Adam and Science

In The beginning of creation God gave a task for Adam to naming each living creature. The Bible said, “He (God) brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of field (Genesis 2:19b-20). Was naming the living creature equal to science task? First, we should know that until now scientist do naming the animals. Allen Allison said, “Well, in 1992 we developed a program called the Hawaii Biological Survey, a complete inventory of the plants and animals in Hawaii. We completed that about five years later and I believe the number is 24,328, however those are just the species that are known to science including the ones that have been introduced to Hawaii. The ones unknown to science we estimate at about 7000 species and those are currently being described at about 60 per year which, if you do the maths equals 117 years to complete the task of finding them all. (http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2003/823198.htm) Second, science program must keep their inventory in memory. Russel Grigg says, “We learn language by association, but Adam, from the moment he was created, had language. Therefore he (and then Eve) must have already had built in ‘programs’ in their memory banks, so that when God said, ‘Don’t …’ (Genesis 2:17), they immediately knew exactly what this meant”. (http://creation.com/naming-the-animals-all-in-a-day-s-work-for-adam) Third, the Bible said that Adam not only came to see the animal but he gave names to all livestock. It does mean that Adam not only a visitor in the “wild zoo” but he made a simple categorized for the animals to be called. Adam not labeled the named on the animal’s body or posts it in front of cage but he passes the information to Eve and to the next generations. Why human need to have a science task? First, God gave a dominion mandate (Genesis1:28) to Adam. Second, It’s proved that man was not created as evolutionist think. Adam is the “crown of creation”, the highest one of God’s creation. Man is not like animals that live with instinct. Man created in His image and likeness and has a capacity to communicate with God as the creator. Man live with a purpose.So, are we going to say that we didn’t have a science task from God that will be useful to taking care of other creations? Third, although Man fall to sin (we are not perfect), God gave them basic capacity to do science task. There were students at school who said that He couldn’t do science task at all. There are people who work in social fields who choose to give up things related to science. They might say, “It’s too late for them to learn”, or “there is no connections with their works now”. That’s why when they had a son or daughters then they will stay away from their children science work. Can we avoid science in our real life? Can we reject the benefit of science when they found new disease (mutant disease)? Could we shut our ear from Spanish flu, avian flu, bird flu, Singaporean flu, swain flu? NO. We need to equip ourselves with basic things that proven works in science and applied them to prevent the infection. Somehow we need are urge to learn science.

Numbers and Possibility

Matthew 14:13-21; John 6:1-14 These weeks Indonesian students have their UAN (Government Final Examination). One of the most “challenging” subjects is Math. What Jesus teaches in Bible related to Math? Do you remember when Jesus feed 5000 people Matt 14:13-21; John 6:1-14? What Jesus said about it? Let’s look what the conversations between Jesus and His disciples in verse 17-18, “They said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." And He said, "Bring them here to Me." Now, I know that Math related with those who has higher level I.Q and those who have intelligence in numbers but it doesn’t mean that only several people could do it. The challenge that students has was the same with Jesus’ disciples. They have small abilities “five loaves of bread and two fishes” and they thought that it’s impossible to feed 5000 people (not include men and children). Students may have the same thought like Jesus disciples. They think that “Math”..uh.., I hate it so much. Some of them may says, “Math? It’s not my subject” or “I’m not good at math but I’m good in business or other social studies”. Every student will reject things when they find it’s difficult for them to do. But here we are start to reject and leave it as Jesus disciples hope that He will send the crowds who follow Him to leave (v. 15) and find food for themselves. Actually, rather than reject and leave, we should bring the “Math” problem to Him. Jesus said, “Bring them here to Me." Jesus didn’t say that Jesus will do the Math’s problem and we just have to pray for to Him. He wants us to know that rejecting and leaving the problems is not right. Jesus wants us not only think about difficulties in Numbers (Math) but also He wants us to see the POSSIBILITY. As we study the Math before the test there is a possibilities for us to answer the questions. Even the possibilities increase because God will give us confidence in Him to do it. He helps those who believe to overcome fear and worries. He will work to reminds us for things that we learn and make the count possible. The last thing we should not forgot after “BRING the math’s problem to JESUS” in prayer. That is, we must Giving Thanks (John 6:11) to Him. No matter what happen will be, our faith is works and produce when we GIVE THANKS to Him in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES (1Thess. 5:18). Prayer: Father, I pray for every students who has government examination starting Junior school to High School or those who in University and has a difficult test in Math or any subjects to be succeed and pass the exam with your help and guidance. Reminds them that they need to prepare and study. Make them know that you are God of Numbers and Possibilities. Make them willing to think about numbers and count the possibilities that they could do with God’s help. Amen

Kritik terhadap Kebiasan-Kebiasan Tidak Baik Jemaat di dalam Ibadah Gereja

Berikut kebiasan-kebiasaan tidak baik di dalam gereja yang perlu dikritisi:

1. Tukar uang persembahan sebelum masuk gereja. Tukar uang bisa memberikan kesan kurangnya keikhlasan dan persiapan terhadap apa yang ingin diberikan kepada Tuhan pada tiap minggunya.

2. Makan Permen. Alasan mengantuk membuat orang sudah mempersiapkan permen sebelum masuk gereja. Kebiasaan ini adalah tanda ketidaksiapan sikap kita menghadap Tuhan dengan konsentrasi penuh dan memilih untuk bergantung pada “permen”. Makan permen sebenarnya juga dapat mengganggu orang lain sesaat karena mencuri perhatian saat membuka pembungkusnya.

3. Berpusat pada berkat. Ada jemaat yang memilih untuk pergi ke warung atau keluar gereja sebentar untuk minum, merokok, berbicara diluar dengan teman atau berbicara lewat telpon namun saat ibadah yang dianggap penting, yaitu Doa Berkat, maka dengan tergopoh-gopoh jemaat kembaali masuk ke gereja.

4. Ngobrol. Contoh: Dari chatting pake sms, blackberry, ngobrol berdua dengan orang yang berada disamping, sampai “berdiskusi” (empat orang) pada saat ibadah.

5. Ibadah dan Event organizer. Ibadah tertentu dianggap bisa diatur lebih menarik sehingga pendeta perlu diatur oleh EO pada saat suatu acara tertentu.

6. Tidak meenyelidiki Firman Tuhan. Ada kecenderungan jemaat yang membuka Alkitab saat pembacaan bersama dimulai lalu menutupnya saat pembacaan selesai. Tidak seperti jemaat di Berea yang menyelidiki kebenaran ketika membaca Alkitab, jemaat kini cenderung focus pada uraian atau penjelasan pendeta. Hal ini tidak saja menyebabkan jemaat tidak bertumbuh dalam pembacaan Firman yang bermakna, namun juga jemaat tidak dapat mengadakan “cross check” terhadap kebenaran isi pemberitaan yang disampaikan oleh pendeta.

7. Mengantuk. Mengantuk saat Firman Tuhan disampaikanoleh pendeta, namun sebaliknya kembali segar saat Firman Tuhan selesai disampaikanoleh pendeta. Ada yang menaruh tangan di bangku depan dan mulai tidur, ada yang tampak membaca Alkitab tapi tertidur, bahkan ada yang menengadahkan kepalanya ke atas sambil membuat “kawah” disekitar mulutnya dan liurpun siap mengalir.

8. Datang terlambat. Dari macet, masalah parkir sampai anak yang sulit dibangunkan saat pergi ke gereja sering menjadi alasan keterlambatan ke gereja.

9. Pulang sebelum waktunya. Kecenderungan ini terjadi karena jemaat tidak mengatur waktunya dengan baik. Waktu ibadah sebaiknya diatur untuk ibadah bukan untuk hal-hal yang lain.

10. Cara berpakaian. Ada gereja yang punya “norma” kerapihan berdasarkan “jas” (untuk pria) yang dipakai saat datang sebagai jemaat bahkan saat ia bertugas sebagai kolektan atau berstatus majelis. Ada lagi kecenderungan jemaat yang menganggap ke gereja seperti rumah sendiri . Ia mengaanggap Tuhan melihat hati, jaid tida apa-apa kalau ke gereja dengan memakai kaos.

11. Tempat duduk. Ada jemaat yang menganggap semua tempat duduk layak di duduki walau sudah diatur untuk acara tertentu. Ada yang terlambat lalu dengan tenang berjalan melewati banyak orang yang sedang menikmati ibadah dan duduk di depan. Ada yang memberikan “tempat duduk” untuk tas yang dibawanya. Kadang ini cukup menganggu terutama ketika tempat duduk sudah hamper penuh terisi.

12. Hakim-hakim gereja. Ada jemaat yang memutuskan bahwa ia tidak mendapat berkat di gereja tersebut. Mulai dari masalah dalam pujiannnya, khotbahnya, pendetanya, majelisnya sampai pada masalah Roh Kudusnya.

Membasuh Kaki – Washing Feet (Bag. 7)

Kesimpulan: Jadi apa yang dapat kita pelajari dari semua ini. Kita menyadari secara penuh bahwa praktek “membasuh kaki” dapat dilakukan oleh pemimpin rohani manapun dan dapat memberkati orang yang mengalaminya. Namun disisi lain, secara umum tidak semua orang mendukung hal itu dilakukan. Apalagi ada indikasi bahwa tidak semua yang menganggap dirinya “pemimpin rohani” sungguh-sungguh menghayati makna dan tujuan “pembasuhan kaki” tersebut. Kemudian, pandangan Alkitabiah memberikan keterangan kepada kita bahwa tidak semua yang dilakukan bisa dibenarkan secara teks. Ada alasan-alasan yang membatasi secara tektual, studi kata, tata bahasa (gramatika), kontekstual dan latar belakang budaya. Bahkan, berdasarkan pengalaman, kita belajar bahwa jika pemahaman terhadap tindakan itu tidak dihayati oleh pelaku dan penerimanya maka hasilnya akan “nol” ataupun negatif. Sekarang jika anda ingin melakukannya, pertanyaannya adalah, Siapakah yang terlibat di dalamnya? Apakah mereka sudah mengerti makna dan tujuan “pembasuhan kaki”? Berdasarkan tingkat kedewasaan rohani dan konteks budaya mereka , tanyakan: Apakah mereka mampu mengerti maknanya?Apakah anda telah mengadakan persiapan yang matang? Apakah anda sudah memikirkan langkah-langkah yang akan anda ambil? Apakah pernah terpikir oleh anda bahwa tindakan kerendahan hati, pelayanan dan kasih anda tidak saja ditentukan oleh satu tindakan “membasuh kaki”? Jika, ya, maka pertanyaannya bagi saudara/I : apakah anda telah melakukan tindakan yang menunjukkan kerendahan hati dalam pelayanan dan kasih saudara sehari-hari sebelum anda mencuci kaki orang lain? Lalu, setelah anda melakukannya, apakah anda mendapati bahwa sekarang anda secara konsisten melayani dengan kerendahan hati dan kasih? Remember: Jesus show His humility, Servant-hood and act of services in the world since His birth to His Resurrection. How about you?