Many would know the situation our nation is in at the moment, many are concerned. I too am concerned.
But besides concern, I think many people do not understand why it is such a big deal. I am not an expert on the subject, neither am I one who uses the word in worship, but I'd like to propose my thoughts on why this truly is such a big deal, and why I stand in unity with my fellow brethren in support of this word being free to be used in the Christian circles.
Had I not been sent over to Kota Kinabalu by God, I think I too would be clueless on why this is such a big deal because its not something that most West Malaysians would see or experience. I did not while living back in the Peninsular.
So, why is using the word "Allah" such a big deal to BM speaking Christians?
Because its THE word to describe God in BM. And they've used it for generations.
Simple isn't it. But yet, if you would choose to think deeper and further into the issue, I think one would be very much surprised at how not-simple it is..
Let me give you my example.
I speak English, I worship in English. If I apply the same situation that the BM speaking Christians are facing into my own life, what will it look like?
I think it will look like this: I am being prohibited to use the word "God" to describe God. And I have been using the word "God" since I was a kid. And generations and generations before me have used the word "God" to describe God.
Sounds very very ridiculous to me.
But besides that, what are the effects of that prohibition?
-I cannot call God as "God"
-I probably cannot own a Bible because it has the word "God" in it
-I probably cannot own or read any books that have the word "God"
-Any music CDs or sermon CDs that I have will be confiscated because they contain the word "God"
-No books, Bibles, CDs and all other resource from anywhere else in the world can be imported and sold here, because everyone else in the entire world uses the word "God"
Can you even BEGIN to understand how restrictive and hard it will be for one to be subject to those conditions?! How of the faith of the person being subject to these conditions? How is one to grow in knowledge of the faith?
These restrictions lead me down disturbing thoughts of what perhaps the people pushing for the ban is trying to achieve in the BM speaking community as a whole by the ban on the word "Allah".
Some have asked: Why can't the BM speaking Christians use "Tuhan" instead?
Let's again consider an example, and put it in the same scenario above.
Why can't I use the word "Lord" to describe God instead?
-I'm not used to it, I've been using the word "God" since I was young
But more importantly:
-I still cannot own Bibles, CDs, books, resources from anywhere else in the world.
What about translating the Bible and replace the word "God" with "Lord"?
-It wont be as accurate as it was before
-Translating a Bible cannot be done in a day or even a month. There is no Bible translation in existence now that I can use to replace the one I have. Am I to wait years and years before somebody somewhere (if there is a somebody at all) translates the Bible into one that I can use in the restrictions imposed.
I cannot imagine being banned from using the word "God" in my daily worship and in my daily life. So how could I possibly not support my fellow Christians who are facing these situations now?
I pray that people all over the world would have their eyes and ears and heart opened towards our BM speaking Christian community and would rise up in prayer and petition for our nation and for its people.
May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, now and forevermore.
Posts
January 17, 2010 at 10:19 PM
hmm...i've never thought so deeply of the implications. yeah, guess it does go deeper than what is seen on the surface. it's obviously politically motivated :(
January 18, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Seems to be yes, but even if it wasn't, this ban would push the Islamization of the nation, esp amongst the bumiputeras of the country. It's already being done, if u know what goes on in the hostels in Sabah, but this will push it soooo much more.
Well, pray pray! Our God is bigger and He is definitely doing a deep work in the bumiputera brethren.
January 18, 2010 at 11:43 AM
It's not an issue until politics step in. I just wish that this is over. And yes, it is politically motivated, simply to manipulate public opinion.
1Malaysia - I wonder will it really be a reality. The people actually become open to one another but the one who should change are the ones in the political arena. Stop the race politics and religion fiascos.
January 19, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Well the nation from the higher ups might be in a mess, but who's to say the common people who live and breathe in the nation cannot make the difference?
If all the rakyat were truly as one and intentionally lived in unity and peace and love, the government won't be able to break it. Sure they can make life difficult, but if we stand our ground, we can be a great force for good =)
The difference starts with US! Esp since we can't count on the government to make that difference.
January 21, 2010 at 12:30 PM
well your comment is one sided. try to look at the other side of the coin as well. the general malay muslims who have for generations regarded Allah as their god, now have to be imposed upon them by law that their Allah is now a christian?! ehmm...
January 21, 2010 at 1:39 PM
Dear Zack,
I beg to differ and offer you the following reasons. I suggest that you do your own study and research to see if indeed what I have said is true. Its only then will people know the truth.
1. The word "Allah" pre-dates Islam. For generations before the conception of Islam, "Allah" has been used in the Arab world to denote God. The pagans, Jews and Christians all use the same word. So then if the people in the Arab nations have been using it since pre-Islam, and Judaism as well as Christianity have existed pre-Islam as well, how then can the word "Allah" be logically exclusive to the Muslims(in Malaysia, since none of the other Islamic countries in the world have an issue with it)? Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah and related articles for more info.
2. According to the writings of Islam, Allah in Islam is the same God as the Jews (and thus the Christians). I will not dwell much on this but encourage you to do your own study. Although I do not subscribe to the same views, I will point you to http://tr1.harunyahya.com/Detail/T/EDCRFV/productId/20066/ for your further study.
Hope the truth will be revealed to you through your own research =)
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