The bible vs. the dictionary

Posted on August 5, 2006 - Filed Under Punch Forum |

Rafael L. Oriel, Jr.
5 August 2006


Last July 28, I was mystified when somebody in this forum said to Mr. Jun Velasco, “Megiddo? Armageddon? What in hell are you talking about? To inject these apocalyptic incidents waiting to happen, when it cannot be circumstantiated, tells us of what kind of journalism you are in.”

Technically, that makes the two of you who are talking about something that is in your own point of view cannot be circumstantiated. For all you know, non-believers can also say, “What hell are you talking about?” They can also say, “Megiddo? Armageddon? Hell? What in hell are you guys talking about?”

One thing I cannot understand that bewilders me is your certainty of the existence of hell while voicing your skepticism in the power of prayers unlike the other Christian in this forum who said, “Just keep on praying. . . God will fix every thing”. Strong words of faith from someone who totally believes in the power of prayers.

We really do not need to be rocket scientists to know what these guys are talking about. Actually, anybody can explicitly learn about these subjects using any reliable dictionaries that circumstantiate or give detailed descriptions of Megiddo, Armageddon and hell.

But why do we use dictionary instead of the Bible when according to statistics, 93% of Filipinos claim to be Christians? Even dictionaries will direct us to the Holy Bible by telling us exactly where we can find in the Bible about these words Armageddon, Megiddo and hell. People who are more knowledgeable know their relevance to the current and future events that are happening around us. Are you one of them?

Ironically, according to the dictionary, a Christian is one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus or one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus. By definition, therefore, a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ, know His life and teachings and live according to His teachings. In truth, that is what the Holy Bible is all about. Do you as a Christian believe and read the Bible?

Can we honestly say that 93% of Filipinos are Christians when majority seems to be more familiar with the dictionary and/or other books than the Bible? Do not ask me why. We must ask the Bible experts, the fishers of men who seem to be sick and tired of fishing and who seem to be contemplating of going to a more exciting and glamorous profession in business, journalism and politics sometimes sharing the limelight with showbiz people and power brokering with men. I doubt if they have time and interest to talk about Armageddon, Megiddo or hell at the moment because, currently, they are busy and seem to be more interested in talking about politics, jueteng, the illegal gambling games and other controversial issues affecting the country and its people. The drawback if they are too busy with what they are doing, we might even need to make an appointment in order to personally see them even if we urgently or desperately need their spiritual guidance and/or prayers.

Maybe we should also ask them how much of their selves and time were dedicated to Caesar and to God. According to the Holy Bible, our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” If Matthew, the publican or tax-gatherer, were to ask them today if they have anything to declare, they can possibly say, “Nothing, not even our God the Father.” From what I heard, it is legal constitutionally because they had successfully entrenched in the Philippine Constitution of 1987 their tax exemptions. If you ask me, I cannot find any good reason why they are actively involved in politics and in opposing the proposed Cha-Cha. To protect their tax exemptions? I do not think so. Do you think so? I prefer to see them more actively involved in spreading the messages or Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I like to ask them to take a hike and just go fishing. That is what God wants them to do as fishers of men, is it not? I guess they are not like Matthew who completely abandoned more than Caesar when our beloved Lord Jesus Christ told the tax collector and the other disciples, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Is it because they are self-appointed or humanly appointed fishers of men and they have changed there mind because they found out that they wanted to become politicians, journalists and/or businessmen after all?

Just an opinion for us to ponder.

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