Advent Passages - A (South Indian) Reading

Some of the best known and loved passages prophesying and heralding the birth of the Messiah, in a few languages and my South Indian voice.

Merry Christmas!

How loving Lennie changed my mind about pets

First of all, as someone who wasn’t raised with and has never owned a pet, every meme about cats is true. They are the star of their own show, and you’re the novice actor with a bit part. They will snuggle when they are ready to, will play when they feel like it, and will emerge out of their safe space on their time. They are immune to the sound of your voice, will ignore your pleas, and unless allured by food, are the original social distancers.

So, from confidently asserting that I was fine with pets, as long as it was others’, that I had no problem adoring their quirks, as long as they were at arm’s length, to now whispering “I love you, Lennie” in the midst of a hectic day, it is a tale of an about-turn in the face of first-hand experience.

Lennie, although, is an exhibit among cats. Temperamentally mild, she mewls sparingly and invites play by gently bouncing off your feet as you walk by. In the early days after my sister brought her over for weekend visits, I did try, somewhat, to be immune to her liquid brown gaze narrowing as she struggled to keep her eyes open, her dorrito-shaped face sculpting into a triangle if you lifted it for a kiss, and her soft pink paws walking pitter-patter over you as a stopover on her destination.

Three Lennie-inspired reflections:

1. Mortality: We’re off to a macabre start.

My sister insists that Lennie’s soul is eternal, and that the redemption of all creation one day means she will go ahead of her and stay ready to respond to her voice, in heaven as on earth. I don’t know — “Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:12). While pondering on Lennie’s trajectory including her slow deterioration and eventual death is dreary, it does spur a sense of urgency. In a treatise, Thomas Watson wrote, “He who often meditates of death — will make the best preparation for it.”

2. Uncertainty:

Lennie is smothered with affection, squeezed with cuddles and is the theme of many impromptu songs. Yet, going by her fright at the sound of a doorbell, her commitment to secluded corners, and her forlorn wailing at the crinkle of a can of tuna, one wonders if she thinks she’s one misstep or meal away from death’s door. Her memory clock resets each day, not taking the comforts of yesterday for granted.

For a to-do lister, detailed scheduler, and timeline-bound goal creator, grappling with uncertainty is discomfiting.

3. Curiosity:

It’s endearing when Lennie’s head turns, her ears tilt, and her eyes fixate on a squirrel, chirp, or a twig. One of my favorite ways of learning is to ask questions of people from all walks of life — in that sense, I’ve never met a stranger. Being curious is a valuable trait that supports the injunction found in Old Testament law, “then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly”. And Proverbs states, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” In our present state of the world with fixed ideological priors overruling any appeal to withhold judgment, hear all parties out, and be willing to change one’s mind when presented with evidence, I want to be like Lennie: ever-learning, ever-teachable, and ever capable of being influenced.

Lastly, I can imagine the generosity, wonder, and compassion, a pet would arouse in a growing child. So, future hub, if you think the kids would benefit from a pet in the home, I wouldn’t object. We’d have a role model in Lennie.

Finish well.

In an interview, Kellyanne Conway, a successful political campaign manager, frequently in the eye of relentless storms, posed this heart-breaking question, “Would you rather be right or be loved?” She was commenting on the extreme polarization within American politics where lifelong friendships and even marriages, including her own were being torn asunder by the blood-drawing sword of blind ideology.

I remember being impressed as a teenager in India, by Senator Ben Sasse’s description of political differences, that while politicians agree on the problems, they differ on solutions; some lying to the left while others to the right within the political spectrum. Except for the most rosy-eyed idealist, that is no longer held as true of politics anywhere in the world — we have entered good versus evil territory, red lines have been drawn, and the twain shall never meet.

These musings came to a head after an experience which caused me to ponder over the poverty of spirit, weakness of character, and stunting of spiritual maturity, that can result from elevating political devotion to the pinnacle of one’s life. It should not surprise Christians when unbelievers act like unbelievers, so I make it a point to exercise patience, extend the benefit of the doubt, and remind myself of who I would have been hadn’t it been for the grace of Christ. On the other hand, of all people, Christians have access to every resource to inform each facet of life, and hence the least excuse to plead ignorance or casual disinterest in the formation of a Biblical worldview.

May we never presume politics is neutral, and that God is sovereign over only the church, instead of governments, courts, and laws being under divine subjection to God’s standards of justice. May we live knowing that each of us will stand accountable not only for a slice of time on Sunday mornings, but all of life’s choices, including our political conduct.

So, if you identify as a believer (see what I did there :-), but have never paused to reflect if your political commitment is aligned to the will of God, or if you have cut off opportunities to grow when confronted with the convictions of a Christian who takes the Bible seriously, and willing to engage with patience and kindness, might I implore you to examine if you’re really in the faith? Perhaps, you will benefit from the questions I ask myself, knowing all too well how prone I am to wandering and presumption.

(1) Do you have a high opinion of the Word of God? Spiritual growth, like physical growth is not a mystery shrouded in an enigma. The renewal of your mind will only be accomplished by an intentional study of the Bible. We’d never believe that pulling a page at random from a textbook on quantum physics would arm us to apply its principles in general and particular spheres, yet we are satisfied to visit the Bible twice a week.

The recent unilateral cancellation of student loan debts led to thoughtful Christians weighing the morality of the issue, utilizing Biblical principles. “What does the Bible have to say” is a necessary starting point for safe reasoning powers, navigating moral morasses, and achieving mental clarity. 

Implant Scripture in your mind systematically, and you will detect perilous logic masquerading as wisdom, consistently.

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you".

(2) If you are a composite of the privilege of birth, opportunities to grow in godliness, and gifts to do good to society in general, and the people of God, in particular, do you tremble at being called to account for your time on earth? 

“To whom much is given, much will be required”.

(3) What is the status of your secret life? Do you walk in the light of God, knowing God has complete view not only of your public deeds, but your private actions, and even the motives of your heart? Have you been slow to make amends, to seek forgiveness, to express remorse at bare minimum efforts in your relationships, while straining to cultivate your personal brand and professional monuments? 

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked”.

(4) Do you seek the will of God and then determine to walk in it? A good check is that you shudder at the thought of being outside it. What can be worse than squandering your life, misguided by selfish ambition and craven aspirations, all the while believing you’re achieving your goals? If Christ has not transformed your desires, Christ has not transformed you at all. You would seek God’s glory, His aim in the world, and your role in it.

Sure, it’s costly to follow Christ, but not following Christ has a cost too.

 

“Your life is not your own, you have been bought with a price”.

(5) Who do you ally with? Is the political party that you’re striving to bring to power - enshrining wickedness in policy, acquitting the guilty while condemning the innocent, and rising in active opposition to the church? This does not mean that the opposing party is the default option, but when persecution comes (it will look different in the West), are you poised to be the voice of reason in your political position? 

Will you have at worst, compromised, or at best, hidden any semblance of a Christian witness, by dismissing grievous evil that God will judge, as “culture wars”? Will you have done damage to the cause of Christ and brought disgrace to His people? Would you please consider the future consequences of present compliances?

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain. The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD..”.

(6) Do you represent Christ well? At each movement, each wave of activism, each media report, do you wait for facts to be presented by all parties? Do you harbor contempt for a viewpoint from someone with less socio-economic or educational trimmings?

How can you appeal to Christianity’s truth claims based on reason, if you don’t exhibit that attitude in examining both sides of every issue? And most of all, is your guiding principle, whether you eat or drink, or expound on economics, politics, business, or law, to advance God’s righteous standards? We all bring a 'religious' persuasion to the public sphere; the atheist, the agnostic, and the Christian. Do you make a compelling case for righteousness, so that even unbelievers work with you to preserve its wide-ranging historic, present and future value to societies?

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake”. Notice the cause for persecution — ‘righteousness’, although our knee-jerk reaction is to consider it limited to bringing the Gospel to an unreached land.

(7) Are you capable of being influenced? Are you teachable? Is your life transparent and accessible to a community of godly men and women? Do you invest in the local church? 

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers”.

(8) Do you consider your own mortality? You have one life, and even that can be demanded of you in a heartbeat. Thinking of the night Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died still gives me chills. Media debates raged about the significance of relaying her judicial vision as she lay on her deathbed. How sobering to dwell instead on the fact that at that very moment, she stood before The Supreme Judge, without the foggiest doubt as to the reality of God, His rule over the world, or His righteous demands. 

“This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

Back to my musings. My disappointment at professing Christians' careless disregard for the laws of God and those articulating a lofty regard for them, was replaced with fear. 

So, note to self and appeal to you, dear reader - Don’t meander through life, satisfied with a Sunday sermonette and a Spotify worship playlist, blind to your eternal destination. Don’t evade righteous conviction. Don’t prevent the formation of redeeming relationships. Do finish well.

Photo by Braden Collum on Unsplash

Nostalgia. Melancholy. Worship

Must be that I'm approaching 5 years since I left my home country. Must be that my diet now has a steady infusion of daal, roti, and chai (chai latte for you Westerners) since my parents' visit. Or that I feel a nostalgic yearning for all things Indian upon reminiscing that my plans at departure included likely returning after 6 months. 

In that spirit, here's a list of songs from my native land that remind me both of a bygone era and a time yet to come. Songs that deepen melancholy but still express hope. 

And if there were a way to convey continuity between Mumbai, the chaotic city of my birth and a tranquil eternity unsoiled by pain, heartache and injustice...

(1) The words of this song occurred to the writer (Wilson George), heartbroken at the sudden death of his 30-year old brother, Sunny. He died in an accident in 1990 while on his way to preach the Gospel in Nagpur. The writer was originally supposed to travel with his brother, but couldn't join him at the last minute. 

Maut zindagi ki aakhari manzil to nahin; maut ke baad ek aur zindagi abdi 

Ki abdi zindagi mein, apne kaamon ka pratiphal paoon 

Anant ke liye kuch inaam kama jaoon; isse pehle ke chala jaoon, is duniya se 

Death is not the final destination of life; there is a life eternal beyond death 

And in that life eternal, I will receive the fruit of my labors  

So I must reap a reward toward eternal life; before I depart from this world 

Translating it does not adequately capture its solemnity and gravity on the one hand, or its expectation and ecstasy on the other. 

Psalm 90:2 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom".

(2) The haunting bridge. The classical harmony. And the rich score. 

Andheron mein tu roshni hain; tu hi manzil, tu raasta bhi hain  

Tu hain jahaan na kuch kami hain; tera hi naam zindagi 

In darkness you are the light; you are both the destination and the road to it

Where you are, there is no lack; your name alone is light 

Matthew 4:16 "The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

(3) And this final gem is in Malayalam (I wouldn't be surprised if it's amongst the languages spoken in heaven). Malayalam, is the state language of Kerala, situated on the southernmost tip of India, where history records Thomas, the apostle of Christ, as having arrived in AD 52. He was martyred in Mylapore, near Madras (now Chennai). 

Yeshu en pakhshamaai theernanithal, enthor anantham ee bhuvil vaasam

Haa ethra modam parthalathil, jeevikyun naal 

Since Jesus has been on my side, what peace has been earthly living, 

Oh what joy on this mortal coil, as long as I live here 

Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

 Yeshu en pakshamaai

A giant leap backward. Why scientific fraud affects us in more ways than the obvious

I was greatly agitated by the recent revelation of fraud in the scientific world of Alzheimer’s research. It felt like an affront, a betrayal, and a giant leap backward. For well over a decade, so much of public funding and pharmaceutical investment has focused on Alzheimer’s disease that a breakthrough seemed just around the corner. There was palpable excitement when I graduated from my Masters in Biotechnology in 2008. The human genome project was grandly announced to be completed through the joint efforts of the NIH and Craig Venter’s private venture. Gene editing was expected to correct many genetically-inherited diseases, beginning with single-gene mutations. Neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and auto-immune diseases, with promising drug candidates in Pharma pipelines, were due to be treated in the near-future as manageable conditions.


In light of this expectant glow that bathed any new discovery and any new approval related to Alzheimer’s, the allegations of fabricated data in highly cited articles describing a leading theory of disease formation, are no doubt a massive setback.


Science.org’s investigation into claims of misconduct by the leading light of the dominant theory on the causative agent in Alzheimer’s, Sylvain Lesné, reveals how perverse incentives in science can actually hinder critical thinking. Because scientific journals reward novel work, there is insufficient motivation for researchers to disprove prior theories, or attempt reproducibility. After this mischief was unearthed, it was reported that scientists who tried to replicate the finding of Aβ*56, the purported culprit in the formation of brain plaques leading to Alzheimer’s, were unsuccessful.


In addition to wasted funding of over a billon dollars by the NIH, this reigning theory is believed to have led researchers off into an erroneous direction for 16 years. The FDA’s controversial decision in 2021 to approve Biogen’s aducanumab for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, directed against Aβ, despite weak clinical trial results on its efficacy, and against the guidance of its advisory committee, should have begun exposing the weakness of a system that undermines ongoing critical inquiry of past scientific discovery.


Matthew Schrag, the neuroscientist who played a key role in unearthing the fraud of manipulated images in Lesné’s articles, speaks of his lab experiments on the link between Aβ plaques and iron deposits, and a high cholesterol diet in rabbits. When Schrag moved to replicating the results in humans, he failed. Alzheimer’s was a complex disease and as he explains it, even careful experiments done in good faith can fail to replicate, leading to dead ends.


Personally, there was another reason why this uncovering was so disquieting. In the last three years, most of the civilized world in a mass abdication of the values that propelled scientific exploration and advance, congealed around the two blunt tools of lockdowns and vaccines. Obdurately refusing to learn from the success of an alternative approach, the crushing of dissent from those who refused to sing from the official song-sheet was immediate and complete.


The criticism of the expert-driven consensus around Covid was primarily that science is never settled, that it requires an attitude of healthy scepticism, open-mindedness to a multiplicity of therapeutic strategies, and a willingness to course-correct in the face of mounting evidence. What’s especially galling is that the heavy-handedness of governments and health bureaucrats was executed in the name of service to science. The loss of credibility and trust in public health institutes is a blow that would be hard to recover from. This broad distrust of the purveyors of science is a frightening development, not least because it puts paid to the conspiratorial bent of many who reject scientific endeavors brought to fruition through the academic-industry network.


During the pandemic, I noted with consternation, a growing tendency in some circles, to connect all pharmaceutical treatments, and all healthcare systems and procedures, to a global malfeasant plot. It really didn’t help that much of what would otherwise be dismissed as conspiratorial, actually came about, through governmental overreach, regulatory authoritarianism, and breach of territorial sovereignty by the dictates of unelected global elitists. I do not have hope that this situation will improve; I fully expect that in the war-pandemic-famine-crises the world will yet undergo, we would have relinquished more of our liberties and suspended more disbelief.


Addressing my fellow Christians, as an aside, nuance should be our forte, and waiting to examine all evidence, the norm. I love how the New King James puts it in the book of Proverbs, “The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.”


As people who make the case for our faith by appealing to reason, pointing to the historical authenticity of Biblical manuscripts and events, and presenting God as the One who empowers minds to uncover the principles behind the fixed laws He established in nature, there ought to be a very high bar for what we believe about what’s happening in the world. Gleaning from the wisdom of the 8th century prophet Isaiah, “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.”


Scientific dogma, in general, is disconcerting. It’s easy to forget that as late as the mid-19th century, maternal deaths were common due to the absence of antiseptic procedures. When Ignaz Semmelweiss in 1847 proposed handwashing with a chlorinated lime solution, he was mocked by his colleagues, and roundly rejected for going against the scientific consensus of the time. He was eventually committed to an asylum where he died shortly after, due to being beaten. He was vindicated only three decades later, when handwashing measures became a widespread practice.

Semmelweis-reflex: reflex-like rejection of new knowledge when it contradicts norms, beliefs, paradigms

Makes me wonder which of the unfalsifiable theories we do not tolerate any questioning of, will be cracked open years from now. Even Darwinian macroevolution which is the sine qua non of biology, which has had several intellectual critiques by scientists across multiple disciplines, including mathematics, will perhaps, not be required allegiance for advancing in careers. Intelligent design (which opens the probability of God, but does not work within a theological framework), might gain ground as a credible explanation for the origin of life. There are several noteworthy scientific discourses on the exploration of intelligent design as a theory, without the scientists holding any religious viewpoint.


“Even if misconduct is rare, false ideas inserted into key nodes in our body of scientific knowledge can warp our understanding,” said Matthew Schrag, the Alzheimer’s neuroscientist supporting the petition to the NIH about the data fraud. I’m making an extrapolation to societal conduct and cohesion — the most urgent rediscovery, is of the need to engage with differing opinions, instead of viewing them as threats. More to come, on the detrimental effects of extreme polarization, due in large part to, a refusal to challenge one’s intellectual hubris, and inviting another into one’s mental and emotional vaults, with their suppositions, worldviews, and experiences, while demanding acceptance, nay, celebration of our own.

The Donald Trump Dilemma – how does a Christian live with the contradictions?

Christianity Today recently published an article making a case for Donald Trump's removal from office, suggesting it unthinkable for a Christian to support him. The mainstream media in the States otherwise keen to ignore Christian opinion, promptly gave it traction, like a disapproving landlord finally hearing a pesky tenant out. In a conversation with an acquaintance, she was quick to assert that Christians are hypocritical in applying their moral standards, by giving Trump a broad pass, just because he appeared to be on their side. She was convinced Christians were being conned. 

We’ve heard some version of this over and over again – Christians have abandoned all principle in favor of political expedience. Not only are they turning a blind eye to Trump’s serious flaws, but they’ve gone so far as to congratulate and uphold him as a role model.

So, what is the truth? Is it as black and white as critics claim? And what if two things were true at the same time?

I enjoy discussing politics and world affairs, and am a minor history buff (although my enthusiasm far outweighs my knowledge), but I’m growing very selective about whom I have these conversations with. Politics has become so extraordinarily tribal, that no longer is it about debating policy or the merits of an issue. It’s now all about picking a side, and sticking with it, no matter the intellectual cost. If your side goes sliding down, you sink with it, or even pretend that all is swell.

In November 2016, I was in India, and convinced that Americans weren’t so ignorant as to elect Donald Trump, reducing the US to a laughing stock in the eyes of the world. There was no question, in my mind, that Hillary Clinton was by far, highly electable, and must win, if the US were to remain a dominant player at the world table. A strong US that speaks for free speech, free markets, religious freedom, and remains, in many cases, a last bastion for human rights across the world, is in the best interest of all countries, including India. I was nearly in tears, as the results from the electoral college started coming in, and it looked certain that Donald Trump was going to be the President of the US of A. His losing resoundingly, seemed inevitable just that morning.

It took a call with my mum, to begin my journey of looking beyond the clamor of one-sided, elitist, and contemptuous coverage of Trump and his voters. My education started with listening to conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro, exposing myself to news from the right-of-centre spectrum, and an insightful book by J.D. Vance, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’.

It helped me appreciate that the US is not homogeneous, and that it’s more than the East and West Coasts. The ravages of decades of leftist welfare policies, and governmental overreach, combined with the opioid crisis, had left deep scars in swathes of middle America, who felt forgotten by politicians and snubbed by coastal elites.

I moved from an antagonist to a sympathizer. Stephen Harper’s (former Canadian Prime Minister) “Right Here, Right Now” added nuance to my broad education, on the rise of populist, right-wing movements in many parts of the West.

So, yes, it’s compatible to be a Christian and vote for Donald Trump. In a landscape of worsening choices, going with a party/politician that will least hasten cultural decline, is a legitimate option. Christians should not judge each other for making a political choice they wouldn’t have made themselves. Ultimately, the office merits respect, and to the extent that one’s conscience is not violated, obedience to the government, and being a good citizen is obligatory for a Christian, irrespective of which political party is in power. 

Another complicating wrench is the plain truth that the President of the United States may not be a stalwart Christian or an exemplary human being. That would be ideal, and when someone comes close, absolutely worthy of celebration. Regardless, a Christian’s duty is prayer for those in positions of power, making well-considered choices based on who aligns most closely with godly values in a rapidly decaying society, and ultimately acknowledging that God is sovereign, over who is elected. 

Sometimes, a ruler is put in charge, for mercy and respite, sometimes for judgement and indictment.

So, one can find a politician’s personal behavior morally problematic, while extending support on a policy-by-policy basis. There's also no question unfortunately, that association with Trump has damaged the evangelical witness, especially when they have remained silent in the face of Trump's excesses and mean-spiritedness. This must be part of a larger critique of the church relinquishing its responsibility and moral high ground in being a convicting voice against cultural decay. 

As loathsome as a Christian may find Trump’s lifestyle and character, fact is, he has surrounded himself by conservative appointees and advisors who support the traditional causes that Christians understand to reflect God's bestowal of common grace to human society. “The least of evils” is not a great argument, but in an era where post-birth abortion is not just accepted, but shouted from the rooftops, and infanticide softened by the deceptive use of words like a “fetus born alive”, voting for a President who intends to curb such an evil practice, is not only wise, but I’d go so far as to call it imperative.

Let’s live with these contradictions; always in tension, never fully reconciled – support the President when he takes a righteous stand, call him out when he is petty and vindictive. Pray for him, without tripping over his supporters to praise him. In a world gone awry, it’s possible to be uncompromising, while being shrewd as a serpent. Most of all, let’s not stoop to what is happening all too often; contempt for a fellow human being who made an unexpected voting choice, instead of empathy for why.

***Update, 2022***

As of this writing, Trump has not announced that he will run in 2024. He should not. Circumstances have changed; our response should wisely modulate. 

He should step aside for someone who has the competence, character, and message discipline to build on and carry forward his policy wins. His party has a deeper bench; there are legitimately good candidates for the presidency. 

To channel Elon Musk, Trump is drama. He cannot stop airing his grievances over the flaws of the last election. He had his day in court to prove his claims of ballot fraud, but was unable to. He could have done much to protect the integrity of the election process, while still in power, to limit the weaknesses engendered by mail-in votes. 

The January 6th 2021 debacle can be pinned on several guilty parties, however, there is no contesting that Trump handled himself poorly and that his heart was not truly into being a peacemaker that day. 

He has served his purpose - the flamethrower who voiced the aggravation of his countrymen, frustrated that their elected leaders and the permanent underclass, were thwarting their voices. 

It would now be better for him and his country, if he could muster grace, play kingmaker, and prompt history to exonerate his administration in the aftermath of the American quest for self-sabotage. Any stable genius would. 

 

Redemption for the woke and the base

While seemingly on unrelated subjects, an imperceptible thread runs through the two books I recommend below. In times antiquated or modern, the voids in our hearts demand to be filled. Where previously, those voids were occupied by faith, family, and faithfulness, we now miserably fill those with confused replacements while ardently denying their very existence. 

WOKE, INC. Inside corporate America's social justice scam, Vivek Ramaswamy

I first came across Vivek's contrarian thinking (by present standards) in a business news segment where he railed against stakeholder capitalism. As one of the few CEOs vocal about the disproportionate pressures exerted by the woke minority on  companies' policies and culture, his voice was a clarion call in a landscape of cowering homogeneity. His is a relatable story, as a second generation Indian immigrant to the US, from Wadakkancherry, a town in Kerala, the state of my ancestors. 

He narrates his experience working at Goldman Sachs, the most elite financial institution in America, where a hallmark event was 'Service Day'. Supposed to be a full-day spent serving the community, few of his colleagues seemed interested in planting trees at a park in Harlem. The group head showed up an hour late in a slim-fit suit and Gucci boots, "let's take some pictures and get out of here". In 30 minutes, they were at a bar where Vivek's colleague justified their flippancy by laying out the Goldman Rule: "He who has the gold makes the rule". 

Vivek is an outspoken critic of the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) rules, testifying at a congressional hearing about the dangers of distorted capital allocation by investors, in favour of a social justice agenda. He describes the emergence of the woke-industrial complex, an unholy coupling between government and big business, that allows this hybrid model to get away with what neither could, on their own. The pretence of not caring about profit or power has worked out very well for these corporations, by giving them precisely more of each. 

In a ludicrous example, when female employees sued Statestreet, a US mutual fund, alleging a pay gap with their male counterparts, the company did what any responsible one would have done. It erected a statue of a little girl standing up to the iconic bull on Wall Street, with a placard, 'SHE makes a difference'. Turns out, 'SHE' also stood for an ETF which traded on the stock exchange, which when purchased, redounded to Statesteet's benefit. 

The most egregious example of wilful corporate negligence was by one of the world's largest consumer behemoths, Unilever. In a Kenyan tea-plantation owned by Unilever, while offering top-notch security to their well-heeled executives, they left their economically disadvantaged, local, female employees unguarded from 'brutal and foreseeable attacks'. After violent incidents in which several women were killed and raped by local thugs, Unilever compounded its cruelty by refusing liability or making restitution for their wrongdoing. Of course, none of this dampened their worldwide marketing blitzkrieg for the 'empowerment of women tea plantation workers'. Meanwhile, they were fighting the just demands of the local women they mistreated tangibly, while effusively pretending to care for ethereal women globally. 

As an ardent believer in service to one's nation, I've held that governments should encourage their youth to a stint in public office and bureaucracy. Not only would it be an opportunity to tackle seemingly intractable problems with the optimism of youth, but would also inculcate a sense of duty, preservation of a national identity, and the belief of one's rise being inextricably linked to the nation's. 

The author recommends civil service by conscription. I disagree with the desire to make service mandatory, since non-voluntary actions tend to foster resentment and evasion. 

One of the most poignant critiques in the book is on woke consumerism. Signalling virtue through the goods we buy is a vacuous attempt to fill the sense of purpose previously driven by religious impulses. As the author says, in the new American search for identity to give our lives meaning, we make the ordinary sacred. To which I must add its corollary - and make the sacred ordinary. 

OUT OF THE DEPTHS, the autobiography of John Newton

In stark contrast to Millenial and Gen Z's convictions in their own goodness, is the repentant slave trader who never lost awareness of God's condescension to Him. He sails on many voyages to Africa, transporting slaves for trade, as a captain of those ships. Squandering many years of his prime in avarice, rebellion, and mistreatment of his fellow men, he surrenders finally and helplessly, to his need to be saved from himself. 

John Newton goes on to write many timeless hymns, including the unfading, Amazing Grace. Along with William Cowper, the prolific and depressive poet, he published a collection of hymns, including the evocative 'God moves in a mysterious way', a profound gift through the centuries. His friendship offered a respite from Cowper's relentless despair. 

'Out of the depths' is John Newton's autobiography, written as a reflection of God's mercies toward the most hardened of hearts; ever present through acute dangers, rampant backsliding, moral failings, and protracted grief. In our 'cancel first, ask questions later', culture, Newton's life story is a reminder that none of us can set ourselves up as a higher standard of love, justice, and compassion, than the God through whom we have the conception of those ideas in the first place. 

He becomes a prominent abolitionist, preaching against the evils of slavery, as a pastor in London, and a confidant of William Wilberforce. Wilberforce, was an evangelical Member of the British Parliament who strove to put an end to slavery. After campaigning for 9 years to abolish the slave trade and finding it fruitless, he considered retirement from public life. 

Newton wrote him a powerful letter. He believed that God had placed Wilberforce to serve as a witness to Him. "The example, and even the presence of a consistent character may have a powerful, though unobserved, effect upon others. You are not only a representative of Yorkshire. You have the far greater honour of being a Representative for the Lord, in a place where many know Him not, and an opportunity of showing them what are the genuine fruits of that religion which you are known to profess". 

Encouraged, Wilberforce continued his efforts in Parliament, looking to the Bible for direction in all of life, not aiming to separate his faith from politics. Wilberforce recognized that without a spiritual base, those who attempt social reform would not only flaw in their efforts, but in the end, do harm. 

"My judgment..rests altogether on the Word of God. A man who acts from the principles I profess, reflects that He is to give an account of his political conduct at the judgment seat of Christ". A sobering thought, which I hope stays ingrained in my mind when tempted to disengage loftily by dismissing my responsibility to think and act righteously in the so-called culture wars. 

To see you again

You held my hand and walked me through the woods

told me stories by the candlelight

Your eyes twinkling as you read stories of yore

I sat in rapt attention, lost in the sound of your voice.

The meals we shared, all the times we laughed

For every time I held your hand, for every time I shared your joy;

I can't believe I won't see you again

I keep holding onto your hand, your fingers in mine

and time can't take that away.

I had my heart set on happiness

Now, a fist clenching my insides

sinks down my vitals,

and I can hardly breathe

My heavy heart wears me down,

and I'm not alright.

His ways I don't understand,

and I don't even try

It is His to give and His to take away

and I can only look back.

I'll just rest my head at His heart,

lay my hurt on His shoulder

I'll just be held in His arms,

entwine my fingers with His,

and live under the shadow of His wings.

-In memory of my beautiful cousin, Bindu John, whose voice still rings in my ears. 

Confessions of a Doomscroller

I'm sure many of you will find this personal development relatable; a growing anxious attachment to your cell phone, only exacerbated by the last two years of the global pandemic. The confinement to the walls of our homes, limited outdoor mobility, minimal exposure to friends and family, and panic fanned into flames by a monolithic opinion on matters of public policy have caused us to retreat deeper into the distracting folds of social media. 

Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and best-selling co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind refers to the Biblical story in Genesis of the Tower of Babel where God confuses the language of people groups, so they couldn't understand each other. In our modern context, our inability to communicate with each other despite the game-changing optimism heralded by social media has underlying causes far deeper than the tribalism which had existed even prior to recent years, and has only made us better authoritarians. 

Always something of a news junkie, I succumbed to the urgent need to stay aware of each minutiae of the unfolding pandemic at all times. One crisis dovetailed messily into another - a recklessly protracted return to a semblance of normalcy was de rigueur in most countries, while self-sabotaging their economies and the mental health of its most vulnerable populations, through a reliance solely on the blunt tools of lockdowns and a sole therapeutic intervention. To that, add the newfangled transformation of scientists into economists, spiritual advisors, and even foreign policy experts, creating a surging fear of missing out on the latest informational tidbit. 

My mind never rested - even while attempting to switch off for the night, I listened to podcasts from experts, absorbing and processing information - ever alert to formulate, change or confirm my opinion. 

I'm increasingly beginning to doubt my ability to influence monumental shifts in world events through my powers of persuasion. I need to scroll less. And rewire my tired and fraught brain with a new approach. Perhaps, you will find it useful, if you like me, want to deescalate from the wars waged in your world. 

(1) Expanding my mental palette: From consuming a veritable smorgasbord of political opinions and Twitter expertise, I've curbed my appetite for the 24/7 news cycle. Turning instead to a more wholesome diet comprising business, history, economics, science, and cultural theology. The latter is significant - entreating myself to go to the Bible as a starting point for various conflicting issues tearing societies apart has been valuable. And not least due to the conviction that the Scriptures have instruction, direction, and wisdom to be unearthed in each of the situations human societies are finding themselves embroiled in.  

(2) Engaging in deep work: Cal Newport in his Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World says, "Once your brain has become accustomed to on-demand distraction, it’s hard to shake the addiction even when you want to concentrate. To put this more concretely: if every moment of potential boredom in your life—say, having to wait five minutes in line or sit alone in a restaurant until a friend arrives—is relieved with a quick glance at your smartphone, then your brain has likely been rewired to a point where, it’s not ready for deep work—even if you regularly schedule time to practice this concentration.” 

I am trying to carve out time sprints where I work undistracted without reaching for the phone or checking e-mails, with a singular focus on the task at hand. Whenever I've adopted the mindset of a productivity-fiend, not only have I been able to accomplish a greater number of tasks, but also stretched my ability to learn and hone a new skill. 

(3) Calling to mind that God is sovereign: Watching the world seemingly ready to blaze within a tinder box, I can often forget that God is the ruler of all kingdoms and events on earth. It is He who causes nations to rise and fall, orchestrates or permits events, and appoints the days of man. Justice can seem agonizingly slow, peace, a figment of a philosopher's imagination, and joy, a distant and fleeting memory. 

However, for the believer, there is the calm assurance that there are no coincidences in their lives, no freak accidents, no instances of divine negligence. If I didn't believe that even unjust, evil, or maleficent actors can only go as far as God allows them, are entirely subservient to the purposes of God, and whose wickedness can be weaved into a glorious pattern in the life of His children, life would be searingly burdensome at best, and justifiably spent on hedonism at worst. Oh, but thankfully, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Hurt and Affliction: When there is no end in sight.

By now, you've heard the Will Smith slap loud and clear in your living room and replayed to stirring emotional effect. 

It might be odd to sympathize with the aggressor here, when he is so clearly in the wrong. A misguided stream of support in the aftermath lauded him for defending his wife's honour. A man so relinquished of self-control is weak and defeated, hidden beneath the picture - perfect veneer. 

I say this as a Will Smith fan - I can rap along to the fresh prince of Bel-Air (just say the word), need no background to watch one of his movies (plot and storyline not mandatory) - and until revelations of his wrecked personal life, thought of him as a loving husband and father, stellar as a person, and exemplary as a professional. A secular testament to the virtues of plain hard work, grounded values, rooted upbringing, and integrity - rising up through access to 'common grace'. 

Yet, my heart went out to this man. A desperately broken, wounded, and lonely man. Betrayed, tormented, not knowing which way to turn. No consolation in his accolades, no relief in entertainment, no rest in his thoughts. 

To a greater or lesser extent, we all know this pain, or will know it soon. I did. 

The remedy offered by the world can range from a therapy-laced exploration of the dark recesses of the mind, or a 'revenge is a dish best served cold' battlecry, or a shrinking from people, profession, and pursuit. 

We are either held back by the pain of hurtful deeds said and done to us, or are driven in a quest to prove those wrong; our hearts a frothing of rage and tremors. 

The blessing of a still, calm heart, without the whirling turbulence of thoughts characteristic of the aching heart, cannot be overstated. 

If you thought this bleak narrative was building up to a solution, I have none. Except to begin with recognizing that because modern culture elevates how we feel as of greater value above everything and everyone else, it can be difficult to surface from those immersive waters. 

With that recognition, what do you do next? This is hard and non-intuitive - but might we stop chasing happiness as the ultimate goal? That means acknowledging that life may not go your way, your goals may not be met, your timelines never achieved, and your feelings never adequately protected.

What if ambition looked like a life of quiet pursuit of spiritual disciplines, inward resilience through the means of sustenance established by God, and a determination to not strive without consulting God in the smallest affairs of life?

I'm not a great example, but afflictions have kept me humble. As much as I want the winter to end and walk into sunshine, my need keeps me clinging to God. 

If not God, who. If not to Him, where. 

Staying your ground in the midst of fear of death.

 

Is God’s love reckless, and does it matter?

It is easy for us to think of music as innocuous, and to emphasize melody over meaning. Most popular songs that end up being chart-busters do not achieve that status due to their lyrical profundity. They’re not offering unique insight into the world, or human nature, but simply have a catchy beat. Many are quite formulaic, and we often associate a ‘sound’ with a particular artist. As long as it matches our mood, or lifts our spirits, or even distracts us from the chaos of our thoughts, its purpose is served. 

 

It’s not surprising that that same thinking is carried forward into the selection of church music. A lot of what’s called, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) also endeavors to make us feel good. In and of itself, this is not problematic, for who wants to listen to music that gets us down, or plumbs the depths of melancholy, or is not appealing to our ears. That’s sometimes the critique from modern worship leaders – that those who appeal to high standards in Christian worship music, simply care about a fuddy-duddy style, familiar and comfortable to an older generation. That reverence toward God has nothing to do with the choice of music, as long as the ‘heart is in the right place’. 

 

Apart from being simplistic, this view is also terribly ignorant of the value that God Himself places on musical worship. In the Old Testament, we see the great care that king David took in the order, style, and decorum of the musicians who were to serve God in the Temple. When the reformer king Josiah celebrated the Passover, he had musicians follow the prescriptions for worship, alongside priests in the service of the Lord’s Temple. 

 

This is not to say that there is no room for variety in worship. In India, where I come from, there are beautiful ghazals and kirtans composed by converted believers, now singing for Christ. These draw listeners in, and help them see that Jesus is not an alien Westerner, but the Creator God of all mankind. That He's the God who died, rose again, and offers redemption to these rural villagers trapped in superstition, and ritual worship of the powers of darkness. 

 

Songs are a deep and entrenching way of memorializing God’s universal truths for generations. When Christians gather for corporate worship, they are singing for an audience of One. Songs rich with Scripture, composed from Biblical passages, declaring God’s attributes and divine nature, serve to fertilize the hearts and minds of those assembled in His Name. They are more attuned to hearing God’s Word, having taken their eyes off themselves, contemplating instead on God. 

 

Now of course, the stirring up of emotions is not only acceptable, but to be expected. There is something marvellous about 300-year old songs, passed down from generations, connecting the modern believer to that universal Church, since ages past. A catchy beat, rhythm, melody, and exuberance are all well and good, as long as they add to, and not detract from the message of the song. 

 

Consequently, biblical standards of worship would easily eliminate the megachurch Christianese songs churned out year after year, by the Bethel/ Hillsong/ Elevation industry. You might wonder, some of their songs appear acceptable, so why throw the baby out with the bathwater. The fact is, even the music produced by false churches and teachers, are not necessarily explicitly heretical. Smart as the enemy is, and true to his modus operandi, the bad theology is packaged aesthetically, with emotive mood-lighting, while half-truths are sung mixed with errors. These songs are then crystallized within immature minds, reinforce the impact of false teaching, and export the rot to nations far and wide. 

 

To be clear - the choice is not between reverence and intimacy. It’s not either/or, it certainly is both. Each time someone encountered the majesty of God in the Old Testament, the only response was to fall down in awe. That did not change in the New Testament – John had the same response to the vision in Revelation. This was the Jesus he knew - against whom he leaned, walked, and shared meals with. 

 

It matters that the songs we accept into corporate worship be truthful, precise, and firmly based on Scripture. It is a solemn responsibility, and one that pastors (and by extension, those in worship ministry) who are entrusted with guarding the flock against false teaching, are not to take lightly. 

 

I do listen to the occasional megachurch song – not all are dyed in the same extreme wool. I apply discretion, and while there are several songs that could be good companions for a long drive, they could be absolutely inappropriate for corporate worship. I won’t get started on the mushy effeminate romance, or the irreverent boyfriend tunes, but, emphatically, God’s love is NOT RECKLESS, the all-sufficient One DOES NOT NEED US, and the Triune God, did not NOT WANT HEAVEN WITHOUT US.