My Story

– A Journey –

For those who question my background, I am not a pastor or priest, never was, never will, and don’t intend to become one. I am just an ordinary believer who loves God.

Indonesian Constitution article 29 is divided into 2 sections:

Furthermore, Indonesia officially recognises 6 religions: Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism (added early in the 21st century). Apart from those religions, Indonesian also has a belief system that is recognised by the state: “Believer of One Supreme God”. However, the latest is not a religion therefore lack equal treatment in practice.

Based on those 2 sections in the constitution, every citizen has to choose a religion as required by the state. Most Indonesian believe in order to have relationship with God, they need to go through a religion. Religion becomes ingrain for Indonesian, and nowadays it is embedded as part of personal identity to the extent that if you do not have a religion, people will assume that you are an atheist.

Since it is required by the state that I should have a religion and as I came from a Christian family, I “automatically” became Christian. When I reached teenager, I had privilege to study in Malaysia and later Australia, when later I become Australian citizen, works, having a family and live a Life to the fullest. Australia with its diverse cultural background can be considered a free society, with whom I am now call it home and cherish the love that is has given me.

Having experience different society, cultural, community, throughout my life, I developed a different mindset from my early years. I am now believe that Religion and Relationship with God are two separate things, and I truly belief that our personal relationship with God can be simple, just like Father and children, without the need of what so called “clergy” and “laity”.

Back in my early years, in the 80’s to the 90’s from a young boy to teenage age, I can be considered as churchgoer. My family would come to church every Sunday, rainy days, sunny days; we tried our best not to miss our Sunday church ritual. I never asked a question on why we have to go. Why are we doing it? Why we can only go to a particular church? What value or benefit are we getting? All these questions never cross in my head.

After I finished High School, I went to Malaysia for study. Back in the days, a couple of Australian Universities have twinning program in Malaysia. That is mean that you can study for first or second year in Malaysia, then continue the remaining in Australia and finally you can graduate in Australia.

In the first few weeks after I settle down in Kuala Lumpur, I felt that there is something missing in my part. I started to look for Christian community and started looking for a church. I felt that it is an obligation for me to become a member of a church organisation. This same routine continuing until I continue my study in Australia, decided to stay in Australia and becoming a citizen.

Approaching my late twenties, I began to feel something is missing, I felt that what I did every Sunday morning did not satisfy my soul. I even tried different denomination, size, community, however the feeling persists. This feeling had replaced what I feel if I did not go to church. I was no longer oblige if I miss Sunday morning. My first instinct was of course finding the answer in bible. At that time, I only had Indonesian Bible, even though I had been in Australia for quite some time. I felt more comfortable using Indonesian language. However, after much reading, I feel its language seems out of touch from modern language. I tried so hard to make sense of it.

To give you a background, back in the 90’s, there were only two widely used versions of Indonesian Bible, the Old Translation and the New Translation. What I used at that time were the New Translation, this version was published back in 1974. For me who tried to read this version in 21^st century, it creates a gap of understanding. Human language evolves with time. Thankfully, the Indonesian Bible Society realized this deficiency and start to publish versions that are more suitable daily language over time.