It is just because of simple and pure Love

On the Good Friday and Easter, a couple of my friends either invited me to go to the church or asked me to come along to their congregation at the Singapore Expo. I refused politely. I am not a Christian and have little desire to embrace Christianity. Nonetheless, the story of the love of Jesus is not strange to me. After all, I used to study at a Christian school for more than 8 years and I hear the same story over and over again.

The centerpiece of the Christianity is centered on Jesus, who died at the cross to redeem the sins of mankind. He is the God. He did nothing wrong yet willing to suffer, face humiliation and die on the cross to save His creations from the darkness of death. For the God so love the world that He is willing to sacrifice so that those who have sinned and fall short of the glory of God may not perish.

The reality today is appealing. I feel that many people who called themselves Christian do not live according to what Jesus had taught. Jesus throughout His life in the world has set the examples of a humble man who was willing to sacrifice for the people. To be a leader is to serve the smallest ones. But the fact is how many church leaders today really serve the weakest members outside their ceremonial roles? They serve only when the masses are in session.

I have heard of many new churches are being set up because the members find differences in the interpretation of the Word of God and cannot accommodate each other views. In fact, I was once witnessing the internal politics of the church that create division within the leaders and followers. The unhappy people would then leave the institution and set up a new one, believing that they were the right ones. Power struggle and politics. Is there still Love within the God’s embrace? Or they are competing for the Love of God?

As far as I can remember, the fact that Jesus was born in a simple monger exposed the concept of humility and simplicity. If we are to look at the church in Jakarta alone, one will be shocked to see the grandeur and magnificent church buildings standing in the midst of the sufferings and poverty of millions. The church that has affiliation to my secondary school built a colossal building right after the 1998 riot. The riot itself portrayed the disparity among the rich and poor, the anger of have-nots towards the rich and the annoyance of Muslim towards the Christians. Isn’t this a bit irrational and contradicting to the concept of humility?

I remembered that another concept being taught is the Love towards the neighbors. Jesus had set the example of pure Love, the Love that does not come with conditions. Ironically, when the Christian offer assistance to the disaster areas, like Nias Island and Banda Aceh, the helps come with strings attached. Yeah, maybe not so direct, but then there is still some implicit conditions. The buildings constructed and foods given do not come entirely free. In many of the new villages constructed at those areas, there would always be some Churches to for congregations. And the pastors would be stationed at that place to convert new believers. Does this assistance still constitute an act out of Love or coercion?

I may be wrong to say all this things, but what I really hope is the end to the hypocrisy. Jesus positioned Himself not as a mere preacher who deliver the Word, but He moved around helping people, giving then strength and motivation for a better tomorrows. On the other hand, the Christian today prefer to be busy with formulating and complicating the simple message that He has given. More emphasize is given to memorizing and understanding Scripture without putting them into practice.

Sometimes I wonder and think that the Christians are weird people. They can make themselves believe and understand the concept or ideal that is not visible to them, yet they fail to see that is evident before their very eyes. Hello Christians, please help your countrymen out of poverty okay? Sacrifice and serve the people with pure Love. Do not blindly follow the scripture that were written by the latter Christians. Learn from Jesus and Jesus alone!