Is it wrong to Dance at churches

Recently I’ve witnessed many discussions exchanged around the social forum on “whether or not we can dance in a church” and some say it is wrong to dance in church and some say it is ok to dance in other than churches and some stay skeptically silent. 

Some group say it is ok to dance in halls, rooms, retreat center, etc and definitely shouldn’t be in church, I was perplexed to understand, what made them to draw to such understanding, is church considered to be a holy place? But Certainly not. As we are the temple of the god, if anyone defile his temple then god shall destroy the temple. As the heart is deceitful above all things – Jer17:9. Holiness start from the holy spirit, conceives in our hearts through the word of God. so you cannot take the church as a spiritual source for holiness rather it is just a building ease us to gather in his name for praising him, hearing the word of god and to grow up in fellowship. 

Where two or three gather together in my name then I shall be there says the – Lord Jesus (Mat 18:20). So wherever we gather the lord is there, whilst isn’t it interesting to consider that our god is an omnipresent god as well and it is imperative to revisit our studies and lay the foundation on Jesus Christ once again and now it is not too late to start, Coz today is the day of salvation.

However we aren't supposed to do anything we want or like to do rather draw the line of resistance from the word of god and to adhere to the church principles drawn from the source ( word of God).

Prov14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, and the end is the way of death”. 

India is a country blended with multi linguistic people amalgamated with different cultures. In northern parts of India there are so many tribal people (Santali, Sadri, Maithili), who has dance as their traditional cultures, if anyone invited as a guest to their place, they will be welcomed with their traditional dance and garland. Some wash your hands and wipe it off with the small towel. They does this out of love and respect.

So far Christianity is concerned, fundamentally we believe in the Trinity God which is the Father, son and the Holy spirit but the modes of worshipping pattern differs from each church denomination without deviating from the new testament commandments. Albeit few Christian community changed the fundamental doctrines as well which is not relevant to discuss here. However here are something’s to ponder upon;

· We ask questions not knowing why we are asking

· We follow Jesus not knowing why we are asked to follow

· We raise concerns not knowing is it a concern to us or elsewhere

· We look for prejudice answers

We actually come to an understanding by reading the excerpts from the bible and build a theology around it which is wrong, we need to develop the habit of understanding by reading the whole context like why it was said, when it was said, to whom it was said & at what situation and all these things are necessarily needs to be focused on. 

Dancing is not wrong, but our intention determines on the basis of why do we do? And our modesty dress codes determines on the basis of who are we?  and regarding the dress codes you may visit the topic dress codes in my Blog.

We need to draw the line of resistance based on the word of god by knowing the world view


                                                                                                                                    --- wilsonpraveen

Any questions please write to me @wilsonpravin@gmail.com or leave a comment. Your views are welcome to shape this world.

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One of the Excerpts pleasing god

We are called to walk in the narrow way with broad minded but we love to choose to walk in wide way because of our narrow mindedness.

If we read god’s word and pay serious attention to Mathew 7:13, then the lord will help us to unfold the mystery of it. He starts the statement with “Strive to enter through the narrow way” which innately make us to posit that it is very hard, because our carnal minds always speaks contrary to the spirit ,as the spirit is opposite to flesh. We should think broad and walk in a narrow way. Our god is not a god of one particular nation alone, he is a god of this universe and elsewhere.

We live in a country where people pay much attention to trivial things and less care to important matters.  “They like good looks and not good thoughts” and love to have a “temporary solution than a permanent solution” and so on. It is undeniably accepted that the people characters are shaped through their traditions and religions which acts as the foundation for their innate response, thinking, working, lifestyle etc… no wonder if a person in India claims he is an atheist then it is really going to be a challenging life style for him. Under any circumstances he may have to fell prey to follow their ancestor’s traditions, cultures through the influence of their parents, relatives, spouse and sometimes friends & neighbors too. For example if a person in a family dies, he may have to undergo the rituals before burying or cremate them. I have never heard about a person who has not followed or undergone any of the rituals or some sort of sentimental activities before they bury or cremate it.

We follow customs and principles according to each family and society convenience levels. Present day Christendom is likely to be a self-centered life and not Christ centered. We are much comfortable to follow on our own ways, what our mind says, what our eyes sees, what our hand intend to do and etc. We strive to achieve whatever it pleases to our eyes, gets attracted to the worldly concepts, yet we would put a name plate as Christians and judge ourselves that we are good in his sight. We are no difference than other religion people, we practice and follow whatever they also do. Only when we make a difference in virtue it would make others to puzzle and question you for the difference you are making which would eventually open up a way for gospel along with the prayer full life.

When the gentile see us they find no difference in us, starting from lying to Railway TTR about the age of our children to get rid of the full ticket, when a shop keeper gives an extra balance unknowingly we fail to return to him, going in a one-way route and in so many things we lie, leaving it as trivial. Albeit we are claimed to be saved Christians we fail to repent from our old habits and holding on to the cultural practices which is meaning less and unhoped life of other religious customs, which indirectly has a coincidence from other religion. We always don’t ask question to ourselves why it is necessary to follow certain traditional & cultural habits.

I have personally witnessed in my life when I refute to celebrate the urge of my relatives and parents asked to celebrate the 3^rd trimester of my wife pregnancy which is the 7^th month (in tamil we call it as seemantham or valakaapu which basically draws its origin from Hinduism based on the goddess sri Mahalakshmi. ie; when a woman delivers a child, she is considered the embodiment of the Goddess Lakshmi herself). Am unsure how many of would know the detailed history of this celebration. we are drawing the origin from them and changing the pattern according to our convenience but failing to understand whether it is pleasing to god. Mark7: 8 says we lay aside the commandment of god and holding on to the traditions of men.

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness – I Corinth 10:1-5.  If this verse can be interpreted to our present day scenario it goes like this;

We all go to church on every Sundays, take part of the communion, conduct prayer meetings, greeting everyone on the first visit as “praise the lord” , speak soothingly, yet we will not look pleasing to god if our life didn’t manifest his character. As the bible says in acts1:8 when the Holy Spirit come unto you, you shall be witness to all. If no witnessing in practical life then it is not a pleasing life to god.

We are shaped by our church teaching but we fail to look into the word of god and test the teaching of the church though it is obvious that all church teachings are drawn from the word of god, yet it is very imperative for every believer to test the teaching and holding on to it, as in last days there will be deceptive teachings, people will hear to endless stories, false genealogies and so on - says paul to Timothy.

In the gospel we see the only begotten son came as a human being(not as a god) and showed as a life of narrow way, he came, he saw, he lived, he died, and he conquered the death through his teaching and living. Jesus lived among the jews and yet he didn’t follow the traditions of the jews which aren’t pleasing to god. It is inevitable to forsake all the traditional cultures and ethos in this society but it is very imperative to understand which are the one to leave and can hold on to it.

All we needed to do is live a life worthy and pleasing to god fully in all aspects and there shouldn’t be a pinch of fleshy stain in it. Think Broader and walk in a narrow way.   

Any questions please write to me @wilsonpravin@gmail.com or leave a comment. Your views are welcome to shape this world.

Festival of Lights

The month of November is called as festival of Lights where people celebrate the Diwali (eradication of evil/darkness –victory over darkness by the death of Naragasuran as claimed by Hindus).  But Jesus said “am the light of the world”.  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. We have the habit of wishing our friends a Happy Diwali, Aayudha Pooja or Happy Pooja & etc… if ever so, have we ever pondered on “what does that make sense to you and them”. “What you believe in your heart must make sense in your mind” – RZIM. Similarly what we talk/communicate should also make sense in our mind too. Being a Christian is to follow the rules and conditions laid to us through the New Testament commandments which is being obeyed out of our free will.

Have we ever laid a thought on the hidden celebration that we do in the society in harmony with other religious people, failing to understand the hidden impact which would begin to manifest visibly in later period of time leading to a longer problems. Eventually this little choice we make, would alter the community of Christian ethos. We always forget to pay attention to the trivial things that the Christian should avoid. Albeit we were once sojourners alienated from a Hinduism culture to a Judea-Christian world view, some virtues by nature aren’t transformed to the expectation of the Christian life which are ought to.  Starting from Birth to death we are made ought or by virtue to follow the traditions accustomed in society. But we fail to forsake from the customs which are drawn from Hinduism leading to evil end. But we were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works –Psalmist, Hosea says Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people.

Paul writes to Corinthians that be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what partnership has light with darkness? Isn’t it very important for the Christians to follow the teachings of Bible and to abandon the customs of other traditions? Having said that there are certain inevitable traditions which perhaps needs to be followed as it might not lead to an evil end.  On the contrary our deeds should leave the unbeliever with a question which would eventually make them to think or ponder upon to seek for the truth. Which is why our bible says “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

You may also ask, then we need to go out of the country as Christians are claimed to be the minority community in this country as most of the traditions are being drawn from non-Christian views, but indeed it is a very must to ponder on I Corinthians 5^th chapter for a complete context answers though it is written based on sexual immoral subject, it is worth to be equally interpreted as like this;

“Christians may have to go out of the country as most of the customs are followed here are based out of Hinduism which is inevitable, yet it is a must for Christians to carefully pay attention to the traditions and forsake them which are leading to evil end, false genealogies and endless stories which would ideally empower you to godly edification”. but do not forget to love the other religion people and show them the genuine love whilst we forske their culture -  "Love your neighbour as yourself - Jesus"

I urge our fellow brothers/sisters to stay cautious and shrewd while greeting their festival seasons rather ask god for wisdom to slip away from the situations to be greeted. If we are concerned/loving about our people who live in darkness unbeknownst, then every time you wish them you are indirectly renouncing the Christian faith and encouraging them to follow the darkness.

In his service

                                                                                                                                                   Wilson.T

wilsonpravin@gmail.com

References:                                                                                                                                          

John 8:12, John 12:46, Matthew 5:16, Psalms 106:35, Hosea 7:8, II cor 6:14 & I Cor 5.

Need of this Hour

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil – Eph 5:16.

When we look around our society there are many lawless things which are moving on and there are some who are concerned and some not. Every citizen of our country wants a clean environment, peace, less poverty, corruption free & honest rulers who could lead the country to development but the irony is no one wants to be a self-reformer which is callously forgotten. Corruption and poverty plays a phenomenal role in the growth of the country which ease the other aspects to grow innately.

What causes poverty? Does corruption causes poverty or poverty causes corruption? Peter Eigen the chairman of the Transparency Index council said in 2002 that the country was lead to poverty because of corruptive politicians. Here is the 2014 corruption free country list which is ranked on the scale of 0(highly corrupt) -100(very clean). Our country is placed in 85^th position

The Fascinating thing for all the aforementioned things to come to pass is only in the hands of Christians because you and I know that without God it is impossible to get clean country. One must ask how the other countries could outweigh India and stands a clean environment is because those countries are shaped by the foundation of the Bible. The western culture were shaped from the foundation of the bible and the first civilization to be the Mesopotamian. The arts, science, medicine, law, engineering, social, culture, technology, entertainments, hero’s, all sprang forth through the fundamental concepts of the Bible says Vishal mangalwadi the famous intellectual Christian writers also considered to be good reformer in late 80’s.  I would certainly agree with vishals concept. Being a Christian you could comprehend that the basic criteria to have a clean free country is to first start with our integrity , if we are true to the least things then it is the starting point to scale heights and be a successor. How could one be an honest person, you cannot be true to yourself unless you accept jesus Christ as your savior and commit your life for him.  Luke 16: 10-12 says. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

To make clean free, corruption free world, you need to know the truth which is the fundamental aspects. You cannot build a house on the sand, it needs a solid rock or rough soil.

Yes it is the need of the hour for the Christians to stay honest and a reformer by committing your life to him and spend time on knees to bring a reform in nation. We cannot expect a 100% integrity from a person who do not know Christ which is inevitable.  Especially I call/urge the youth to bring a reform in nation. Come and uphold the nation in prayer. Amen.

John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

                                                                                                                    In His service – Wilson Praveen.

Ref sources: http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/results

        

Teen’s Battle

There are days where less opportunities were there to practice or to commit SIN in this world. But present world condition is, there are several ways to SIN as technology grows by and it is in your hands now.  Upon pondering I could comprehend through the guidance of Holy Spirit that all are getting tempted first and then ending up in sinning and eventually it leads to death. The word temptation is a fundamental desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment, that threatens long-term goals.

The primary focus of Satan is to target the Christians and to sow the temptation constantly and the special focus is targeted towards the Teens. We are constantly kept occupied on Social forums like, whatsapp, facebook, Twitter, hangouts, unhealthy sites & youtube etc….  Although it cannot claimed to be wrong in using technologies, but one should know it would turn out worse if not handled properly. Starting from Adolescent to centenarians, temptation continuous in human life period. Some young teen asked to an African missionary (unable to recall his name) when would I be able to get rid of ceasing from temptation and he was answered like this, dear son as long as you live in this flesh it will chase you. The Flesh is always against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, both are contrary to each other. Bible says, overcome the evil by good. SIN is creeping at your door steps, and its desire is for you but you must master it. Gen 4-6; also the lord Jesus said in New Testament, you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16-33”. 

You cannot stop temptation as it is there from inception of Adam to Jesus Christ temptation in the wilderness after fasting for 40days & 40 nights, it is like you cannot tell this world or say the crows/birds to stop flying over the head but you can certainly prevent them from making a nest on your head.

Satan is very clever and he wants the root to be spoiled which is the youth of this generation knowing youth has the power to change the world, but we failed to understand our roles in this society. Do you know every individual action shapes our culture in society, we always tend to look for a role model who could be our guidance all the time, so that we could run without getting stagnant? Take this illustration, if you drop a piece of paper on the road side or any rubbish items then the people who may go by that way would be influenced to litter and it followed person after person. Eventually it would end up as a big chunk of garbage. If we could be more honest and disciplined in smaller things it would shape us and create a big impact to the society. It is applicable to both secular and spiritual world though we cannot distinguish secular and spiritual world, as the former comes from the latter because of disobedience. So always looks at the author and finisher of the faith which is the Christ Jesus and set him as a Role model. 

If I take an individual responsibility in this world I could change the world upside down overcoming all the battle. So I urge the young minds to get enrolled in youth movement of your church, get occupied/involved in church activities and be a changer to avoid carried away with unhealthy activities of this society or by any other means and do meditate upon the word of God every day.

Temptation will knock your door constantly, but every resistance over temptation is the victory for you. You cannot become holy by confessing your sin once and it takes a long route after that by resisting over the temptation until death where temptation come in several ways.

Temptation is not a SIN but yielding to temptation is SIN. Hence “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; Phil2:12”.