The term ‘Jubilee’ means celebration or rejoicing! And this is exactly what we Malaysians are commemorating as we rejoice over our 50th year of independence. Many moving recollections, documentaries, striking stickers and apt taglines (“Satu Warisan, Satu Matlamat” or “One legacy, One Destiny”) tug at our hearts and call us to celebrate and build up our nation.
In Leviticus 25:10, the 3rd book of the Bible, the Jubilee year was a call to “consecrate the 50th year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” My heart feels the prick of conviction amidst these celebrations. Have Malaysian Christians really been a part of this nation, caring for its welfare and proclaiming liberty to all?
Missing voices! Christian voices are missing in building our nation. One Legacy? Christians are no different and are caught in their prejudices against the races too. Imprisoned! Yes, we lock ourselves in our own comfort zones. One Destiny? Huh? ‘Christians are only concerned about heaven and that we are of no earthly good’ or so say our harshest critics.
I think we have failed. “Tanah tumpahnya darahku”, is just a song! Who cares? Do you?
10 comments:
50 years! Sounds so old and so long ago! Is there really anything to celebrate? Isn't it all very superficial and a waste of time?
True. The last merdekas have not been anything 'special'. What's most meaningful is that its a holiday.
but i think I ashamedly say that this year, I realise that not seeing anything special, not seeing anything to 'celebrate' is a sign of me not being fully Malaysian. I just 'live' in Malaysia. But what hurts or gives joy to Malaysia does not move me at all.
Used to think I was patriotic, hmm...how many centimetres long is my patriotism, i wonder.....
in my own world
No special feelings although every where in the campus is decorated with flags. Well, I wonder since when our national flag becomes a thing to decorate places and buildings? You can start a 'Count The Number of Flags' contest once you step in to my campus.
National Day - It's just another day for me. It's bad to feel that way...
Hey, come on, i do have things to complain about Malaysia but then in spite of all that, I want to celebrate the many things in Malaysia. I believe that people have labored and put in effort and sacrifices for our country and now we can proudly celebrate our 50th.
If we, as Malaysians don't even care & celebrate our own country, then it is really meaningless.
I think we need to rise up for Malaysia just like what the song says....
Men of faith rise up and sing
of the great and glorious king.
You are strong when you feel week
in your brokenness complete.
Rise up women of the truth.
Stand and sing to broken hearts,
who can know your healing power
of our awesome King of love.
We've been through fire,
we've through rain,
we've been refined
by the power of his name.
We've fallen deeper
in love with you.
You've burned the truth on our lips.
Rise up church with broken wings,
fill this place with songs again
of our God who reigns on high.
By his grace again we'll fly
Shout to the North and the South.
Sing to the East and the West.
Jesus is Saviour to all,
Lord of heaven and earth
-fitr-
I feel a little broken. I look around and cannot seem to find Malaysian Christians. Malaysian Christian who want to establish God's kingdom in Malaysia. We just want to sit in our comfortable churches and build bigger buildings to keep us more comfortable. It is no wonder that Christians are not relevant in our country and to our country's woes.
I feel disillusioned. With Christ? No, not Him. He would probably weep with the happenings in our country and then be found out there in the pubs and the streets, Chow Kit, our Malaysian Schools, on the Malaysian busses, and even places like Tg. Rambutan .. doing His bit for the people around Him. I am disillusioned with Christians.
Come on! One man can do so little. Why don't we rise up and shine for Christ out there. Isn't that what Salt and Light is supposed to be? Join me lah, please!
Whatever happened to the Lord's army in Malaysia?
Voice in the Wilderness
I got a wake up call one day. A foreigner asked my friends and I whether we are chinese or Malaysian. I said that it depends on who is asking. If I am in a foreign land, I would say I am a Malaysian. If I am in Malaysia and asked by someone, I would probably say I'm a chinese.
And this person said that in another neighbouring country, its citizens would never say outside of their homes that they are malay, indian or chinese. They always quote their nationality.
So obvious that our heart, eyes, and ears still look out for our race instead of our fellow Malaysians. That outside, we claim a brotherhood of Malaysians (Malaysia boleh!) but when inside this tanahair, we split into our races.
Outside, it is "Tanah tumpahnya darahku" but inside, it is more like "Kaum tumpahnya darahku".
I thank Petronas for their advertisements. Reminding us that we are 1 legacy. I don't want to be a missing voice. I want to share in this 1 destiny as well.
Ini negaraku. Saya orang Malaysia.
Previously-orang-cina
ps..for this 50th birthday, I will go find out(and try to get involved) in 1 social organisation. This is my birthday present to you, Malaysia.
Voice in the Wilderness,
the Lord's army in Malaysia still exists... It's just that they are scattered all over... each fighting to make Malaysia a better place in their own situations...
Also collectively we're praying for our nation, rmbr?
-your fellow comrade in Christ-
Consecrate the 50th year and proclaim liberty through out the land! Isn't that what the Jubilee year is about?!
Well, I want to be a liberty proclaimer. I want to start by healing broken bridges and giving dignity to other races. Then, I want to try to get involved in making Malaysia a richer place by reaching out in a social action NGO.
Malaysia, tanah tumpahnya darahku.
Today, I just heard from my colleagues that there have been rumours going around about a racial fight that's about to happen in the area where I stay during the Merdeka celebrations... *shudders*
The past few days, the presence of the police in this area is greatly felt (I myself witnessed the sudden road blocks yesterday), and many attribute it to the rumours... One of my colleagues was told by her cousin (who works in the Police Force) to take leave for the next few days to avoid trouble...
Rumours has it that two large group of gangsters (one group Malay, one group Indian) are going to have a mass fight cum killing (with targets of how many of the other race to kill)... And the rumours also have it that many Indian gangsters from Batu Caves are down south (where I am) to join their 'fellow comrades'... A rape case involving six Indian guys and a Malay girl has just happened in this area...
It's really scary when the purported riot cum fighting is said to happen in your area... And today, as I looked around at many of my colleagues and students, my heart cried out to the Lord, "Please spare them from any harm"... Though, being Cina, I'll most probably be 'spared' if I avoid the purportedly 'troubled' areas...
*shudders*
Lord, I really pray that the rumours are not true... Please, by Your divine power, do something. May the Police Force be much stronger than the purported rioters / trouble makers...
-looking beyond my own skin colour-
Was at a prayer meeting yesterday. We dutifully prayed for our nation, our Muslim friends, all the races and racial reconciliation.
But deep down, I sensed the stirring dislike and wanting to keep away from those we prayed for. Are we just giving lip service to praying oru are we going to be answers to our prayers?
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