Discipleship Considered

As we enter 2010 let us return to our series on 'Discipleship'. We have already considered why we should become disciples:

1. For love of the Saviour.

2. To be worthy of the One who saved us.

3. To glorify God.

4. For the salvation of souls.

5. For the 'well done' of the Saviour.

6. For the victor's crown.

Now let us continue with the qualifications of discipleship.

A Disciple Must Have a Commission.

1. The General Commission

Under the initial phase of the Messianic mission of Jesus, those who were His disciples were sent out with clear instructions. "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near'." (Matt. 10.5-7) And because they were representatives of Israel's Messiah they were equipped to perform the appropriate Messianic attesting signs, which they did.

After His resurrection, to accommodate the new circumstances, He revised their instructions. He commanded them to take the gospel everywhere, to the end that all people should have the opportunity to be saved. He instructed the eleven to go, teach and baptise all nations. The Revised Version of the Bible changes the word 'teach' to 'make disciples of'. His words, as they were given on another occasion (recorded in Mark 16.15), called for preaching the gospel to every creature. Preaching in His Name among all nations is the theme of Luke 24.47. Our Lord's last words before His ascension are recorded in Acts 1.8. They are, perhaps, the most famous missionary text in the Bible, and a command to bear witness in the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth.

The orderly progress of this testimony was to be in Jerusalem, where the apostles were at that time, then in the surrounding area and the adjoining region, and finally to the far places. The most comprehensive commission is found in Acts 26.16-18. Christ appeared to Paul for the purpose of making him a minister and a witness among the Gentiles. He was made responsible "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance."

While the great commission was directed initially to the apostles of the Lord, we must believe that discipleship includes the injunction to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ to everyone who will give us a hearing. If the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is lost, and disciples are now His representatives, then we must follow in His footsteps and seek to win those who are lost. It seems self-evident that discipleship must take on board 'the great commission'.

Next time we will look at 'the particular commission' for individual disciples.

Discipleship Considered 2 (Cont)

Discipleship Considered 2 (Continued)

We now return to our series of blogs on discipleship. Here are a few more reasons why invidividuals may wish to embrace the path of service for Christ.

4. FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS.

It seems redundant to say, but the spirit of the disciple must be in tune with the spirit of his/her Master. When Jesus said, "the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20.28; Mark 10.45), He vocalised a burden for souls that reflected the heart of the Father. He also said, "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19.10). In a similar manner, when the disciple has a burden for souls, he/she truly reflects the heart of the Saviour and demonstrates that he/she is a true follower of the Master. Evangelists, whose specialised work is the salvation of souls, are one of God's gifts to the Church (Eph.4.11). Furthermore, all Christians are encouraged to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim.4.5).

5. FOR THE 'WELL DONE' OF THE SAVIOUR

There is nothing quite as comforting as having the satisfaction of a job well done. Of knowing within yourself that you did your best and the result was as good as you could possibly have made it. If this is then endorsed by your peers, then deep joy; but if it is confirmed by the Saviour Himself; to have Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt.25.21,23), O what glory! Martin Luther wrote: "there are only two days in my diary' today and that day".

6. FOR THE VICTOR'S CROWN

Then there is this other aspect. Paul, illustrating his own path of discipleship wrote; "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown" (1 Cor. 9.25). Then speaking at the end of his life, having completed his race, having finished his course, and having fought his fight, he also wrote; "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day" (2 Tim. 4.8). James joined in with; "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (Jas.1.12). And Peter; "and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Pet.5.4). Leaving aside what these individual crowns mean, it is clear that they are not simply given to those who are believers and little more. Crowns reflect either a position of authority or victory, and these described by the New Testament writers are for those who have been faithful in service. Jesus, our fore-runner and example, was crowned when He completed His course. The writer to the Hebrews summed it up, "... we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour" (Heb.2.9)

Next time we will look at the disciple's commission.

Feast of Dedication

Feast of Dedication

Since we have now entered that period of the year in which the feast of dedication is celebrated, perhaps it would be appropriate to offer a blog on the subject. This year the festival is from the evening of the 11th December to the evening of the 19th December.

Hanukkah

After the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek empire was divided among his generals. Palestine was first administered by the Ptolemies of Egypt, but later they were under the rule of Syria, which was then ruled by the Seleucid dynasty. These followed a policy in which all nations under their control should be fully assimilated into their empire. One king, Antiochus Epiphanes, aggressively pursued this policy, and sought to achieve it by the destruction of local culture and religion. The observance of Jewish laws and customs was made illegal, and the Temple in Jerusalem was made into a pagan shrine.

In the years 165-163 B.C. a revolt was incited by a priest in Modin called Mattathias. Led by his son Judah, called Maccabee (from the Hebew meaning 'hammer'), the revolt was a great success. Antiochus was defeated and all the lands of Judah reclaimed. Although Israel went on to exert increased political power in the region for some one hundred years, the country fell to the Romans in 63 B.C.

Hanukkah, which means 'dedication' is a remembrance of the Maccabee's victory and the cleansing and rededication of the Temple in the aftermath of the revolt. In the Talmud, the story is told of a miracle that took place when a single jar of pure oil (that was needed to light the Menorah in the Temple) lasted for eight days, when under normal circumstances it would have only lasted for one day. It is this that is the background for Hanukkah being known as the festival of lights, and gives rise to the lighting of the hanukiyah, the eight day lamp, or eight branched menorah.

The Customs of Hanukkah

Hanukkah Lights

There are two main aspects to the Hanukkah lights. The first, 'pirsumei nisa' means to publicise the miracle, which requires the lights to be put in a place where they can be seen, such as in a window.

The second, 'leshem mitzvah' means that whatever is done to fulfil a commandment should not be used for any other purpose. This means the candles that are lit for the exclusive purpose of the festival are not to be used as a light source. Thus the eight candles are lit with another candle, the 'shamash', which is kept apart from the others.

The order of the lighting of the candles was a matter of debate. Rabbi Shammai recommended that you light all eight candles on the first day of the festival, and then reduce the number by one each succeeding day, whereas Rabbi Hillel suggested that you begin with one candle on day 1, and then two on day 2, and so on. Generally, this is the order that is followed.

The candles should burn for at least 30 minutes. If a candle goes out, there is no legal obligation to relight it, but it is considered a good thing to do, i.e. it is 'hidur mitzvah', an enhancement of the mitzvah.

Hanukkah Blessing

There are blessings to be said at Hanukkah. They are as follows:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, king of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, king of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in olden times and in our times.

And the Sheheheyanu recited only on the first night:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, king of the universe, who has given us life and sustained us and brought us to this happy season.

After the first candle of the day is lit, it is the custom to recite the prayer Hanerot halalu, "These lights that we kindle for the miracles, for the wonder, for the salvations, and for the battles You performed...," and sing the hymn Maoz tzur yeshuati, "O stronghold, rock of my salvation".

Discipleship Considered 2 (Cont)

Discipleship Considered (Continued)

Why should we become disciples (Continued)

4. For the Salvation of Souls

It seems redundant to say, but the spirit of the disciple must be in tune with the spirit of his Master. When Jesus said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45), He demonstrated a burden for souls, that reflected the heart of the Father. He also said, “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). In a similar manner, when the disciple has a burden for souls, he truly reflects the heart of the Saviour and demonstrates that he is a true follower of the Master. Evangelists, whose specialised work is the salvation of souls, are one of God’s gifts to the Church.3 Furthermore, all Christians are encouraged to do the work of an evangelist.

5. For the ‘well done’ of the Saviour

There is nothing quite as comforting as having the satisfaction of a job well done. Of knowing within yourself that you did your best and the result was as good as you could possibly have made it. If this is then endorsed by your peers, then deep joy; but if it is confirmed by the Saviour Himself; to have Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21,23). O what glory! Martin Luther wrote: “there are only two days in my diary; today and that day.”

6. For the Victor’s Crown

Then there is this other aspect. Paul, illustrating his own path of discipleship wrote; “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Cor. 9:25). Then speaking at the end of his life, having completed his race, having finished his course, and having fought his fight, he also wrote; “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day” (2 Tim. 4:8) James joined in with; “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jas. 1:12). And Peter; “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Pet. 5:4). Leaving aside what these individual crowns mean, it is clear that they are not simply given to those who are believers and little more. Crowns reflect either a position of authority or victory, and these described by the New Testament writers are for those who have been faithful in service. Jesus, our fore-runner and example, was crowned when He completed His course. The writer to the Hebrews summed it up, “… we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour” (Heb. 2:9).

To be continued

Discipleship Considered 2

Discipleship Considered 2

Why Should We Become Disciples?

Here are some suggestions to answer the question, ‘Why should I become a disciple of Christ?’ – they are in no particular order.

1. For Love of the Saviour

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Love is expressed, not simply in words, but also in actions – God loved – so He gave. Similarly, Jesus expressed His love for a lost humanity by His actions. “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:2 (NRSV)). In like manner, we serve Him, because we love Him, and we love Him because He first loved us.

Rabbinic Judaism offers a place of honour and dignity in the coming kingdom for those who follow the routines laid down for them. There are set prayers and times for fasting. The food they eat, the way they cook, the dishes they use, the way they dress, all have to be in conformity to the published code. There are regulations that impact on every facet of Jewish life. But if you ask them why they do it – they will first respond – ‘it is in this way I can show my love for God’. This is excellent motivation. And this must be one of the most important elements in our discipleship. We do it because we love Him.

2. To be worthy of the One who saved us

To be the bride of Christ is the destiny of the Church. Now espoused to Him (2 Cor. 11:2), she is by and by to be presented by Him to Himself (Eph. 5:27). As the future bride of Christ we have a high destiny, and those who are true disciples long to be united to their Lord. As a bride prepares herself for her wedding day by making sure everything is as perfect as can be, so they, by performing acts of service that reflect the Spirit of the Saviour, are transformed from one state of glory into another, thus being conformed to His image and so being made compatible with the God they adore. Paul expressed it perfectly. “But we all … are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).

3. To Glorify God

Paul wrote: “… whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Christians for centuries have sought to follow this advice. The Westminster shorter catechism asks the question, “What is the chief end of man?” and gives the answer, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”. It supports the first half of this answer (man’s chief end is to glorify God) with the following proof texts:

“I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore” (Ps. 86:12).

“Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified” (Isa. 60:21).

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36).

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20).

“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11).

As Christians, we recognise that God is working His purposes out in accordance with His own will. This is designed to redound to His glory. One day all creation will join the heavenly host to sing, ‘Glory to God in the highest’. In the meantime, we have the opportunity to recognise this overarching aim of God, and seek to promote it. In this matter we must embrace an essential principle, that while God is prepared to bless us, and be kind to us, He is not our servant. He is working in His own way towards His own ends. Man is not the centre of the universe – God is. And our own experience will be greatly enriched if we recognise this. Ptolemy’s model of the solar system had the sun revolving around the earth. While this held sway, some scientific disciplines were unable to advance. Copernicus’ model put the earth in orbit around the sun. This was a great step forward and science benefited substantially. Worldliness follows Ptolemy’s model and puts man at the centre – but godliness follows the model of Copernicus and puts God at the centre. If we are able to place God at the centre of our lives, to realise He does not revolve around us, but we around Him, then much will fall into place. This is certainly a Biblical concept, and since He is a beneficent God, then all things will work together for good. Let us not be like Ptolemy and make earth central – that path leads to discouragement and difficulty. We must be like Copernicus and make heaven (the sun) central, and then all things will fit in their proper place. Then we will be embracing Paul’s injunction to do all things to the glory to God.

More next time

Discipleship Considered 1 (Cont)

Discipleship Considered (Continued)

But can God use me?

In Biblical terms discipleship incorporates service – indeed service is a major ingredient – so the question must be raised – can God use me? Just to ask the question is un-nerving. Why would the omnipotent God use me? Can I really be a representative for Christ? Does the Bible give me any confidence to believe that the Lord would actually allow me to work for Him? It is true that Jesus called disciples, but weren’t they special? Well, they were special inasmuch as they were committed to following Him, but apart from that, they did not have any talents that rose above others of their generation. They actually seem very ordinary – mainly men from the fishing community of Galilee. They became extra-ordinary men because of their communion with the Saviour. They accompanied Him and saw the life that pleases the Father lived before their eyes. They heard His teaching, could follow His example, and obey His instructions. When, subsequently, they showed bravery and spoke with wisdom even though as the Sanhedrists observed “they were uneducated and untrained men” it was evident “that they had been with Jesus”. (Acts 4:13) Yes, Jesus can use anyone - if they are willing. The incarnate Son of God issued an open invitation - “If anyone desires to come after Me” (Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23).

Is there a cost to discipleship?

But before you commit yourself, there are some things you should know. As we have already intimated, there will be a cost – Jesus talked in terms of self-denial and carrying a cross. This is important. He made sure that no-one followed Him under false pretences. To those who came to hear Him, He laid out the cost of discipleship in clear terms. For a disciple of Christ, His claims are the highest. And since there can be no going back, we need to be sure before we begin. His advice was – ‘count the cost’. Let us enlarge the Luke 14:26 reference:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26-33).

The thrust of this passage is the advice to count the cost of discipleship before embarking on that path. But when we read it the word ‘hate’ in the first sentence somehow catches our eye and requires an explanation. Placing it in the overall context of the gospels it is illuminated by the teaching of the Saviour Himself. He said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:37-38). ‘Hate’ then does not equate to hostility or enmity, not even dislike – it is used as a comparative to emphasise that our love for Christ should be greater than our love for any other. In other words, that which is expressed here is the requirement that the love of Christ has to be placed above all other loves and commitments. The word ‘hate’ is used in a similar manner in the Old Testament, where in Gen. 29:30–31, Jacob’s greater love for Rachel (29:30) is phrased as hating Leah (29:31, RSV). This kind of commitment is, no doubt, worrying to the modern mind; but we should not be too concerned. What will become clear is: a person who commits himself or herself to Christ will develop a greater love for both neighbour and family. And we have been through it before, for this kind of wholeheartedness was required at the beginning of our Christian walk. We entered the family of God by throwing ourselves on His mercy. The Christian life has never been one of half measures.

Discipleship Considered 1

Discipleship Considered 1


First Considerations

What we have from God is a life to be lived. It began with a birth and continues with growth. And like natural life - education, good practices and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle are what are required. In the early years, parents make sure that their child has a healthy diet, rest and regimes designed to strengthen the growing body and quicken the developing mind. But in the course of time, all activities will take on a different hue – they will be designed to prepare the child for independence. For there must come a time, sooner or later, when the child takes responsibility for his/her own life. Similarly, as new-born Christians our early years should be devoted to acquiring good, healthy, spiritual habits and a godly lifestyle. The Bible says of Jesus that He: “grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:40) Once He passed the age of twelve (His character formed although not yet finished) He took responsibility for His own life. It was at the time when, in the Jewish culture, a boy became a man. Then, attending His first Passover in the Temple He said, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)

The purpose of this blog is to refresh our commitment to Christian character, the kind of character of which Jesus would approve. It is the path of discipleship and it is not an easy path to tread – there will be no offer of a short-cut to spirituality. We know of no baptism (or other experience) that will transform you into a super-Christian overnight. There are no quick fixes. But for those who are prepared to develop good Christian character, much is available to them – certainly a fulfilling life and a service for God.

The choice is yours

When Jesus made the offer of discipleship He put it in very strong terms, stronger certainly, than we would do today. In some cases, He made discipleship the equivalent of salvation. He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:23-25). Then again: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27). While we must understand the texts in the light of the historical Messianic offer that Jesus made to the Hebrew nation, it is still difficult to weaken them to accommodate a more watered down discipleship for the twenty-first century.

Remember – no excuses!

It may be, at this stage you might be saying, ‘I don’t think I can change, I’m too old’; or, ‘I’m too set in my ways’; or ‘I have too many commitments – family, church, and employment – to be able to take on the responsibility of discipleship’. Jesus was aware of the human tendency to make excuses and warned against it – so we should be aware that it might lead to a troubled conscience later. Those that have such opportunities to follow but reject them may live to reflect on ‘what might have been’.

Let us take responsibility for our own spiritual lives and not find excuses for our failures: just think how they will sound if expressed to Christ at his judgment seat.

‘I am sorry, Lord, that I didn’t embrace the path of discipleship, but I didn’t have the time’.

‘I am sorry, Lord, that my life did not come up to the standard expected of a Christian, but I had this besetting sin, and I had no power to change’.

‘I am sorry, Lord, that my life did not glorify You, but it was the way I was brought up - my childhood formed my character, and I couldn’t change’.

‘I am sorry, Lord, that I didn’t do more for You but the whole culture into which I was born was anti-Christian, and there was no way I could swim against the tide’.

‘I am sorry, Lord, that my life was less than perfect but my fallen nature would not allow me to do the things I would, and often compelled me to do the things I did not want to do’.

‘I am sorry, Lord, that my life was a disappointment to You, but the Christian life was just too difficult. I was not strong enough’.

The example of Jesus

Jesus never shied away from the will of the Father. At no stage did He ever have any other ambition; at no stage did He say it was too difficult; and at no stage did He say, ‘I cannot do it because the whole world is against me’. He set his mind to do all that the Father required, and He accomplished it because He made use of the resources placed at His disposal; the help and leading of the Spirit of God; the wisdom and insight of the T’nach; and the strength and encouragement He received when in prayer fellowship with His Father. What we need to emphasise is that everyone can be a disciple. Everything changed when we became a Christian. Old things passed away and everything began fresh. We are not slaves of our environment, or our upbringing or our culture; we are new creatures in Christ and can live for Him.

More next time

Discipleship Considered (Intro)

Discipleship Considered (Preface)

I was raised in a Welsh valley at a time when most people treasured a ‘good name’. They valued integrity, honesty, sincerity, goodness, fidelity, courage, justice, industry. It was important to be considered virtuous and kind. They had this in common with much of the U.K. and to some degree it was a reflection of Christian values. But now, in many ways, things have changed, especially in business. It seems for the majority of people, it is now thought more important to be successful, rather than virtuous. The wise man of Israel, Solomon, suggested that people usually pursue power, pleasure and possessions. Certainly, there are some who deem themselves successful leaders, and who measure it in these terms. The public often consider successful living in these terms also, although pleasure and possessions are highest on the list. Unfortunately, this culture has invaded the Church. Some ministers, who themselves seem to be successful, preach a gospel that suggests a Christian should be healthy and wealthy. They sometimes offer a God who will be your personal banker, doctor and counsellor and suggest there are actions that you can take that will unlock untold riches for you. There are experiences available that will turn you into a super-successful individual. And, in many cases, the people that offer these benefits have personality – they are good communicators; but some are not far removed from the charlatans that sold indulgences in the Middle Ages. At that time, and in that culture, sins could be forgiven for a sum of money. Make a few changes to that ancient heresy to accommodate the differences in culture, that is, don’t offer forgiveness but replace it with prosperity and the doctrine is still around today.

Personality does not compensate for lack of Christian character

One of our problems is that some of the flourishing churches with the largest following are led by people who, while they are personable and project a successful image, are morally weak. In those countries where the ‘health and wealth’, ‘name it and claim it’, doctrines have had their most fertile ground, evangelists arose who made large promises in return for a contribution towards what was loosely called, ‘the Lord’s work’. But, in the view of many, it was style without substance. Some have had very public falls. They had got by on personality for decades while inherent Christian character was lacking.

God looks at the heart

When Samuel was directed to Bethlehem to anoint a new king of Israel he made the mistake of looking at the outward appearance. Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, was a most imposing figure of a man, with a name that would suit a king of God’s chosen people. But he was not God’s choice; his heart was not tuned to the spiritual. Samuel’s mistake has given us a very memorable verse of Scripture. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). The key to service has always been, and will always be, a heart that reflects the concerns of the Lord. As we are aware, God’s choice at that time was David, who already had a heart hunger for God. Paul interprets the Old Testament narrative in his speech at Pisidian Antioch. He said, God “raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will’” (Acts 13:22).

The problem, of course, is not new. Jesus complained that the Pharisees were totally concerned with appearance while neglecting inner righteousness. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matt. 23:27, 28). So serious was this hypocrisy that a case could be made to argue that it was the root cause of the rejection and crucifixion of Christ. Certainly, both Sadducees and Pharisees pursued power, pleasure and possessions to the detriment of honesty, integrity, virtue, honour, and fair-play.

It is true that we need to have leaders who are good communicators, and who can influence people, but these are secondary, not primary traits. If the character is insincere and duplicitous, in the end no amount of rhetoric will help. In my opinion, only goodness gives energy to relationships, employment, family and church life. The lives of the Pharisees were focussed on the outward – “that they may be seen by men” (Matt.6:5; 23:5 (see also Matt.6:2; 6:16)) as Jesus said. A life focussed on the outward may fool fellow believers, even Christian leaders, but will only end in tears. You have to pay the price that Christianity demands, day in and day out, to achieve inner peace and benefit from the blessings provided by the Saviour

The Mercy of God (Continued)

Did Jesus show mercy?

We believe that Jesus was God incarnate, that is God in human form, walking the roads of Israel. If that is the case, did He demonstrate this divine attribute. In other words, did He show mercy while here on earth? The answer is ‘most definitely’. Many pleaded for mercy. The two blind men cried, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matt. 9:27) A woman also cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” (Matt. 15:22) And ten lepers also “lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13) This was repeated many times. (Matt.17:15; Matt.20.30 for example). All these received what they asked for.

A Comparison

If we have to compare ourselves with someone else, there was One who met the standard that God demands. He is, of course, Jesus Himself, the only One who lived a perfect life. God said of Him, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17; 12:15; 17:5) If we meet His standard then we might have stood a chance. But even that is out of reach, because He wasn’t born a sinner, but we were. Our problem is twofold.

1. We are not good to start with. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Our parents were sinners and we are sinners. (We sin because we are sinners). Everything reproduces after its own kind. Our first parents were sinners … “In Adam all die”. (1 Cor.15.22)

2. Secondly, we have picked up bad habits. We are such liars that we cannot even tell the truth to ourselves. The Bible says “if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”.(1 Jn 1:8) (We are sinners because we sin). “For all have sinned” (Rom.5.12)

A Well-Known Conversion

Although Charles Wesley had been trained for the Anglican church ministry and had been active in religious activities, there came a time when he realized that he had never personally experienced God’s love and mercy. He had a crisis experience on May 20, 1738, as he met with a small group of Moravian believers in the Aldersgate Hall in London. That evening he wrote in his journal: “At midnight I gave myself to Christ, assured that I was safe, whether sleeping or waking”. In 1741 he included in the Wesley hymnal a Stevenson hymn that reflected his experience:

Depth of mercy! can there be,
mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners spare?

I had long withstood His grace,
long provoked Him to His face,
would not hearken to His calls,
grieved Him by a thousand falls.

But then the verse:

There for me my Saviour stands,
holding forth His wounded hands;
God is love! I know, I feel,
Jesus weeps and loves me still.

Charles Wesley, composer of more than 6,500 hymn texts, entered heaven on the basis of the mercy of God. And he could point to a day (May 20, 1738) when it happened.

Christianity Considered 6 (Cont)

The Mercy of God (Continued)

In our last blog we mentioned that the only entry into heaven will be through the mercy of God. But there are some that might decide not to trust in the mercy of God but to rely on the value of their own lives - their character, their good works, etc. For example, many Jewish people believe God has a scales, and He will weigh their good works, and weigh their sins, and if their good works outweigh their sins they will be O.K. They are not looking for mercy, they are looking for justice. Be careful! This is a dangerous path and it leads to destruction. Shakespeare wrote: “Though justice be thy plea, consider this, that, in the course of justice, none of us should see salvation”. Even the best of us cannot gain acceptance down that road.

Some examples of ‘good works’

Think of Mr. George Muller who gave himself to look after hundreds of orphans in Bristol.

Or Dr. Thomas Barnardo who did a similar work in London.

Or William Booth who dedicated his life to charitable works, and founded the Salvation Army.

Or Brother Andrew who founded ‘Open Doors’ and distributed Christian literature to those who needed it.

Or William Wilberforce who was a philanthropist and helped to abolish the slave trade.

Or Helen Roseveare who established maternity and leprosy care in Africa.

Or Robert Raikes who started Sunday schools which by 1903 were attended regularly by over 6 million children.

Or Andrew Reed, a London Minister who founded the Royal Hospital & Home for Incurables.

Or Dr. Annie McCall who founded the Clapham Maternity hospital in 1889.

Or Elizabeth Fry who started the Institute for Nursing Sisters in 1840.

All of these have gone to heaven, but not one of them got there because of their good works. They all asked God for mercy. And we are not even as good as them. If they couldn’t get in on the basis of ‘good works’ what chance have we.

A parable

Generally, when we compare our lives with others we usually make sure that the comparison is in our favour. Jesus told a parable to illustrate the problem. There were two men who went to the Temple to pray. One looked for acceptance on the basis of his good works. The other asked for mercy. The religious man prayed. ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ (Luke 18:11,12) Notice how he compared himself with those who were worse than himself (extortioners, unjust, adulterers or traitors). And notice how he lists those elements that he thinks will get him brownie points with God – fasting and tithing. He is seeking acceptance on the grounds of his goodness. But the other man … “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13) This man is not asking for justice – he is asking for mercy. And he is asking wholeheartedly, with eyes lowered and a knowledge of his condition. Jesus said, only one of them went home justified. Can you guess which one? That’s right, the tax-collector.

It is essential that we trust in the mercy of God.