RICA
I don’t know Rica Perajelo personally even though we belong to the same faith organization that collectively was publicly “neutral” in the recently concluded elections that changed forever the course of our history.
Like I said, I don’t know her so I don’t know how her politics have been in the past six years. I don’t follow people actually because it hurts to know friends you respect for their perspicacity can be (and have become) friends you used to respect for their perspicacity.
Anyway, I came across Rica’s heartache-ful post addressing how the evangelical community has failed the Filipinos. Her rebuke is more amplified considering she is a pastor’s wife. Her sentiments have been my sentiments since EJK became vogue even among Christian circles and incredibly, among its leaders. I agree with almost all that Rica said. I say “almost” because she writes, “and to think iniwan ko ang Catholic faith for this?”
Knowing her reputation, I know she did not leave her former (braver) religion for “this.” We all left our former lives for Jesus, not for the church, not for the Philippines, not for advocacies, but for Him and Him alone. Amidst the breaking of our hearts for our church and for country, let us not lose focus on that especially now and in the days and years to come. As we know, Jesus will never disappoint us the way our church and some of our fellow believers have disappointed us---and perhaps will continue to do so---but Jesus never had and never will. Let us find strength and liwanag sa dilim in that.
P.S. Perhaps churches should add to their repertoire in teaching the flock beyond discovering God’s will for their personal lives (marriage, career, school, etc.) Puro me, me, me na lang. It’s so individual-centered that passages like Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 6:33 have been diluted. No wonder some Christian voters chose on the basis of kababayanan ko kasi or kakilala ng kumare ng pinsan ng kapitbahay ng ninang ko.
The Christian walk is about taking up the cross and following Christ, and not following after our personal wants. Jesus taught us that to be His follower is to serve others, not ourselves. If we had remembered that in the months leading up to May 9th, the winner would still be the winner but not with a resounding victory over what is decent that might never come this way again.
I don’t know Rica Perajelo personally even though we belong to the same faith organization that collectively was publicly “neutral” in the recently concluded elections that changed forever the course of our history.
Like I said, I don’t know her so I don’t know how her politics have been in the past six years. I don’t follow people actually because it hurts to know friends you respect for their perspicacity can be (and have become) friends you used to respect for their perspicacity.
Anyway, I came across Rica’s heartache-ful post addressing how the evangelical community has failed the Filipinos. Her rebuke is more amplified considering she is a pastor’s wife. Her sentiments have been my sentiments since EJK became vogue even among Christian circles and incredibly, among its leaders. I agree with almost all that Rica said. I say “almost” because she writes, “and to think iniwan ko ang Catholic faith for this?”
Knowing her reputation, I know she did not leave her former (braver) religion for “this.” We all left our former lives for Jesus, not for the church, not for the Philippines, not for advocacies, but for Him and Him alone. Amidst the breaking of our hearts for our church and for country, let us not lose focus on that especially now and in the days and years to come. As we know, Jesus will never disappoint us the way our church and some of our fellow believers have disappointed us---and perhaps will continue to do so---but Jesus never had and never will. Let us find strength and liwanag sa dilim in that.
P.S. Perhaps churches should add to their repertoire in teaching the flock beyond discovering God’s will for their personal lives (marriage, career, school, etc.) Puro me, me, me na lang. It’s so individual-centered that passages like Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 6:33 have been diluted. No wonder some Christian voters chose on the basis of kababayanan ko kasi or kakilala ng kumare ng pinsan ng kapitbahay ng ninang ko.
The Christian walk is about taking up the cross and following Christ, and not following after our personal wants. Jesus taught us that to be His follower is to serve others, not ourselves. If we had remembered that in the months leading up to May 9th, the winner would still be the winner but not with a resounding victory over what is decent that might never come this way again.