Too early to tell

Batas Mauricio

THE latest Pulse Asia survey showing Vice President Jejomar Binay regaining the lead in voters’ preference in connection with the 2016 presidential elections is really no cause for celebration, or, conversely, mourning, for the other aspirants, notably Sen. Grace Poe, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.

If anything at all, that Pulse Asia survey indicated the fickleness and changeability of survey results, confirming what many political analysts had been saying all along: voters’ preference changes as the 2016 elections draw nearer, and is greatly affected by the developments affecting candidates.

Consequently, for those who are seriously wishing to win, there is still much time to campaign, and to adopt or change propaganda strategies as 2016 dawns upon all of us. Or, perhaps, for some candidates, to carry out carefully-planned maneuvers, either to make sure that survey results would henceforth favor them, or to remove other candidates, especially the frontunning ones, from the race.

My own assessment is that Binay got to bounce back in his poll ratings because of the disqualification orders issued by the Commission on Elections against Sen. Grace Poe, one of the early voters’ favorites, and by the reckless throwing of invectives against Pope Francis by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Indeed, I will not be surprised if many Poe and Duterte supporters switched back to Binay. Insofar as Poe is concerned, her supporters may have entertained the idea, or the fear, that Poe will no longer be a candidate and so it would be useless continuing to support her. As far as Duterte is concerned, he simply angered many Catholic voters.

Once more, all of these would prove that the presidency of this country is a matter of destiny, and is actually a God-given gift. Yes, being elected president is a commission from God, if we are to believe what the Bible said, in Romans 13:1, that there is no leader who was not ordained by God, as every leader that was handed power was chosen by God Himself.

• •

As Christmas 2015 is upon the world once again, and the annual Christmas rush is almost done, it is time to ask one important question which should enable all of us to really appreciate why we celebrate, year in and year out, the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the question: do the Christians of today have a right to celebrate Christmas?

People take time out to remember an occasion because it holds a special significance for them. Birthdays are celebrated because they are the dates that ushered in the celebrants’ life into the world. Anniversaries are commemorated because they signify the occurrence of a marital union, the establishment of a valued friendship, or the putting up of a profitable economic enterprise.

Christmas, on the other hand, is supposed to be celebrated because of its special significance for all humankind, in that it meant enabling sinners to escape from being burned with unquenchable fire and from being eaten by millions of worms, without let up yet, for all eternity.

I say “supposed”, because that, really, is the problem with how Christians of today–or those who profess to be followers and believers of Jesus–celebrate His birth. The celebration now is no longer focused on Jesus, but on many other things that are totally alien to Jesus and His teachings and commands.

For example, Jesus clearly wanted to be recognized, accepted, and believed in, as the God and Savior, who is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all rolled into one. Yet, even those who say they believe in Jesus no longer believe and have faith on Him as God and Savior, who is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all at the same time.

Many are now saying Jesus is not God, but someone else, even if the “S” in that “Someone” is spelled in capital letter “S.” Some are also saying He is not the Father, and He is not the Holy Spirit, as He has a “personality” different from the Father and the Holy Spirit. Wow!

Will Jesus be happy today when people–His own creation–purport to be celebrating His coming into this world by actually denigrating Him from His status as God and Savior, who is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all rolled into one, and treating Him instead as a simple, though special, human?

What is more, Jesus has clear commands for His true followers. He ordered them to go to the world and make all men His disciples (which means His workers, and not simply worshippers or believers in the ordinary sense of the word “believers”), to baptize peolple in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach everyone what He taught the world to do.

Yet, even churches who are supposed to have born again into a new belief about Jesus are not complying with these commands of the Master, since they are now contented with simply “collecting” members who remain passive in their belief, who sit idly during praise and worship services every week, and return to their homes unegenerated. Would these churches and people have a right to celebrate Christmas?

E-mail: batasmauricio@yahoo.com