We, Christians, ‘Fools’?

FMT LETTER
From May Chee Chook Ying, via e-mail

I always thought that those who single out others as fools are the bigger fools. How can you not be the bigger fool when you brandish the word “amicable” so wantonly and not know what it means? According to the Oxford dictionary, “amicable” means “friendly; done in a friendly spirit”. Nothing that has happened thus far has been done in a “friendly spirit”! Are you dull of heart and mind that Your eyes cannot see and Your ears cannot hear?

It is said: “The dignity of the person is the most precious possession of an individual and is manifested in the person’s origin and destiny. As a result, the value of one person transcends the entire material world. The goods of the world do not count as much as the good of the person. The dignity of a person is important since the person is created by God in His image and likeness. Thus every violation of the personal dignity of the human being is an offence against the Creator.

The human person is always of value as an individual, and as such, demands to be treated as a person and not a means or a thing. The dignity of a person constitutes the foundation of equality of all people among themselves and of participation and solidarity. Dialogue and communion are rooted ultimately in what people are rather than what they have. The dignity of a person is an indestructible property of every human being and is based on the uniqueness and unrepeatability of every person. The most radical and elevating affirmation of the value of every human being was made by the Son of God in His becoming man in the womb of a woman.
That, the above demands the respect, defense and promotion of the rights of every human person. You, who maligned us Christians, a Christian yourself, should know better than to let your mouth run faster than you can think! Has our dignity been compromised lately? I believe so. When people label us fools, it implies that we can’t think for ourselves. If at all You can think and we can’t, how is it that You can’t discern? Did You sleep well last night? I hope not, otherwise, the Cantonese will label You, “Mo tak kau”!

If You have been reading Your bible, You would know: “Every sin will be forgiven mankind, even insults to God, however numerous. But whoever slanders the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he carries the guilt of his sin forever.” You would have known those fighting for our dignity and right to practise our faith the way we deem fit and proper, are working with the Spirit. “To slander the Holy Spirit is to attribute to a bad spirit a work that is manifestly good.”

The one who recognises the truth but not God is better off than the one who says he believes in God but does not recognise the truth. Where do You belong? We become free when we admit that there is nothing sacred in a society which attempts to impose its own standards. As long as people are subject to an order, to laws and authorities which are considered sacred and no one thinks of criticising, those people are neither free nor true sons and daughters of God.

As a Christian myself, I say with conviction that I do not profess a religion that prevents me from seeking the truth and from questioning every area of human restlessness. If that was the case, I believe my religion wouldn’t be the true one. Are You sure we both profess the same religion?

Jesus says that those who love the truth recognise those who speak the truth. I’m happy to see that You have many detractors, even among non-Christians. That gives us, Christians, hope. Though hope is not an easy optimism, those who hope bear trials and persecutions with patience and perseverance.

To my fellow Christians, let no one deceive you with empty arguments. Though, it appears that at times, we are left without an answer, do not despair. We may be persecuted but we are not abandoned, knocked down but not crushed. See, how our fellow Malaysians are rallying behind us. This is when we say, “Malaysia Boleh”!

To that You, staying with half-truths, is surely not in keeping with the spirit of Lent. Last but not least, to my fellow Malaysians of other faiths, a big “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart, for your support. Without you, my brothers and sisters, our fight would appear insurmountable. God bless you all.
FMT