DIsobeying Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown, the cartoon character, once “shared” the three things he learned never to discuss with anybody: “Politics, Religion, and the Great Pumpkin.”

Last Monday, my dear friend and “kuya” among Philippine STAR columnists, Mr. Boo Chanco, sent me a copy of his opinion piece where he shared the views of a disgruntled “taipan” and a sociologist about Christianity and corruption in the Philippines.

Both individuals basically passed judgment on Christians and Catholics in the Philippines simply because religion and church could not contain or confront corruption in the Philippines.

In their view, corruption should not exist in the Philippines if both church and Christians truly practiced their faith and exerted influence. Since corruption in the Philippines is so endemic and has evolved into an incurable disease, therefore Christianity is weak, false or cowardly.

I say: why stop at blaming Christians, believers and churches, why not blame God as well? Why not use the name of God and Jesus Christ in vain to have a holistic rant?

Before and after the birth of Jesus Christ, mankind has been a corrupt, wicked and sinful lot and God made no exceptions in dealing with all.

He torched Sodom and Gomorrah; he flooded the entire world to exterminate the wicked and sinful. God got so exasperated with the sinful nature of man that he decided to stop contending with them on an extended period by shortening human lifespan.

In spite of so many signs and warnings, the Pharoah of Egypt chased the Israelites across the Red Sea and drowned. The complaining, belligerent Israelites suffered 40 years in the desert as part of God’s discipline.

In one incident, many were attacked by snakes for idolatry, drunkenness and blasphemy. You would think that if God walked in front of you by day, walked behind you at night, that you would walk the straight and narrow, but they didn’t. And we still don’t.

So, God sent his only son to pay our debt of sin with the devil. Instead of a “Thank You!” and perpetual generational thanksgiving, Jesus Christ was beaten and crucified, died and was buried. We celebrate the birth of the baby but turn away from the crucifixion.

The crucifixion resulted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead for the forgiveness of sins, but even that did not change the world view and character of humanity.

Just before his crucifixion, Jesus Christ said to his disciples: “The poor you will have always but you will have me for only a short while.”

The statement that the poor, therefore poverty, will be perpetual speaks directly to human selfishness and greed, which is the root of poverty. Corruption is just a symptom of the same malady and evil.

The problem is not religion, church or “faith.” We are the problem.

Imposing presumptions and expectations on a set group based on limited knowledge, lacking experiential process in signs and wonders, is like saying you know everything about the Philippines after a handful of visits to the country.

Going to church on Sundays does not make one a devout Christian or Catholic. Giving to charity from your abundance or as part of your CSR is not what it is about. Christians are “Christ followers,” attempting to live lives based on his preaching, example and sacrifice.

Time and again Jesus thumbed down any suggestion to involve him in politics. For the most part, his rage and anger was expressed towards two groups: temple officials/priests who used heresy to maintain power over Jewish believers. The second were the merchants (business people) who turned the house of God into a den of thieves.

Just because one has a religious title, a flock or claim to be a prophet or divine being does not make one so. Remember, even Satan quoted scriptures.

To pass judgment on “Christianity” and Filipinos as weak in faith and practice reveals anger. Anger or frustration over a situation, anger at one’s inability to change matters or stop corruption, so you lash out at others.

Perhaps even anger with our personal compromises or fear of losing material wealth and security. How many taipans today have walked in the mire of corruption voluntarily or by force of circumstance?

We are Christians because we believe in Christ and a shared faith. Churches are gathering areas for fellowship and spiritual feeding from the word, from the examples and testimonies of others and to worship and give praise to God.

You may have a Bible at home and maybe even at work, but do you even read it, much less follow and believe it? You have time for work, events and business activities, but do you set aside a dedicated time for prayer and time with the Lord?

Do you submit to spiritual authority and accountability? Are you part of a discipleship group, just like your pickleball or golf group, that you go to learn and get better? Do you care, serve and protect your family, honor your spouse and pray with them?

How much of your wealth and talent do you give to others? Do you give sacrificially or marginally? Someone once messaged Dallas Jenkins, the producer/director of The Chosen: “Your job is not to feed the five thousand. Your job is to bring the fish and loaves.”

Our job and co-mission as Christians is to exemplify the life of Christ, share the gospel and thereby hope to inspire others to be Christ-like or become Christians. It is not our job or the job of the church to police society. That is the job of the government.