Dressing for the Occasion

(Gospel e-Letter - May 2013)

Dreams are fascinating. Sometimes I dream of flying like Peter Pan. On other occasions I feel uncomfortable even in sleep. Have you ever dreamt, for example, of being barefoot or improperly dressed for some formal occasion?

In one of his parables (Matthew 22:1-14) our Lord tells the story of a king who organized the wedding feast for his son.  As the king was greeting and meeting the guests, he noticed a man who was not dressed up for the occasion. ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ the king asked him. The poor guy was speechless and he was thrown out.

What about us? We must be properly dressed when we come in the presence of God. He is holy and righteous and we must be dressed in righteousness to come before him.

There are two dresses hanging in the spiritual wardrobe to choose from. The Bible calls them ‘our righteousness’ and ‘the righteousness of God.’

About our righteousness the Bible is not very flattering:

‘We have all become like one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
    and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away’ (Isaiah 64:6).

This righteousness is ‘ours’ because we have worked for it by our obedience to God’s law. However, we have not obeyed God as we ought and so we are polluted with much sin. Even our righteousness is unclean in God’s eyes. Our best efforts are like filthy rags.

On the other hand, God’s righteousness is most beautiful. Christ worked this righteousness by his perfect obedience to the law of God. Jesus obeyed the Father’s will perfectly even to the point of death on a cross. Jesus’ righteousness is what we really need to be made acceptable before God. ‘By the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous’ (Romans 5:19).

The apostle Paul was a very devout and religious person. He could have bragged about his faultlessness in keeping the law (Philippians 3:6). As a child of God, he didn’t. He willingly forsook all his personal righteousness so that he would be clothed with the righteousness provided by God in Christ. Paul yearned to ‘be found in [Christ], not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith’ (Philippians 3:9).

The righteousness of God is given to us by faith when we entrust our salvation in the hands of the Lord Jesus.
Can we imagine the shame and despair we would experience if we appear before God dressed in the polluted garments of our own righteousness? Like the man in the parable, we will be thrown out to the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We must take off and throw away the clothes of our righteousness. Instead we should put on the righteousness of Christ so that we may be dressed properly in the presence of God. Then we may gladly rejoice and sing of God’s amazing grace to us:

‘I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness’ (Isaiah 61:1).

Habemus Papam

(Gospel e-Letter - April 2013)

The crowd gathered at St Peter’s Square cheered at the announcement of a new Pope, ‘Habemus papam!’ Catholics around the world welcomed Pope Francis with joy. His friendly and humble personality endeared him with Catholic and non-Catholic people alike.

While we do not have any qualms about the person of the Pope, the issues that beset the office of the papacy continue unabated to this day. Is the Bishop of Rome the supreme head and focus of unity of all the churches? Is he the infallible teacher of divine truth?

Catholic dogma asserts that the Pope is the pastor of the universal church on earth, and that he has full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole church. Indeed the church of Jesus Christ is identified as the church governed by ‘the successor of Peter’ and the bishops in communion with him. Christians who do not acknowledge the Pope’s authority over them are considered to be separated from the unity of the church.

Moreover, it is also claimed that the Pope is infallible when he speaks under certain conditions (termed ‘ex cathedra’). He is said to be incapable of error in defining doctrines touching faith and morals.

Appeal is made to a limited number of proof texts, such as Matthew 16 and John 21, in defense of papal supremacy and infallibility. These Bible texts have been thoroughly debated over the centuries. I think that is fair to say that at best these verses do not really prove the papacy. Indeed the same scriptures were not interpreted by the early Church Fathers as evidence for the universal jurisdiction or infallibility of the Bishop of Rome. The early Christians knew nothing of the papal prerogatives which developed and evolved later on over the span of several centuries.

Is the papacy the uniting factor of Christianity? Christians should find and labour for spiritual unity in their common faith in Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, and in fervent brotherly love for one another. The papacy has been a cause of division. It is partly responsible for the deepest schism in Christianity, splitting the Catholic churches between the East and the West. The Catholics in the East were willing to recognise the primacy of honour of the bishop of Rome, but they would never submit to the Pope’s novel claim of universal jurisdiction.

Papal infallibility is an even more recent teaching; it was unknown in the early church. Up to the eve of the First Vatican Council in the Nineteenth Century, which defined papal infallibility, a Roman Catholic catechism denied that it was a Catholic doctrine. Despite the evidence to the contrary presented by prominent Catholic historians, such as Von Dollinger, Vatican I did not only define papal infallibility as dogma but even asserted that it was always so received throughout church history.

Of more importance than the concept of infallibility is the actual teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, headed by the Pope, on the way of salvation. While I thank God for every good thing preserved by the Catholic Church, my heart is continually sorrowful and troubled by the human traditions that crept in over the centuries. Sadly the message has been so distorted that many fail to understand the good news of salvation by grace alone, through faith in Christ Jesus alone, and apart from the merits of our works.

The salvation of millions of souls is at stake. The ceremonies, rituals or the personality and style of the Pope are unimportant in comparison with the gospel. The single principle that marks any community or person, whether Pope or peasant, as genuinely Christian, is faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. All else is superfluous.

What Sola Scriptura Does NOT Mean

(Gospel e-Letter - March 2013)

What do evangelicals mean by the term ‘sola Scriptura’ – by Scripture alone?

An evangelical may answer, ‘As a Christian I do not need anything else besides the Bible – there is no need for tradition, creeds, councils or even a statement of faith. I can interpret the Bible for myself apart from the church, ministers, teachers or fallible human books.’

Unfortunately many evangelicals would agree with that description of sola scriptura. But that popular concept is NOT what the Reformation principle of ‘sola Scriptura’ stands for.

1. Sola Scriptura asserts that the Bible is the complete Word of God to the church, and thus it is sufficient as a rule of faith and practice for God’s people. The Bible is God’s full message to us and there is nothing missing that we must discover through tradition or further divine revelation.

Nonetheless there is a legitimate place for tradition. ‘Tradition’ is not a dirty word; it simply means the handling down of beliefs and practices from one generation to another. Now of course what is handed down may be good or bad – and indeed the word ‘tradition’ is used in the Bible both in the negative as well as positive sense (compare Mark 7:9; Colossians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:18 with 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6). Therefore we must carefully examine our traditions and hold fast to what is good and in accordance with the Scriptures. Christianity did not begin with us. We have inherited a precious spiritual heritage – the gospel and the cardinal truths of the Christian faith - to guard, cherish and to pass on to the next generation.

2. Sola Scriptura asserts that the Bible, being the Word of God, is the final and infallible authority in all spiritual matters. There could not be a higher court of appeal than the Word of God, for God is above all and He cannot be mistaken. To His holy Word the entire church must submit in humble obedience.

Even so, the Bible does not exclude lesser authorities. On the contrary the Bible asserts the authority of church minister (1 Cor 16:15-18 ; 1 Thes 5:12, 13; Titus 2:15; Heb. 13:7, 17). The Lord calls pastors and teachers to shepherd the flock. They have a God-given authority and duty to teach and lead the church. The rest of us are called to submit to them. Ministers can’t just teach anything they fancy, but to faithfully expound and proclaim the Word of God. That is their sacred calling, and through them God ordinarily speaks to his people.

3. Sola Scriptura asserts the Bible’s perspicuity or clarity; God communicates with us in ordinary human language which Christians can understand.

While we assert that the Bible can be understood, we must also caution that it can be just as easily misunderstood! Even by Spirit-indwelt, born-again believers. We must recognize our human limitations and our sinful reluctance to accept the Word of God as it is. To say, ‘I have the Bible and I don’t need anyone’s help’ is the height of pride and arrogance. The correct interpretation of the Bible is the most difficult and dangerous task in the world. Faithful pastors and teachers spend their lives in the study and teaching of the Scriptures. They are God’s precious gifts to his people (Eph 4:11). Therefore we should approach the Bible with utmost reverence, and recognizing our own limitations and God’s gifts to his church, we should gladly avail ourselves of all means – teachers, sermons, books, creeds and confessions - to rightly comprehend God’s message to us.

The ‘alone’ of ‘sola Scriptura’ is the glad affirmation of the uniqueness of the Bible, not a licence for individualism. ‘Bible alone’ certainly does not mean ‘Me alone’! If we really uphold Sola Scriptura we must cherish the holy tradition we have received from our forefathers, and submit ourselves to church authorities and learn from them, even as the infallible Bible itself clearly commands us.

If I were a Catholic Apologist

(Gospel e-Letter - February 2013).

If I were a Catholic apologist, I would concentrate my attacks on evangelicals on two doctrines, namely sola scriptura and sola fide. Given the gross spiritual ignorance and rampant error among evangelicals, I should be able to destroy the very foundations of their religion in no time.

Take the popular concept of sola scriptura among many evangelicals. They think that the Bible teaches that the Bible alone is the only authority, and thus they reject the claims of an infallible magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church, and indeed of every other authority, including the authority of their own local churches and their pastors.

There is no need for many arguments. One is enough. I would ask a very simple question: “Since you believe that the Bible is the only authority, show me from the Bible alone which books should be included in the Bible and which should be excluded?”

Their answer will be dead silence. You cannot show from the Bible alone which books are inspired and which books are not canonical. That concept of sola scriptura cannot be defended from the Bible.
It’s an easy win. But my conscience would not let me sleep. I cannot be at peace with myself knowing that I have been deceptive.

For contrary to what many people think, sola scriptura does not assert that the Bible alone is the only authority. Sola scriptura asserts that the Bible, being the Word of God, is the only INFALLIBLE authority. Sola scriptura most definitely allows and upholds the authority of the church and tradition, which the Bible itself affirms.

We know which books belong to the canon and which are apocryphal through the work of our forefathers in the faith, namely the church. That is the way that things happened historically. God gave his inspired Word through chosen men like Matthew, Peter and Paul, which were handed on to the first Christian believers, who then copied and passed them on to other churches and to successive generations. The church received the holy books and preserved them to this very day as her most precious heritage. Thanks to the church we can hold the Book in our hands and say, ‘This is the Word of God!’

Now I can almost hear someone object, ‘But how can you know for certain which books are canonical since you do not believe that the church is infallible?’

The answer is simple. The church does not have to be infallible to be correct. I am certainly not immune from error, but if I say that 4 plus 6 equals 10, I am nonetheless correct in my answer. We should ask, therefore, can God use a very fallible church – for evidently the church has made many mistakes during its history – to establish correctly the canonical books?

The staunchest Catholic apologist must admit this is possible. Moreover, we know that God has already done so before the church era. To our spiritual brethren, the saints of the Old Testament, God also gave the Holy Scriptures. The Jews knew which books were canonical Scriptures not on the basis of an infallible degree of their king, high priest or an ecumenical council of their leaders. They cherished the sacred books which they had received from their forefather without attributing infallibility to their leaders.

We can to do the same today. We can confidently accept and treasure the canonical scriptures, as indeed our spiritual forefathers had done for the first fifteen hundred years since the birth of the NT church (prior to the Council of Trent). We should be grateful to God for his people and his appointed leaders – fallible as they were - as he used them throughout the centuries to identify, preserve and transmit the Scriptures to us today.

If you are a Catholic I hope that tonight you will sleep peacefully after you realize that one of the main argument against the unique, ultimate and absolute authority of the Bible is spurious.

The Restless Heart

(Gospel e-Letter - January 2013)

The soul is not easily satisfied.

I was disappointed on my son’s birthday. He received more gifts and toys from his friends in one day than I had obtained in my entire childhood. His mum and I bought him a large fire-truck that he desired for a long time. Yet at the end of the day he asked me why I did not also buy him the red car he had seen at the toy shop.

The boy’s attitude is not unique. We all had similar feelings. We crave and covet some THING – an electronic gadget, a car, a house, a promotion – but as soon as we grab it in our hands its magic seems to vanish in thin air. Material things simply can’t fill our soul.

The young daughter of my colleague has better sense. Her father, a medical doctor, was leaving home to go to his clinic. She asked him if he could stay with her.

‘No dear,’ he told her, ‘I have to go to work to earn money so that I can buy you more toys.’

‘But Dad I have enough toys,’ she answered, ‘It is better if you stay and play with me.’

She’s right. Of course we need bread to live, but we can’t live by bread alone. We were created to love and to be loved. Love alone can fill our heart.

I thank God for the love of my parents, my wife and children, and many other dear people, who had brought so much joy and happiness in my life. Even so, even the purest and dearest human relationships are but a faint reflection of the greatest love of all.

Augustine was right when he prayed, ‘God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.’ We hurt ourselves if we seek life anywhere else.

There is a note of sad disappointment in the Lord’s voice when he says, ‘My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water’ (Jer 2:13).

I pray that in the coming year we turn away from the futile pursuits of this world and come to the Lord Jesus to drink the water of life and satisfy our soul with his love.

Fireman Sam and the Big Questions of Life

(Gospel e-Letter - December 2012).

My five-year-old son is a great fan of Fireman Sam. He has converted our living room into a fire station complete with fire-trucks, a rescue boat and a helicopter. It seems that he has plans for further development of the fire department as he asked his mum if we could buy him a fire-engine crane truck for his birthday. ‘Yes, of course,’ his mother promised, ‘as long as you are a good boy.’

John knows that his birthday, which is on the 16th December, is close to Christmas. So he asked her again, ‘Can I get another helicopter for Jesus’ birthday?’ Joanne could have answered that we do not really know the exact date when Jesus was born, but again she promised to buy him that toy for Christmas.

Encouraged by his success, John went on to ask for yet another toy ‘for the birthday of Jesus’ Father.’ Now he had crossed the theological red line! My wife gently corrected his error. ‘Jesus’ Dad does not have a birthday.’

Without realizing John had touched two big life questions which all of us ask at some point or another.

The first is this: Why do I exist? Why am I here rather than non-existent? What is my origin?

The answer is found in the eternality of God. He exists in and of himself, without beginning or end. God is eternal. We are not. There was a time when we were not. We know our origin and owe our existence to him who has no birthday, to God the Father, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The second question is this: Why am I not what I ought to be? We desire what is beautiful but instead we’re often faced by ugliness in ourselves and around us. We yearn for what is true, good and sweet, but we are never far from falsehood, evil and bitterness. What is wrong with us and with the world? Can we ever reach the deepest desires of our heart?

The answer is found in the birth of Jesus, when we remember who he is and the purpose of his mission.
Jesus did not begin to exist at the moment of conception. He was with the Father before the creation of the universe. He is the eternal Son of God, as the Bible declares, ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’

The baby in the arms of Mary was the eternal Son; he is both Divine and human. ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ God the Father sent him to the world on a rescue mission. The innocent child of Betlehem is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Jesus said, ‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’ Because of Jesus we can become what we were meant to be. We can have a true, genuine and beautiful life. Because of him, we can enjoy fellowship with his Father and the privilege of calling him our Father!