IT's Real Purpose

C.S Lewis said, ‘…every age gets, within certain limits, the science it desires’. Lewis considered that technology is not answerable to any higher standard. Its sole parameter is the possible. I believe that the men and women who mould IT are answerable to higher standards. Lewis’s profound thoughts do push every IT vendor to build systems with common sense. The motivation that charges IT must be derived logically from ethical and moral principles of truth.

IT's purpose is simple, it is meant to become a utility to improve processes and functions. Fierce contention for a prize must become a by-product. And the real success of IT must be measured by the resulting customer value.

When IT vendors deviate from IT’s real purpose customers end up paying a high price to those in power for the benefits gained through technologies. For example, Facebook helps us stay in touch with old friends, but this benefit comes at the cost of our privacy (if you haven't heard of Facebook Beacon yet, Google it!).

IT operations must be modeled to be consistent with IT’s purpose. Technology has its own intrinsic character (with a wild side). Technology is not neutral, it is value-laden. It’s now the responsibility of the men and women of IT to tame technology and run the good race.

Parents - Our Channel of Blessings

Just as God promised, HE has always been very faithful. I thank and praise God for all the tender mercies. Over the past few months I have been thinking a lot about how a Christian should care for his/her parents. And obviously I began analyzing the ‘parent-child relationship’ by looking back at my life. I carefully pondered over my birth, my childhood, and my life today. I realized that God has used my parents as a perpetual channel of blessing in my life.

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:1-3,

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph 6:2 Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou may live long on the earth.

The word Honor literally means to respect and love. Ephesians 6:1-3 tells us in plain words that the responsibility to honor parents is for life. If our faith in Christ is real, it will for sure prove itself at home, in our relationship with our parents.

Parents are a storehouse of ‘good advice’, because they have a lifetime of insight into their children’s character. The Bible says in Numbers 30: 3-5,

Num 30:3 If a woman vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth;
Num 30:4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
Num 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father1 disallowed her.

Here we clearly see, that parents can overrule their children. Thus a basic principle that we learn here is that young people should seek their parents help when they make decisions. A parents experience could save a child from a serious mistake.

The Bible says in Exodus 20:12,

Exo 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Here I would like to repeat the meaning of the word HONOR. The word HONOR literally means to respect and love. The word HONOR means, speaking politely to our parents, acting in ways that shows them courtesy and respect. I understand that, parents can be demanding and unfair in a few cases. But then, even those who find it difficult to get along with their parents are commanded to HONOR them. Exodus 20:12 was written for everyone. Exodus 20:12 is applicable on everyone. Exodus 20:12 is for everyone across all age groups. If your faith in Christ is real, then you will under all circumstances HONOR your parents, irrespective of how good or unfair they may be.

I sincerely request all my readers to prayerfully think about the relationship that you have with your parents. What are you doing to show respect to your parents? Are you living in a way that brings honor to your parents? May our dear Lord Jesus heal every broken and wounded relationship. May the joy of honoring our parents rest and abide in our hearts and minds forever.

Inherited Religion or Purposed Truth

The word 'religion' is inherently a referential word. It refers to the institution which expresses belief in a divine power.The institution which expresses a certain belief must be able to sustain its beliefs. And this very process of professing and sustaining ones beliefs for the deliverance and edification of one another is what I believe truly fullfils the purpose of the commandement given by God in John chapter 13 verse 34,

" ...That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another".

To love someone means to devote your heart and mind to care for and discipline the loved one. Our elders and teachers of religion from whom we inherit our beliefs and traditions, have truly been a channel of blessing for us. God commands in Exodus chapter 20 verse 12 saying,

"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee".

I believe this is a strong, pivotal commandement which holds the rest of the commandements in place. But then, there is also a false light which works hard in preventing us from using our minds to reason and apply the truth of the Word of God in our lives. The deceptions of the bearers of false light are subtle. In a very elusive manner they twist the truth for their own selfish motives. To be ignorant now, not being able to discern the right way, will be to abandon our walk with Christ and to go along the way shown to us by the bearers of false light. I am not sure if some of my readers understand the meaning of the word 'reason'. I have met a lot of people who are unable to contextualy differentiate between the words 'reason' and 'rebellion'. In our context the word 'reason' means to understand within ones mind the the truth about any situation or moment in life, using the Word of God as the light. And the word 'rebellion' simply means to act against the way shown by Jesus Christ.

To reason out every thought, word and action which is directed towards us is a freedom we have been given with love from God. The Word of God says in the book of Job chapter 13 verses 1 to 3,

"Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God".

Job was broken emotionaly, physically and now the devil was attacking his beliefs. In such dire straits, Job desired to 'reason' with God. Job never doubted God, he only presented his case and reasoned with God. Here we learn an all-important difference between the words 'doubt' and 'reason'. To be doubtful means to be uncertain about the truth of a situation or moment in life. And the word 'reason' means to understand within ones mind the truth about any situation or moment in life. To reason under the light of God's Word, the religion which we have inheritted, is not wrong. To reason under the light of God's Word every value, tradition and belief system being followed by our elders and teachers of religion, is not wrong. To reason under the light of God's Word, every word, thought and action which is directed towards you, is not wrong.

God speaks to us in plain words in 2 Timothy chapter 2 verses 11-15,
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot, deny himself.Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words, to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth".

Here we see that God is encouraging us to study so that we will be able to rightly divide the word of truth. God never intended for man to abandon the faculties of the mind and only go by his feelings and emotions. Instead, God wants us to examine every feeling and emotion under the light of God’s Word. God has made us with a definite purpose. He has placed us in His system of infinite time and blessed us with evelasting life so that we may truly rejoice and be at peace with God and with our brothers. Now to understand and sustain this truth, God has given us the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and the spirit of wisdom. God teaches us the truth as we read His Word, and also hear and reason what we hear from fellow believers. God helps us understand His Word by using arts, sciences, music and experiences of life. Then God helps us to apply His Word which we learnt. Applying the truth in our lives is not done by our strength but by the grace of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit. God blesses us with the gifts of peace, courage and endurance, so that we may be able to boldy confess His Word and stand up against all that which is not in accordance to His Word.

If Christianity was just one of the many religions, which was supposed to be inherited and not reasoned, then why in the first place would God bless us with emotions and desires? God does not do anything just for the sake of doing it. God has purposed our emotions and desires for our good, as long as we are walking in the light of His Word. Every emotion, that crosses our heart and is justifiable by the Word of God, has a purpose. And every desire, which is justifiable by the Word of God, has a purpose. It is important to use our mind along with our heart in order to make every verse in the Bible to be truly edifing in our life. Only then we would truly understand the state of our life. Only then we would truly understand the value of our desires and emotions. It is important to take time and reason the truth we have inherited. Only then we would truly understand that Christianity is not just a religion but the only way of life.