Spirituality and Sexuality: body and soul together

In the opening remarks, the speaker of the forum tells about the disquiet of the subject to many of us, whether be it clergy or layman. To speak about sexuality and spirituality seems to be taboo to many of the culture not only to the Christianity. However, the literatures and the ancient remain such as statues and temples, somehow seem to tell different story.

I am confident that human sexuality was there from the very beginning of the creation. I also believed that it was created for good purpose. I agreed to the notion that “sex” is more than just for procreation. It is for love, intimacy, relationship, and “entertains” our humanness. Or in other word to quince our desire for pleasure. Humankind have been and always will be seeks for all these love, intimacy, relationship, and pleasures. Now the question of sex being bad or sinful came to fore when Hellenistic philosophy intruded into the simple faith Christianity. Ever since this happened, the church has been constantly confronted by the issue.

Notwithstanding it mean for good, it becomes immorality when it is misuse. Sex is immoral not because it is originated from humankind. Sex is immoral and wrong because devalue humanity. When there is immorality, there is also hatred, envy and jealous. If there is such, the very purpose of sex failed. Anything is good and not necessarily bad when it is within the limit and border.

Above all, the Scripture tells us to be away from immorality and going further not even to stay with them. The numerous New Testament references concerning immorality are:

              Matt. 5:32/19:9 - "divorces. except for the cause of unchastity/immorality"

              Matt. 15:19/Mk. 7:21 -"out of the heart come adulteries, fornications

              Acts 15:20,29; 21:25 - "abstain from idols and from fornication"

              I Cor. 5:1 - "there is immorality among you..."

              I Cor. 6:13 - "the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord"

              I Cor. 6:18 - "flee immorality.. the immoral man sins against his own body"

              I Cor. 7:2 - "because of immoralities, each man have his own wife"

              I Cor. 10:8 - "nor let us act immorally"

              II Cor. 12:21 - "not repented of impurity, immorality, sensuality"

              Gal. 5:19 - "deeds of the flesh are immorality, impurity, sensuality"

              Eph. 5:3 - "do not let immorality or impurity be named among you"

              Col. 3:5 - "consider the members of your body to be dead to immorality, impurity, passion,. which amounts to idolatry"

              I Thess. 4:3 - "the will of God is your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality"

              Rev. 2:14,20,21; 9:21; 14:8; 17:2,4; 18:3,9; 19:2

When there is so much teaching, one can not ignore the warning of the Scripture. The subject should be taught cautiously. It is written so that it is profitable for the body of Christ. We should tell the truth always. However, we should also tell them the limitation and border, the consequences if misuses the liberty. If we are not able to tell them clearly on the subject, it will bring only confusion. Truth come along with risk.  

Life of Brian

Funny and hilarious! The very first scene of the movie tells something about that will be portraying in the entire length of the movie.

At the very outset, I felt it is rebellious movie against Christianity. Yes, one has the freedom to express his or her opinion but not at the expense of others. I observed nothing but a figment of human imagination. Beyond doubt, the movie intended to portray Brian to the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, to the writer of the movie, Jesus was Messiah by accident. The life of our Lord can not be accidental or funny as it appear in the movie. We sit back and laugh at the drama, wickedly created by some comedian. But at the second thought, I felt being ridiculed by the movie. Any elements of truths in the movie are accidental.

If I have to relate the movie to my congregation, certainly it would be to warn them of such movie. One can think of any subject critically but if our critical thinking is not guided properly, it would bring only chaotic situation. Wild imagination can be amounted to critical thinking. Every part of the movie makes fun of the early Christian. It can’t be that funny. If its true the whole Christian thing is a big joke and I don’t believed it is a great joke.

However, as a movie it is funny and hilarious. A very creative project; an attempt to bring the story happened ca 2000 years ago to the present context. For instance the ex-leper man, his only mean to earn for his food was by begging. Once he was made well, he can’t beg any longer. It is like cutting his livelihood. Since he can not identify with the leper nor with common people, his state of life hangs in nowhere. There are many among us today, who are like ex-leper. You are fine and ok but nowhere to find job! But one can see and still can seek for sustenance. Jesus made us whole so that we are open to the wider and larger opportunity. 

Dobol Trobol

When I first saw the advertisement for “Dobol Trobol” on the TV, I thought it is the Tagalog version of the John Paragon’s “Double Trouble”. I don’t know much Tagalog but I love to watch Tagalog movies. There is a saying, “Action speaks louder then words”! Well this is very much true to me when it comes to music and movie. I listened to some of the music which I have no clue at all, even a single meaning of what it is being sung. For instance Ilocano’s Abalayan. I don’t know the meaning of the song but the beating and melody seems nice and it is an ideal song for a dance. Another example is the recent song Hawa Kamay. Well, at first, it sounds like “How Come I”. So I thought the song is about 'how come I love you' or 'how come I left you'. Well, after asking few friends about the meaning of the song, it turn out to be entirely different from what I thought it to be. Sometmes, I tried to use my analysis skill but manyt times disastrous.

But the movie is little different from music. We can watch a foreign movie and still we can somehow make it out what it really mean. We saw the action of the actors. Sometimes we can be very accurate and sometimes not.

The similarity between Double Trouble and Dobol Trobol is that it is basically a comedy movie. While Double Trouble is little bit violence unlike Dobol Trobol. I observed that Dobol Trobol is more on the family issue. As expected, Vic Sotto and Dolphy make lots of hilarious comedy scenes. Now the problem with me is that I don’t have clear idea about the conflict of Dolphy and his wife. I am sure it is bad enough to separate from one another. At the same time I am not intended to learn what the problem was, I rather keep that way for it is Dolphy family issue. There must be many families like Dolphy’s family and I will not stick-my-nose-in with other family issue which is private. However, if I am consulted, I must do what I can to help them solve their problem. It is good for a clergy and pastor to watch movie or TV serials beacuse most of the current issues of the community or nation usually reflected in such medias. Pastors and clergy are called to serve the people - community. In order to know them is to identify with them closely. Dobol Trobol is just one movie that reflect many trouble families in the community.

The story ended somehow in romantic note. When I came to Philippines, I tried to learn few important words that include Mahalkita, Mahalna mahalkita! In fact Dolphy loved his wife so much still. I heard him saying those words when he was asked by his daughter the night before her birthday. The movie is a mixture of humor and love.