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Dear Sooriyakumar, your suggestion that the earth like other material things has a shelf life is interesting and makes sense. Yes, human beings are part of the problem for example stockpiling arms and ammunition that can destroy 20 worlds etc. However, there is a quest for permenency in everything by man. However, we need to remind ourself that life is transient. Fixing the age of earth too is a problem (some believe its 4000 BC and other scientists place it as millions of years). Hope our study will throw more light on this topic. Mohan Sunderaraj
Dear Tamilarasi, ref. to your thoughts on the role world leaders have to play, I do not belittle the efforts taken by world leaders, climate activists to stop the environment catastrophe. Some of them come out of a lot of research and hard work. However, it seems to be a man centered approach. Can we resolve this gigantic crisis without God’s help? Further, unless man’s nature is changed from selfishness to selflessness this gigantic task will yeild little fruit and only time can tell whether our efforts on climate change was a success. Meanwhile as the apostle Paul states, in Rom. 8:22 “the whole creation groans and suffers …” Mohan
What are the popular views (media/movies/fiction) about the end of the world (apocalypse)?
1. Noah (2014) Noah is chosen by God to undertake a mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.
2. Left Behind(2014) A small group of survivors are left behind after millions of people suddenly vanish.
3. A theif in the night (1972) an evangelical film on rapture.What are your thoughts on the end of the world and the present environmental crisis or climate change? I feel we as Christians have misunderstood words like subdue, rule over in Genisis 1: 28 and exploited the earth as Christian nations are among the top polluters of the earth. Further, it is interesting to note even during the flood, God’s covenant included the earth. In Gen.8: 9 “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, … your descendants …. with every living creature that is with you, … of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. 11 I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
How should we respond to climate change?
Take our call to stewardship of the earth seriously. Look at our consumption and as WCC put it’live simply so that others can simply live’. Reduce, reuse, recycle in little ways at home. We need to think creatively and teach students how we can do this. In Trincomalee, Sri Lanka we used to live near the beach and noticed the huge amount of plastic waste and debri that getts washed ashore daily. We collected the plastic material and gave it to the local municipality to recyling.Dear Arul Sam Dilip, reference to your comments on apostates, I would like to add the comments of the Englishmen and founder of Salvation Army William Booth (1829-1912) who was way ahead of his times. He stated by the end of the twentieth century, much of the church will be preaching christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentence, salvation without regeneration and heaven without hell. Apostasy will be a major issue before Christs return and the onus is on us to be committed to studying God’s word and communicating it to others. Mohan Sunderaraj
Dear Prem, in reference to your comment, anti-christ working in some political powers. I believe some of these elements can be seen in lawless lives of past demagogues like Lenin, Stalin (Russia) and Hitler (Germany) as well as in current regimes Putin (Russia), Kim Jong Un (North Korea), Erdogan (Turkey), Rouhani (Iran), Xi Jinping (China). However, the coming ‘man of lawlessness’ will be unprecedented and could end up as father of all of them! I also commend your suggestion that we should teach people to live like Jesus. This is a road less travelled, a path of hardship and being vulnerable. Mohan Sunderaraj
1. What are some of the activities of antichrist in your context in the light John’s teachings?
(i) Islamic view of God: Jesus accepted as prophet but not as God.
(ii) Strife within Christian community, denominationalism, resulting in waste of resources.
(iii) The persecution of Christians who are seen as part of another kingdom
(iv) Worship of charismatic leaders who claim to be teachers and prophets:2. How did you recognize the activities of antichrist in your context?
• As to Islam, it has distorted many of the biblical facts and the early Jews during his time rightly never
accepted him as a prophet he claimed to be.
• Jesus ushered the kingdom of God, and prayed for its unity, however denominationalism often disrupts this
unity the ideal Jesus Christ wanted it to be.
• The rise of Nationalism in many nations has seen rise in anti-Christian activities.
• False teachers and prophets’ utterances which are not in accordance with the word of God.
• The family is the basic social unit of God’s creation and the high rise of divorce particularly in Christian
families.
• Idolatry: man’s quest of money, possessions and wanting to be entertainment.3. How should we respond to such activities?
Be watchful by becoming familiar with the Word of God so that Satan’s lies can be easily identified.Dear Hema, I am delighted to hear your involvement with children. I think we need to learn to communicate to children first. This will become a good platform for us to communicate to others. The little seeds we sow to children brings amazing results years later. It may not be a glamourous ministry but planting seeds early is a wonderful strategy. Mohan
Dear Ajith, delighted to note that you are involved with your local church in evangelism. I believe, whenever, Jesus called someone, he called him to be a part of a community. This helps nurture young believers to maturity. Someone wisely defined our task as, ‘The whole gospel, to the whole world by the whole Church. Further, the early church in the book of Acts has been a wonderful example how God’s kingdom spread through self propogation. We need to see our local church as a store house of truth to the world despite all its failing. Mohan
Please share your personal involvement in evangelizing your neighbourhood and global outreach.
1. 1978-82 Reaching English speaking unchurched youth in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka with Youth For Christ.
2. 1982-94 Reaching out to slum dwellers in Wellawatte in the city of Colombo and a Malay community in the
city of Colombo.
3. 1994-99 Ministering to children through Sunday School in local Church in Palayamkottai in India.
4. 1999-2007 Training Christian workers for the Church in Sri Lanka with Lanka Bible College in Kandy, SL.
5. 2008-10 Served with wife (medical missions) Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
6. 2011-18 Equipping missionaries in health care with CMC Vellore with my wife. Reaching out to a hindu
community with hardly any Christian witness from Karaikal/Tanjavur region.
7. 2019-21 Helping with post war missions with my wife in North Sri Lanka including teaching to theological
students, teaching the need to take ‘peace and reconciliation’ to Pastoral leaders in Tamil
speaking areas.How can we speed up the coming of Jesus to fulfil the first sign of the second coming of Jesus?
a. being obedient to Christ’s command
b. having for love for Christ’s people.
c. Jelousy for God’s Holy name.
d. Developing an intimate relationship with God.
e. Getting closer to people, winning their trust to communicate.Dear Prem, I too have my questions about environmental degradation can be fitted into the (vs. 25) “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves”. However, understanding the nature of the evil one whose only intent is to kill and destroy, the creature itself is in undergoing distress at the thought of being destroyed and longing for the return of the Creator to redeem the planet and all those who are eagerly awaiting his rule. Mohan Sunderaraj
Dear Hepzibah, I have no clue when the third temple will be built particularly with all the turmoil in the Temple Mount area, though I see a big spiritual conflict going on with the Islamic worldview. However, what facinates me is the words in Luke 21.32 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place”. Assuming that the generation he is talking about the present generation of Jews with the birth of Israel in 1948 and Moses’ definition of a generation as 70-80 years (Ps. 90:10), it is somewhat clear that the end is near and issues concerning the temple are going to intensify. Mohan Sunderaraj
The new teaching in Mathew 24 seems to be what is mentioned in vs. 45-47 “Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.
This calls for a serious evaluation of our stewardship of what God has given. We put to use whatever God has entrusted to us to serve others and extend God’s kingdom. This also means we simply don’t idle while waiting for his coming but getting involved in serious hard work. In applying this in our lives we need to look at our God given resources (including money, property), talent our time and how best we can put it into use as good stewards. One area of investment could be to identify people groups who have still not heard the good news of Jesus Christ and ensure the ‘gospel is preached to all nations’. Thsi also serves as one of the signs of the second coming.
Dear Dilip, Yes, it is a deeply humbling experience, to be loved by God despite all our inadeqecies. This is seen over and over again in the scriptures. David for instance was never a serious contender for the throne. Others with personality and physique were seen as contenders. God brought him out from a humble sheep rearing vocation to lead. David certainly had his share of weakness particularly his family life but it is amazing how God disciplined him and sustained him till the end. The thing we can learn from David for end times is to have a heart for God in the hustle and bustle of life. Mohan
A. The following are my feelings about the fact that Jesus is coming back all the way for me.
1. First I am deeply greatful for glorious hope: God’s salvation blessing to me and the delivery from the dread of spending a Christless eternity. However, I longed to be also seperated from the presence:
a. of the arrogant world which rebels against God and his kingdom which torments me day after day.
b. Despite the fact of God’s work of salvation in my life the constant inclination to do thoings which I do
not want to do. This tussle in my body vexes me.
2. I am curious and anxious awaiting the reward He has for me. I am clear in my mind that I deserve nothing and nothing could be accomplished without Him. However, I am grateful to things which I was able to accomplish by yeilding to God and be used to extend his kingdom on this earth.B. Further, my feelings and thoughts about my body that it will be glorified and be like Jesus is that at present my aging body needs a lot of attention in terms of excercise, medication which can be very worrying. Further, my abilities such as mobility and thinking are on the decline raising questions about my productivity and usefulness to serve in God’s kingdom. However, the prospect of receiving a imperishable, immortal body is very exciting and unimaginable gift.
Dear Adam, yes, the parable of the wise virgins is a good illustration of what our expectations should be, while awaiting the coming of the Lord. We could learn from the mistakes of the foolish virgins and be forearmed: their unprepardness, sloppiness at his arrival. Similarly, in the contemperory world, it would be a grave mistake to be preoccupied in put down roots in this life. The wise virgins are a good example for us to follow. They were sober, prepared at his arrival. The nice thing in scripture is that we can learn from bad as well as good examples! Mohan Sunderaraj
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