What do you believe in? If I were to ask you that question
undoubtedly you could answer it in a myriad of ways. You might tell me you
believe in justice or in freedom of speech, or in the power of positive
thinking. You might tell me you believe in your hero, or your mother’s advice,
or in Jesus Christ. But now think about what you mean by those answers.
In the English language the words "believe in" can mean to
accept as real or true, or to credit with veracity. Yet popular speech, as C.S.
Lewis once pointed out, has added another meaning. To "believe in" now also
means, "to approve of."
That is, a person could say he believes in or does not believe
in Christianity and not be thinking about truth at all. That person could just
as well be stating his approval of Christ’s teachings or her disapproval of a
particular doctrine, or the Church as a social institution.
In a culture that readily moulds truth with tools of personal
preference, perhaps it would be helpful to call to mind those believers who have
gone before us. The vast number of saints and martyrs that faithfully proclaimed
the Gospel throughout history did not believe in Christianity simply because
they approved. Indeed, Theresa of Avila, the 16th century Christian mystic known
for her ardent prayer life, would have a story to tell about that. Theresa
energetically traveled all over Spain by oxcart to help revive the Carmelite
monasteries. On a bumpy road, one rainy day she was thrown from the cart and
landed into a muddy stream. Theresa shook her fist at the Heavens and said,
"God, if this is the way you treat your friends, no wonder you don't have many!"
I smile at the honesty of that moment in light of a life so
beautifully lived for Christ. You see, Theresa of Avila knew well that there are
times when we may not feel approving of the road that God is
leading us down, but what is true should ultimately trump what is felt. As for
God, the Psalmist reminds us, His way is perfect; the word
of the Lord is flawless, He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. (Footnote 1: Psalm 18:30) That is a timely and potent message for
us today.
G.K. Chesterton gives us another angle to contemplate. He once
duly noted that it is not that Christianity has not been tried and found
wanting. But that it has been found difficult and left
untried.
So, what do you believe in? Jesus once cried out, "When a man
believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the One who sent me."
(Footnote 2: John 12:44) Do you
see how even Christ, whose life was perfect, points to the transcending truth of
the One who sent him? He asks for more than our approval. He calls us to worship
Him in spirit and in truth.
---
Copyright(c) 2003 Ravi Zacharias
International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity
is a ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
2) <DOCTRINAL>
"THE CHURCH AND I - WOMAN'S RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CHURCH"* –
(PART - 1)
Gertrud Harlow
Introduction:
Are you glad you're a woman? I am! I'm glad because it gives me
wonderful opportunities to glorify the Lord in my everyday life and in the
church. I thank the Lord for the challenge and so should you.
In
this little booklet let us consider how this works out in our lives as members
of the body of Christ and of a local assembly. Doubtless it will not answer all
the detailed questions that are often asked on the subject. We trust however
that it will be positive and helpful, relating everything to Christ's great love
for us and our resulting love to Him, a love that makes us want to obey His
commands.
The
Church: What is the Church in Scripture? In Colossians 1.24 it is
called Christ's body, the body of which He is the Head.
Our
human bodies have many different members-arms, feet, hair, liver, tongue, and
man): more. Each of these members has a specific job to do which helps all the
other members of the body. All these members get their directions from the head,
the brain, and the body will be strong if they all do their work well. The same
is true of the Church, Christ's spiritual body. Every true believer in Christ is
a member of that body, 1 Corinthians 12.13,14. The Lord has given to each one a
certain gift or gifts as it has pleased Him to help the whole body. 1 Cor.
12.18; Rom. 12.5-13. The gifts of some are more noticeable to our human eyes,
but all are necessary and in God's eyes all are important, 1 Cor. 12.22-2:.
Christ Himself is the Head of this body, the Church, and in some wonderful way
which we cannot understand the Church is the fullness of Christ who fills every
thing In every way, Eph. 1.22,23.
In
the beginning... : At
the very beginning of human life on earth God made Adam, then Eve to be a helper
to Adam. In Ephesians 5 we see that God wants the man to be the 3 had 1 of his
wife as Christ Is the Head of the Church. What a beautiful picture! The Church
counts it a joy and an honour to be subject to Christ her Lord. A Christian wife
feels the same way toward her husband who loves her as Christ loves the Church.
God's
order... : These things show us that in God's plan some are co be
leaders and other followers. God gives authority to some and wants others to be
subject to them. This does nor mean that those in authority are superior or more
important than those they lead. In Christ all are equal in God's sight,
Gal.3:28, but as far as life on this earth is concerned, some have authority and
others are under those who have that authority.
In
the Church it has pleased God to give this authority and responsibility of
leadership to the men and He has given the women the equally important cask of
being subject to that leadership. This has nothing to do with superiority or
inferiority as far as men and women are concerned. Nor does it have anything to
do with greater or lesser ability, all of which is God-given. It is the order
which God in His infinite wisdom has set up. We humans cannot always understand
what God does or why He does it that way. His thoughts and ways are different
from ours (Isa. 55.8,()), but we know they are good and we gladly accept them
because we know He loves us.
Prepared
by God... : God has prepared both men and women in a special way
for their positions. The men preach, teach, and gray publicly in the church.
They are responsible before the Lord to see that the affairs of the church are
taken care of in an orderly way. The older more experienced ones are responsible
to shepherd the younger ones and to feed all the Christians with the Word of God
so they will grow in the Lord. They have many responsibilities which are
outlined clearly in the Scriptures.
Our
risen Lord has given us women also great responsibilities to strengthen the body
of Christ. May we with His help discover what they are and play our part for His
glory and the well-being of the whole body! [To be
concluded]
---
* [Copyright 1979 by G.I.Harlow
- published by Everyday Publications, Inc., ON, Canada]
3) <BIBLE-STUDY>
"THOUGHTS SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WORSHIP" –
(PART - 1)
Charles E. Wigg
FOREWORD: As I have moved about amongst
God's people, I find that the hearts and minds of many are exercised about the
subject of worship. There is a real desire to have a better understanding and to
be able to worship more intelligently.
When I have
ministered on the subject there has been a very lively interest, and I have been
asked to write something about worship. This article is a response to that
request.
There seems
to be a lack of teaching on the subject of worship, with the result that there
is much ignorance about it. The following thoughts and suggestions are put
forward for your consideration. May they lead us to search and study the
scriptures, that we may learn what they have to teach us. May it result in a
richer and more intelligent response in worship to our Great God. May His Holy
Name be glorified!
WHAT IS WORSHIP: Worship is the deepest
spiritual emotion that the redeemed soul and spirit of man is capable of. True
worship is addressed to God alone. The Triune, Eternal, Only Wise God, who has
revealed Himself in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son.
It may be
addressed to God in His absoluteness, in His triune majesty and glory, that is
including all the Persons of the God-head. The Father, The Son and The Holy
Spirit.
Worship may
also be addressed to the Person of the Father, or to the Person of the Son, but
never in scripture is worship addressed to the Holy Spirit personally. In fact
no where in scripture do we have an example of anyone speaking to the Holy
Spirit. He is the one who speaks to us. However when we worship God in the
absolute, we worship the Holy Spirit as God, along with the Father and the
Son.
The most
intimate form of worship is addressed to God in a direct and personal manner;
that is; using the personal pronouns. Worship may be impersonal, we have a
demonstration of both in Rev.5. In verse 9, we hear those surrounding the
throne, the inner circle, saying "Thou art worthy", but the hosts of angels and
other families of the redeemed, in verse 12 say, "Worthy is the Lamb". As the
circle widens to gather in both heaven and earth, we hear the countless
multitude saying, "To Him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb".... In
both these latter cases the manner of address is impersonal. [To be
concluded]
---
[Reproduced by permission]
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