Effective

For the message to be effective, it has to be accepted. That is why the good news is effective only so far as the receiver accepts it. No amount of eloquence can persuade someone whose mind is closed. Therefore, any missionary or any person who has a message for that matter, can only do as much.  They may try to strategize and be creative but if the receiver doesn’t want to receive, it’s nothing. What we can do is pray to the One who is the only one who can change hearts. And while waiting, don’t get stuck, find other opportunities for mission.

by aats

Poor Guy

Some people can be very passionate about something, be it in faith or culture. For Christians, especially in communities, there is unconscious pressure to do something and for Filipinos it is worst sometimes. They encourage or irritably egg you to do something. Good example on this is having a girlfriend or boyfriend. They will never stop asking you why you don’t have one yet, then they start talking behind your back, “Maybe he/she is choosy, do not know how to court, or maybe he/she is a gay.”

But when you finally have a girlfriend or boyfriend, they are surprised and could not believe. They start making comments, “Why too fast or why him or her?”. “Why are you always together?” Hello! Of course, because you are in a relationship!

And because your relationship is now highlighted, every little bit of things you do becomes subject of gossip for them. Example, “You have no more time, you are always with her/him, you are disregarding your service. He/she is distracted.” They know better than you do.

Then comes the news of engagement, the moment they hear it, they still manage to have comments, “That’s too early, do they know each other well already? It’s not practical, they don’t even have financial stability yet.” And more.

Before, they use to tell you, marriage is about faith. Now, they ditch faith because it’s not practical. What is it really? Why can’t these people start appreciating instead of just criticizing? There is a good maxim, “Shut up if you have nothing good to say.”

What a poor guy you are if you are surrounded with a bunch of toxic people.

I have a suggestion, for those people who love to criticize, look at yourself and shut up. If you want to help, help without extra comments. Let them be, they know what they are doing. If they are practicing Christians, I am quite sure they prayed about it and they are not as idiot as you think they are.

For those who are targeted by these kinds of comments, disregard them, you don’t owe them an explanation. As long as you are doing what is right and honourable, I think you are doing well.

Get away from toxic people, they will make you sick. Just pray for them at a distance.

by aats