It is FINISHED.
This week is holy week….again. And as I notice, every time it comes, it comes with different traditional activities and beliefs that until now I still find it strange and illogical. (well…people varies!)
Being a Bible believing Christian, it saddens me to see people punishing themselves while walking on the road and even nailing themselves to the cross with a serious consideration that in this manner, their sins, however big it was, could be thoroughly forgiven. I don’t want to sound like a “holier than thou” preacher here but I feel that our risen Lord is greatly insulted whenever this annual performance of self punishment and “pain inflicting sacrifice” are believed very seriously to atone for one’s sins or decrease it as others claim. It is like telling Christ that His death on the cross is not enough or worse,…that He died in vain, that’s why I’m gonna do this again. Hey! There is nothing wrong with remembering it through prayers, meditations, fastings or dramas but seriously believing that you could be forgiven by doing it yourself is another thing. It’s a traditional deception. A useless consideration. Another sad thing is…that some of those who did it (if not all) embrace their old ways, such as drunkeness, womanizing, gambling cheating and the likes, once again after the holy week, for next year he will still be forgiven anyway by repeating such personal pledge. No genuine change occurred. And as I focused deeper on this thought, I find it very heart-breaking …..for God as well.
IT IS FINISHED! It’s done! What He did, He did it once and for all. Full!, Complete!, and Enough!, for all who will believe and live for Him! Forgiveness is available for those who will ask for it (1 John 1:9). Accept Him now as your Lord and Savior and experience a life changing miracle that traditions and religions cannot provide. Claim that promise! (2 Corithians 5:17)
Oooppps, I may have made a strong drink today and not just milk. Well truth sometimes hurt but it can definitely set us free. And Hey! ‘am not religious, I just love the Lord!
Being a Bible believing Christian, it saddens me to see people punishing themselves while walking on the road and even nailing themselves to the cross with a serious consideration that in this manner, their sins, however big it was, could be thoroughly forgiven. I don’t want to sound like a “holier than thou” preacher here but I feel that our risen Lord is greatly insulted whenever this annual performance of self punishment and “pain inflicting sacrifice” are believed very seriously to atone for one’s sins or decrease it as others claim. It is like telling Christ that His death on the cross is not enough or worse,…that He died in vain, that’s why I’m gonna do this again. Hey! There is nothing wrong with remembering it through prayers, meditations, fastings or dramas but seriously believing that you could be forgiven by doing it yourself is another thing. It’s a traditional deception. A useless consideration. Another sad thing is…that some of those who did it (if not all) embrace their old ways, such as drunkeness, womanizing, gambling cheating and the likes, once again after the holy week, for next year he will still be forgiven anyway by repeating such personal pledge. No genuine change occurred. And as I focused deeper on this thought, I find it very heart-breaking …..for God as well.
IT IS FINISHED! It’s done! What He did, He did it once and for all. Full!, Complete!, and Enough!, for all who will believe and live for Him! Forgiveness is available for those who will ask for it (1 John 1:9). Accept Him now as your Lord and Savior and experience a life changing miracle that traditions and religions cannot provide. Claim that promise! (2 Corithians 5:17)
Oooppps, I may have made a strong drink today and not just milk. Well truth sometimes hurt but it can definitely set us free. And Hey! ‘am not religious, I just love the Lord!
Have a blessed day!
Verse-Meal
1 Peter 3: 18
For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
posted by Flex J! @ 12:38 AM
5 Comments:
i remember somebody rebuked a child who said "patay si Hesus ngayon,wag ka maingay" (that was Holy Friday). the man said, "patay, paano mamamatay uli yun, e namatay na nga minsan? pwede bang mamatay paulit-ulit ang Diyos?". makes sense, di ba?
the belief in "corporal mortification" or the voluntarily punishment of one's body was something that we got from the spanish. and up to this day meron pa ring mga katoliko ang naniniwala dito. can't blame them. for them kasi it's a way of cleansing and self discipline. yan ang turo ng mga espangol na prayle eh. fasting and abstinence are milder forms of mortification. hindi kasing violent ng whipping and pako sa krus.
tulad mo ang di ko rin gusto sa mga gumagawa ng self-punishment kapag mahal na araw ay yung "show off" mentality. pakita lang ba. pagkatapos ng mahal na araw balik na naman sa mga kasalanan nila. although i suppose, we should not generalize. meron din sigurong mga sincere na tao ang gumagawa ng self-punishement para maramdaman nila kahit papaano ang hirap na dinanas ni Kristo. and in doing so they feel much closer to Him.
It reminds me one holy week na nasa pinas kami. Nagpadugo (yun yata ang term dun) yung kapitbahay namin ng Biernes Santo, nung hapon na andun sa tapat at nag-iinuman na sila ng barkada nya. Nakahubad pa kaya kita pa yung mga sugat nya sa likod.
Tingin ko lang para saan yung ginawa nya di ba?
alam mo kung bakit paulit-ulit ang mga events na ganito sa buhay nating mga kristyano?kasi malingat lang tayo sa ibang bagay nakakalimot na tayo agad sa Kanya..well,human as we are..we need to be constantly reminded that Christ has died and risen for our sins..may nagtanong nga minsan sa isang homily ng priest kung bakit paulit-ulit daw ang Gospel readings..sabi ng pari..eh kasi naman paulit-ulit tayong nakakalimot sa mga turo ni God..kaya dapat we are constantly reminded...naku!sana may connection comment ko sa blog mo...actually nakibasa lang.:)nice blog!
Bing,
Yes it does makes sense, siguro parang parati natin syang pinapatay ulit if we're not truly repenting and just showing off.
KU,
Corporal Mortification pala tawag don.
I agree with you not to generalize people practicing those rituals. if they feel closer to God for sincerely performing such. 'Could be OK, but then again, we can be much closer to God if we just publicly acknowledge His ultimate sacrifice in our lives, co'z only Jesus can do what He did and no others can. We all fall short. Forgiveness and salvation is not a merit nor an achievement, it's a free gift.
Quite docrinal perhaps...
Ann,
Precisely what I'm thinking, If we truly know Him there should be a visible change somehow due to convictions brought about by a realtionship with HIM kasi ganyan din ako before I met God and accepted Him as my personal Savior and Lord, ganyang-ganyan and still learning....
Evelyn26.
Marupok nga tayong mga tao kaya we must learn to focus and reflect on His love not just this season but everyday as well...
Thanks for dropping by.
May we all continually experience knowing HIM in a deeper, personal and biblical manner.
Smiles...
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