{"id":33694,"date":"2014-06-13T15:55:49","date_gmt":"2014-06-13T07:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/?p=33694"},"modified":"2022-02-18T15:47:24","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T07:47:24","slug":"walk-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/walk-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the Christian faith a walk in the park?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;\">13 June 2014 by Lim Poh Ann-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>Some compare the Christian life to a walk in the park. They say everything is by faith. You just have to believe in what Jesus has done for you at the cross. Anything more than that smacks of self-effort, pride and legalism. Is it true?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33699\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33699\" style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33699 wp-caption aligncenter\" title=\"Ref : loveatfirstshop\" src=\"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/97244cab1.jpg\" alt=\"Ref : loveatfirstshop\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/97244cab1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/97244cab1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/97244cab1-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33699\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ref : loveatfirstshop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;\">Confusion and muddled thinking result when we lump together two different processes. <\/span><strong style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;\">Justification\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;\">which is through faith and faith alone. And\u00a0<\/span><strong style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;\">sanctification<\/strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em;\">\u00a0which is a life-long process whereby we die to self, submit to God, renew our minds and work out our faith.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">No right thinking believer disputes the fact that we are saved by\u00a0faith. What is crucial is that which follows. What\u2019s next? Genuine faith has to be evidenced by\u00a0works: &#8220;As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead&#8221; (James 2:26). Paul echoes this need for personal responsibility\u2014to work out our faith with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">A world of difference exists between \u2018work for\u2019\u00a0and \u2018work out\u2019. Author J. Oswald Sanders draws an analogy between salvation and an estate. We do not have to feverishly work for an estate. We have already been given an estate. But we have to work it out\u2014develop the estate\u2019s hidden resources.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33701\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33701\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33701 wp-caption aligncenter\" title=\"Ref : littlethingsaboutgod\" src=\"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/tumblr_mzugq4U9PK1r17noqo1_5001.jpg\" alt=\"Ref : littlethingsaboutgod\" width=\"500\" height=\"283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/tumblr_mzugq4U9PK1r17noqo1_5001.jpg 500w, https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/tumblr_mzugq4U9PK1r17noqo1_5001-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33701\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ref : littlethingsaboutgod<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">If we believe that we do\u00a0<strong>not<\/strong>\u00a0have to work out our faith, then we will have to\u00a0<strong>cut off<\/strong>\u00a0the following verses from our Bible:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Work out your faith with fear and trembling: Philippians 2:12-13<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Keep striving: Philippians 3:12-14<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Run the race with discipline so we won\u2019t be disqualified: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Holiness requires effort; confirm your election: 2 Peter 1: 5-8, 10<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Bear fruits that befit repentance and don\u2019t rest on your spiritual laurels: Luke 3:8<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Narrow and hard is the way to life: Matthew 7: 13-14<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">In view of the above references, the Christian experience is definitely not a walk in the park.<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">The teachers and preachers who like to\u00a0sugar coat\u00a0their messages make it sound so easy.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Be open-minded. Read the Bible for yourself and don&#8217;t swallow their teaching hook, line and sinker.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"line-height: 1.6em; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">It never was easy even for apostles Paul or Peter, the main protagonists in the New Testament. What makes you think the Christian life we&#8217;re supposed to live out is a walk in the park?<\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">You have to decide for yourselves which path you would take\u2014the broad and easy way or that which is narrow and hard. Do not allow your eternal fate to be swayed by sugar-coated messages that are contrary to what the Bible says.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_33702\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33702\" style=\"width: 448px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-33702 wp-caption aligncenter\" title=\"Ref : causeineedit\" src=\"http:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/jolanda-van-dijk.jpg\" alt=\"Ref : causeineedit\" width=\"448\" height=\"396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/jolanda-van-dijk.jpg 640w, https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/jolanda-van-dijk-300x264.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-33702\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ref : causeineedit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">\u201cFor it is time for\u00a0judgment\u00a0to begin at the\u00a0household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who\u00a0do not obey the gospel of God?\u00a0<span id=\"en-ESV-30448\">And\u00a0if the righteous is\u00a0<\/span>scarcely saved,what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?\u201d (1 Peter 4:17-18).<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>References:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence,\u00a0work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure\u00a0(Philippians 2:12-13).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Not\u00a0that I have already\u00a0obtained\u00a0this or am already\u00a0perfect, but I\u00a0press on\u00a0to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and\u00a0straining forward\u00a0to what lies ahead, \u00a0Ipress on\u00a0toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus\u00a0(Philippians 3:12-14).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises\u00a0self-control\u00a0in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I\u00a0discipline\u00a0my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified\u00a0(1 Corinthians 9:24-27).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">For this very reason,\u00a0make every effort\u00a0to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ\u00a0(2 Peter 1: 5-8).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Therefore, brothers, be all the more\u00a0diligent to confirm your calling\u00a0and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall\u00a0(2 Peter 1: 10).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Bear fruits\u00a0in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, \u2018We have Abraham as our father.\u2019 For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham\u00a0(Luke 3:8).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is\u00a0narrow\u00a0and the way is\u00a0hard\u00a0that leads to life, and those who find it are few\u00a0(Matthew 7: 13-14).<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>RELATED POSTS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>HERD MENTALITY<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Herd mentality exists not only in wildlife reserves and the financial markets but also in the spiritual realm.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>BACK FROM HEAVEN AND HELL<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Two men share about their supernatural experiences in heaven and hell.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>UNPALATABLE TRUTHS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Minimising the significance of harsh truths has its dangers<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>BETTER NOT TO ROCK THE BOAT?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Sugar-coated messages are soothing to the ear. By nature, people like to hear words of comfort, encouragement and blessing. Out of politeness or fear of upsetting good relationships, we are afraid to use the Word to\u00a0correct\u00a0or\u00a0rebuke.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><strong>WHAT BEING OPEN-MINDED MEANS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\">Like a parachute, our mind works only when it is open.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana,geneva,sans-serif;\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px;\">\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 14px; font-family: Verdana; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><strong style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\">Note:<\/strong><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\">\u00a0Dr Lim Poh Ann is a medical practitioner. He was the former editor of Asian Beacon magazine (December 2008 \u2013 October 2011). He can be reached at his blog, Porridge for the Soul:\u00a0<a style=\"color: #0d61ba; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; -webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"http:\/\/limpohann.blogspot.com\/\">http:\/\/limpohann.blogspot.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 14px; font-family: Verdana; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 14px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 14px; font-family: Verdana; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><span style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\"><strong style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;\">Article Source:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/limpohann.blogspot.com\/2014\/03\/picnic-in-park.html\">http:\/\/limpohann.blogspot.com\/2014\/03\/picnic-in-park.html<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 28px;\"><span style=\"font-family: trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif;\">| Share the Good News |<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>13 June 2014 by Lim Poh Ann- &nbsp; Some compare the Christian life to a walk in the park. They say everything is by faith. You just have to believe in what Jesus has done <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/walk-park\/\" title=\"Is the Christian faith a walk in the park?\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[5420,293,923,204,538,1178,77,891,245,44],"class_list":{"0":"post-33694","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-inspirational","8":"tag-a-walk-in-the-park","9":"tag-christian","10":"tag-christian-in-malaysia","11":"tag-christianity","12":"tag-christianity-malaysia","13":"tag-church-in-malaysia","14":"tag-jesus","15":"tag-jesus-in-malaysia","16":"tag-lim-poh-ann","17":"tag-malaysia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33694"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66379,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33694\/revisions\/66379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}