I was thinking about MM Lee's call for separation of religion and the state. And think it's very wise. That's precisely one important role of the state, as instituted by God Himself. To maintain law and order, especially in a world like ours.

Personally, if I remember correctly, Jesus said to Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Palestine, that "my kingdom is not of this world". And yes, Paul said in Philippians that our citizenship is in heaven. Dual citizenship, but ultimately, citizens of heaven.

Separation of church from state, but also submission of church to the state - as long as it doesn't clash with God's will and Word. "Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God and honour the king."

Also, 1 Peter teaches we shouldn't suffer as "meddlers". LOL. Suffer, if God wills so, for doing good. But not as meddlers.

Another thought: think the church can do even more (of course haha... we'll always have more to do... yay!) to bless all those around us. "Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Of course, especially to fellow Christians. But not forgetting our neighbours as ourselves.

Very glad to see my church blessing others with the HopeCentre bursaries, regardless of race, language and religion. 'Cos God's love really is for all the peoples of the earth. And we're called to be peacemakers. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is the kingdom of God."

---

Pondering about sharing the Gospel. Thinking about the apostle Paul's example. Hmm. Think it was because certain people were buay song with his message, that they started raising a ruckus, and getting the governors into a hair-pulling frenzy. And how God used Roman soldiers to rescue Paul from an untimely (and messy) death at the hands of angry mobs.

But otherwise, Paul and his friends simply shared the gospel in a non-confrontational and non-threatening way. Doing things like talking about Jesus in a lecture-style setting (renting the lecture hall of Tyrannus) in Ephesus. Like meeting Jews praying at the river. Like discussing respectfully with the non-Christian Athenian elders at the Areopagus about the gospel, even quoting one of their own poets.

Common ground.

---

Gosh. Which I'm thinking further about. Think one major problem about us crazy Christians is that more often than not, we simply follow instructions without understanding the Bible principles. There's a shocking amount of Bible illiteracy in the church. And even among those who read, they don't study the Word. Simply as devotional style, with little pieces here and there. But God's Word is meant to be studied carefully, expository, book-by-book style. It's logical. It's reasonable.

How many Christians do sincere but misguided things in the name of Christ... simply because they were ignorant of what exactly He wanted, as specified in the Word.

The Word. All of the answers to life, and all that we need for growing in life and godliness can be found in Him. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." I remember one dear friend who said to me that not all knowledge (needed for a healthy Christian mindset) can be found in the Bible. That we should read other books, to learn more things.

Thought about what he/she said, but think I have to respectfully disagree. The Word of God really has all that we need in order to grow to be a healthy and sound-minded Christian. It challenges our thinking. Our mindsets. And shows us how we can apply it. It's anchored in human history some more, if we study the cultural and historical context. Amazingly, the more I study the Scriptures, the more relevant I find it to apply to the human condition.

Of course, I'm not dissing good books lah. Haha. But after reading and reading so much the past ten years... I just somehow find that... reading God's Word that I may get to know Him and His ways and His thinking and His heartbeat and His feelings more and more, has done to transform me far more than any other book can and has ever done.

There's really no substitute to knowing the person of Jesus Christ. JESUS CHRIST. WHOA. Napoleon bowed to him. Even the modern King of the Zulus a couple of decades ago, when he was gently challenged by a Christian discussing South Africa's anti-apartheid process (which some Zulus had somehow been interfering with), "Oh King of the Zulus, you are a great king. But surely even the king must bow before the King of Kings." And the king listened... and he slowly got off his throne and knelt down in humble respect in front of the Christian.

Was so stunned when I read that story. Because it's a true story. And very thrilling. =)