Vinny Ohh, the "Alien"

            Vinny Ohh, a 22-year-old make-up artist from Los Angeles, has spent about $50,000 on plastic surgery to become a “genderless extra-terrestrial.”

            “According to the Toronto Sun, Vinny said, “I want to be a sexless alien being, I want my outside to reflect how I feel on the inside.”

            He was also quoted saying, “When people ask me how I’d label myself, I tell them an ‘extra-terrestrial, hot mess, self-obsessed,’ it’s becoming my slogan.”

© Caters News Agency (Vinny Ohh)

            Vinny shared how the idea fro his transformation stemmed from his feeling like an outcast in society while growing up. He is now an LGBT+ activist.

            “I do it to inspire the world in a certain way,” he said. “I want people to stop labelling others or putting them in boxes.”

            “I’m trying to wake people up to show them that gender roles in society do not matter and show them that we need to be better human beings and nicer to one another.”

            “I am used to not fitting in.”

            Vinny received varying reactions from the public. Some adore his unusual appearance and boldness, while others scream insults.

            Today, I will be raising many questions. It may seem like a rant, but I encourage you to separate each question for consideration. The fundamental question we are centering around here is: “How should we, as followers of Christ, respond to something like this?”

            Vinny is one in millions of people who grew up feeling different and still do, except that he is also one of the few who celebrate that feeling in such extravagant ways. How should we respond to someone like Vinny who identifies as a human being and yet rejects the body of one? How should we respond to a person who views gender and sexuality not as a gift but as a restriction? Better yet, to what extent can we righteously celebrate our differences?

            Which kinds of people admire his actions? Which ones despise him? Between these two extreme reactions, where do you and I stand? Should we be standing anywhere on that spectrum at all, given that the middle ground would be indifference? If his appearance is meant to reflect how he feels on the inside, then he has given us an opportunity to look into his heart. So what do you and I see? A rebel? A derelict? An alien?

            What is he searching for? According to interviews, it seems that he is striving to be understood and to help others like him to be understood as well. I, for one, understand how it feels to be different and have that sense of alienation screaming at you in the face, and feeling that no one else knows about it. However, is it possible that Vinny’s physical transformation is also a retaliation? Isn’t retaliation just another reaction? How does the number of people in this world who react compare to the number of people who respond? Question: who can best understand people like him who feels this way? And if we know the Person who understands, who are we in relation to Him? What does it mean to be the body of Christ, His physical presence?

We have the same problems as everyone else; we struggle with the same feelings and retaliation to those feelings. But we have something else too, don’t we? What do we have that the world doesn’t? What do you and I have that Vinny doesn’t seem to have? What do you and I have that the boy or girl next door doesn’t have?

In a world of reactions, how should we respond?

How would Christ respond?

Blessings,

Nathanael Chong

The Wine of the Covenant

      I find it interesting that Jesus’ first miracle was turning the water into wine at a wedding, as the inauguration of His ministry. The wedding wasn’t just any celebration. It was celebrating the covenant that was made between two parties on that day. It was then that Jesus began His ministry to establish the New Covenant with mankind.

      It was a very terrible thing in the ancient Near East for the host to run out of wine for a wedding celebration. The guests brought gifts that are usually very generous and expensive, and they would expect an extravagant feast. To not have wine for the guests is very disrespectful, and the consequences that might be brought about by the guests as a result of this disgrace can be very detrimental. Donald A. Carson, a theologian and professor, wrote that running out of supplies might even lead to litigation against the groom by “aggrieved relatives.” So Jesus actually saved the hosts great shame by performing this miracle.

      During the Last Supper, Jesus passed the cup of wine to the disciples, saying, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for the forgiveness of your sins.” We too had a price on our heads as a result of our sin, and Christ delivered us to a place of rejoicing by His sacrifice, symbolized by the cup. It is interesting to note that the ministry of our Lord began with the wine of a marriage between a husband and wife, and ended with the wine of the marriage between God and the church.

      Matthew Henry’s Commentary compared this work of Christ to that of Moses. Moses turned water into blood, while Christ turned water into wine. The blood represented the judgment of Moses’ ministry, while the wine introduced Christ’s ministry of grace and celebration.

      Another thing to note is how Jesus conducted the miracle. First, He used what was available: six water pots stood nearby. In addition, note that Jesus always used ALL that is available: each of the six pots could hold about twenty to thirty gallons; He used all six and filled them up to the brim. Similarly, when Christ was about to feed the five thousand, He used all the food that the boy offered to Him. Could He still perform the miracle with only one water pot and half of the lad’s lunch? Of course! But this is a recurring pattern we see in our Lord. He wants to use all that can be given, for the greatest miracles occur when all is surrendered.

      Second, Jesus directed that the water in the pots be drawn out and taken straight to the governor of the feast. Although not stated explicitly, I would think that He gave this command even before the physical transformation of the water has taken place. I love seeing the royal grace and authority of Christ depicted in these narratives. If we were there, we would probably have wanted to check if the water has turned into wine before taking it to the governor of the feast. Yet, Christ gave the command, the servants obeyed, and the miracle was performed. And whatever Christ does, He does it well: The wine was the best the governor had ever tasted.

      As someone once beautifully wrote, “The conscious water saw its Master and blushed.”


Blessings,
Nathanael Chong

His Sovereignty in My Uncertainty – A Testimony

Photo by Eliza Tan

         2016. This past year has been eventful, with many mountains to climb, valleys to travel, and rivers to cross. There have been times of drought and times of storm. And yet, through it all, I find that this is one of the years for which I am most grateful. It was during the past twelve months when I see God come to the forefront of the tapestry of my life. There were many crossroads, which stressed me out and drove me crazy, but I could see that the hand of the Lord has always been there. I think I could summarize my year as: God working in His sovereignty in the midst of my uncertainty.

          Choosing a college was difficult. I was unable to visit any of the campuses I was considering as they lied half a world away. I could only make my decision based on the colleges’ websites, other “college review” webpages, emails with admission counselors, and financial information. Choosing the university I did was a big step of faith for me, and I was pleasantly surprised as I saw how God, in His small, special ways, confirmed that decision multiple times.

          The Lord has reminded me time and time again that He is always with me and that He is all I need. One time, early in my first semester at college, I was emotionally down in the dumps. It was one of the times when I was on the verge of depression. I was sitting alone at lunch when a senior student I had never met before unexpectedly joined me at the table. We talked and I shared with him what I was going through. As the conversation went on, he encouraged me, and I left feeling that he was God-sent and that perhaps it was God’s way of saying that He was still with me. This example, in addition to a number of other instances, showed me how God could speak through situations, events, and people. I am learning to tune my spirit to His and to find His message even in the smallest things.

         I struggled a lot, and I learned many things. I saw myself in a new light, and I am working to see others as Christ sees them. Now, at the end of the year, I continue to meet many people and experience new things. My life is continuing to unfold, and I’m excited to see where God takes me. I am starting to see life as an adventure with my Heavenly Father. Many things are still uncertain, with many decisions to make, but I believe that one day I will look back and say that the Lord has been faithful, always with me at every crossroad.

I walk by faith and not by sight,
For the Spirit of God will be my light.
In times of need, I call to Him,
For He is faithful, through thick and thin.
When I am lost, He is my guide;
When in the dark, He is my light.
He is my strength; He takes my hand;
He picks me up, just as I am.

When times are tough, and skies are bleak,
When roads are long, and stars are hid,
I will reach out, grasping all around,
And find that though I was searching, I was actually found.
I’ll find my grip on His outstretched hand,
And I’ll hold on, knowing He has a plan.
I’ll walk by faith and not by sight,
For the Spirit of God will be my light.

Blessings,

Nathanael Chong

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Plymouth colonists came to a new world to start a new life, uncertain, finding their way about a strange environment. They built, worked, and grew. God blessed them with a plentiful harvest and they celebrated in thanksgiving by strengthening a bond with the native American Indians in the land. New land -- God’s faithfulness -- response of gratitude.

I came to the States to start college, uncertain, finding my way about a brand new environment. I built relationships, I worked, and I definitely grew relationally, mentally, and spiritually. And all through my time in this land so far, the Lord has shown His faithfulness and hand in my life. He was with me from the beginning, walked with me through the first semester, and I believe He will lead me through the years to come. He provided a place for me to stay with a local family, where I experienced my first Thanksgiving celebration. I want to respond to His goodness with whole-hearted gratitude. New land -- God’s faithfulness -- response of thanksgiving.

The Lord will bring us to new places many times in our lives, and when we continue to walk with Him, we will see His faithfulness every season and every morning. Our natural response would then be one of thankfulness. So let us keep our eyes open to see His hand at work, and celebrate Thanksgiving with love in our hearts for God and for those around us.

Blessings,

Nathanael Chong