I was watching a documentary on the practice of human sacrifice, especially children, in the ancient world. It was gruesome and the stupidity of the practices were appalling. Superstitions and ignorance were the main causes of such practices. Ancient Israel was warned not to offer their children to Molech as per the gentiles then. Yet, they did that, and King Solomon even built temples and altars to worship Molech.

One may laugh at the notion of child sacrifices today. Well, think again. In some less developed countries children were sold off to work as prostitutes and child labour. In other, they maimed them and put them out to beg for money. Is this some form of child sacrifice?

What about the developed countries? They are too civilized to do such abominable acts, correct? No! Not exactly. It comes in other forms.

Many parents sacrifice their children for their own successes. They have no time for their children. Yes, they provide the material goods and basic living needs. But they neglect their emotional, mental and spiritual needs. Children are also sacrificed to the rat race. Many do not really care about what the child really needs or wants. They are to chase the pack and try their level best to be in front, even if it ‘kills’ them.

And many today (most people) sacrifice themselves and loved ones to the small little screen in front of them. It is not wrong if everyone is doing it right? NO! Those ‘not helpful’ stuff in our mobile phones is taking your time away from the important things in your lives. A family dinner is disrupted by family members spending their time on frivolous messaging and social media. Friends do not meet up but “communicate” via Fb, Ig, etc. Can we really say that we “know” our friends?

Do not sacrifice yourself or your family members to the ‘woes’ of today’s world. Technology is good but only to the point of being a useful servant and not the master. Remember when God created the human beings, He commanded them to be master of the world and to take care of it.

May the Lord help us have wisdom.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

我正在观赏一部古代世界以人为祭的习俗纪录片，尤其是儿童。这种恐怖及愚蠢的习俗是极其令人震惊的。迷信和无知是这些行为的主要成因。古代的以色列被警告不能像外邦人一样，将他们的孩子献予摩洛。然而，他们却作了，所罗门王甚至建造殿宇和祭坛以膜拜摩洛。

今天人们可能会嘲笑献孩童为祭的概念。但是，再想想，在一些比较落后的国家，儿童被售卖且沦为雏妓和童工；又或者造成他们残障，好让他们外出乞讨。这不正是变相的献儿童为祭吗？

那么发展中的国家又如何？他们过于文明，故而不会作出这些可恶的行为，对吗？不是！绝对不是。它是以另一种形式出现。

很多父母为自己的成功就牺牲了他们的孩子。他们没有时间陪伴孩子。是的，他们供应物质用品和基本的生活需求。但是他们却忽略了情绪、精神和属灵的需要。儿童也在老鼠赛跑中被牺牲了。很多人并没有真正关心孩子真正需要或渴望什么。他们必须在追逐的队伍中，尽最大的能力名列前茅，即使他们会被“杀害”。

今天有很多人（大部份的人）为眼前的小屏幕牺牲了自己和所爱的人。是不是每一个人都在作的事就没有错误了呢？不是！我们手机里那些“没有用处”的东西，正从你生命中重要的事物剥夺你的时间。家庭聚餐因为家庭成员都把时间花费在无聊的讯息及社交媒体而被中断了。朋友无需见面但是却能通过脸书、Instagram等等方式“沟通”。我们真的可以说我们“认识”我们的朋友吗？

不要为今天世界的“困境”而牺牲自己或你的家人。科技是好的，但前提是它要成为有用的仆人而不是主人。要谨记当上帝创造人，祂命令他们要成为世界的主人，并要管理世界。愿主帮助我们得着智慧。                                                                                                        

上帝赐福,

在基督里服事的,

Barry Leong
(林秀娟会吏翻译）