There’s
been a change of atmosphere here in the Queen City of the South, with the people all
pumped up with the upcoming Sinulog Fest. I see busy bodies everywhere, with
plans of boisterous parties and all sorts of revelries. I hear friends talk
about their displayed excitement and the preparations they’re making for the
most awaited festival in the city. And here I am with my petty observations, my
mouth shut, and my mind speaking. I could be a bit paranoid, but I know some
people might think I’m the boring type of person, or the antisocial one,
because I don’t delve in to their conversation and plans for all-day and
all-night parties that could become the “time of my life”, as they say.. But as
an ambassadress of Christ, I ask myself, “Where do I stand?”
And
so I am back at examining the world around me, walking circumspectly. I look
around and I fearlessly say to myself, ‘this is all not right’. Showing
devotion to the “Sto. Nino” in lieu of favor and blessings, or as a thanksgiving
for the ones received, they say, is the essence of the feast. Well, is it right
to give the glory and praise to a representation of God, and not God Himself?
Having a graven image of a Sto. Nino is like having a picture of someone. It’s
a representation of that someone, but not truly the person himself. Simply put,
it is a picture of me, but it’s a picture, a thing, and it’s not really the
person that I am. People tend to place God within the narrow confines of the
human mind, thus requiring a physical representation that is far from God
Himself, with a tendency to put extreme devotion on that representation which
overshadows God. Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now unto the King
eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever
and ever. Amen.” It may be hard to worship an invisible God due to certain
human limits, but that doesn’t mean we should succumb to graven images of wood
and stone that is fashioned by human hands, instead. Because worship requires
faith, and faith is the evidence of things not seen.
The
word “idol” comes from the Greek word eidos
which means “form or shape”. Does the invisible have form or shape? You don’t
have to go to school to answer that correctly. It is even defined by
Merriam-Webster as “a picture or object that is worshiped as a god”. By that,
a sensible person can deduce that any picture/object given reverence is an
idol, a false god. The Bible blatantly condemns the practice of such. To
mention one bible verse out of many, Isaiah 44:9 says, “All who makes idols are
nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up
for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.”
Aside
from that, Sinulog won’t be a festival without various parties or revelries. 1
Corinthians 10:7 says, “Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is
written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry”.
This becomes a challenge for the believers, to not be conformed, to bravely
make a stand, and not join the vain traditions of men and the accompanying
parties with dancing and drinking. Keeping an intimate relationship with the
one true God, with our Lord and personal Saviour Jesus Christ, and a desire to
live for His glory and do things pleasing unto His sight, should make it easy
for true believers to not get involved. He already paid for our sins, but that
doesn’t give us the liberty to do things that is not right before God. And to
those not of the same faith, I plead that you consider your ways and be subject to
thorough scrutiny in reference to the Bible, genuinely asking wisdom from God.
This
goes out not just to festivals like Sinulog, but to anything that requires the
believers to stand up in faith, to examine what’s right according to God’s
impeccable word, and to live a life surrendered daily to God.
The
times are evil; will you be the salt of the Earth?
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2
