No 1157 of Living Life Series 1
A temple may have both good and bad. Any temple is like that and a temple of the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 is no exception.
But one important perspective to check on is to ensure that there is still the respect for elders. If a temple is even lacking in this and has no qualms in denouncing elders and excommunicating elders, then there is something seriously wrong.
No one is perfect and has both good and bad. Elders are no saints but there must be the respect for elders. Elders may be naggy and bothersome. They must still be visible and at the fore. Elders must be respected in a temple.
This is a pillar of any temple. If there is not, then it is as good as gone. What sustainable value is there in such a temple? Any temple of the good lord is no exception.
It is just like in a family, the elders must be valued even if they have their flaws and prove to be liability. If the children care not at all and even damned the elders like the parents, how far can the children go in life?
Who would trust those who disown the parents and elders? The reliability of society lies in how they respect the elders. The reliability of a temple depends likewise on how the temple respect the elders. Otherwise the temple has no substance.
Religion teaches us to have moral fibre and respect for elders is a pillar. When some in a religion decide to encourage disrespect for elders and parents and only respect God and saints, then they are a wanting lot.
They know not what they do. God and saints do forgive them. But they are a disappointment even to God and saints. That goes without saying.
They want to get parents and elders out of their way so that they can have better hold on the young and gullible. In time, they will be elders and parents. Then the young will get them out of their way. They were groomed by them.
What more could they expect? They reap what they sow. Young pastors and leaders will edge out the old ones - even getting them out of the house of God built by the old. They do so at all cost. They are unscrupulous and have no moral fibre let alone spiritual... They resort to ungodly ways to bring more to God.
God and saints will still love and accept them (those who do not respect elders) for what they are but hope they be what they are not - that they be better than that. God and saints will not curse them but they will curse themselves instead if they learn not from their folly and make good.
Be godly in matters of God and saints. This is ever more so in a house of God and saints.
Well, many care not if a temple has no substance. They just find the old and elderly stumbling blocks. They want to get them out of the way. The elders are eyesores. They must know their place and be scarce.
But if a temple is like that, lacking in soul and respect for elders, it is more likely that they want to speak for God and saints and not let God and saints speak to them. They want others even God and saints to listen. They will do all the talking.
The elders should shut their gaps. They should listen and not be heard. Then such a temple is no longer a temple of God and saints. At most it is a temple to worship the ego of those who respect no elders.
They are on the slippery road of pushing back God and saints to the background. They want to take the centre stage and take over from not only elders but also from God and saints.
Thus if there is no respect for elders, a temple has no substance. Hope they wake up to reality and that is best. They will as this is the will of God and saints in all religions and cultures.
But one important perspective to check on is to ensure that there is still the respect for elders. If a temple is even lacking in this and has no qualms in denouncing elders and excommunicating elders, then there is something seriously wrong.
No one is perfect and has both good and bad. Elders are no saints but there must be the respect for elders. Elders may be naggy and bothersome. They must still be visible and at the fore. Elders must be respected in a temple.
This is a pillar of any temple. If there is not, then it is as good as gone. What sustainable value is there in such a temple? Any temple of the good lord is no exception.
It is just like in a family, the elders must be valued even if they have their flaws and prove to be liability. If the children care not at all and even damned the elders like the parents, how far can the children go in life?
Who would trust those who disown the parents and elders? The reliability of society lies in how they respect the elders. The reliability of a temple depends likewise on how the temple respect the elders. Otherwise the temple has no substance.
Religion teaches us to have moral fibre and respect for elders is a pillar. When some in a religion decide to encourage disrespect for elders and parents and only respect God and saints, then they are a wanting lot.
They know not what they do. God and saints do forgive them. But they are a disappointment even to God and saints. That goes without saying.
They want to get parents and elders out of their way so that they can have better hold on the young and gullible. In time, they will be elders and parents. Then the young will get them out of their way. They were groomed by them.
What more could they expect? They reap what they sow. Young pastors and leaders will edge out the old ones - even getting them out of the house of God built by the old. They do so at all cost. They are unscrupulous and have no moral fibre let alone spiritual... They resort to ungodly ways to bring more to God.
God and saints will still love and accept them (those who do not respect elders) for what they are but hope they be what they are not - that they be better than that. God and saints will not curse them but they will curse themselves instead if they learn not from their folly and make good.
Be godly in matters of God and saints. This is ever more so in a house of God and saints.
Well, many care not if a temple has no substance. They just find the old and elderly stumbling blocks. They want to get them out of the way. The elders are eyesores. They must know their place and be scarce.
But if a temple is like that, lacking in soul and respect for elders, it is more likely that they want to speak for God and saints and not let God and saints speak to them. They want others even God and saints to listen. They will do all the talking.
The elders should shut their gaps. They should listen and not be heard. Then such a temple is no longer a temple of God and saints. At most it is a temple to worship the ego of those who respect no elders.
They are on the slippery road of pushing back God and saints to the background. They want to take the centre stage and take over from not only elders but also from God and saints.
Thus if there is no respect for elders, a temple has no substance. Hope they wake up to reality and that is best. They will as this is the will of God and saints in all religions and cultures.
