A Christian is one who has gone through the sinner's prayer and accepted Jesus as his/her Lord and Savior. Being born in a Christian family does not make one a Christian. It is a personal experience that the convert goes through. I am not trying to convert anyone to Christianity but am trying to clarify certain terms.
What then is a vice? According to Dictionary.com, it is a noun which can mean:
1. an immoral or evil habit or practice.
2. immoral conduct; depraved or degrading behavior: a life of vice.
3. sexual immorality, especially prostitution.
4. a particular form of depravity.
5. a fault, defect, or shortcoming: a minor vice in his literary style.
6. a physical defect, flaw, or infirmity: a constitutional vice.
7. a bad habit, as in a horse.
8. ( initial capital letter ) a character in the English morality plays, a personification of general vice or of a particular vice, serving as the buffoon.
There is no such thing as Christian vices. The Bible teaches Christians to stay away from all that is mentioned above and more. However, no one is perfect and there could still be Christians who commit sins. Even Paul the Apostle himself has talked about the constant struggle between doing what he knows is right and doing what he wants to do.
In the FMT article HERE, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president Thomas Philips said no religion should be belittled due to a lack of understanding.
“We should not belittle any religion just because we don’t understand it. Her comments were not in context as she wrongly understood that Valentine’s Day was a Christian festival,” he said.
Ignorance is no excuse for any insensitive statement. Religious leaders must be exemplary leaders that followers can look up to them as role models and follow prescribed patterns of behavior.
There have been many incidents when those from other religions went astray and as far as I know, no Christian leader has stepped forward to judge or to condemn them.
John 8:7 (NKJV) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
No one has any right to condemn another person. Honestly. I am not a fanatical Christian and those of you who have been reading my blog would be aware of my level of tolerance. This is the first and (I hope) the last time I am writing to defend my religion.
It is alarming that the program where the statements were uttered was aired on a nationwide scale. I am deeply concerned as to the impact on how non-Christians view Christians. Religious fervor, unrestrained sans sensitivity and mutual respect, can be destructive.
Interestingly, it is only in the last ten years that Muslims in other parts of the world have been objecting to Valentine's Day. CLICK HERE to see the trend. For the 50 years that I have lived in Malaysia, this is the FIRST time that statements such as those uttered and even the correlation of Valentine's Day with Christianity - a fallacious one indeed - has been made. Why the sudden morality crusade when in other cases of immorality, some have their lips zipped? Will anything be done to remedy/diffuse the situation?
For the record, the bible does not teach or promote Valentine's Day. Even Christmas is not inherently a Christian practice.
Please note the following points which I have summarized from Wikipedia HERE:
1. Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions.
2.The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD.
3. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted.
4. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").
5. The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
6. Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.
Now if those who are against Valentine's Day had done their homework and research to bulldoze their sheer ignorance, they would not have made a fool of themselves with ludicrous statements. With the click of the mouse, such information can be accessed easily! The history and background of Valentine's Day can be accessed HERE.
Jakim has the right to do what they deem is right in their religion as reported HERE. Checking out for 'sinful activities at favourite lovers' spots around the country' should be carried out everyday, not just on Valentine's Day. Their attempt to promote a sin-free lifestyle should be lauded but I do not know why only university students have been targeted. If they intend to promote godly behavior etc etc, why not reach out to a broad cross-section of the population?
It is saddening to know that monetary resources, manpower, time and attention has been diverted to Valentine's Day when the issue is immorality and not the festival per se.
Surely there are better things to do, more pressing issues to address, more serious problems to overcome such as corruption, injustice, discrimination and many other issues?
So what will it be next? A decree that it is wrong to celebrate Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Teachers' Day etc etc according to their whims and fancies?
Once again, who or what is important? What is the meaning of 1Malaysia? Are we not expected to demonstrate religious tolerance, mutual respect and all that talk about unity in diversity, harmony and all that jazz?
Further reading:
Namoos-i-Risalat: Protesters set their sights on Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Day Objections
evil but kind While your article is factual ( & truthful too we might add ), you have to go behind the real reason(s)the lady made the remark.
Malaysians get all excited with such mundane things, especially something concerning love & sex, or the lack thereof.
The lady is merely doing a political stunt, using only one weapon which may be successful(?) in the kampungs to a little extent, and more so affecting the general public such as some Blogs and other "champions" of human rights. What people like her and other devious "religious" souls aim to achieve she has got exactly , like clockwork precision, such as in predictable responses from yourself here and countless more.
Its all propaganda, baby, not religion per se nor truths nor anything else or what not
and you like many intelligent people/cutting edge bloggers ( or people with nothing else to do ) fell for it.
If we are truly "intelligent and concerned", we should have just ignored this stunt