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[Introduction]
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
<Young Indians are more likely to commit suicide>
The study - published in the Lancet medical journal in 2012
Especially those living in wealthier and more educated regions
India's rapid development is driving many youths to despair, more job anxiety, higher expectations and more pressure to achieve.
Suicide rates are highest in the 15-29 age group,
Peaking in southern regions that are considered richer and more developed with better education, social welfare and health care.
As more middle-class youths strive to meet achievement expectations.
The higher rates may come from "the greater likelihood of disappointments when aspirations that define success and happiness are distorted or unmet by the reality faced by young people in a rapidly changing society,"
Among men, 40 per cent of suicides were among people age 15-29.
For women, it was nearly 60 per cent.
"The young face very high competition and pressure from families to succeed. Many parents think their child should come first in the class.
[You Weary and Burdened]
God’s diagnosis
Jeremiah 2:13 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
1. Our REBELLION against God
ð See the life of rebels, Naxalites, partisans
It’s very difficult to live as rebels.
Our rebellion is against God and his word
After the fall of Adam and Eve
The relationships were broken.
- God and Man
- Man and Man
- Man and the Nature
Genesis 3:16-19 16To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
After Cain murdered his brother Abel
Genesis 4:12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
Rebellion and Sinning drive us weary
Who shall not be nervous after committing a sin?
Jeremiah 9:5 Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.
Psalm 38:4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
<Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961)>
Carl Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul
He was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist and founded analytical psychology.
Jung is considered as the first modern psychologist to state that the human psyche is "by nature religious"
His core question was “Do you know who you are?”
“I have treated many hundreds of patients. Among those in the second half of life - that is to say, over 35 - there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life.
It is safe to say that every one of them fell ill because he had lost that which the living religions of every age have given their followers, and none of them has really been healed who did not regain his religious outlook.”
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"-
God is our help
Psalms 54:4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
God is not a burden but a help.
Think of dowry.
People considered a bride as a burden.
<Count Leo Tolstoy> A Russian writer 『War and Peace』
55세가 되었을 때『What I Believe』이란 책에서 고백합니다.
I am fifty-five years old and, with the exception of the fourteen or fifteen years of my childhood, I have been until recently a “Nihilist”. A Nihilist in the sense of being completely without faith.
Nihilism argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value"
18세 되던 해에는 신이 인간을 만든 것이 아니라 인간이 신을 만들었다는 친구의 말에 설득되어 기독교를 떠나기로 결심했습니다.
종교를 포기하는 것이 진정한 자유를 얻는 길이라고 착각했습니다.
I knew that I was unhappy, and that I suffered; and that all around me were unhappy and suffering likewise, and I saw no way out of this state of misery but through death.
Now I at 55 have returned to the belief that I had forsaken.
Not to a religion but to Jesus Christ.
I have found true rest in Jesus.
so, I may say, the whole aim and purpose of my life has been changed;
my desires are no more what they have been.
The prodigal son
Luke 15:17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
2. MAN-MADE GODS
a. Idols, substitute gods
Romans 1:22-23 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
b. Greed is idolatry
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Philippians 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
<남편감을 파는 백화점>
남편감을 파는 백화점이 문을 열었다. 이 백화점에 가면 마음대로 남편감을 골라 살 수 있었다. 규정이 하나 있는데, 이미 거쳐왔던 층으로 되돌아갈 수 없었다. 두 처녀가 꿈에 그리던 남편을 사려고 찾았다. 1층에는 직업이 있고 아이들을 좋아하는 남자들이 진열되어 있었다. “괜찮군. 1층이 이 정도면 한층 더 올라가 볼 필요가 있겠어.” 2층에는 돈을 잘 벌고 아이들도 좋아하며 아주 잘 생긴 남자들이 진열되어 있었다. “흠, 아주 좋아. 더 올라가자.” 3층에는 돈 잘 벌고 아이를 좋아하고 아주 잘 생겼고 집안일도 잘 도와주는 남자들이 있었다. “우와, 여기서 멈출 수 없어.” 4층에는 돈 잘 벌고 아이 좋아하고 잘 생겼고 집안일 도와주고 아주 로맨틱한 자들이 진열되어 있었다. “맙소사! 4층이 이 정도면 5층은 상상을 초월하겠지.” 5층의 안내문은 이렇게 적혀 있었다. “5층은 비어 있음. 만족을 모르는 당신, 출구는 왼편에 있으니 계단을 따라 쏜살같이 내려가기 바람.”
<원숭이 잡는 법>
아마존 유역에 사는 원주민들은 원숭이를 잡을 때 그들만의 독특한 방법을 사용한다고 한다. 그들은 원숭이를 잡을 때 야자열매를 사용한다고 한다.
먼저 야자열매를 따서 원숭이의 손이 들어갈 만한 작은 구멍을 낸 후, 거기에 돌멩이 하나를 넣는다. 그리고 원숭이가 잘 다니는 길바닥에 떨어뜨려 둔다. 얼마 후, 길을 가던 원숭이가 길바닥에 떨어진 야자열매를 발견하게 되고, 그것은 원숭이의 호기심을 자극한다. 원숭이는 야자열매를 툭 건드려 보고는 안에서 나는 돌멩이 소리를 듣게 된다. 야자열매 안에서 돌멩이가 굴러다니는 소리는 원숭이의 호기심을 더욱 자극한다. 곧 원숭이는 야자열매의 작은 구멍 속으로 손을 집어넣어 그 안을 휘적거려 돌멩이를 쥐고 그것을 빼내려고 한다. 하지만 돌멩이를 쥔 채로는 손을 뺄 수 없다. 원숭이가 손을 빼려면 돌을 놔야 하는데, 원숭이는 자기 손에 잡은 것에 대한 강한 집착 때문에 결코 그것을 놓지 못하는 것이다.
잠시 후, 원주민들이 길에 나가서 야자열매 안에 손을 넣고 있는 원숭이를 보고 쫓아간다. 그때라도 원숭이가 얼른 손에 쥔 돌멩이를 놓아버리면 자유롭게 도망갈 수 있는데, 원숭이는 돌멩이를 쥔 채 한쪽 손에 야자열매를 달고 열심히 나무 위로 올라가려고 한다. 하지만 제대로 올라가지 못해 결국 원주민들에게 잡히고, 죽음을 맞게 된다.
c. Human philosophies and thoughts
Relativism: Argues that there is no absolute objective truth.
i. Secularism: Argues that there will be no ‘Life after Death’ nor ‘Heaven’. What matters is ‘Now and Here’. (No kid couples, Enjoy)
ii. Naturalism: the idea or belief that only natural (as opposed to supernatural or spiritual) laws and forces operate in the world; the idea or belief that nothing exists beyond the natural world.
They accept scientific methods only as effective methods to determine truth.
Denies supernatural or spiritual.
iii. Utopianism: Believes man is good by nature. Argues that they can construct the utopia. (Science, Communism)
iv. Pragmatism: Usefulness matters. Doesn’t ask “Is it right?” or but asks “Is it useful?” (Abortion, LGBT)
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
3. The SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS(Legalism)
(Acquired Grace-Deficiency Syndrome)
The Pharisees:
- Hypocrisy
Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
- Self-praise and accusing of others
John 9:2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.
- No mercy for self or others
Matthew 12:7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
- Pride before God
Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
[Come to Me]
John 5:39-40 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1. Jesus made God known to us
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
John 17:6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.
John 14:9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
2. Jesus bridged the gap between God and us
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
3. Jesus is the source of grace
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
4. Return to the gospel of God’s grace
Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
2 Timothy 2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen
[Take Up My Yoke and Learn from Me]
John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
[Closing]
<Chariots of Fire>
Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams
True story of the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell disqualified himself from the 100 meters because he wouldn't run on Sunday. His teammate, Harold Abrahmas, gave up his spot in the 400 meters so that he would have a chance at a medal on another day.
A devout Christian, Liddell refused to run in a heat held on Sunday (the Christian Sabbath) and was forced to withdraw from the 100-metres race, his best event. Liddell spent the intervening months training for the 400 metres.
When the day of the Olympic 400 metres race came, Liddell went to the starting blocks, where an American Olympic Team masseur slipped a piece of paper into his hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honor me I will honor."
Inspired by the Biblical message, Liddell raced the whole of the first 200 metres to be well clear of the favoured Americans. He broke the existing Olympic and world records with a time of 47.6 seconds.
His performance in the 400 metres in Paris stood as a European record for 12 years, until beaten by another British athlete, Godfrey Brown, at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.
Service in China
Liddell returned to Northern China to serve as a missionary, like his parents, from 1925 to 1943.
In his last letter to his wife, written on the day he died, Liddell wrote of suffering a nervous breakdown due to overwork. He actually had an inoperable brain tumour; overwork and malnourishment may have hastened his death. Liddell died on 21 February 1945,
According to a fellow missionary, Liddell's last words were, "It's complete surrender", in reference to how he had given his life to his God.
Chinese authorities revealed that Liddell had refused an opportunity to leave the camp, and instead gave his place to a pregnant woman.
I Will Give You Rest_General Conference 2014_Portrait.docx