STUDYING THE BIBLE BY STUDYING CULTURAL MAPS

(Matthew 8: 5-13)
Words selected
Centurion
Authority
Centurion’s servant
Astonished
Faith
Kingdom of heaven
Deserve
Truth
Words with social significance
Centurion
Faith
Kingdom of heaven
SOCIAL ANALYSIS
Description
Centurion: The captain of the 100 (100 Soldiers in Roman Army). Undoubtedly, he was a high ranking officer. From his own description, he was a man with authority and has servants under him. By any standard, he was not just a mere Roman soldier.
Faith: Something we believe in, something we hold together, something we see by our inner eyes, something we are sure of without really seeing it, something we claim we have, something that give us hope and courage to go on.
Kingdom of heaven: Some believe it to be a peaceful state of life here on earth; some believe to be an eschatological celestial kingdom. Despite the differences in ones view, yet everyone will agree to the fact that kingdom of heaven is a peaceful and not much suffering or no suffering at all. Something better than the present corrupted society we have today.
History
Centurion: He was a certainly not a Jews. The main responsibility of the centurion was to train legionaries and failing to do so will amount to punishment. It said that they were usually strict and harsh. It took long time to become a centurion and they have to serve at least 16 (Sixteen) years as soldiers and need many recommendations from their superior. Certainly, life must have been comfortable for them. He can command soldiers and even has an authority to award capital punishment to the erring soldiers.
Faith: The term came from Greek word pistis (pistis) and was referring to allegiance given to Caesar, Roman Emperor. They considered their Emperor as god or at least demi-god. In order to become a Roman citizen, one has to declare their pistis in the Roman Emperor. It was Jesus, who shifts such allegiance to Yahweh.
Kingdom of heaven: This Hebrew concept of the promised Messiah establishing His kingdom, liberating His people from the power of the gentile and enemies. Probably this concept much has born in search of bringing hope for the captive Israelites in the foreign land. The issue that brought forth this kingdom was of the land or territory. We find such interpretation during Crusaders.
Knowledge
Centurion: Centurion was a man with authority. He represents Roman’s authority. But somehow, he got courage to approach Jesus with a concern for servant who was in terrible sickness. No doubt, there much have been a rich Jewish people those days with their servants dying of sickness. Interestingly, no Jews came up with such request for their servants. This particular centurion in Matthew 8 must be the same one mentioned by Dr. Luke in his gospel (Luke 7). Though many Roman officers are harsh, there must have been few Roman officers who were god fearing. Aside from his concern for the servant, we can see his humbleness.
Faith: The faith of Roman officer not only astonished Jesus but also create a challenge for the Jews. The Jews were exclusive by nature and when Jesus sent his 70 disciples for evangelism, there is a record that they were not suppose to entered any other house except Jews. This is an indication of the exclusiveness of the Jewish people.
Kingdom of heaven: Another exclusive view of the Jews and Christian. The Jews hope for the dramatic realization of the kingdom of heaven by the promised Messiah. Some Christians believed and anticipate the eschatological celestial reality to be realize soon when Jesus comes back. Still many Christian believed that Christ’s kingdom of heaven is already with us and we have to bring realization to the people by making all our effort to bring peace, justice and love to the humankind.
MODELS
To bring Centurion’s faith and concern for his servant, his little or big act of humility and Jesus astonishment and acceptance of his faith and further opening the kingdom of heaven for the ‘unlikely people’ is a great lesson. The idea of exclusiveness was defeated here by Jesus. His grace and love flows to everyone. Jesus’ acceptance oh his plea is an acceptance of all nation whosoever come to him will receive it.
WHAT RELEVANT TEACHING OR CHALLENGE DOES MY READING OFFER?
The people in power are usually individualistic and self-centered or selfish. The story is a direct confrontation to our social reality today. While, we could hardly find any officers or “public servants” whom we have elected come when are in need. In the present context, the story seems to glorify our officers, especially politicians in particular. However, some politicians do as this centurion did for his servant. Now, the question we need to us ourselves is ‘are we have enough faith to have concern even for others who are less fortunate like centurion’s faith that took him to Jesus?

5 August Bible Study Method and Curr. Devpt.

"Surprisingly, no one so far identify with Jesus as their favorite Bible character!" This is happening among the seminarian. May be, all of us thought Jesus is purely divine and in no way can we identify with Him! But Jesus was a fully human while He was on this earth. Are we making a distance by ourselves with Jesus? But I am sure Jesus is always close by us!

About parable! Parable, in the first century was not suppose to interpret by the one who is telling. It has to be interpret by the audience in their own meaningful way. It is like a joke, when we explain a joke, it is not funny anymore and likely people will laugh out of pitiness for the joker. Having said this, I am not trying to eqaut parable and joke, but it works the same way jokes work. So there can be many interpretation for one parable.

Biblio-drama

Guest teacher Dr. Anna from Sweden
"Change is painful"

Dr. Anna has been visiting UTS since 4 to 5 years back. She came every year to teach Creative Liturgy. Though I have seen her several times but this was the first time she came to our class to teach us on how congregation can actively participate in the worship.

She reminds me of one church I used to attend while doing my B.Th at Kerala, South India. It was an Independent Baptist Church in small locality called Chathanoor. There, we do something like biblio-drama but in different way. Of course we started with singing malayalam songs. One of the most interesting experience I had was the clapping of hands. As the song slowly picking up the rythm, our clapping also intensified and wooow by the end of the song, we were singing and clapping like a "bullet train". It was very fast and if you are not strong enough, clapping the whole song through was a challenging task. Now, after the songs, Pastor will pray first than anyone in the congregation, male or female, boys or girls, youth or old, local or international, will follow in prayer one by one as the Spirit lead us. About 4 - 5 peoples will pray. After the prayer was the testimony time. We have good numbers of members sharing their testimonies. Some were very interesting while some are not that interesting.

I thought Dr. Anna taught us something similar in the class like the church in small chathanoor baptist church. But she taught us something new and interesting.

We were divided into 6 different groups and allow us to come up with an expression with our body movement for the Lord's prayer. Though we fumble here and there, I think, we did well in the class. The whole point I am trying to learn from this activity is freedom of the spirit to express our prayer. While, my current church has few "deaf and dumb" members. So I thought this should helps me immediatly! She also taught us how to bring changes in the tradtional concept of Father God and heaven. This can be done through biblio-drama. For instance, we always look up or lift our hands to the skyward while referring to Father in heaven. Now instead of looking up or lifting hands to the skyward, looking around, lifting the hands of someone next to us, etcetera etcetera will bring something change to the atmosphere of the congregation. People will immediatly react to that. Reaction means effective. God is in us and among us then why should we look just to the skyward? This is just a tips of an iceberg! I don't think there should be rules or principles for liturgy to be creative but it is all about freedom of expression which convey the message best to God and to one another.

Injianmei khatni karaengmei

Ram kaguaina mei kandi khou nai bam mei guai hei peisa (coin) kum mei rana de. Simei nai tina tabui tei gaicho tumei aniu thai e, sucmei (hot/warm) nai tina tabui tei inchu cho tumei thai e, karaeng mei nai tina injianmei mei hei tabui cho tumei thai tuang nge. A-gaem mei nai tina thao tei pariu mei cho tumei thai tuang nge.

Mei kandi khou hei rapian-ripian rui padik nga bam bam me, thei sunu mei padig nga nai bam mei. Kalun lung nga theimei khatni sunumei tumei hei mansei akhat sumei panti khou ariu mak tu nu mag nga ariu e. Tiki khat khata suluai-sutiatmei tumei hei tho kalun lung nga ram mag ge. Aniu khat khata suluai sutiat mei khou rui duak nu e, agei nu e. Injianmei mei nai khuan ne thei, aniu kandi hei lung ju-ju mei kandi supuni e. Tabui thang rui suluai sutiat mei hei guang tu cho?

• Agaemei (greedy)
• Akhiam-mei (compitetion for monopolistic power)
• Ninglan-mei (Misunderstanding)
• Kalam din intang lou mag mei (Lack of complete information)
• Gan rei lou mak mei

Peina nai e, aniu lung puam mei gan khou, anou rui tan lak ni mei, sa-lak nimei, ning lak nimei, hei kaguai na tan ne, sa e, khatni ning nge. Aniu lungpuam hei matat khat na kha sini ti inchu kei e thei peina gai puni e.

Injianmei tumei hei peina kung mei latbam akhat suna bam bam me. Injianmei tumei hei kajat jat gei na nai e. Puipu rui nanun ta injianmei, champan chamraeng pang khou injianmei, tuna-ingan pang khou injianmei, aniu rui aniu Puidi ta injianmei, khouring khouna khatni thing nago-duipui duidaita injianmei, aniuta damlou mei Raguang rui aniuta injian mei. Injianmei tumei heini gaimeita injianmei nai e, khatni simei injianmei ni nai e. Hei jaeng rui injianmei hei tabui ta cho? gaimei tani kume thei simei tani tumei thai inthan khang nai e. Sulai-sutiat mei hei ni gansaek khang tho gaihag na ningbam khoni nu e, tiki kabiak akhat thang rui jao pui gan khou thu peina si e. Aniu injianmei tumei hei meiguai nakhang gai mei ni kumag gei thei arana khang gaimei cho tumei makum ran khang kage nai e. (Rongmei lat hei apui lat re tiki hithao higuang khang thai mag khe. Mei hei ni peini simei akhat re)

Many churches need shopping mall's effect!

A trolley full of groceries, students in their colorful uniforms and ids, looking little further at the far corner, few young people with a hairdo we can see only in some comic strips! Young lovers walking holding hands, good numbers of people are just doing “window shopping” (including me), salesperson never get tire of “Hello sirs/hello madams”, a full packed at Jollybee but empty coffee shop! and there is a sign near the cinema theater "Worship service every Sunday at 10 am at movie theater 4! Etcetera etcetera.
There are few places in Asia known for the shopping malls, namely Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong. But the whole Philippines can be considered as a shopping mall! Everywhere in the Philippine is Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong. It is like “All in One” package. The intriguing facts about the shopping mall is that people feels good being at mall, have you heard any fighting in the mall? Hardly! It inspire people to visit again and again, it motivate people to earn more money, everybody love to go to the mall! Now, if we have to relate such reality with the church life, there is something good about mall. I wonder what will be the answer if we ask a common people who has money this question, “where do you want to go - Mall or Church on Sunday?” Here, I am not trying to demonize the mall but I am trying to point the reality of human inclination to the practical reality. The church at the shopping mall is a very interesting proposition. There should be “mall effect” for today church. Shopping mall is inspiring in so many ways. For instance, when we saw something nice, we make all efforts to buy that thing. Even if we can’t buy, still it give some hope that one day, sooner or later, we will get it. Sometime, it is like the parable in the Bible that a person sold everything to buy the hidden treasure!
It will be interesting for a mission worker to incorporate the mall strategy and theology. We get maximum people in the mall than any other place.