Fear doesn’t seem like a great starting place for wisdom
Monthly Archives: July 2018
Tell the truth
It really works
GOD IS OUR SALVATION: Why Study the Book of Isaiah?
Introduction of Isaiah
It has been called the ‘Mount Everest’ of the Bible: a sweeping, grand prophecy that tells us so much indispensable revelation of the people of God and of the Messiah to the nations, Jesus of Nazareth. Not only is it deep in its information, it is also highly poetic, like Shakespeare is to English, Isaiah is in Hebrew (the King James Version also highlights the poetic side of Isaiah).
Starting with the call of the prophet, to Judah and Jerusalem, Isaiah speaks about an amazing vision of God on His throne in heaven. There the Lord gives the call ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us’ (6:8). Isaiah quickly volunteers and thus begins a great adventure for him and the world.
Sixty-six chapters long, just as the Bible has 66 books, and neatly divided in 39 chapter and 27 chapters, just as the Bible has 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New.
One of the great stories is the unsuccessful Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, which is repeated in II Kings and II Chronicles. This was among the greatest crises in Israelite history and had nature taken its course, all of Biblical and world history would have been altered. The Assyrians lost the siege because of divine intervention, forecast by Isaiah’s prophetic ministry (Note: two ‘souvenirs’ of the siege in 701 BC are Hezekiah’s Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City Jewish Quarter and Hezekiah’s Tunnel in the City of David).
In addition, there are other dramatic prophecies that were fulfilled in and after Isaiah’s day. Israel, the church, and the world, have been greatly enriched because of this great book.
Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament, with 21 references by name and 66 direct quotations. Twenty of the 27 books take a reference from Isaiah. Chapter 53 is directly quoted or alluded to numerous times.
If you ever go to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the centrepiece of it all is the ‘Shrine of the Book,’ dedicated to the Dead Sea scrolls And in the centre of the shrine is a replica of the ‘Isaiah scroll’ – the entire book of Isaiah in ancient Hebrew on one impressive scroll. What is even more impressive is that modern Hebrew readers have no problem reading Isaiah’s Hebrew from 2,000 years ago. Truly, God’s Word abides forever (40:8).
Hebrew Name of Isaiah
The Hebrew name is yesha-yahu, meaning ‘Yahweh/God is our salvation.’ As Bob Gass aptly says, Jesus had to be God to save us and man to die for us. Isaiah 12:2: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Author of Isaiah
Who is the author of Isaiah? The answer should be relatively easy – Isaiah 1:1 saysIsaiah the son of Amoz. Because the depth and breath of prophecy, the fact that Isaiah predicts the rise of Cyrus the Great of Medo-Persia 150 years before his coming; the distinctive between chapters 1-39 versus 40-66, there has been speculation of ‘two Isaiahs.’ This creates problems, especially since one of those ‘Isaiahs’ has been deceitful, dressing up history as prophecy.
Yet the unity and affirmation of ‘one Isaiah’ is found in the New Testament (e.g. John 12:37-41 quotes Isaiah 6:9-10; 53:1; Romans 9:27; 10:16-21 reflects Isaiah 10,53; 65); the Talmud, the Septuagint, and Ecclesiasticus. Isaiah had a long ministry from 740-680 and lived through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This full, lengthy career explains the richness and variety of the book.
The great Bible teacher G. Vernon McGee made these comments about the ‘two Isaiah theory.’ ‘There is not a scrap of documentary evidence beyond the skepticism of the destructive critic. They have cut Isaiah up like a railroad restaurant pie. History presents only one Isaiah, not two or three.’ [1]
Portrait of Christ in Isaiah
Isaiah is replete with many Messianic prophecies and portraits of Christ:
(7:14) Immanuel
(8:14, 9:6) Stone of Stumbling, Rock of Offence, Sanctuary.
(9:6) Wonderful Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace
(11:1) Rod out of Jesse
(11:10) An ensign of the people
(28:16) Precious cornerstone; firm foundation
(42:1) My servant, My Elect
(43:14) Lord your Redeemer
(49:2) Polished Shaft
(51:9,10) Arm of the Lord
(53:3) Man of Sorrows – the suffering servant
(59:20) The Redeemer
(63:9) The Angel of His Presence
In addition to these portraits, we have some important references regarding the life of Christ, including:
• His virgin birth (7:14; 9:6);
• His simplicity of lifestyle (7:15);
• His family (11:1);
• His anointing (11:2);
• His glorious global 1,000 year reign (11:3-16; 32);
• His resurrection (25:8);
• His gentleness (42:1-4);
• His suffering and death (53).
Theme
Despite the length of the book, the theme is simple: God is our salvation.
Chapters 1-39 speak of God to Judah, the region, and the world, about holiness, righteousness, and divine judgment.
Chapters 40-66 speaks of Messiah, His grace, compassion and comfort.
Key Verses
‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory’ —Isaiah 6:3
‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice form that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this’ — Isaiah 9:6-7
‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all’ — Isaiah 53:6
Summary of Isaiah
The book begins with God’s call on Judah and Jerusalem. From there, the coming Messiah is introduced (6-12), including the vision of God in heaven, the great sign of a virgin giving birth to Immanuel. There are the burdens against the nations, including Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, wilderness of the Sea, Dumah (Edom), Arabia, Valley of Vision, and Tyre. After this are the ‘woes’ and subsequent deliverance: the earth will be destroyed but there is victory over death itself. Woes are pronounced over the drunkards of Ephraim, Jerusalem, and evil-doers, yet God will be gracious. From chapters 36-39 is the details of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC. Judah is miraculously delivered. Hezekiah’s illness and sin are dealt with. In the ‘comfort chapters’ of Isaiah 40-66, God and His servant are revealed. The people are called to righteous living. The Messianic reign is described in chapters 60-66.
Outline of Isaiah
• Prophecies of Condemnation (1-35)
• Historical section (36-39)
• Prophecies of Comfort (40-59)
• Messianic reign (60-66).
GOD IS OUR SALVATION: Why Study the Book of Isaiah?
Introduction of Isaiah
It has been called the ‘Mount Everest’ of the Bible: a sweeping, grand prophecy that tells us so much indispensable revelation of the people of God and of the Messiah to the nations, Jesus of Nazareth. Not only is it deep in its information, it is also highly poetic, like Shakespeare is to English, Isaiah is in Hebrew (the King James Version also highlights the poetic side of Isaiah).
Starting with the call of the prophet, to Judah and Jerusalem, Isaiah speaks about an amazing vision of God on His throne in heaven. There the Lord gives the call ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us’ (6:8). Isaiah quickly volunteers and thus begins a great adventure for him and the world.
Sixty-six chapters long, just as the Bible has 66 books, and neatly divided in 39 chapter and 27 chapters, just as the Bible has 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New.
One of the great stories is the unsuccessful Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, which is repeated in II Kings and II Chronicles. This was among the greatest crises in Israelite history and had nature taken its course, all of Biblical and world history would have been altered. The Assyrians lost the siege because of divine intervention, forecast by Isaiah’s prophetic ministry (Note: two ‘souvenirs’ of the siege in 701 BC are Hezekiah’s Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City Jewish Quarter and Hezekiah’s Tunnel in the City of David).
In addition, there are other dramatic prophecies that were fulfilled in and after Isaiah’s day. Israel, the church, and the world, have been greatly enriched because of this great book.
Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament, with 21 references by name and 66 direct quotations. Twenty of the 27 books take a reference from Isaiah. Chapter 53 is directly quoted or alluded to numerous times.
If you ever go to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the centrepiece of it all is the ‘Shrine of the Book,’ dedicated to the Dead Sea scrolls And in the centre of the shrine is a replica of the ‘Isaiah scroll’ – the entire book of Isaiah in ancient Hebrew on one impressive scroll. What is even more impressive is that modern Hebrew readers have no problem reading Isaiah’s Hebrew from 2,000 years ago. Truly, God’s Word abides forever (40:8).
Hebrew Name of Isaiah
The Hebrew name is yesha-yahu, meaning ‘Yahweh/God is our salvation.’ As Bob Gass aptly says, Jesus had to be God to save us and man to die for us. Isaiah 12:2: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Author of Isaiah
Who is the author of Isaiah? The answer should be relatively easy – Isaiah 1:1 saysIsaiah the son of Amoz. Because the depth and breath of prophecy, the fact that Isaiah predicts the rise of Cyrus the Great of Medo-Persia 150 years before his coming; the distinctive between chapters 1-39 versus 40-66, there has been speculation of ‘two Isaiahs.’ This creates problems, especially since one of those ‘Isaiahs’ has been deceitful, dressing up history as prophecy.
Yet the unity and affirmation of ‘one Isaiah’ is found in the New Testament (e.g. John 12:37-41 quotes Isaiah 6:9-10; 53:1; Romans 9:27; 10:16-21 reflects Isaiah 10,53; 65); the Talmud, the Septuagint, and Ecclesiasticus. Isaiah had a long ministry from 740-680 and lived through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This full, lengthy career explains the richness and variety of the book.
The great Bible teacher G. Vernon McGee made these comments about the ‘two Isaiah theory.’ ‘There is not a scrap of documentary evidence beyond the skepticism of the destructive critic. They have cut Isaiah up like a railroad restaurant pie. History presents only one Isaiah, not two or three.’ [1]
Portrait of Christ in Isaiah
Isaiah is replete with many Messianic prophecies and portraits of Christ:
(7:14) Immanuel
(8:14, 9:6) Stone of Stumbling, Rock of Offence, Sanctuary.
(9:6) Wonderful Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace
(11:1) Rod out of Jesse
(11:10) An ensign of the people
(28:16) Precious cornerstone; firm foundation
(42:1) My servant, My Elect
(43:14) Lord your Redeemer
(49:2) Polished Shaft
(51:9,10) Arm of the Lord
(53:3) Man of Sorrows – the suffering servant
(59:20) The Redeemer
(63:9) The Angel of His Presence
In addition to these portraits, we have some important references regarding the life of Christ, including:
• His virgin birth (7:14; 9:6);
• His simplicity of lifestyle (7:15);
• His family (11:1);
• His anointing (11:2);
• His glorious global 1,000 year reign (11:3-16; 32);
• His resurrection (25:8);
• His gentleness (42:1-4);
• His suffering and death (53).
Theme
Despite the length of the book, the theme is simple: God is our salvation.
Chapters 1-39 speak of God to Judah, the region, and the world, about holiness, righteousness, and divine judgment.
Chapters 40-66 speaks of Messiah, His grace, compassion and comfort.
Key Verses
‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory’ —Isaiah 6:3
‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice form that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this’ — Isaiah 9:6-7
‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all’ — Isaiah 53:6
Summary of Isaiah
The book begins with God’s call on Judah and Jerusalem. From there, the coming Messiah is introduced (6-12), including the vision of God in heaven, the great sign of a virgin giving birth to Immanuel. There are the burdens against the nations, including Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, wilderness of the Sea, Dumah (Edom), Arabia, Valley of Vision, and Tyre. After this are the ‘woes’ and subsequent deliverance: the earth will be destroyed but there is victory over death itself. Woes are pronounced over the drunkards of Ephraim, Jerusalem, and evil-doers, yet God will be gracious. From chapters 36-39 is the details of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC. Judah is miraculously delivered. Hezekiah’s illness and sin are dealt with. In the ‘comfort chapters’ of Isaiah 40-66, God and His servant are revealed. The people are called to righteous living. The Messianic reign is described in chapters 60-66.
Outline of Isaiah
• Prophecies of Condemnation (1-35)
• Historical section (36-39)
• Prophecies of Comfort (40-59)
• Messianic reign (60-66).
Culture War Vocabulary Part 02
The culture war continues to rage. It is the cultural battle between the left-leaning progressives and traditional values conservatives. Abortion, same-sex marriage, global warming, identity politics, the environment, and much more form the landscape of the battle ground. What is at stake is nothing less than the survival of western civilisation as we know it.
This war is fought more by words than by weapons. Progressives have been very adept at using words to advance their cause. A good example of this was employing the term ‘marriage equality’ to promote the cause of same-sex marriage in the west. What catch phrase did the traditional marriage people have?
Semantics is about the ‘meaning of words’ and we need to use it properly in order to be understood. Sometimes, however, it can be used to mislead, or even to deceive.
Here are some interesting use of words:
•‘Undocumented workers’ is a progressive term, which can also mean ‘illegal alien’ to the conservative;
•
•A ‘holiday tree’ is another name for Christmas tree;
•‘Happy holidays’ and ‘Compliments of the Season’ are meant to replace ‘Merry Christmas,’ so as not to offend non-Christians in the West (even though many non-Christians enjoy Christmas, in and out of the West.
•‘Reproductive rights’ is synonymous with abortion rights;
•Opposing a progressive in the White House in Washington, Number 10 Downing Street in London, the Lodge in Canberra, or other citadels of political power, is called ‘opposition;’
•Opposing a conservative in the citadels of power is called ‘resistance;’
•A person who wants to retain the traditional definition of marriage is called a ‘bigot,’ ‘hater,’ and/or ‘homophobe;’
•Accepting and supporting the left’s agenda is ‘tolerance;’
•Standing for traditional values is called ‘intolerance;’
•Opposing the agenda of a radical, identity-politics based group is called ‘racist;’
•Opposing the agenda of the new-fangled feminists is ‘sexist;’
•When you want lower taxes so as to keep more of the money you earn, that’s called ‘greed;’
•‘Climate change’ and ‘global warming’ are used as apocalyptic terms, demanding massive government intervention and wealth redistribution. Even to question the science on this matter, a person will be branded a ‘climate-change denier,’ which is highly pejorative;
•When workers are taxed to fund the entitlement of others, that is called ‘paying your fair share;’
•Paradoxically, in order to ‘celebrate diversity,’ progressives demand conformity;
•Any viewpoint that is non-progressive is called ‘hate speech;’
•Traditional justice is getting what you really deserve, reward or punishment, without fear or favour.
•Yet social justice is getting what you did not earn or do not deserve, and that can be a form of blatant favouritism.
Can you now see how manipulative and emotive these, and other terms, can be? No wonder people feel intimidated to speak out, even if they are fair-minded people with no malice in their hearts. They can be bullied and slandered for not towing the line. It is nothing short of character assassination and a vicious violation of the ninth of the Ten Commandments to ‘not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’
Such phrases as these, and more, repeated again and again, have the ability to change thinking, which can result in a changed culture. The unthinkable becomes eminently possible once the normal meaning of words are replaced with catchy, trendy, ‘feel good’ slogans.
This is so even if the new celebrated phrase is misleading, meaningless, or has no connection to reality. No wonder the major cultural organs of society like the media, academia, judiciary, and entertainment industry, have been dominated by the progressives, even though it has been clearly shown that the implementation of their agenda does not work.
Words matter.
What can we do? Ultimately, as we will see later, the backbone of the cultural war and the real opposing sides are not visible flesh and blood people but spiritual principalities, powers, and forces of darkness in high heavenly places (see Ephesians 6:12). The Marxist, feminist, Islamist, and wild-eyed far-left progressive may be antagonistic of your values and/or personhood, but they are not your real enemy. They are objects of God’s love and candidates for the gospel (and, thank God, some of them have responded).
So the impetus of the culture war is spiritual. Spiritual solutions are what are in order. We will learn more about these solutions in Part Four.
The Age of Fools
Ultimately, the manipulation of word meanings and the real legacy of the culture war has led us into a ‘strange age.’ This is where the normal, common-sense, Judeo-Christian values have been replaced with things that neither make sense or work. Consider the following:
• Good is called evil and evil is called good;
• The exception is the rule;
• Fantasy is chosen over facts;
• Rhetoric is deemed more valuable than reality;
• Charisma is cherished more than character;
• Style is preferred over substance;
• Minority rules – and to hell with the welfare of the majority;
• Individual rights trump community welfare;
• The abnormal is declared normal and normal is treated like a disease;
• Intolerance has now become the ‘new tolerance’ & classic tolerance is relegated to the museum;
• Nonsense is now the new ‘common sense,’ while true ‘common sense’ has been beaten senseless, surviving on a life-support machine, and the knob is about to be turned off.
Had King Solomon, author of most of the Book of Proverbs, lived today, he might have had a different description for this era: the ‘Age of Fools.’ If this is the case – and the evidence seems clear – then we need to scurry back to a pathway of wisdom if we are going to have any hope of a decent future.
(The above article is taken from Today/Tomorrow by Kameel Majdali).
Culture War Vocabulary Part 02
The culture war continues to rage. It is the cultural battle between the left-leaning progressives and traditional values conservatives. Abortion, same-sex marriage, global warming, identity politics, the environment, and much more form the landscape of the battle ground. What is at stake is nothing less than the survival of western civilisation as we know it.
This war is fought more by words than by weapons. Progressives have been very adept at using words to advance their cause. A good example of this was employing the term ‘marriage equality’ to promote the cause of same-sex marriage in the west. What catch phrase did the traditional marriage people have?
Semantics is about the ‘meaning of words’ and we need to use it properly in order to be understood. Sometimes, however, it can be used to mislead, or even to deceive.
Here are some interesting use of words:
•‘Undocumented workers’ is a progressive term, which can also mean ‘illegal alien’ to the conservative;
•
•A ‘holiday tree’ is another name for Christmas tree;
•‘Happy holidays’ and ‘Compliments of the Season’ are meant to replace ‘Merry Christmas,’ so as not to offend non-Christians in the West (even though many non-Christians enjoy Christmas, in and out of the West.
•‘Reproductive rights’ is synonymous with abortion rights;
•Opposing a progressive in the White House in Washington, Number 10 Downing Street in London, the Lodge in Canberra, or other citadels of political power, is called ‘opposition;’
•Opposing a conservative in the citadels of power is called ‘resistance;’
•A person who wants to retain the traditional definition of marriage is called a ‘bigot,’ ‘hater,’ and/or ‘homophobe;’
•Accepting and supporting the left’s agenda is ‘tolerance;’
•Standing for traditional values is called ‘intolerance;’
•Opposing the agenda of a radical, identity-politics based group is called ‘racist;’
•Opposing the agenda of the new-fangled feminists is ‘sexist;’
•When you want lower taxes so as to keep more of the money you earn, that’s called ‘greed;’
•‘Climate change’ and ‘global warming’ are used as apocalyptic terms, demanding massive government intervention and wealth redistribution. Even to question the science on this matter, a person will be branded a ‘climate-change denier,’ which is highly pejorative;
•When workers are taxed to fund the entitlement of others, that is called ‘paying your fair share;’
•Paradoxically, in order to ‘celebrate diversity,’ progressives demand conformity;
•Any viewpoint that is non-progressive is called ‘hate speech;’
•Traditional justice is getting what you really deserve, reward or punishment, without fear or favour.
•Yet social justice is getting what you did not earn or do not deserve, and that can be a form of blatant favouritism.
Can you now see how manipulative and emotive these, and other terms, can be? No wonder people feel intimidated to speak out, even if they are fair-minded people with no malice in their hearts. They can be bullied and slandered for not towing the line. It is nothing short of character assassination and a vicious violation of the ninth of the Ten Commandments to ‘not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’
Such phrases as these, and more, repeated again and again, have the ability to change thinking, which can result in a changed culture. The unthinkable becomes eminently possible once the normal meaning of words are replaced with catchy, trendy, ‘feel good’ slogans.
This is so even if the new celebrated phrase is misleading, meaningless, or has no connection to reality. No wonder the major cultural organs of society like the media, academia, judiciary, and entertainment industry, have been dominated by the progressives, even though it has been clearly shown that the implementation of their agenda does not work.
Words matter.
What can we do? Ultimately, as we will see later, the backbone of the cultural war and the real opposing sides are not visible flesh and blood people but spiritual principalities, powers, and forces of darkness in high heavenly places (see Ephesians 6:12). The Marxist, feminist, Islamist, and wild-eyed far-left progressive may be antagonistic of your values and/or personhood, but they are not your real enemy. They are objects of God’s love and candidates for the gospel (and, thank God, some of them have responded).
So the impetus of the culture war is spiritual. Spiritual solutions are what are in order. We will learn more about these solutions in Part Four.
The Age of Fools
Ultimately, the manipulation of word meanings and the real legacy of the culture war has led us into a ‘strange age.’ This is where the normal, common-sense, Judeo-Christian values have been replaced with things that neither make sense or work. Consider the following:
• Good is called evil and evil is called good;
• The exception is the rule;
• Fantasy is chosen over facts;
• Rhetoric is deemed more valuable than reality;
• Charisma is cherished more than character;
• Style is preferred over substance;
• Minority rules – and to hell with the welfare of the majority;
• Individual rights trump community welfare;
• The abnormal is declared normal and normal is treated like a disease;
• Intolerance has now become the ‘new tolerance’ & classic tolerance is relegated to the museum;
• Nonsense is now the new ‘common sense,’ while true ‘common sense’ has been beaten senseless, surviving on a life-support machine, and the knob is about to be turned off.
Had King Solomon, author of most of the Book of Proverbs, lived today, he might have had a different description for this era: the ‘Age of Fools.’ If this is the case – and the evidence seems clear – then we need to scurry back to a pathway of wisdom if we are going to have any hope of a decent future.
(The above article is taken from Today/Tomorrow by Kameel Majdali).
Christianity and the Birth of the West Part II
European Chronicles Series
For the last half millennium, Europe has been the leading continent, colonial power, and trend-setter. From a non-Christian point of view, Europe is considered a ‘Christian continent.’ From a conservative, evangelical Christian view, Europe comes across as ‘post-Christian.’ Yet what do the Europeans think of themselves?
According to the respected Pew Research Centre, they project that in the years to come Europe will have fewer Christians and more Muslims and minorities. Yet, by 2050 it is estimated that 65% of Europeans will continue to identify themselves as ‘Christian,’ down from 75% of Europeans who call themselves ‘Christian’ in 2010. Sporting the label ‘Christian,’ however, does not necessarily mean they will be regular church attendees or devout in their faith.
While the Middle East, North Africa, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of SE Asia came under Islam, Europe and the western world it colonised identified as ‘Christian.’ These identities have persisted through the centuries. However, without question, Europe is at the crossroads spiritually. Which way will it go?
Will European Christianity persist in nominalism and tradition, devoid of a vital spiritual life, like a still-standing tree that died within? (Hint: It it does, Europe won’t last the distance).
Will Europe succumb to more robust ideologies or spiritualities that are not Christian? (Hint: If it does, it won’t be Europe as we know it).
Or, will Europe be visited with a renewal and revival that will restore it to its spiritual heritage?
Learning from the Past
It is impossible to know where you are going until you know from where you came. In the case of Europe, its history and heritage is colourful, deep, and rich. We have all benefited from it. Though we discussed European Christian history in the last article, a quick review is in order.
Christianity was born in ancient Israel in the first century AD. Since Europe is a neighbour to the Middle East, it received the gospel early. The ministry of Paul of Tarsus had a powerful imprint on Asia Minor and Europe. He was not alone in the apostolic ministry, however, and the Christian gospel made quick inroads all around the Mediterranean basin, including North Africa. The greatest theologian of antiquity, Augustine, was the bishop of Hippo in the fourth and fifth centuries AD, in what is now Algeria. The Christian conversion of Roman emperor Constantine and the legalisation of Christianity afterwards helped to institutionalise the faith.
The coming of Islam in the seventh century AD created a strong challenge for the Church. Its early growth was by military means and within a few short years the entire Middle East was under Muslim rule. Islam spread eastward towards India and westward across North Africa. The great Christian heritage in Africa was almost all but extinguished, with the exception of Egypt, which retained a Christian (mostly Coptic) majority until the 18th century. Crossing the straits of Gibraltar in 711 AD, Islam militarily took over Spain and by 732 AD it was knocking on the gates of Paris. However, the Muslim army apparently suffered its first defeat in the Battle of Tours/Poitiers. Ask any French student about the victor of Tours – Charles Martel (the hammer). Other attempts at major Islamic conquests including the failed Ottoman sieges of Vienna in 1529 and 1683, the latter being the most blood-filled siege in European history until Stalingrad in 1942. Except for the Ottoman occupation of the Balkan Peninsula, Europe remained predominantly Christian throughout the centuries.
Western Civilisation evolved during this period. It was linked to the profound Greco-Roman culture and mixed with Christianity. Unlike Judaism and Islam, which mostly shunned intellectual examination and inquiry, Christianity submitted itself to thorough investigation through hellenism and the classics. You can be sure that every word in the Bible has been scrutinised to the nth degree yet still stands as strong as it ever has.
In short, the West is held up by two massive pillars: the Greco-Roman culture and Judea-Christian theology and ethics. These two factors are what ‘make the West, West.’ The chemistry between these two pillars has been nothing short of electric. We are feeling the effects even to this day. From the West came the blossoming of the arts, culture, and philosophy in that period we know as the Renaissance, the ‘rebirth’ of Europe. Following this was the Protestant Reformation, which was a theological and social earthquake that brought Christianity back to its Biblical roots, and to the liberating truth of ‘justification by faith.’ The separation of Protestants from the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome was anything but peaceful – it was a messy and even violent divorce.
Then came the Enlightenment of the 18th Century, which was the natural result of both the Renaissance and Reformation. The key to understanding the Enlightenment was the use of human reason – to the point it was virtually deified in revolutionary France (1789). The thesis among Enlightenment scholars was that there is no problem on the planet that cannot be solved if human reason is given sufficient time and resource. This hypothesis runs contrary to the Bible, which teaches that human sin is the cause of all evil and cannot be remedied by reason. Only the gospel of Christ and His cross can do it.
For the leaders of the American colonies, some of them who were very astute in Biblical theology, they took the best of both worlds and fashioned the US Constitution, a grand experiment in self-government. The constitution was a contract of the American people with their government and themselves. It had a proper respect for human liberty and yet demanded the checks and balances, and separation of power necessary, to curb fallen humanity’s lust for power.
Out of all these things mentioned above spawned at least two industrial revolutions, a scientific revolution, and the flowering of liberal democracy. At the core of western legal jurisprudence was the ten commandments, found in Exodus 20. It is no coincidence that there has been a profound blessing on the West for its acknowledgement of these commandments, which represent the highest moral, ethical, and spiritual plain known to humanity. — TO BE CONTINUED
Christianity and the Birth of the West Part II
European Chronicles Series
For the last half millennium, Europe has been the leading continent, colonial power, and trend-setter. From a non-Christian point of view, Europe is considered a ‘Christian continent.’ From a conservative, evangelical Christian view, Europe comes across as ‘post-Christian.’ Yet what do the Europeans think of themselves?
According to the respected Pew Research Centre, they project that in the years to come Europe will have fewer Christians and more Muslims and minorities. Yet, by 2050 it is estimated that 65% of Europeans will continue to identify themselves as ‘Christian,’ down from 75% of Europeans who call themselves ‘Christian’ in 2010. Sporting the label ‘Christian,’ however, does not necessarily mean they will be regular church attendees or devout in their faith.
While the Middle East, North Africa, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of SE Asia came under Islam, Europe and the western world it colonised identified as ‘Christian.’ These identities have persisted through the centuries. However, without question, Europe is at the crossroads spiritually. Which way will it go?
Will European Christianity persist in nominalism and tradition, devoid of a vital spiritual life, like a still-standing tree that died within? (Hint: It it does, Europe won’t last the distance).
Will Europe succumb to more robust ideologies or spiritualities that are not Christian? (Hint: If it does, it won’t be Europe as we know it).
Or, will Europe be visited with a renewal and revival that will restore it to its spiritual heritage?
Learning from the Past
It is impossible to know where you are going until you know from where you came. In the case of Europe, its history and heritage is colourful, deep, and rich. We have all benefited from it. Though we discussed European Christian history in the last article, a quick review is in order.
Christianity was born in ancient Israel in the first century AD. Since Europe is a neighbour to the Middle East, it received the gospel early. The ministry of Paul of Tarsus had a powerful imprint on Asia Minor and Europe. He was not alone in the apostolic ministry, however, and the Christian gospel made quick inroads all around the Mediterranean basin, including North Africa. The greatest theologian of antiquity, Augustine, was the bishop of Hippo in the fourth and fifth centuries AD, in what is now Algeria. The Christian conversion of Roman emperor Constantine and the legalisation of Christianity afterwards helped to institutionalise the faith.
The coming of Islam in the seventh century AD created a strong challenge for the Church. Its early growth was by military means and within a few short years the entire Middle East was under Muslim rule. Islam spread eastward towards India and westward across North Africa. The great Christian heritage in Africa was almost all but extinguished, with the exception of Egypt, which retained a Christian (mostly Coptic) majority until the 18th century. Crossing the straits of Gibraltar in 711 AD, Islam militarily took over Spain and by 732 AD it was knocking on the gates of Paris. However, the Muslim army apparently suffered its first defeat in the Battle of Tours/Poitiers. Ask any French student about the victor of Tours – Charles Martel (the hammer). Other attempts at major Islamic conquests including the failed Ottoman sieges of Vienna in 1529 and 1683, the latter being the most blood-filled siege in European history until Stalingrad in 1942. Except for the Ottoman occupation of the Balkan Peninsula, Europe remained predominantly Christian throughout the centuries.
Western Civilisation evolved during this period. It was linked to the profound Greco-Roman culture and mixed with Christianity. Unlike Judaism and Islam, which mostly shunned intellectual examination and inquiry, Christianity submitted itself to thorough investigation through hellenism and the classics. You can be sure that every word in the Bible has been scrutinised to the nth degree yet still stands as strong as it ever has.
In short, the West is held up by two massive pillars: the Greco-Roman culture and Judea-Christian theology and ethics. These two factors are what ‘make the West, West.’ The chemistry between these two pillars has been nothing short of electric. We are feeling the effects even to this day. From the West came the blossoming of the arts, culture, and philosophy in that period we know as the Renaissance, the ‘rebirth’ of Europe. Following this was the Protestant Reformation, which was a theological and social earthquake that brought Christianity back to its Biblical roots, and to the liberating truth of ‘justification by faith.’ The separation of Protestants from the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome was anything but peaceful – it was a messy and even violent divorce.
Then came the Enlightenment of the 18th Century, which was the natural result of both the Renaissance and Reformation. The key to understanding the Enlightenment was the use of human reason – to the point it was virtually deified in revolutionary France (1789). The thesis among Enlightenment scholars was that there is no problem on the planet that cannot be solved if human reason is given sufficient time and resource. This hypothesis runs contrary to the Bible, which teaches that human sin is the cause of all evil and cannot be remedied by reason. Only the gospel of Christ and His cross can do it.
For the leaders of the American colonies, some of them who were very astute in Biblical theology, they took the best of both worlds and fashioned the US Constitution, a grand experiment in self-government. The constitution was a contract of the American people with their government and themselves. It had a proper respect for human liberty and yet demanded the checks and balances, and separation of power necessary, to curb fallen humanity’s lust for power.
Out of all these things mentioned above spawned at least two industrial revolutions, a scientific revolution, and the flowering of liberal democracy. At the core of western legal jurisprudence was the ten commandments, found in Exodus 20. It is no coincidence that there has been a profound blessing on the West for its acknowledgement of these commandments, which represent the highest moral, ethical, and spiritual plain known to humanity. — TO BE CONTINUED
HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5
In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1. Glory to God;
2. Edification;
3. Holiness;
4. Evangelism;
5. Discipleship;
6. Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§ 1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§ 2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§ 3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§ 4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§ 5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§
§ 6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§ If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§ But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1. CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2. CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3. COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10
HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5
In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1. Glory to God;
2. Edification;
3. Holiness;
4. Evangelism;
5. Discipleship;
6. Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§ 1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§ 2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§ 3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§ 4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§ 5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§
§ 6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§ If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§ But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1. CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2. CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3. COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10