a ring lo a ni. Mahse, “Kawngkhar vengtu tih loh, mi dang tumah awm dawn lo pawh ni se, ka kal ngei tur a ni” tiin Tylor-a chu a kal lui ta tho a. Rin lawk ang ngeiin mi sawm bawr bak, chu hmunah chuan inlan an awm ta lo. Thlarau hnathawh erawh a alh tha hle a. Chumi tum chuan Pathian hnthawh an la chan zen zen loh changing hlim takin an tin ta a. Tichuan hun a kal zel a, an zing a a zatve zet chu missionary-ah inpein, a then an fate missionary lo ni tate an ni a. A bak zawng-te pawh 'China Inland Mission' tan a thahnemngai em em a sum a tanpuitu an lo ni ta a ni.


Heng chanchin ngaihnawm takte hian 'rinawmna hi vawi khat thilthu a rah chhuak kher lovin, a hunah chuan mihringte beisei ai thain Pathianin a thlen tir thin' tih a tichiang hle awm e. Rawngbawlna a mi rinawm nih te, mawhphurhna Pathianin a pek chung a rinawm te, adt. hi thil awlsam a ni lo. Mahse, rinawmna hian no hrin hun a nei a. A hrin tirtu pawh mi rinawmte lam a tang thin Pathian a ni. “A lama rilru dik tak pute (mi rinawmte) chung a a chakzia tilang turin, khawvel zawng zawngah lalpa mit chu a leng ruai thin…” (2Chro 16:9) tih thu hian hei hi a tidik em em a ni.

TUALTHATTU: Mi fel tak ni thin pa-khat chu tual a thah avangin a tlan bo a. Mahse a tlan bona hmunah chuan Pathian tirhna dawngin, a hnampuite zing a kir tur a tih a ni. Chak lohna tam tak nei nia inhre chungin, hna a huphurh em em chu a hmachhawn a ngai ta a. Mahse, Pathian tirh e ti lovin 'tih tur Pathianin a tukna hmunah chuan' vawi tam tak a hlawhchham tlat mai. Vawi kua zet a hlawhchham a, a tawpah erawh chuan a vawi sawmnaah hlawhtlinna a hmu ve ta a ni. Tichuan, mi sang tam tak, patling ringawt pawh mi nuai ruk zet-te chu, Aigupta bawih ata hruai chhuakin, zalanna kawng a zawhpui thei ta a ni.


Mosia khan duh ni se, rinawmlohna chhan tur a va hmu hnem dawn em. Pathinin a tirhnaah khan vawi lehkhatah a hlawhtling mai lova. Hlawhchhamna-in bul a tan a, a hlawhchham a, a hlawhchham leh thin a, mahse a kotu lak a a rinawmna chuan a tawpah hlawhtlinna a hmuh tir ta a ni. Rinawmna hi champion pui tur chuan thil tam tak hmachhawn leh paltlang a ngai thin. Tawrh chhel a ngai a, mahni inkalsan a phut fo a, nuihzat bur, mualpho, leh chan ngam huaisenna a mamawh bawk. Heng bakah hian hlawhchhamna tamtak karah thil eng pawh „a tawp thlenpui‟ a phut thin a ni. Joyce Meyer, thuhriltu lar tak chuan, “ Rinawmna hi thil eng emaw vawi khat tih dik a ni ngawt lo; tawp chin nei lova tih zel hi a ni.” a ti a ni.

TAWPNA: Kan rinna leh mihring nun peng tin tan a pawimawh RINAWMNA pawimawh zia hi ziah sen a ni lo. Pathian leh mihring inlaichinna phuar nghettu a ni a. Ringtu tha ni tur a mizo kristian te mamawh em em, Pathianin a mite zing a a beisei leh zawn a ni. Rinawmna tel lovin 'thlarau mi' a awm theih lova. Thupek ropui ber 'hmangaihna' pawh hian rinawmna tel lo chuan hlutna a nei lo. Bible a thu ropui, thlarau lam a sawt tlanna tur inzirtirna mawi leh duhawm tak tak – hmangaihna, thlarau mi, rawngbawlna, siam thar lehna, khenbeh a awm thu, sual thihsan, rinna, fakna, adt. leh thil dang tam takte pawh hi sawi uarin tuipui viau mah la; mi in rinawmna a tlakchham chuan, an thu leh hla hian eng ual ang thei lo.


Heti taka pawimawh a ni chung hian, mi tam tak chuan thawmhnaw inbel tlak loh ang main kan thinlung hmun kilah hnawl tawmin kan thehthang bo a. A hlutna hre lo ang maiin hmanraw chhawr tlak loh zawkah kan chhuah fo thin. He tiang duhthlanna felhlel zawng zawng dah kiang hian – 'Mi hnuaihnungte chawi kang a, mi ropuite ropuina belhchhahtu, zah phu hauh lote zahawm a siam a, mi zahawmte zahawm lehzual a siamtu, adt. RINAWMNA' hi kan incheina duhawm ber zing ami lo ni mawlh teh se.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINING OF WISDOM

(First sermon delivered in 2017 at his Sunday School session, serampore by my son - Jaira Lalnunpuia Khiangte, who is 11 years old)

First of all, I thank God and also thank to our Sunday school teachers – for giving me this opportunity to share the words of God.

I will begin my short sharing by reading the scripture which is found in Psalm 111: 10

Now, let me read Ps 111: 10 -The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
_________________________________________________________________________________

According to the psalmist, beginning of the wisdom is – the fear of the Lord.

All of us will want to become a man of integrity who has the quality of being wise ( that is –wisdom). Therefore, if we want to become a wise man – we must fear the Lord.
But, how does ‘the fear of the Lord’ meant to us? OR what is the meaning of ‘the fear of the Lord’?

A number of suitable answers are provided by the scripture itself.

Ps 34: 11 says – “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” Then the following verse tells us how we shall become ‘a man who fear the Lord’ –

i)    Keep your tongue from evil, 
ii)    Keep your lips from speaking deceit.
iii)    Depart from evil,
iv)    Do good; 
v)    Seek peace, and pursue it.

To conclude my short sharing, I want to mention some ‘benefit of the fear of the Lord’
The benefits of ‘the fear of the Lord’ are found in Proverbs;

i)    Prov 10:27 says - The fear of the LORD prolongs life,  but the years of the wicked will be short
ii)    In Prov 19: 23, we also see - The fear of the LORD is life indeed; filled with it one rests secure and suffers no harm.
iii)    Prov 22: 4 also tells us - The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honour and life.

May God bless us all through this short sharing.

2017 THLIRLETNA

Kum 2017 chu kan lo hmang liam leh dawn ta reng mai. He kum hi ka thlir letin ka tan kum tha a tlingin ka hria. Pathian hnen a lawmthu sawina chi khat atan he kum 2017 chhung a - rilru a lo lang hmasa sa; min fuih a , challenge min pe a, ka rilru tilawm-tu ka thil tawn thenkhat kan tarlang ang e.

1. BCM ah bial neiin kum 11 emaw lek rawngbawlin hun ka hmang tawh a. Chumi hnu chuan M.Th ziriin, zir zawh-ah Serampore College ah zirtir hna kum 5 ka thawhna a lo ni ve ta reng mai. BCM Zion, Chawngte L mi leh sa, he kohhran atanga chhuak hi ka ni.

Kum 2017 a lo inher chhuah hlim khan, kan veng leh ka chhuahna, Chawngte L kohhran a Unit TKP te chuan ‘Pathian rawngbawl’ tura infuihna chi khat atan leh rawngbawltute ngaihhlutna thalaite zing a tuh a nih theih nan tiin TKP Group hrang hrang an thente chu tiang hian hming an vuah a;
i) Upa Dozamlova Group
ii) Tv Hrangnghilhlova Hroup
iii) Rev K.Lalzarliana Group
iv) Rev David Lalmalsawma Group...tiin.

Upa Dozamlova hi missionary, Chawngte L Kohhran tirhchhuah, an chawm; fak tlak a rawng a bawl laia thi ta a ni. Tv Hrangnghilhlova hi BCM missionary, Chawnngte L kohhran mi leh sa, BCM in chakma missionary a neih tawhte zing a chakma tawng thiam ber a a neih thin a ni a. A ni pawh hi Pathian ram tan a mi inpe leh tangkai tak, rawng a bawl laia thi bawk a ni. Tin, Pastor David Lalmalsawma hi BCM hnuai a Pastor fel leh tangkai tak, Pathian mi hman, Diltlang Bialtu ni mek a ni a. A ni nen hian BCM Zion, Chawngte L atanga pastor chhuak awm chhun kan ni.

Tling lo inti chung a rawng kan bawl vena leh inpekna-te ngai hlu a kan thalaipui ten TKP GROUP then hming atana kan hming hnaisai lo an hmang duh hi, ka hriat tirh chuan mak ka ti a. Unit TKP President ni thin Pu Hose Lalhmangaiha’n min hrilh hlim phei chuan ‘ka zak deuh’ tlat nghe nghe a. He, TKP te thiltih hian kei ni, a hming putu la dam laite hi min cho hle bawkin ka hria. Lalpa avang ni suh se chuan he tiang thil hi a thleng ngai lovang a; ‘an zinga thu sawitu leh infuihna’ chi khat atana an hman kha, hming putu leh neitute hnen a ring taka thu sawitu leh fuihtu a lo ni ta zawk hlauh erawh kan tan a hlu hle.

'A nachang an hria' hi fak an phu takzet a. Mi dangte tan entawn tlakin thil an ti tih loh rual a ni lo. Bungtlang S bialtu ni tur a chawlhkar khat emaw lek Bungtlang S a ka awm lai hian Bungtlang S Khaw thlang lam huap? Football match, Bungtlang S ah hian nghah a ni a. A tir a ka hriatpui sa lemlohin ‘Pastor Zartea Team’ an lo chhuak ve reng hi a ni a, an thleng sang ta lem lo nain, BCM Zion, Chawngte L Unit TKP thiltih nen hian damchhung a ka theihnghilh tawh loh turte zing a mi a ni awm e.

2. Dt. 15 – 19th, March, 2017 khan BCM rorelna sang ber Assembly chu Chanmari, Lunglei-ah nghah a ni.

He Assembly-ah hian pathian leh hotutte duhsakna in zing bible study hun khat ka chang ve a. He duhsakna ka chan hi ka ngaihhlut hle lain Kum 6 zet ka absent hnu a Assembly ka tel ve thei tur hi ka ngai hlu zual em em a (Assembly tel ziah hi deputation a hmun dang a awm ordain minister-te tan BCM hnuaiah hian compulsory a ni ve lem lo). Thlenkim zan kan inkhawm tum a ka awm dan kha ka la hre reng mai. Inkhawm hun zahve chhung zet chu ‘lungchhe reng’ ang ka ni. Lamtual a mipui lam hut hut zinga zuk inzeh ve kha ka chak em em a. Mahse, ka emotion sang lutuk kha control theih chhung control ka duh vangin lamna hmun em chu ka thleng zo ta lo a ni. Ka dam chhunga ka thil chhinchhiah tur Pathian leh hotute zarah ka experience niin ka hria a.

3. Kum 2017 chhung hian College Book-room enkawl turin mawhphurhna pek ka ni a. Kan College hian kum 200 na 2018 hian a lawm dawn tawh nain, College Book-Room hi hlawhtling taka an kalpui thu kan hre ngai lo thung.

Principal remtihnain Mizoram a ka awmtawhna Pastor Bial 3 ah BCM Hqrs remtihna in kut dawh ngawt mai teh ang tiin ruahmanna kan siam a. Thingtlang kohhran te an nih hlawm avangin rilruin a beisei ruk lawk chu 50,000/- vel bak a ni lo. mahse Kohhran leh mi thahnemngaite zarah Rs. 80,000/- chuang zet hmuh a ni a. Hei hi College in belhchhah hlekin Rs. 1,10,000/- velin bul kan tan thei ta a. Heng hi kohhran zara college-in kan thil dawn ‘TE-TAK-TE’ ang chauh a ni nain, College Book-Room erawh nasa taka tih changtlun a ni ta a. Pathian leh kohhran zarah pangngai takin a kal ve zel tawhin a rintheih hial a ni.

4. KA NGAIH PAWIMAWH BER: Pathian rawngbawltu tan chuan kan fel emaw fel lo emaw, kan tha emaw tha lo emaw, kan rilruin Lalpa hnen a beisei a neih reng pakhat chu – “ Lalpa aw hriat a, a pawlna thar a khat mawi tawk tal a chan thin” hi a ni.

Institution a awm a academic lama han inchiah deuh hian he tiang ‘chan theihna boruak?’ hi Pastor Bial aiin a lo tlem deuh nge, keimahni lamin kan lo zir tawk lo ve deuh thin hriat a ni law? Zep lovah chuan - khawhar taka kum kan chhiar liam chang a awm fo mai. Kum 2017 erawh thung hi chuan tum 3 zet experience duhawm tak Lalpan min paltlang tir ta niin ka hria a. Thlaler hmunah nen lam a a mite umzui a, Akor ruam (Hose 2:15) pawh malsawmna a chantir theitu hian A MITE – ngaihsak a, min kan thar a, min tihharh leh thin hi a lo duh reng thin a. Kan tan a ‘TAHNA RUAM’ ni thinah khan, ‘TUIHNA THAR’ kan dawn ve pawh min remtih sak thin a lo ni. Thisen zawmpui leh chhungkhat hnaivaite tan lo chuan ‘tukhaw-kha’ ngaihsak tlak lo hi, lei leh van Lal ber erawh chuan MIN HRE RENG thung a. A rinawmna tun thleng a mi hnaisai lo leh tling lote chunga a la lantir thin hi KA THINLUNG HIAN A NGAI HLUIN, LALPA CHUNGAH HIAN LAWMTHU SAWI SEN RUAL LOH kan ba a ni.

5. Kan kohhran Pastoral deparment chan, pastoral ministry hnuai a mi ka ni a. Kum 2017 hi kan tlingtlak chuan Serampore-ah kum 5 kan awm ve tawh dawn tihna a ni. Kum tir (2017) atangin chhuak ve ngei tawh tur a inbeiseina rilru-ah a awm reng a. Pastor bial hi kan thinlungin a thlakhlelh em avang leh, ka Nupui fanaute phei chuan kum 5 zet zoram an hmuh tawh loh vangin zoram chhuah hlan hi ‘khawiah pawh awm dawn i la’ rilruin a nghakhlel takzet a ni.

Amaherawh chu, College in kan service hi kum 3 chhung pawtsei turin BCM ah a dil teh tlat a. Chu chu Pastoral Committee hnuhnung ber chuan lo remti in, a kar lakah thil dang a thleng a nih loh chuan, kum 3 dang kan awm leh dawn tihna a ni ta reng mai. Heng thil vel chungchang a ka thawhna hotu-in ‘ka ngaihdan’ min zawh lai hian ‘Pathian hi a hlauhawm em avang leh, awmna tur a duhthu lo sam ve hi pastor tan thil tih chi ni a ka hriat loh avangin’ “ngaihdan sawi ngam chi ni ve pawhin ka inhre lo, hotu leh hotu inkara inbiak rem dan dan hi kan pawm ang” ka ti ve ngawt kha a ni a. Mizia, nihna leh thiamna avang pawh a ‘kan phak ve loh’ thil ni a kan hriatah khan keimah chauh ni lo, mi dangte pawhin min rinpui loh zawngin Pathian hruaina kan chang zel zawng a nih awm hi maw?

M.Th ka zir hma, Bial a ka la awm lai hian, “Lalpa, nangmah leh I ram tana kan tangkai ve theihna hmunah zel hian min dah la, tul taka i ram tana kan inhman ve theihna hmun a nih phawt chuan KA RILRUIN A PAWM THEIH LOHNA HMUN-AH PAWH NI SE min hung zel mai ang che” ti a ka tawngtaina kha Serampore experience hian min hriatchhuah tir leh thin. Serampore experience hi phek tam tak daih ziah tur ka nei nain heti chinah hian rek bung mai ang.

6. Kum 5 hma lam khan ka Unau pa Hmangaiha (Lalhmangaihzuala, lecturer HSS Serkawn) chuan Madurai ka awm lain BLOG min siam sak a, chu mi-ah chuan ka kutchhuak ho te te ka dah khawm ve thin. Sermon, article, bible study, etc leh thil dang mizo leh English-in ka tlar thla ve del a. Thu ziak 100 em pawh a la tling lo. Kum 2017 kum tir khan ‘thla tin thuziak pakhat tal dah leh ka tum ang’ tia ka rilruk kha ka ti hlawhtling niin ka hria. Ka testimony, Pathian hnathawh MAK ka tawn thenkhat te pawh a tir lamah ‘hai’ peihte tan a awm.

7. Kumin Krismas chu Kolkata Mizo Christian Service (CMCS) in ni 24, Sunday tlai thusawi turin min lo ruat ve a. He mi chungchang hi FB-ah ka dah tawh avangin hei chauh hi kan tarlang tawh mai ang e.

Kumin Krismas, CMCS zing a kan hmang thei hi rilru hlim takin kan haw niin ka hria a. Min tilawm zualtu point thenkhat te;

i) Kan kal hma deuh hian Pathian a lawman thuk tak Lalpan min pe.

ii) Madurai-ah kum 2 kan awm bakah, Serampore-ah hian kum 5 kan awm dawn ta a. He Krismas hi kum 7 hnu a krismas hla ka sak tam ber kum a ni.

iii) Chutiang bawk chuan kum 7 hnu a krismas thuchah mizo tawng a nuam ti leh zalen taka ka sawi hmasak ber a ni awm e.

iv) Kumin Krismas hian sum chuangtlai hman mai tur kan tlachham angreng a. ‘nei si, nei si lo’ in kan awm a ni. Kum thar (2018) ah haw ve ngei kan duh avangin Flight ticket book-na tur kan indah ve a, hman heu ngam a ni lo. January thla hlawh kan dawng tawh nain, thla hlawh (Monthly salary) hi kham ngawr ngawr, a chang phei chuan kham lo nasa tak…kan nih avangin lo hman lawk ngam a ni bawk lo.

Tichuan leh, kan Nu hriatpui vak lohin Krismas hmanna tur pawisa Rs. 11,000/- puk in kan chhuak ta rawih a. Amaherawh chu, a mite ngaihsaktu Lalpa hian kan mamawh hi a va hre tehreng em...

Kan rawngbawlpui, kan U Te -Rev Sangtea te chhung fin kan ni a. Pu Michael-a (Pu A-Puia) te chhung, Pu Sangtea te chhungte hnai tak, Pu sangtea te Krismas rawn hmanpui an awm bawk. Pu sangte te Nupa (Pi Chhungpuii) hian duhsak namen lova min duhsak bak-ah, Pu A-Puia te chhungkua hian, “Kan Pastor te hi Krismas present kan la pe ve reng reng lo” tiin kan Nu hnenah pawisa a hlan mauh mai a. A Nupui (Pi Aluri) hian kan kan fate leh kan Nu tan thil tamtak a lei sak tawh avangin ‘Ka inthlahrung takmeuh’ a ni. Rs. 2000/- a pe maw ka tih kha a lo ni tawp lo lehnghal....

Mu tur a room kan luh hnuin, kan Nu chuan, “Pa, an pawisa min pek hi a tam lutuk a, ka lung a chhe deuh tlat nia” a ti a. “Engzat nge?” ka tih chuan, “Rs. 14,000/- lai a nia…” a tih chuan – sawi tur reng ka hre lo. Ka ngawi reng a, ‘Lalpa min ngaihsak zia hi’ tiin mak tiin zing lam dar 3 thleng ka meng a, Pathian hnenah lawmthu ka sawi a. Lalpan min ngaihsak takzet a ni tih hi rinhlelh rual lovin a tilang leh ta niin ka hria.

Kan sum puk rulh leh dan thlengin ‘min ngaihsakna’ hi Lalpan a tilang zel a, min ngaihsakna tilang turin ‘amite zingah’ min hungin, a hun takah a mite hi kan hnenah a lo tir leh mai niin ka hria a. Lalpa rinawmna hi kan tan hian 'a mak' tih loh rual a ni lo.

TLIPNA: Heng bak pawh hi ziah tur ka la nei nual a, heti zawng hian a tlang kawm tawh mai ang.
Kan hmabak kum 2018 lo inher chhuak leh tur pawh hi eng tiang angin nge kan hmachhawn dawn tih kan hre hauh lo. Amaherawh chu, a mite dinpui a sawipui thintu, kan hriat mang loh lai nen lam pawh a, a mit kan chung a len a, ‘keini ang paltlang ve rual a ni lo’ kan tih kawng nen lama min zawhpui thintu Lalpa hi kan Pathian a ni. Chuvang chuan HE CHHUNGKUA hian kum lo thar zel turah pawh hian Lalpa hi a vuan ve reng dawn a ni.

MIN NGAIHSAK FO TIH KA HRIA

(Luangliam Post)

Tukin (Dt. 21st, Dec, 2017) chu hla thluk, a thu ka hriat fuh chiah loh - "Min hriat reng thin vangin?" ti a ka hriat tlat hian rilru a luah reng mai a. Ka hla ngaihthlak zen zen loh, a thluk leh thu dang pawh chhunzawm ngaihna ka hriat loh hi a ni a. Humm, Humm, Humm... tih bak chuan sak ngaihna pawh ka hre meuh lo.

YouTube-ah kan en a. TBC-a (See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3nS_V3p-k4) leh Lalthlengliani ( See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvDISP8-eNo) sak a lo awm reng a. An va thiam tehreng em.

'Min hriat reng thin vangin?' ti-a ka hriat kha MIN NGAIHSAK FO TIH KA HRIA tih a lo ni a.

Ka Lalpa hi, "tunge maw ka nih a, ka chhungte pawh hi tunge maw an nih a min hriat reng thin hi le...?". Min hre satliah mai ni lovin, lei leh van a thuneitu, engkim chung a roreltu hian kei 'engmah ni lo, chhuan tlak nei lo, mi ngaihsan chu sawi loh, ka chhungte tan lo chuan ngaihsak tlak pawh ni lo' hi MIN NGAIHSAK FO a lo ni tih he hlathu hmang hian min hrilh thar ve leh ta a ni. Halleluiah!!!.

A chang thenkhat hlathu hi chu tun a ka awm dan leh hun tawn mek nen inlaichinna a neih pawh ka hre hran lo. Ka lungngai lova, tun hnai a ka letter hmuh pakhat erawh chuan 'min tilawm lo hle' tih mai loh chu rilru nawm lohna ka neih pawh ka hre lo. Mahse, chuti-chung chuan MIN NGAIHSAK FO tih min hriat thar tir hi Lalpa'n a la duh cheu niin ka hria a, ka tan hei hi a hlu em em a ni.

A ngaitha ve duh tan a link leh a thu hi kan dah nghe nghe ang e.

MIN NGAIHSAK FO TIH KA HRIA
(Lungngaih Ni leh Lawm Ni... tiin an dah a)

Lungngaihni leh ngui changni te hian
Lungngaih ni leh lawm lai niah hian,
Lal Isuan min ngaihsak ngai em?
Buainaten min chim, ka kawng a sei lua,
Ka lo chau ta, phurrit tak nen.

Aw, min ngaihsak fo tih ka hria,
Ka lungngaihin a tina;
Ngui chang ni leh zankhua rei hlauhawm hnuaiah,
Min ngaihsak tih ka hria.

Ka kawng a thim, hlauhawmin min bawm,
Lal Isuan min ngaihsak ngai em?
Ni eng a lo chuai, zan thim a lo hnai
Min vengin a lo hnai ngai em?

Thlemna dovin, ka bei a lo dawng,
Lal Isuan min ngaihsak ngai em?
Lungngaiin ka chau, chhantu an awm lo,
Zankhaw tlaitluanin mittui nen.

Leia lungduh ber ka then laiin,
Lal Isuan min ngaihsak ngai em?
Tuar rual loh lungchhia, thinlai min run hi,
A hriain a ngainep ang em?

GOD LOVES YOU

John 3:16; Rom 5:8



(Delivered on 3rd, Dec, 2017)

Today I am going to share with you –the greatest message of God which i considered as the greatest, not because of the content of my own message but because of God and the uniqueness of the message itself.

This message - though neglected and hardly hears in the midst of God’s people, is still one of the constant and central messages of the Bible.

To begin with the theme, I would like to share with you a story of Moorehouse, who was once a wild gambler and drinker, who at the later part of his life met God and has become a good preacher. He was known as one of the men who most influenced D. L. Moody, one of the greatest preachers. So, one day, Moody got a letter from Moorehouse that tells he would be in Chicago the next Thursday. Moody didn’t know what to do with him, so he told his deacons, “There is a man coming from England who wants to preach. I’m going to be gone Thursday and Friday. If you let him preach those days, I’ll be back Saturday and take him off your hands.” But when Moody returned back, the message he received from Moorhouse cached him up. It was so convincing that his heart began to thaw out and he even could not hold back his tears.

Then, on the final night, Moorhouse concluded his sermon by saying, “My friends, for a whole week I have been trying to tell you how much God loves you, but I cannot do it with this poor stammering tongue. If I could borrow Jacob’s ladder, and climb up into Heaven, and ask Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Almighty, if he could tell me how much love the Father has for the world, all he could say would be, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Therefore, friends the same and living message conveyed through the gospel of John and by Moorhouse – “The love of God” will be our chosen theme for this morning.
But since this human tongue can never tell how much deep and how measureless the love of God is, our message for this morning will also be very simple and at the same time ‘a humble one’.

However, as we move on to the theme, I first of all would like to tell you some reasons why I chose this theme. Why this message?

1.    The world we live in is a world of confrontation, where we all together face diverse forms of confrontations – we are bombarded by various complex news (good and bad), new advertisements, innovative new technologies, and other desirable things which by no means we cannot simply avoided and rejected because of its irresistible powers and potentialities. Moreover, these things are being fabricated with the power of persuasion, and as a result we become enslaved by these powers. Our world, surrounding, environment became full of these diverse form of forces.
Therefore, in this situation – we, people of God need to make a repeated sound of the message of the love of God.

I contemplate and feel it necessary because, if we do not intended to do so, many people now begun to give more their interest in these forces than the core message of God.
IITim 4:3-4….For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.

2.    When I consider the chosen topic/subject– I realized thinking that, one of the greatest failures/ignorance I have committed during the past and present years was and is – I never tell ‘the sweetest story of the love of God’ to my students, to my colleagues. Of course, we have learned and being taught various subjects by our teachers from different areas of studies/aspect - doctrine and teachings of God, church and Christianity, etc. But we hardly receive direct message on the love of God.

Therefore, I feel it necessary to make a resounding voice of the love of God among the community of God’s people here.
But despite of this thing, the problem lays behind is - how shall we begin and how to tell this wonderful message of the love of God? Though the theme/phrase itself contain a lovely and wonderful message, it is not an easy topic to tell/convey. And moreover, when we talk about the message of the love of God, there are also serious unanswered and disturbing questions in many people’s minds.

Like these:
1.    If God is love, why is the world in such a fear of tragedy and why are so many people suffering?

2.    If God is love and if God is also sovereign and in charge, then why in the world would a loving God ever do these?

3.    And not only that questions, there is even more penetrating – if God is love, why would he send people to hell to suffer forever?

What kind of love is it – that can control the world and allows the world to suffer? What kind of love is it, that is sovereign and in charge, and sent poor suffering people to eternal flame?

Of course, there can be appropriate answers to these questions from the belief and concept of - universalism, and other sources; nevertheless; forgetting/putting aside of all these nagging questions, we shall put our thought on the power and mightiness of the love of God.

Many years ago, the Swiss theologian Karl Barth visited the United States. At a question and answer session, someone asked him, “Dr. Barth, what is the greatest thought that has ever gone through your mind?” Barth thought about the question for a while and then replied; “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” Barth was right on that answer! Because the ‘message of the love of God’ is always and always will be the greatest message that has ever gone through and could experience by human.

But again, the question lays behind is - how can we say that this is the greatest message that has ever gone through human life? – How can we measure the power and mightiness of the love of God? Apparently is - this human tongue and mind can never measure, can never tell ‘the love’ that is in God
– however, let us try to put our thoughtful minds in these ways.
1.    Rom 5:10 tells us – while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him... Eph 2:4ff – but because of his great love for us, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we are death in transgressions.

Therefore, for the first point what I would like to make known to all of us is – the love of God is stronger than enmity, even than death in transgression.

Enmity, heated, crime, and death, are something that over and over again separated lovely couples, human, families, friends, community and society. If enmity is already presented between either any one of these groups, it is not easy to unite people. Suppose, even if there is possibility to unite between enemies, yet there can be no chance to unite if someone, our love one die.

This is our previous condition totally engulfed to all by spiritual death due to human transgression. The glory of God that we inherited from God did no longer presented to us for we become spiritually death. And moreover, according to Paul – we become enemy of God. This is the condition of human because of the same transgression.

But in spite of all these, a very good tiding that comes to us is – while we are God’s enemies, God who is rich in mercy, showed his great love towards us, his enemies. So this great love became a powerful and greatest instrument that breaks all the barriers between enemies. Therefore, we are no longer the enemy of God; rather we become members of the family of God.

When I contemplate again and again the love of God, delightful things I found was/were – the love of God that shown upon us is strong enough for it could reach and cross the boundary to and of his enemy, he could share and make available his love to and for his enemy. Therefore, what we can say is - His love is much stronger than the power of enmity, or any antagonism.

Therefore friends, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you this – whether you are rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, happy or sad, being known or neglected, financially sound or poor, academically strong or weak, etc God loves you. That means, God is at the side of you. He is always ready to help you; he is always ready to stand before and on behalf of us for his love conquered any forms of enmity. How fortunate and happy I am because I can tell you that - You are loved by God.

2.    It can heal the brokenness: The love of God is also manifested through the gift of his begotten son that consequently restores and heals the brokenness between God and human.
Isaiah 59:2a says - “But your iniquities (sin) have made a separation between you and your God.” This is by far, and as all knows the biggest consequence of sin committed by the first man and woman. Since, sin becomes an offense to God; God cannot be in the presence of sin. Therefore he drove them out of the garden. Their relationship was broken.

This brokenness as a result causes man;

-    To isolate from God,

-    To lost the glory and holiness of God,

-    A fellowship that binds together God and human is no more,

-    A wall, huge gap that separate God and man falls between them…

-    In short, their relationship was broken.

But in spite of all these, God who is rich in mercy – is still willing to give his begotten son to heal and restore the brokenness.

The will of mine may accept to do the work of restoration between me and to someone who has significant importance in my life, who is good, who is rich, popular and lovely. But I don’t think, that I can go - with a man whom a considered as a sinner, hopeless, enemy, unholy, poor and rotten, etc.

But for God, who is rich in mercy, is willing to heal the brokenness. That means his love is stronger than anything else. His love is strong enough to give us his greatest treasure Jesus, though we do not deserve it. And moreover, as he weighed together ‘his love for sinners’ and ‘his begotten son’ on his own scale; his love for sinner is heavier and much stronger. This is the reason why God gave his begotten son, and this is how he demonstrated his love to us. (How wonderful and magnificent the love of God is?)

In resent year, Bill Gather, one of the best contemporary Christian song writers was asked - ‘what is the greatest lyric ever written…” therefore, without blinking his eyes, he immediately answered -
“The greatest lyric ever written is this –

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky…"

Though I still have 2 more points…
i) His love is more precious than anything else
ii) His love endures forever…I rather will stop here, but we will continue our message by presenting a song, a song which as I belief is more interesting and has more effective power to tell us about the love of God.

Therefore, we will invite our friends (Ms. Ajungla, Ms. Lovitoli, Mr. Hmingsanga) to present this song in continuation of the message…

"The love of God is greater far,
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell…"

HALLELUIJAH!

(Delivered on 08th, Oct, 2017 @ Sunday Morning Service, Serampore College)

Introduction: I would like to begin my short message by making a humble request; but please note that - I make this request only to those who can follow me willingly without any hesitation.
So, the request is – I’m going to shout 3 times, and as I shout, I also request you to shout after me….HALLELUIJAH!!

Friends, ‘Hallelujah’ is the theme I chose for this morning meditation. It is also the subject matter why I’m standing here, before you and before God.
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If we open the bible, the term ‘Hallelujah’ is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (in the book of Psalms), twice in deutero-canonical books, and four times in the book of revelation

In the Hebrew Bible hallelujah is actually a two-word phrase, not one word. The first part, hallelu, is the second-person imperative masculine plural form of the Hebrew verb hillel which means a joyous praise in song, to boast in God. And moreover, Hallel could also refer to someone who acts madly or foolishly.

The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of YHWH, the name for the Creator - God. But, this name ceased to be pronounced in Second Temple Judaism, by the 3rd century BC due to religious beliefs. The correct pronunciation is not known, however, it is rendered by Christians as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah".

Therefore the meaning of the term ‘Hallelujah or halleluiah’ (as we all know) is ‘praise the Lord’.

To begin with the theme, let me tell you certain reasons why I chose this theme, and some significant points why I’m using this theme for today’s meditation;

1.    ( I do not know whether you are aware of the fact that) - We hardly hear crowd of people shouting ‘Hallelujah’ like a place where we, people of God are living, a place where many people of God are doing their future ministerial training.

Of course, we sing songs of praises in our gathering; we also adore his glorious name by reciting scriptures and by doing other items. But, shouting ‘halleluiah’ from the depth of our hearts might not be heard in the midst of God’s people and in our gathering. So with this conviction, I would say, we, people of God must shout to the Lord. At least, once in a year, we should shout ‘Hallelujah’ to the Lord.

2.    Praising the name of the most high with making the sound of ‘hallelujah’ has a power to release our anxiety and other related problems.

We sometimes fill with various forms of anxieties and different concerns– burdensome, stress, trauma, tiresome, unhappiness, mood off, etc due to financial problems, sleeplessness, suspicion, health problems, temporal or spiritual insecurity or weaknesses, etc. Whatever the reasons may be, as a result, we imprisoned ourselves by these powers which by existence we received not from above but from this temporal world.

Therefore, friends; we should praise God, because – praising the name of the Lord can help our weaknesses, it can lifting up on high our hearts and minds. It also can restore and heal broken hearted. It is indeed, like a secret field/place where many heavenly treasures are hidden.

Illustration: In 2004, when I was serving in one pastorate, I stay alone in a big newly built pastor’ quarters. One night at around 9:30PM I sat on a chair introspecting myself, and by that moment I felt very lonely and at the same time felt unworthy to serve God because of certain thing I have come across. I was totally weak and felt hopeless. In the meantime, when I was still on my chair, I heard a voice that came from far distance, and it was a sound of singing by a choir - Halleluiah…halleluiah…halleluiah. When the sound struck my mind, this simple sound produced by our local choir who had been practicing a song inside the church building, could all at once release all my anxieties. I felt very wonder when I experience the power of ‘praise’ because the song I heard from far distance did not only released all my anxieties but also gave me a new strength and hope.

Therefore, friends I once again would like to remind you – the sound and our deliberation for praising God has a power for ourselves as well as for others to set a person free from various bondages. It also has a power to heal our wounds and pains and at the same time release our unhealthy thoughts.

3.    In II Chronicle 20:1ff here we see - Dramatic triumph in sacral war. This triumph and victory was experienced by Israelite under the kingship of King Jehoshaphat.

What had happened?

When messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude was coming against him from Edom, from beyond the sea”. Jehoshaphat was afraid; therefore, he set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Then he prayed to God saying – “we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

Then after when Jahaziel, one of the members among the crowd received the message of the Lord, then (in short) on the next day, they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out; Jehoshaphat appointed some people to sing to the Lord, then as they began to sing and praise singing - "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever." The Lord God who is always at the side of his people stretched out his hands, therefore victory and triumph was given at the hands of Jehoshaphat and his people.

What significance does this particular story has provided to us?

Obviously, the story tells us that singing and praising God has a power to destroy the stronghold of powerful army. It can give us triumph and victory over our enemies. It also can wipe out the power of darkness and all forms of evil. Praising of God can be the source of our strength.

Illustration: In 430 AD, Bishop Germenous, who once was a Roman Army officer before he became a bishop, was sent by the church to Britain due to the widespread and threatening of pelagianism (Pelagianism is one of the heretical teachings that believed and taught that original sin did not contaminate/pollute human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special divine aid. ... they also hold the view that human beings can earn salvation by their own efforts). So that Germenous can keep save the churches in Britain from the danger of this heresy.
However, as he continues to stay in Britain; he sometimes involved with the army who fought against Pax and Saxon; people who used to come and invaded some parts of the Land in Britain. Therefore, as time passed, war broke out between British Army and this people, and Bishop Germenous was one of the leaders. During this time when Pax and Saxon people heard the sound of war cry shouted by British army under the leadership of Bishop Germenous, by hearing this sound, their hearths became melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them to stand before armies of Germenous. So, they were defeated, and the sound they heard was only ‘HALLELUIAH, HALLELUIAH’.

When God’s people shout to the Lord – halleluiah, praise the Lord…enemies of God’s people become scramble and feel nervous. They may also become powerless to defeat us.

4.    When Jesus, when he was on earth, perfumed miracles and many wonders; at the end of his ministries what we usually found is ‘after seeing and witnessing these wonders/miracles performed by him, all the people gathered around him praise and rejoice in the Lord.

What does this means - ‘Seeing the wonder performed by Jesus and exalting his name at the end’? It is only a sign of extreme happiness shown by people; it is also reverential action shown by people for the wonderful works performed by God. Likewise, when people see and realise wonderful things happened around them, immediate response we often see out of their happiness is some outward actions, like – crying, shouting, body movement, and other actions, etc.

Therefore friends, if we/someone happened to encounter with God and experience His direct intervention/involvement in his/her/our life; how can someone/we resist the wonderful work of God without giving appropriate respond of praise to it.

Now, let us also realise once again; how wonderful Jesus is in our life. Isaiah 53:5 says - he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

Now; we are healed by his bruises, we are cleansed by his blood, we are forgiven by his sacrificial offering. It is probably by knowing this wonderful work of God, Peter (2:9-10) also boastfully exclaimed; saying - But now you become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people,…Once you were not a people,  but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy,  but now you have received mercy.

Therefore, according to Peter, we are given a new identity.

Can we profane or treat with irreverence this new identity given by Jesus. Rather we must praise his name; we must adore his magnificent name. He is our creator, who sustain us, who keep watching his people, who knows our weakness and accepted us as to who we are.

The psalmist says (Ps 103:1-4) – Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits — he forgives all your iniquity, he heals all your diseases, he redeems your life from the Pit, he is also the one who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

Therefore, Let us make a joyful noise to the Lord. HALLELUIAH!