In America, a society of Gentiles, we usually hold ourselves to a double-standard on Sunday, the so-called Sabbath. Most people don't work, but this is not because we have some kind of unwavering devotion to a special day of rest. It's because many of the businesses we work for are closed on Sundays. So out of convenience and not religious fervor, we take advantage of the day off, worshiping in the morning, eating lunch and then curling up on the couch for an afternoon nap.
I'm not condemning this routine. I just think it's funny how we profess to be observing the Sabbath, but we bypass its restrictions if they become inconvenient for us. We, a Gentile people, have taken a Jewish custom (which by the way would've been celebrated on Saturday) and Americanized it, changing it from a time of reflection on God's goodness to an excuse to watch football. We want it both ways. We subject ourselves to some aspects of the Old Testament law, but we also dismiss some as culturally obsolete. In order to decide on matters such as these, I like to take Paul's advice in Romans 14 (and the book of Galatians), where he addresses the differences between Jew and Gentile and the extent to which Gentiles should be held accountable to Jewish customs:
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord (Romans 14:5-6a).
The predominate theme of the chapter is clean and unclean food and how abstaining or partaking affects the faith of the one eating and those around him. Paul uses this subject to expound upon our freedom in the faith, and how freedom runs out at the same time peace starts to disappear. As Paul says, Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (Romans 14:19).
This passage does not serve as a license for us to do whatever we want as long as it leads ultimately to peace. Doing the right thing often requires us to go against the consensus viewpoint (think Jesus turning over tables in the temple). What Paul is doing here is making sure that we don't harbor narrow views that unnecessarily limit our faith. If God has declared all foods clean, we should not hesitate to eat them. But if we some not yet strong enough to do so, Paul says that those with stronger faith should bear with them.
Similarly, if some of us regard the Sundays as worship/football day and others see it as a day to put in some extra hours at the office, we should all be able to get along, providing that we all agree that we must meet together with God's people and we must set aside time to worship him during the week. In all things, his purposes are to be held in the highest regard, and we should always seek to interpret the law with faith, not legalism, as our motivation.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Double-take
Friday night before Saturday's rainforest excursion, Katy wasn't feeling well, so I went to a nice bread shop to buy her a banana muffin for dinner (or breakfast). A Chinese woman must've overheard me speaking Chinese to the attendant. Intrigued, she rushed over and began rattling off sentences. After I got her to slow down, I could finally understand what she was saying.
"This bread shop is the best in the prefecture," she raved. The bags she clutched against her body bulged with muffins and bread, proving that she meant every word.
"You hungry?" I asked, nodding at the bags and flashing a smile to let her know I was joking.
"No, I have three children that have to eat," she said, smiling politely but not quite getting the joke.
"Do you work here at the shop?" I asked. I prayed that this conversation would stay within the range of my vocabulary.
"No, I work outside the city, in the country. My kids and I live here in this building, on the third floor above this shop. I come here almost every day. It's the best bread shop in the prefecture." She was beginning to sound like a paid advertisement; I guess she genuinely loves the shop that provides food for her children on a regular basis.
Realizing that the conversation would be difficult to carry much further, I said goodbye and left the store with her smiling after me.
Saturday, walking the trails at the rainforest I saw a woman wearing a round rice-worker's hat and colorful clothes. She looked familiar; a lot of people do in China. I did a double-take, and I finally met her eyes. It looked just like the woman from the store, but I wasn't sure until she said in Chinese, "Hello, I met you last night at bread shop." I stopped and talked for a moment before catching up with my group.
What are the odds that she worked at the sprawling rainforest park and walked on the same path at the same time? It's a small world, one over which God maintains control. I hope she was somehow blessed by the deja vu experience.
"This bread shop is the best in the prefecture," she raved. The bags she clutched against her body bulged with muffins and bread, proving that she meant every word.
"You hungry?" I asked, nodding at the bags and flashing a smile to let her know I was joking.
"No, I have three children that have to eat," she said, smiling politely but not quite getting the joke.
"Do you work here at the shop?" I asked. I prayed that this conversation would stay within the range of my vocabulary.
"No, I work outside the city, in the country. My kids and I live here in this building, on the third floor above this shop. I come here almost every day. It's the best bread shop in the prefecture." She was beginning to sound like a paid advertisement; I guess she genuinely loves the shop that provides food for her children on a regular basis.
Realizing that the conversation would be difficult to carry much further, I said goodbye and left the store with her smiling after me.
Saturday, walking the trails at the rainforest I saw a woman wearing a round rice-worker's hat and colorful clothes. She looked familiar; a lot of people do in China. I did a double-take, and I finally met her eyes. It looked just like the woman from the store, but I wasn't sure until she said in Chinese, "Hello, I met you last night at bread shop." I stopped and talked for a moment before catching up with my group.
What are the odds that she worked at the sprawling rainforest park and walked on the same path at the same time? It's a small world, one over which God maintains control. I hope she was somehow blessed by the deja vu experience.
China Travel Articles
I recently entered an article-writing contest on TravelChinaGuide.com. Both of the articles I posted were among the winners for the competition. To read these, go to this website and click on the articles listed with ICTHUS17 as the author. Some of the material in those articles will also be discussed here soon.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Rooftop View
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
Matthew 10:27
Meals 3-Burma
Most places in the U.S. will set you back at least five or six bucks for a good plate of beef tips and rice. But in Burma, the hearty dish must be in low demand.
In the Burmese food court, located in an alleyway in JH, I had a steaming plate of beef tips for only US$0.75. Add to that a quarter's worth of Coke and my meal rounded out to be about a dollar. For dessert (which you can't possibly resist after such a cheap main course) we had shaved ice topped with a strawberry glaze and sweetened condensed milk. Sounds gross, I know, but it's like sweet cream in thick liquid form. The shaved ice came in a portion big enough for two to share and cost the same as the beef tips.
Addiction quickly ensued, and for the rest of the trip at the mention of "Burma," our team's ears would collectively perk up. We went back at least twice after our initial fix.
In the Burmese food court, located in an alleyway in JH, I had a steaming plate of beef tips for only US$0.75. Add to that a quarter's worth of Coke and my meal rounded out to be about a dollar. For dessert (which you can't possibly resist after such a cheap main course) we had shaved ice topped with a strawberry glaze and sweetened condensed milk. Sounds gross, I know, but it's like sweet cream in thick liquid form. The shaved ice came in a portion big enough for two to share and cost the same as the beef tips.
Addiction quickly ensued, and for the rest of the trip at the mention of "Burma," our team's ears would collectively perk up. We went back at least twice after our initial fix.
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