Where is the Peace of Christmas?
By Anthony Lee
It is Christmas again and the words of the carol
“Hark the herald angels sing” are resonating in
my ears. The words “Peace on earth and mercy mild”
are troubling. Where is the peace? How quickly we
forget the Mumbai terrorist attack that claimed
173 lives. The carol goes on with
“Joyful, all ye nations rise” but where is the
joy in the worse economic downturn since the 1930s?
Our children will want the latest toys from the
big department stores but many of us will have
to invent ways to explain to them why they can’t
have their toys. Along with “Hark the herald angels sing”,
we will probably sing the same old Christmas carols
and have Christmas dinner (may be with less of our
favourites). How do we deal with all these
contradictions? Peace when there are conflicts?
Joy when all we hear are economic dooms and glooms.
The Mumbai attack was supposed to have been
perpetrated by Muslim extremists. Perhaps
John Lennon is right and we should get rid
of religion. Perhaps we should ditch
The Lord’s prayer in favour of an acknowledgement
of the ancestors of our indigenous people as the
Greens have suggested. What then do we do with
baby Jesus? What then do we do with Christmas?
Perhaps we can keep the holidays. The shopping
is always good even if we can’t afford it!
However ditching religions will not necessarily
mean that our problems will go away. The human
condition, the very thing that religions try to
solve is still there. We still have to be content
with non-religious violence and we still have the
same greed which led to the demise of the stock
market. Presumably those who objected to
religious-based solutions would argue that we
need secular solutions. Unfortunately they too have
failed. The two greatest secular ideologies,
communism and capitalism have brought us to dead ends.
Where then do we go?
The contradiction between the Christmas story
and the real world is troubling but has the
Christmas story really failed mankind or is the
problem with us? Do we even understand the
Christmas story when the Christian message
is under attack from both the popular media
and scientists? Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code”
challenges the authenticity of the Christian Faith.
In “The God Delusion”, the British biologist
Richard Dawkins attacks the belief in a
supernatural creator by suggesting that the
belief in a personal god is a delusion. The
popular media is obsessed with the controversial
aspects of Christianity such as televangelists,
the Rapture, Revelations and the End Times.
E O Wilson, the two-time winner of the Pulitzer
Prize, singles out the Christian belief in the
End Times as being an obstacle to the salvation
of our planet’s fragile eco-system. But, the
Christmas story is much bigger than either
televangelists or the End Times. At the heart
of the Christmas story is God’s desire to restore
a broken relationship. God so loves us that he
willingly sends His Son into our world to experience
our deepest despair and to restore the broken
relationship. This despair came about because
of the breaking of that very first relationship
between us and God. God’s solution does not only
mend our relationship with him but it should also
mean the restoration of all human relationships –
truly there would be peace on earth just like the
words of the carol.
You say all these sound very ideal but we
still live in a broken world? And yet history
tells us that whenever men and women take
seriously the true Christmas message, not only
are relationships restored but we see social reforms.
William Wilberforce was an evangelical Christian
and a British politician who struggled for decades
(1797-1833) to end the slave trade to abolish
slavery across the British Empire. One of
Wilberforce’s influences was none other then
John Newton, the author of the hymn ”Amazing Grace”.
One cannot but be amazed by the power of the love
that can turn Newton, a former slave-ship captain
into an Evangelical Anglican clergyman and an
Abolitionist. If injustice like slavery is part
and parcel of a broken world then social reforms
should be part and parcel of a restored world
where there is true justice. Closer to our time
we have Martin Luther King, a Baptist minister
who sought to end racial segregation and
discrimination through non-violent means.
King’s legacy lives on today and who could have
imagined that within four decades of his
assassination we would see the first
black president of the United States?
In King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech,
he said that “… we will not be satisfied
until justice rolls down like waters and
righteousness like a mighty stream”.
He also said “I have a dream that one day
every valley shall be exalted, and every hill
and mountain shall be made low, the rough
places will be made plain, and the crooked
places will be made straight; ‘and the glory
of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh
shall see it together.’ ” These two passages
came from the Old Testament and they describe
God’s justice when we are in a right relationship
with him. The second passage also appears in the
Luke’s Gospel. This is the same Gospel where we
find the images of the manger, the three wise men
and baby Jesus. If these images appear as shining
lights outside our houses then surely justice
must roll down like waters for all and this
would include our indigenous Australians, our
refugees and all those disadvantaged in our
society. Now that is the true message of Christmas
and truly we can sing “Hark the herald angels sing”.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Fighting Terror With Peace
How do you fight a war where there is no front line?
How do you fight a war where your enemies can easily
disguised themselves as one of us? That is what the
Indian security forces faced in this last week. We
can bring to bear the latest technologies or even the
most draconian measures but the terrorists will
still slip through. Perhaps it is time to re-think
our approach to fight terrorism. Perhaps it is time to
reconsider the non-violent approach that Gandhi and
Martin Luther King advocated. We saw the end of Communism
and in these last days some say even the end of Capitalism.
And yet Dr. King's non-violent resistance continued to this
day with Barak Obama becoming the first black president of
the United States. Perhaps it is time to rebuild the
threads of humanity that is based on the knowledge that we
are all created in God's image. And if young Scout
(To Kill a Mocking Bird) can turn back the wrath of the lynch
mob then we know that the message of peace is the ultimate
anti-terror weapon.
How do you fight a war where your enemies can easily
disguised themselves as one of us? That is what the
Indian security forces faced in this last week. We
can bring to bear the latest technologies or even the
most draconian measures but the terrorists will
still slip through. Perhaps it is time to re-think
our approach to fight terrorism. Perhaps it is time to
reconsider the non-violent approach that Gandhi and
Martin Luther King advocated. We saw the end of Communism
and in these last days some say even the end of Capitalism.
And yet Dr. King's non-violent resistance continued to this
day with Barak Obama becoming the first black president of
the United States. Perhaps it is time to rebuild the
threads of humanity that is based on the knowledge that we
are all created in God's image. And if young Scout
(To Kill a Mocking Bird) can turn back the wrath of the lynch
mob then we know that the message of peace is the ultimate
anti-terror weapon.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wall Street, God and the Environment
Many of our grandparents and great-grandparents knew what
it was like to live through the Great Depression and
understand the need to save. Some how we have
forgotten what they learn. The people most responsible
for the current down turn may be the corporate
high-flyers but we, with our high consuming lifestyle,
are also equally guilty. The Wall Street crisis are not
only going to affect this generation of Americans but
also future generations as well as countries like
Australia. And while some of us might be able to cutback,
please spare a thought for the poorest of the world
who are already doing it tough. If and when this crisis
is finally over, we must rethink how we use what God
has given us and realise what it mean to be good
stewards of the earth's resources. Perhaps we can be
thankful that the earth's eco-systems might finally
get a much needed rest from our wasteful ways.
it was like to live through the Great Depression and
understand the need to save. Some how we have
forgotten what they learn. The people most responsible
for the current down turn may be the corporate
high-flyers but we, with our high consuming lifestyle,
are also equally guilty. The Wall Street crisis are not
only going to affect this generation of Americans but
also future generations as well as countries like
Australia. And while some of us might be able to cutback,
please spare a thought for the poorest of the world
who are already doing it tough. If and when this crisis
is finally over, we must rethink how we use what God
has given us and realise what it mean to be good
stewards of the earth's resources. Perhaps we can be
thankful that the earth's eco-systems might finally
get a much needed rest from our wasteful ways.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The Clash of Human Rights and Nationalism
The 24th of April marks the day when Australia will have her turn to host the Olympic torch on our soil for the lead up to the Beijing Games. I am writing this article to plead with both sides of the Tibetan debate to show restraint in their respective views on Tibet. Activists for a Free Tibet see the Beijing Games as their best chance to save Tibetans from decades of Chinese oppression. Many Chinese people, both within China as well as those in the wider Chinese Diaspora, see the numerous pro-Tibetan protests and assaults on the Olympic torch as an insult to Chinese pride. Let me clarify that my intention is not to sell out the people of my birth place – China. Nor am I a propaganda mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Rather, I want to use my experience of Aussie and Chinese cultures to build a bridge between the two sides of this very thorny and divisive subject.
In order to gain the trust of both sides, I will lay bear my past to show that I am fair dinkum about my desire to be a bridge builder. My family migrated to Australia when I was 11. Chinese of Australian descent are often referred to as “bananas” because we are yellow on the outside but white inside. Unlike most “bananas”, I have always been interested in Chinese history. In recent times, I have even started attending a Chinese speaking church in order to regain some proficiency in Chinese.
I was born in Hong Kong and was concerned for her future well before the twilight years of British Colonial rule in Hong Kong. Hong Kong does not have democracy but she still has the rule-of-law which was a far cry from the communist system on the mainland. I watched and felt the anguish of many Hong Kong people who dreaded the return of the colony to the mainland in 1997.
Their anguish was reinforced when on the 4th of June 1989, the Chinese government sent in troops and tanks against protesting students in Tiananmen Square. I joined many mainland students in Brisbane’s Chinatown Mall protesting against the massacre. Days after the initial crackdown there were still troops and tanks occupying key areas of Beijing. The reformist leader Zhao Ziyang was purged for siding with the students. In light of the uncertainty many of us lobbied the Australian Government to allow mainland students to remain in Australia. The position of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's economic reforms, was significantly weakened by the protests. In 1992, Deng went on a tour of Southern China in order to reassert his economic reform agenda which was being threatened by fractions in the CCP who opposed his policies. Deng succeeded in putting China back on the road to economic reform. One has to wonder what would have been the consequences if Deng had failed. Would China be the economic powerhouse she is today? There would be no political reforms, no democratic elections and persecution of political activists still continues today. However, this is not the full story; economic reforms inevitably led to a growing middle class. Even in the former colony of Hong Kong, the Chinese Government has not succeeded in stifling democratic reforms initiated by the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Pattern (even though it was too little and too late). The CCP of old had relied upon class struggle and ideology to give the party political legitimacy but this has been partially replaced by a new found ability to bring about much improved living standards for many Chinese.
In spite of improved living conditions, the continual political oppression in mainland China continues to draw protests from groups such as Falun Gong and those calling for an Independent Tibet. Unfortunately many well-intentioned Western activists fail to understand that their call for an independent Tibet not only fails to help Tibet but inflames many ordinary Chinese. Historically, China in the 19th century was weak and open to Western exploitation. Many Chinese see the West once again humiliating China through the pro-Tibetan protests. The South China Morning Post reported (“Restraint sought as protests flare”, South China Morning Post 19/4/2008) that French President Nicolas Sarkozy's comment regarding the boycott of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics has sparked anti-French protests across China.
What will another violent pro-Tibet protest achieve in Canberra? The CCP will certainly not soften her stand against the Dalai Lama. And if the report regarding the call to Chinese students to defend the Olympic Flame is true (“China calls for a people's army to march on Canberra to defend torch” Sydney Morning Herald 16/4/2008) then we will see further fanning of nationalists feelings in China extinguishing the slimmest hope of political reforms in China.
Wikipedia has a picture of Zhao Ziyang addressing students in the 1989 protest. Next to Zhoa was a younger Wen Jiabao who is now the Premiere of China. Wen, like every other Chinese official, also attacked the “Dalai clique” for inciting recent protests in Tibet. Although Wen is considered to be a moderate conservative once allied to Zhao, Wen has not dared to “look soft” in the current environment. Many Western leaders, including our Prime Minister, have urged the Chinese Government to begin dialog with the Dalai Lama but if moderates like Wen are unable to step out of line how can there be dialog? I therefore plead with both sides to step back for the good of the World, the Games, China and Tibet. Perhaps on the 24th of April, the Aussie spirit of a fair go will prevail long enough for the torch to travel peacefully through the streets of Canberra.
In order to gain the trust of both sides, I will lay bear my past to show that I am fair dinkum about my desire to be a bridge builder. My family migrated to Australia when I was 11. Chinese of Australian descent are often referred to as “bananas” because we are yellow on the outside but white inside. Unlike most “bananas”, I have always been interested in Chinese history. In recent times, I have even started attending a Chinese speaking church in order to regain some proficiency in Chinese.
I was born in Hong Kong and was concerned for her future well before the twilight years of British Colonial rule in Hong Kong. Hong Kong does not have democracy but she still has the rule-of-law which was a far cry from the communist system on the mainland. I watched and felt the anguish of many Hong Kong people who dreaded the return of the colony to the mainland in 1997.
Their anguish was reinforced when on the 4th of June 1989, the Chinese government sent in troops and tanks against protesting students in Tiananmen Square. I joined many mainland students in Brisbane’s Chinatown Mall protesting against the massacre. Days after the initial crackdown there were still troops and tanks occupying key areas of Beijing. The reformist leader Zhao Ziyang was purged for siding with the students. In light of the uncertainty many of us lobbied the Australian Government to allow mainland students to remain in Australia. The position of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's economic reforms, was significantly weakened by the protests. In 1992, Deng went on a tour of Southern China in order to reassert his economic reform agenda which was being threatened by fractions in the CCP who opposed his policies. Deng succeeded in putting China back on the road to economic reform. One has to wonder what would have been the consequences if Deng had failed. Would China be the economic powerhouse she is today? There would be no political reforms, no democratic elections and persecution of political activists still continues today. However, this is not the full story; economic reforms inevitably led to a growing middle class. Even in the former colony of Hong Kong, the Chinese Government has not succeeded in stifling democratic reforms initiated by the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Pattern (even though it was too little and too late). The CCP of old had relied upon class struggle and ideology to give the party political legitimacy but this has been partially replaced by a new found ability to bring about much improved living standards for many Chinese.
In spite of improved living conditions, the continual political oppression in mainland China continues to draw protests from groups such as Falun Gong and those calling for an Independent Tibet. Unfortunately many well-intentioned Western activists fail to understand that their call for an independent Tibet not only fails to help Tibet but inflames many ordinary Chinese. Historically, China in the 19th century was weak and open to Western exploitation. Many Chinese see the West once again humiliating China through the pro-Tibetan protests. The South China Morning Post reported (“Restraint sought as protests flare”, South China Morning Post 19/4/2008) that French President Nicolas Sarkozy's comment regarding the boycott of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics has sparked anti-French protests across China.
What will another violent pro-Tibet protest achieve in Canberra? The CCP will certainly not soften her stand against the Dalai Lama. And if the report regarding the call to Chinese students to defend the Olympic Flame is true (“China calls for a people's army to march on Canberra to defend torch” Sydney Morning Herald 16/4/2008) then we will see further fanning of nationalists feelings in China extinguishing the slimmest hope of political reforms in China.
Wikipedia has a picture of Zhao Ziyang addressing students in the 1989 protest. Next to Zhoa was a younger Wen Jiabao who is now the Premiere of China. Wen, like every other Chinese official, also attacked the “Dalai clique” for inciting recent protests in Tibet. Although Wen is considered to be a moderate conservative once allied to Zhao, Wen has not dared to “look soft” in the current environment. Many Western leaders, including our Prime Minister, have urged the Chinese Government to begin dialog with the Dalai Lama but if moderates like Wen are unable to step out of line how can there be dialog? I therefore plead with both sides to step back for the good of the World, the Games, China and Tibet. Perhaps on the 24th of April, the Aussie spirit of a fair go will prevail long enough for the torch to travel peacefully through the streets of Canberra.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Why are we still celebrating Easter?
21st of March mark yet another Good Friday but given the multicultural nature of Australia what significance does Easter have for us? The 2001 census paints a grim picture for Christianity in Australia. In that census 3.8 million people identified themselves as Anglican but only 178,000 attend church weekly and a third of them over 70. Only a tenth of Uniting Church members attend church weekly and a third of these are older than 63. A mere 15 per cent of the Australia’s 5 million Catholics attended church weekly. Perhaps Christianity in the coming century will have less and less influence on Australia.
Christianity is declining and the religion is under attack from both the media and scientists. In 2003, we have Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code”. In 2006, the British biologist Richard Dawkins gave us “The God Delusion”. We recently had a visit from the televangelist Benny Hinn. Hinn is reported to receive over $215 million a year by promising people prosperity, healing and eternal salvation (“God, power and money” Sydney Morning Herald March 3rd, 2008). Hinn is one of six televangelists currently being investigated by the United States Senate Finance Committee (“"Senator Probes Megachurches’ Finances” npr.org, December 4th, 2007). With such a credibility issue, it is no wonder that numerous Australians are leaving Christianity. If there is a faith vacuum one can always turned to alternatives from Buddhism to Isalm to Hinduism to Falun Gong. If standing around Chinatown protesting against China’s Human Rights record is not your thing then you can join the thousands at the Sunday Markets worshipping the god of consumerism!
Yes, why bother with Easter? However, when we look back, we see that Christianity did have a prominent place in our history. On 26 January 1788, arriving with the first fleet was one Rev Richard Johnson, the first chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales. Governor Arthur Phillip had no patience for Johnson’s Gospel and later Major Francis Grose hated Johnson and the gospel he preached (“Richard Johnson – first Chaplain to Australia” http://acl.asn.au/). Johnson was not just interested in the Colony’s spiritual well being but he also pioneered education in New South Wales. In addition, Johnson also set up of a fund to care for orphans. You might say, “Yes, the man did good work but even a non-Christian could have done that”. May be, but Johnson’s contribution to our history was not a historical accident. Many Australians are not aware that our colonial history had interesting link with abolition of slavery. John Newton, the ex-slave trader who wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace” after his conversion to Christianity was amongst a group of clergyman who decided there was a need for a Chaplain to be sent with the First Fleet. Newton was a friend of the abolitionist William Wilberforce who was also a friend of Prime Minister William Pitt. Wilberforce and Newton were able to put forward Richard Johnson as the Chaplain for the first fleet. William Wilberforce, a Christian, went on to introduce the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807, Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 and many other reforms.
Christianity certainly played a part in our early history but does it have any significance now? The Archbishop of Sydney Dr. Peter Jensen gave the 2005 Boyer Lectures on ABC’s Radio National. The series of six lectures is titled “The Future of Jesus” (Radio National http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2005/1707949.htm). Dr. Jensen contends that the West is secularized that many of us are completely ignorant of the fact that Jesus Christ is probably the most influential human being who ever lived. The lectures were divided into two parts. In the first part, Dr. Jensen suggests that because Jesus is so well known, many assume they understand Jesus’ message when in fact they don’t. For example, many identify a fair-go as an Australian value when in fact it comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Dr. Jensen then goes on to challenge his listener into deciding whether Jesus is a failed prophet or a religious genius and can the listeners even believe in Jesus’ miracles? In the last three lectures, Dr. Jensen gave three examples of Jesus’ impact on today’s society:
1. Martyrdom as a contemporary and ancient phenomenon.
2. Second coming of Jesus and its influence Middle Eastern politics and the beliefs of millions of people.
3. The liberal idea of freedom versus Jesus’ idea of freedom.
Like it or not, Christianity is significant to our history, our culture and our values but does it affect us personally? In “Manners matter” (Brisbane News March 4th, 2008), Lucy Brook argues that a polite attitude is needed to combat disrespectful behaviour such as road rage. Is a façade of politeness enough when we are facing so many social problems? Many of our disrespectful behaviour that Brook describes can be attributed to our society obsession with individual gratification. For example, Myer would like to remind us that their stores are “My Store”s. One the hand Jesus’ messages could be considered counter culture by today’s standard. Just prior to Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, he challenged his disciples by saying: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26) Earlier in the same conversation, Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say I am?” Well, who do you say is Jesus?
Christianity is declining and the religion is under attack from both the media and scientists. In 2003, we have Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code”. In 2006, the British biologist Richard Dawkins gave us “The God Delusion”. We recently had a visit from the televangelist Benny Hinn. Hinn is reported to receive over $215 million a year by promising people prosperity, healing and eternal salvation (“God, power and money” Sydney Morning Herald March 3rd, 2008). Hinn is one of six televangelists currently being investigated by the United States Senate Finance Committee (“"Senator Probes Megachurches’ Finances” npr.org, December 4th, 2007). With such a credibility issue, it is no wonder that numerous Australians are leaving Christianity. If there is a faith vacuum one can always turned to alternatives from Buddhism to Isalm to Hinduism to Falun Gong. If standing around Chinatown protesting against China’s Human Rights record is not your thing then you can join the thousands at the Sunday Markets worshipping the god of consumerism!
Yes, why bother with Easter? However, when we look back, we see that Christianity did have a prominent place in our history. On 26 January 1788, arriving with the first fleet was one Rev Richard Johnson, the first chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales. Governor Arthur Phillip had no patience for Johnson’s Gospel and later Major Francis Grose hated Johnson and the gospel he preached (“Richard Johnson – first Chaplain to Australia” http://acl.asn.au/). Johnson was not just interested in the Colony’s spiritual well being but he also pioneered education in New South Wales. In addition, Johnson also set up of a fund to care for orphans. You might say, “Yes, the man did good work but even a non-Christian could have done that”. May be, but Johnson’s contribution to our history was not a historical accident. Many Australians are not aware that our colonial history had interesting link with abolition of slavery. John Newton, the ex-slave trader who wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace” after his conversion to Christianity was amongst a group of clergyman who decided there was a need for a Chaplain to be sent with the First Fleet. Newton was a friend of the abolitionist William Wilberforce who was also a friend of Prime Minister William Pitt. Wilberforce and Newton were able to put forward Richard Johnson as the Chaplain for the first fleet. William Wilberforce, a Christian, went on to introduce the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807, Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 and many other reforms.
Christianity certainly played a part in our early history but does it have any significance now? The Archbishop of Sydney Dr. Peter Jensen gave the 2005 Boyer Lectures on ABC’s Radio National. The series of six lectures is titled “The Future of Jesus” (Radio National http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2005/1707949.htm). Dr. Jensen contends that the West is secularized that many of us are completely ignorant of the fact that Jesus Christ is probably the most influential human being who ever lived. The lectures were divided into two parts. In the first part, Dr. Jensen suggests that because Jesus is so well known, many assume they understand Jesus’ message when in fact they don’t. For example, many identify a fair-go as an Australian value when in fact it comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Dr. Jensen then goes on to challenge his listener into deciding whether Jesus is a failed prophet or a religious genius and can the listeners even believe in Jesus’ miracles? In the last three lectures, Dr. Jensen gave three examples of Jesus’ impact on today’s society:
1. Martyrdom as a contemporary and ancient phenomenon.
2. Second coming of Jesus and its influence Middle Eastern politics and the beliefs of millions of people.
3. The liberal idea of freedom versus Jesus’ idea of freedom.
Like it or not, Christianity is significant to our history, our culture and our values but does it affect us personally? In “Manners matter” (Brisbane News March 4th, 2008), Lucy Brook argues that a polite attitude is needed to combat disrespectful behaviour such as road rage. Is a façade of politeness enough when we are facing so many social problems? Many of our disrespectful behaviour that Brook describes can be attributed to our society obsession with individual gratification. For example, Myer would like to remind us that their stores are “My Store”s. One the hand Jesus’ messages could be considered counter culture by today’s standard. Just prior to Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, he challenged his disciples by saying: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26) Earlier in the same conversation, Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say I am?” Well, who do you say is Jesus?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)