Sin becomes us

Dearest all, this is what I learned during the KL weekend:  Most of us do not desire to be "healed" from the sin condition. Just as there is glory in being religious there's also glory in being irreligious. Most of us can't imagine a world without private sins. The private heart is where we protect jealously against the onslaught of true conviction.

More importantly, we cannot imagine losing the joy of pleasure (sin) for the dread of righteousness. This, I guess, is why apostle paul penned this very honest scripture, "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil do not want is what I keep on doing."

This confession essentially spells out the main scourge of humanity. Many of us try our honest best to purge ourselves of this scourge by faking it all: we fake repentance, we fake church attendances, we fake prayer, we fake religious experiences, we fake fidelity, we fake even the self-deluded feeling of authenticity. We layer ourselves with the cloak of righteousness; but try, with our surreptitious best, to keep the  "maggots and worms" of the underside of our cloak from public view.

So what's the alternative? Rather than carry the cross christ borne on his back, we carry one made of bamboo: it's more portable and lighter on the conscience. It is also easier and more eye-catching to ensure that we send out the right social cues.

Indeed, GK Chesterton had felt the pulse of religion when he said, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it is difficult and not tried". It used to be that Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread - but nowadays, it seems like it is one club member telling another where to hide it.

It's no wonder one theologian surmises the modern religion as such, "Worshipping a god without wrath who accepts us without sin to enter his kingdom without righteousness under the ministry of a christ without the cross for a purpose of self-deification without sacrifice."

So, where do we go from here? How are we to live our life? Well, sorry, I am equally stumped. I think religion's greatest false advertising is this: there's a 5-step way to everything - holiness, healing, perfection, repentance, good marriage, joy, peace and answered prayer.

I thank God that when Jesus asked Peter to be his disciple, he simply said, "Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men." Jesus did not spell out a 5-step salvation manual or a 22-step to prosperity. The truth is, you have to find your own way because Jesus' call is personal. But if there's one thing we must guard against, it is self-righteousness. They say success covers many flaws; it is the same with self-deluded holiness.

If the world is kind of like a spiritual kindergarten, where millions of bewildered infants are trying to spell God with the wrong blocks, then none of us is any wiser, holier or better off than others.

Let me end on this open-ended note: If Christianity is one beggar telling another where to find bread, then there are two kinds of beggars in this world...the "poor in spirit" beggar and the rich, pompous and arrogant ones. Cheers for now!