LIVING LIFE SERIES 1

A BO TIEN (武天) MISSION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED ON 28TH SEPT 2010 BY INNER TRUTH NETIZEN 2. THE MISSION IS TO SHOW THE WAY TO HOPE, INNER PEACE AND ULTIMATELY SALVATION FOR ALL BEINGS. THE PURPOSE IS TO SAVE SOULS. IT IS WAY BEYOND NORMAL GOOD WORK LIKE CHARITY AND WELFARE ACTIVITIES. NO ONE SHALL BE SAVED BY GOOD WORKS ALONE BUT BY MORE THAN GOOD WORK. THERE IS NEED TO BE IMBUED WITH THE BASIC DOCTRINE COMMON TO AND BEHIND ALL RELIGIONS AND SECTS. LIVE IN DOCTRINE. DOCTRINE IN LIFE IS PARAMOUNT.

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The Living Life Series is dedicated to Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). The doctrine is in His image. The image is the doctrine. He who sees, understands and effects the doctrine sees and knows Him. He who does not see, know and effect the doctrine sees not and knows not the saint even if the saint or His image is beside him. The far may be near and the near may be far. Let the doctrine and the saint be part of our life. The lord saint in your life can be any heavenly saint of any religion, sect or school. The doctrine of truth is behind all and this is the Inner Truth that leads all (regardless of their religious affiliation or even if none) to inner peace and heaven on earth here and now and not just in the after life. The ideal worship and devotion is to know and effect the doctrine of God and the saints. The best gospel is the gospel of life. We learn from our life and the lives of others. The true temple is the world we live in. The sky is the roof of the temple and religions and sects are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven are in the temple. Needless to say that all the saints we know are in this temple. Ji Gong Posat too is no exception. The whole wide world and web is the temple and must be regarded as a sacred place --- a temple for living and learning. It is more important that everyone that counts plays a role in this universal temple if due focus is to be given to the Mission of Heaven. Men must not be distracted by the agenda of men and end up serving the mission of man. That would be a far cry from the Mission of Heaven. We worship God and saints, not man however good that man may be. There should be no hero worshiping or idolizing of man whether he is a charismatic pastor, priest, monk, medium or lay leader. We don't even idol worship the image of any saint but reflect on what the image stands for. - the doctrine in the image. Omitofo 阿弥陀佛!.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Pastoring problems when own problems not resolved

No 1351 of Living Life Series 1

People turn to pastors for problems in life when they want God or heavenly saints to help them. Why don't they turn to God and saints directly?

This is easier said than done. Perhaps, it is because they need a real person to talk to even if they believe in God and saints.

Then for pastors themselves, why are they trying to solve others' problems when they too have problems similar to what others who want their assistance?

How can they help others when they cannot help themselves? How can they intercede with God for help for others when God don't seem to be able to help them?

If pastors cannot get God to help them in their problems, how could pastors get God to help others? Isn't that ironical?

Isn't it the reality that pastors have problems and are very much in need of help from God as much as the members whom they are pastoring?

Bo Tien 武天 has this to say. The issues and problems of men are many and plentiful. If men turn to God and saints in earnest, God and saints will come to them and issues will usually be no issues more so if not big issues. Big issues even if these cannot be no issues will usually become less issues.

But men must understand that there is the element of fate as well. Sometimes fate is cruel and we have to face the music but the kind thoughts and love of God and saints make it bearable and no issue.

Pastors face problems similar to those they are pastoring and they often cannot solve their own problems, yet people turn to them for guidance. How do they reconcile this oddity? Well, well, they have great faith in God and squarely accept their fate. They feel loved, and with love, no issue is an issue. So they put their heart to address others' problems.

But some may think: what use is a pastor who cannot handle and solve his own life problems? Worse still, what use is a pastor who has weaknesses he don't want those he is pastoring to have? This is not uncommon at all.

But can a pastor be like that? He can be like that because he is man. Man is man and God is God. See not the God in man and the man in God.

Bo Tien 武天 said that we should not mistake man and God. God or saint can choose to speak through a criminal and it does not mean that what is said by that man is not from God, neither is it true that all that are said and done by that man are from God and approved by God.

God or a heavenly saint can decide to train a criminal and turn him to be of God and reform him if God or saint so decide. Who are we to say God has made a mistake? Don't try to see perfection in man more so a pastor.

A pastor is never perfect and he is not God. He is still man. Good can still come out of him as no man is all bad, God can still make use of him. God do make use of pastor to reach out to us.

But if a pastor breaks the laws of the land e.g. embezzlement, he has to be dealt with by the land even if God does not seem to mind and tolerate him to continue in pastoral work.

Bo Tien 武天 says that there is the ways of the land and the ways of God and saints. That heaven does not seem to mind does not mean it is wrong for the land to take him to task. Thus a pastor may be gay. This may be frowned at as distasteful. The laws of the land will deal with him. God seems to be open minded or is this so?

But mind you, the laws of the land can change and in some places, a gay pastor can even marry someone of the same sex. Well, well, man is man and God is God. Think and be mindful of this.

Jesus said that we give to the land what is due to the land and to God what is due to God. Bo Tien 武天 says that we have to contend with the the laws of the land and also the laws of God. There is the same advice in all religions and cultures.

Even a pastor is not spared from the laws of the land and just because he is doing God's work does not mean he can be at liberty to run foul of the laws of the land. Pastor can well have the very same weaknesses and problems of those they are pastoring. Even if favored by God, he has to face the music for any transgressions of the laws of the land.

Lest you forget

Do not make the mistake of idolizing any man who tells you about the Word. He is in the same boat as you even if religion refers to him as a religious leader. Mere mention of a religious leader is as good as encouraging idolising of that man. Why must there be hierarchy in religion? Hierarchy is conventional but may end up as liability rather than a necessity or asset. There should be no caste or hierarchy system in religion. No one is to be considered above another in religion. A religious leader or follower is a servant to serve you and not a leader to be idolised. Do not put him on the pedestal and make a monster out of him.

MAY ALL BE WELL AND HAPPY

May all be well and happy. May they have peace. May our departed friends and kins be well, happy and have divine peace. The main writer wishes the best for all for those near and far. Our kins may be far when they had passed on to better lives but they are near though far. He remembers and wishes his parents Mr Siow Soo Koh and Mdm Tay Hung Siang, his uncles and aunties like Mr Tay Koon Huay, his cousins like Mr Tay Chong Sim and his friends like Mr Philip Png well and have abundance of life. May they be rich in spirit for without such ancestors, there will be no posterity - no us and no you and me. They have blessed us and we must blessed them in return forever and ever.