funny episode on my train ride this morning...

...there i was reading a book, choosing a verse for the morning sms. Lo and behold, these two young ladies passengers in the MRT train started a really loud conversation. yeaps, it was about their Christian boyfriends. Judging from the talk, these 2 ladies aren't Christians, and they are pretty peeved at their Christian boyfriends for trying to "convert" them.

Please understand that I am not deliberately eavesdropping on them. First, I was standing right next to them on the crowded train. Secondly, they are really talking very loudly, as if they were the only 2 people in the train carriage. Anyway, what struck me as "amusing" is the ladies' take on their boyfriends shoving the gospel down their throat. they were just "pek chek" why their boyfriends are so intent on making believing in something which they have no belief in.

I understand that salvation is no flippant quipping subject, and some may find my reaction to these ladies'  reactions a tad offensive and insensitive. But you really got to be there to hear them talk, man. All I can say is that I prayed for them on the train ride, amidst my chucking at their talk. Because I don't really want to freak them out into thinking, "Argh! another Christian guy with his chauvinistic and singular viewpoint!" Also, I believed it's not up to me (or their boyfriends, for that matter) to convert them. Only God can change a man's heart, in His Will and timing.

Here are some of the more salient points that struck me about their talk. The 2 ladies aren't very "convinced" by their boyfriends' persuasions and sharing. Basically, i believe it is a two-fold thing, Firstly, the boyfriends themselves don't seemed "convincing", because the world do not understand concepts such as the Holy Ghost/Spirit, the Bible as the Truth and Word of God. I hear snatches of the ladies' words like "But they don't seemed convinced themselves; they are, like, trying to convince themselves lor." While we can put it down as the boyfriends as bumbling fools with no gift of the gap, I would rather think that the world cannot understand the truths we perceive as true, as man is basically a fallen creature, separated from God's truth by his sins.

Secondly, it's like it's more a contest of wills between the ladies and their boyfriends. The ladies just simply detest the facts their boyfriends try all ways and means to get them to go church and join their social circles of Christian friends. When they refuse, the boyfriends and their Christian friends would turn to them and say, "Why you don't want to believe??" When one of the ladies said that line in an exaggerated, comical tone, I nearly burst out laughing. Because I can imagine the kind of expressions and tone which they think their boyfriends are asking them. For those of you who watched "Madagascar", think of the tiny lemur with big eyes that was supposed to be bait. Yeaps, add that image to the above lines in a high, whiny tone.

Finally, I believed it is not yet God's timing to allow Himself to be revealed to these 2 ladies. Basically, they view God as an "it", something of an intellectual concept that cannot be grasped as yet. They have yet to know Him as a person, to interact and be interacted with. Reverend Stephen Tong made a very good point in his evening sermon on the Sunday that had just past. When you view God as an "it", you won't feel close to God, as you would have view God as you view a chair or a stone. In fact, you may feel closer kinship with such objects, as you can see these (but not God). Only when you start to learn of God (through His revelation) and learn of His qualities, then would you start to think of God as a Person. You identify with God as a "Him", who did a lot, am still doing and will continue to do a lot in your life. Finally, when you learn to surrender and accept your place before God, would you start to acknowledge God as a "You". "You" is definitely much closer than "Him", as then Your God would be someone whom you known personally and communicate to each and everyday.

I'm praying for these two young ladies that they would really reverse on their present views, and come to know God as God already knew them. I'm also praying that God would help their Christian boyfriends to be more understanding, and to really pray for God's will to be done in their lives.