The Messenger, Manger or the Message?

Do We Love the Manger but Fear the Message?

Read in Malayalam 

Philipose Vaidyar

Prophets and reformists have always been uncomfortable people.
Not because they shout.
Not because they rebel for attention.
But because they refuse to stay silent when truth is diluted.

They do not arrive with entertainment.
They arrive with disruption.

History shows a pattern that refuses to change.
God raises voices when systems rot.
Religion hardens.
Power protects itself.
Comfort becomes sacred.

The prophet speaks.
The reformist acts.
The system reacts.

First, they are ignored.
Then they are ridiculed.
Later, they are resisted.
Finally, they are removed.

Rarely are they welcomed.
Never are they rewarded while alive.

Ask an honest question.
Is there a prophet—other than Jonah—whose preaching led an entire people to repent and change their ways?

Jonah spoke.
Nineveh trembled.
Repentance followed.

That story stands out because it is rare.

Most prophets preached and were rejected.
Some were mocked.
Some were chased.
Some were silenced.

Another question worth asking.
How many prophets were offered a room to stay and a meal to eat?

A few widows.
A few women.
That is all.

Elijah lived because a widow shared her last meal.
Elisha was given a small upper room by a woman who recognized the man of God.
John the Baptist lived in the wilderness.
No feast halls welcomed him.
No religious leadership invited him in.

Truth does not get hospitality.
It gets tolerated—until it threatens comfort.

From Elijah to John the Baptist.
From Christ to today.
Those who disturb the settled order are treated the same.

We love feeding and being fed.
We enjoy drinking and making others drink.
We celebrate, decorate, sing, eat, and move on.

Merry-making is easy.
Repentance is not.

We say we want truth.
What we actually want is confirmation.
We want sermons that soothe, not search.
Messages that bless our comfort, not challenge our compromise.

“Speak the truth in love,” we say.
But love, when honest, disturbs.
Love exposes.
Love demands change.

Truth spoken in love still hurts when it touches infection.

Jesus was not rejected for lack of miracles.
He was rejected for exposing hypocrisy.
He questioned religious monopolies.
He offered freedom without permission.

They did not crucify Him because He healed.
They crucified Him because He refused to bow.

Christmas celebrates His coming.
But would we accept Him if He came again today?

We love the baby in the manger.
We struggle with the King who demands repentance.

Will you eat and drink, feed others and pour for them—or will you pause to ponder whether this Christmas calls for more?

“Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
— John 3:19

Question to ponder:
If Christ speaks today—not to entertain us, but to confront us—would we still make room for Him, or would we prefer another season of celebration without transformation?

Is Jesus the medium, or the message?
Is He the channel, or the meaning?

At Christmas, God does something radical.
The Sender becomes the medium.
The medium becomes the message.

God does not merely send words.
He sends Himself.

In Christ, truth is not announced.
It is embodied.

Which leaves us with an unsettling question.
If Christ is the message made flesh, what are we becoming?

Are we only carriers of words, traditions, and celebrations?
Or are our lives becoming the message others read?

Should our lives speak louder than our sermons?
Should obedience matter more than our platforms?
Should transformation matter more than transmission?

So this Christmas—
will you eat and drink, feed others and pour for them—
or will you pause to ponder whether your life reflects the message you celebrate?

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
— John 1:14

Final question to ponder:
If God chose to communicate through a life, what is He saying through yours?

Click here for the Malayalam version:  https://pveespost.blogspot.com/2025/12/blog-post_24.html 

  

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Faith or Works ??

Faith Is More Than Belief 

The Difference Between Faith With Action and Faith Without Action

Philipose Vaidyar

Many people speak about faith as if it is only an inner belief. It becomes something private, personal, and invisible. You believe in God, you pray, you hold certain convictions, yet nothing in life changes. This kind of faith feels safe, but Scripture describes it as incomplete.

The Bible shows that faith is not only something you believe. Faith expresses itself in obedience, love, perseverance, and daily choices. Faith is active. Faith moves.

James: “Faith without works is dead”

James speaks directly to the problem of passive belief. He writes, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). James saw believers who claimed faith but showed no evidence of it in their lives.

He gives a simple example. If someone is hungry or poorly clothed and you only say, “I wish you well,” that is not faith. Those words do not help anyone. The faith behind them is lifeless.

Similarly, if someone is in need of practical assistance, saying only, "I would pray for you," while having the ability to offer tangible help, is not true compassion. That verbal assurance, without corresponding action, makes the faith behind it hollow. For James, the choice to actively help over simply offering a prayer proves that one's faith is active and genuine.

For James, good deeds do not replace faith. They prove faith. If faith is alive, it shows.

Paul: “Not by works of the Law”

Paul is often misunderstood in this discussion. When he says we are saved “not by works,” he is mainly talking about works of the Law—things like circumcision, ritual purity, dietary rules, observances, and the external marks that identified someone as a Jew (Galatians 2–3).

Paul is not rejecting good deeds. He is rejecting the idea that religious rituals or sacraments—such as circumcision, food laws, or ceremonial washings—can earn salvation.

These practices created pressure in the early church. Some taught that faith in Christ was not enough unless people also followed these observances.1 Paul responds by saying that salvation comes through grace alone, received by faith, apart from these external requirements.

Clarifying Paul's Focus: Justification

Crucially, Paul's core focus is not simply on the process of salvation (being saved) but specifically on justification (being declared righteous). Justification is by grace through faith; this is the central point of his argument.2 To Paul, a person is made right with God by trusting in Christ's work, not by performing ritual duties.3

This distinction is key: Paul uses the phrase "faith" (or "through faith") to describe the mechanism of justification, but he does not use the phrase "faith alone" (sola fide). That specific formulation was later popularized by Martin Luther during the Reformation, often used to challenge the medieval Church's emphasis on merit and works. For Paul, the faith that justifies is never a sterile, isolated belief but a living faith that inherently leads to the very good deeds James describes.

He then adds something important: “We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Good works follow salvation. They do not create it.

Paul and James are not contradicting each other

Paul teaches how we are saved.
James teaches how saved people live.

Paul fights the belief that rituals and religious observances can earn salvation.
James fights the belief that passive belief is enough.

Paul says works of the Law do not save.
James says living faith produces works.

Their messages complete each other. Salvation is received by faith alone. That same faith grows visible through obedience and good works.

Faith that believes vs. Faith that obeys

Belief alone is not the goal. James says even demons believe, yet their belief leads to no obedience. True faith trusts God enough to act.

Faith forgives when it is difficult. Faith gives even when resources feel limited. Faith serves when it is inconvenient. Faith loves when it is easier to ignore. Faith obeys when God calls.

Faith with action changes everything

The heroes of Scripture lived this truth.

Noah built the ark before rain ever fell.

Abraham left his home with no map.

Moses stood before Pharaoh with no army.

Esther approached the king with no guarantee.

Peter stepped out of the boat.

Paul preached in the face of danger.

Their faith moved their feet.

Faith that never moves never grows. Faith that takes steps, even small ones, becomes stronger.

Practical application for us today

1. Take the next small step God is showing you.
   A call, a message, an apology, a simple act of love—small steps matter.

2. Let your faith become visible.
   Look for someone you can help, encourage, or serve this week.

3. Refuse to hide behind “belief only.”
   Pray for the courage to obey God in the places you have been delaying.

4. Stop relying on “religious habits” as if they replace obedience.
   Going to church, reading Scripture, or serving in a ministry should shape your life, not simply fill your schedule.

5. Let your faith interrupt your routine.
   Active faith changes how you treat people, how you make decisions, and how you respond to challenges.

Living faith

Faith is more than belief. Faith becomes complete only when it is lived. Your next step does not have to be dramatic. It only has to be obedient.

What Jesus Taught: Showing, Not Just Saying

The whole debate simplifies when we look at Jesus's own words. He taught that real faith isn't hidden—it shows itself. He said, "Let your light (your good deeds) shine before men." This means that if you have genuine, living faith, the way you treat people and the helpful things you do are the visible proof that makes others praise God.

Jesus also warned that just saying the right things isn't enough. He made it clear: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter heaven... but only the one who actually does what my Father wants." In simple terms, a person's entrance into God's kingdom depends on active faith that expresses itself through obedience and putting His teachings into action. Lip service doesn't count; obedient living does.

So, the conclusion is consistent: Real, saving faith is not a silent opinion; it's a powerful force that immediately moves a person to good actions.

Let your faith move.

Let it act.
Let it speak through your life.

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Kandukur, have you heard of this land?

Philipose Vaidyar

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐤𝐮𝐫 —a drought-affected region about 300 km from Chennai—is a block in the Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh. Known today for its harsh climate and fragile livelihoods, Kandukur also carries a rich history that remains largely unknown. The landscape holds a magnificent 50-foot monolithic pillar from the Chola period and ancient Tamil stone inscriptions whose origins still remain a mystery. These 600-year-old monuments lie exposed among fields and village paths, silent witnesses to a past that continues to sleep in the open countryside.

During our years of work in this region, our team has walked alongside families in 18 panchayats of the Kandukur block. For more than five years—and in small but meaningful ways even today—we have mentored households through practical assistance, emotional support, and opportunities that help them move forward with hope. One of our team members continues this work by serving as a mentor to several families. Understanding their world matters because awareness brings dignity, attention, and support to communities that live on the edge.

Below are short videos that introduce different aspects of life in Kandukur—from its forgotten heritage to the daily struggles of people who depend on the land for survival. These videos are now part of this blog so readers can explore the stories visually and journey deeper into the lives of the people we served.

Please subscribe for more original videos that focus on people, places, and untold stories. Your engagement—through likes, comments, and shares—helps bring visibility to communities whose voices and histories deserve to be heard.

Kandukur: Shedding Light on Historic Remains

A brief visual walk through the ancient pillar and stone inscriptions that stand quietly in the fields of Kandukur—remarkable traces of a forgotten past.
Video link: https://youtu.be/6hNVGeknqHo

The Poor Who Live on Leaves in Kandukur

In this drought-prone region, tobacco is more than a crop; it is the backbone of survival. Most of the labor in the tobacco fields is done by women who do not smoke, yet their kitchens must smoke for their families to live. This short documentary offers a closer look at the households whose livelihoods depend on tobacco leaves.
Video link: https://youtu.be/GliwmI4u9P0

The Firewood Collectors

A glimpse into the lives of families who collect firewood as their primary means of survival. Their days revolve around long walks, heavy loads, and limited options.
Video link: https://youtu.be/jotsLVekUXs

Tricycle Porters of Kandukur

This version highlights the tricycles and pushcarts that help families earn a living. It also explores how a simple new tricycle or cart could improve their daily work and income.
Video link: https://youtu.be/VnikQ4WYJsI

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Why Do Marriages Divide.... ?

Why Modern Marriages Break
More Than Ever Before?!

The Foundations We Forgot

Philipose Vaidyar

For centuries, marriages endured hardships that many modern couples would find overwhelming—poverty, wars, epidemics, and the pressures of traditional life. These unions were not perfect, but they were anchored by values that upheld commitment, sacrifice, and the willingness to grow together. Marriage was seen as a covenant, not a convenience. Families were imperfect, but stable; couples were flawed, yet determined.

Today, however, marriages are collapsing at a pace unprecedented in history. Even in cultures where arranged marriages once flourished, couples embraced the relationship with a sense of duty and responsibility. They adjusted, they learned, they endured. Mistakes existed, but perseverance prevailed.

So what changed?
Why does marriage struggle now—even with better communication tools, higher education, and more personal freedom?

The answer lies in the loss of several foundational pillars that once held marriages together.

1. From Covenant to Convenience: A Cultural Drift

As societies moved from agrarian → industrial → information → digital, people gradually began adding new personal, social, and economic expectations to marriage. These shifts did not alter what marriage is, but they changed how many attempted to interpret and integrate marriage within their evolving world.

·       Agrarian society: marriage was viewed mainly as a cooperative partnership for survival—shared work, shared land, shared responsibilities.

·       Industrial society: stability, respectable family structure, and upward social movement became attached to marriage.

·       Information age: emotional fulfillment, lifestyle compatibility, and personal achievement were increasingly emphasized.

·       Digital age: individualism, comparison, instant gratification, career identity, and economic status began influencing partner choices and expectations.

As more of these evolving values were loaded onto marriage—personal branding, financial aspiration, emotional perfectionism, and competitive equality—marriage became more fragile. What was once a covenant supported by family and community quietly shifted toward an individual contract tested by performance and expectations.

2. The Copycat Problem: Imitating Without Understanding

Global media has exposed us to countless relationship styles. People began imitating other cultures without understanding their roots or values. Independence was copied without responsibility. Romance was copied without commitment. Freedom was copied without accountability.

Imitation without understanding produces confusion—and confused expectations destabilize marriages.

 

3. The Consumer Mindset: When Marriage Becomes a Product

In a consumer-driven world, everything is evaluated—benefits, features, upgrades. This mindset silently enters marriage:

• “Is this person the best I can get?”
• “Do they elevate my status?”
• “If I’m unhappy, I can replace the relationship.”

People seek partners with better income, higher employability, and greater social value. Instead of complementing one another, couples begin to compete.

Competition is the silent killer of intimacy.
Marriage thrives on complementarity—not rivalry.

4. The Rise of Hyper-Independence: “I Don’t Need You”

Technological empowerment and economic independence have created a mindset that says:

“I am capable; I don’t need to adjust to anyone.”
“I can run a family without you.”

Healthy independence is good; hyper-independence is destructive.
Marriage requires interdependence—a willingness to lean on each other, support each other, and build together.

Two people insisting on absolute independence will eventually live emotionally alone, even while sharing the same home.

5. When Relationships Become Performances

Movies, serials, and social media teach people how to “act out” love.
Couples perform romance publicly but struggle privately.

Marriage is not:

• a stage for society
• a brand to display
• a storyline to impress others

It is a daily, real, imperfect journey—one that demands humility, honesty, and emotional transparency.

6. Eros, Philia, and the Missing Agape

Modern relationships often begin with:

• Eros – attraction or emotional excitement
• Philia – friendship, shared interests, similar backgrounds

These are good beginnings, but not enough to sustain a lifelong relationship.

Marriage requires Agape—the sacrificial love that says:

“I love you despite your weaknesses.”
“I choose you even when it’s not convenient.”
“I am committed beyond feelings.”

Without Agape, marriages stagnate.
With Agape, marriages grow.

 

7. Leaving and Cleaving—Corrected and Balanced

“Leaving and cleaving” is one of the most misunderstood principles today.

The Bible says:

“A man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife.”

This does not mean:

• rejecting parents
• cutting off family
• isolating from community
• living only for your children

Leaving means:

• Leaving dependency, not relationship
• Becoming emotionally and financially mature
• Prioritizing the spouse without abandoning the parents

Cleaving means:

• Forming a primary and loyal union
• Creating unity, not isolation
• Building a home together, not a fortress against others

Leaving does not reduce one’s responsibility to parents.
Honoring father and mother remains a command—with a promise attached:

“Honor your father and mother… that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2, 3)

Yet many couples mistakenly isolate themselves, thinking privacy equals strength.
But a family built in a silo eventually becomes fragile.

Children watch.
The way parents treat their parents becomes the pattern the next generation repeats.

Input → Output.
What you sow is what you reap.

 

8. Living for Your Children—But Not Only for Them

Some couples disassociate from parents and community and focus solely on their children.
But this creates a cycle: children grow up learning to isolate, to ignore elders, and to avoid community.

And eventually, they will treat their parents in the same way.

Healthy families include children, parents, grandparents, and a meaningful connection to a wider community. Not interference—but involvement. Not control—but support.

9. The Misguidance of Modern Marriage Advice

Many contemporary marital advisors speak from:

• personal opinions
• untested theories
• fancy ideas
• selective psychology

This often results in unrealistic expectations and anti-family attitudes.

Wise counsel comes from:

• parents
• senior friends
• mentors with proven marriages
• spiritually mature leaders
• community elders who know your life personally

Why avoid those who genuinely care, and run instead to distant voices with no stake in your future?

Real guidance requires real relationships.

 

10. No Marriage Can Survive in Isolation

A marriage cut off from parents, extended family, community, or fellowship becomes structurally weak.
Even a company cannot survive alone—it relies on hundreds of interdependent systems:

• farmers
• miners
• factories
• suppliers
• transport
• markets

If human organizations depend on interconnection, how much more a family?

Even the wedding ceremony itself is conducted publicly so the community can witness, support, and uphold the marriage.

Their role does not end with the event.
They are part of the ecosystem that nourishes the relationship.

Marriage may have privacy, but not isolation.
It needs the fabric, manure, and nourishment of family, community, and fellowship.

The Final Word: The Love That Holds Everything Together

At the core, marriages collapse today not because the institution has failed, but because our understanding of love has weakened.

Marriage is not sustained by compatibility, convenience, or chemistry.
It is sustained by covenant love—unselfish, enduring, and gracious.

The Bible provides the most powerful blueprint ever written:

“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking…
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

This is the love that makes a marriage last. 

This is the love that strengthens families and societies.

This is the love that never breaks.

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Every Move Has a Meaning

"A Stone in the river doesn’t drift — It’s Led"  - Philipose Vaidyar

Faith in Motion — Every Move Has Meaning

This is the final post in the “Stone and Moss” series

Every move in life has meaning when faith leads the way. There are seasons when you feel the need to shift—jobs, cities, or even roles. Others might misunderstand or label you as unsettled, but when your steps are guided by faith, each move becomes purposeful.

A Short Journey That Shaped This Thought

For years, my life and work involved several moves. Our family relocated from Kerala to Hyderabad and later to Chennai, primarily to find the ideal learning environment for our son. Those moves were not easy. I changed jobs, sometimes stepping into roles that stretched me beyond comfort, and even spent an entire year without a job. It was financially hard but spiritually deepening. I learned to trust God for each move and saw His hand at work even in the waiting.

These transitions taught me lessons worth sharing—lessons that go beyond my story and apply to anyone seeking to walk by faith in their professional or personal journey.

1. Don’t Marry an Organization or a Job

Be faithful where you work, but remember: you don’t marry a company or an institution. You marry your spouse, you stay with your family, and you belong to your faith community. Jobs and places are assignments for a season, not lifelong commitments.

If shifting your job or location helps your family, service, or vision, be willing to move. Loyalty is good, but blind loyalty can be costly. Organizations hire you because you can deliver their work, not to fulfill your vision. Do your job sincerely, serve wholeheartedly, and work with confidence—but never lose sight of your higher calling.

2. Wait on the Lord and Let Him Lead

If you have a vision for your life, seek the right place where it can grow. There is no perfect organization where your vision and work will match forever. For certain seasons, you may have to serve faithfully in less-than-ideal settings. Wait on the Lord—He will lead you on.

Your vision might seem bigger than your abilities or the tasks you handle today. That’s fine. Keep pursuing it. God raises people in every generation to fulfill His purposes, and your role may be one part of that larger plan.

3. Add Value Beyond Your Job

A job may provide your income, but your calling gives your life meaning. Look for ways to add value to people beyond your assigned tasks. Use your skills, compassion, and influence to build others. Encourage, mentor, and support those around you within your capacity.

Make friends and relationships with an eternal perspective. Be willing to associate with people of low positions or humble backgrounds. That is biblical. God values people more than positions.

4. Work Sincerely, Even Under Imperfect Leaders

Scripture calls us to obey earthly masters, even difficult ones. But it does not ask you to waste your life under selfish leadership. Be humble and submit to authority as unto the Lord, and He will lift you up in due time.

If you find yourself trapped under a system or a leader who exploits your work or sacrifices your family’s well-being, pray for deliverance. Expect God to open a way forward. He will make a way if you are walking in His will.

5. Keep Your Vision Pure and Personal

Do not duplicate someone else’s vision or try to prove yourself by comparing your journey. Your vision can be unique, but you don’t need to be “different” just for the sake of it. If the Lord has given you a different calling, obey it. He will provide what you need to accomplish the part of the vision entrusted to you.

Keep pressing on in faith. Don’t move to please others, show off, or win approval. Move only when faith leads you.

6. When to Stay, When to Move

Ask yourself:

• Why am I staying where I am?
• What is prompting me to move—fear, comfort, or faith?
• Is my decision aligned with God’s calling?

If you stay, let it be because you’re meant to grow there. If you move, let it be because God is directing you. When faith defines your direction, every step gains meaning.

Final Word

Every season, every shift, every transition can be meaningful when rooted in faith. Whether you’re waiting, moving, or adjusting, remember: you are not aimless—you are being led.

Do your best wherever you are. Keep your heart anchored to your vision and your eyes on the Lord. The path may change, but His purpose remains. When faith moves you, every move has meaning.

If you missed my Previous Posts, here they are: 

1. The Stone and the Moss Story- I

2. The Stone and the Moss Story - II

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