Essays on the Christian Faith
by John Talada
It is easy to place
a label on a group. If we can give it a name then the matter is somehow simplified.
But in this simplicity lies the danger of misrepresentation. The recent attack
on our nation has prompted the American people to re-think religion and matters
of faith. Recently Christianity, Judaism and the Islamic faith have been tossed
together like a salad. But in truth, there is no such thing as "the
religious community". Inter-faith services may express the solidarity of a
nation but they in no way alter the distinctive realities of the religious
groups represented. Though the expression of the Christian religion may share
certain things in common with Judaism and Islamic practice the Christian faith
does not. We may toss certain vegetables together and call them a salad but
that does not alter the fundamental characteristics of a head of lettuce or a
tomato.
What are the
fundamental characteristics of the Christian faith? At the root of all that is
called Christian must exist the reality of Jesus, the Son of God, as the Christ
or Messiah. This in itself separates the Christian faith from Judaism and
Islamic beliefs. Neither Jews nor Muslims believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the
Messiah - the Son of God. That which gives the Christian faith its distinct
character, however, is the Good News (i.e. Gospel) as taught by Jesus Christ.
The Good News of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom is the essence of our faith. God
did not send His Son to begin a major religion but to present mankind with the
best news it would ever know. The Good News is not the Christian religion but
this. God has made it possible for all persons to be reconciled to Him and to
live in a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
I
would like to take a moment to share with you about this Good News or Gospel of
Jesus Christ. God designed humankind to live in faith-filled, harmonious
relationship with Him on earth but man strayed from God. This divine
relationship was altered through mankind's lack of faith. Sin entered altering
man's relationship to God and creation but God continued to love mankind. He
chose out a people that they might live in relationship with Him. The covenant
that He made was with Abraham and his descendants. This covenant we now know as
the Old Covenant. The sign of the Old Covenant is male circumcision. In this
covenant God promised them a land and a relationship with Him. At Mount Sinai
that covenant was established with Israel as a people (i.e. a nation). Under
the leadership of Moses the covenant became inseparably linked with a written
Law. The Old Covenant relationship with God remains in Judaism although their
interpretation of this relationship has changed considerably.
Prophets of Israel
foretold of a Messiah and a New Covenant (Cf. Jeremiah 31:31 - 34) that God
would make with His people. In due time God sent His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, as
this Messiah. Jesus taught the Good News of the Kingdom in power and authority.
He invited all men to enter that Kingdom by faith and to live in holy
fellowship with God through Him. He gave His life to redeem mankind from the
sin that had separated them from this divine fellowship. Through this
sacrificial blood He established the New Covenant as foretold by prophets. This
New Covenant promised eternal life in relationship with God through faith in
Jesus Christ. The sign of the New Covenant is the gift of His Spirit in what is
called the "circumcision of the heart". The New Covenant relationship
remains in the Christian faith. Jesus promised His people that He would return
to receive them into His everlasting glory. This present world will be destroyed
and God will create a new heaven and new earth whereon mankind may once again
live in harmonious relationship with God. (Cf. 2 Peter 3:13)
Samuel Taylor
Coleridge once wrote, "In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in
folly." I believe that his observation may be held up as a warning not
only to our present political situation but also regarding the Christian faith.
Fear has always been an effective means for promoting faith. But is it the
wisest way? For over a year Americans have been fed persistent images of the
fallen towers' smoking rubble and of demonized enemies such as Osama Bin Laden
and Saddam Hussein. Faith in America and the flag is perceived as somehow
making it all better. But where does a faith that is prompted by fear lead? Is
it to folly as the poet observed? Personal observations have led me to believe
that fear also leads to ignorance and prejudice. Are these desirable responses
for faith?
The
preacher urgently pounds the pulpit with graphic details of the imminent torment
of hellfire and eternal damnation hoping that the listener will turn to God in
faith. Again fear is used to evoke faith. We are often told that we must do
whatever it takes to get people into the Kingdom - but is that true? Does the
end truly justify the means? The folly of fear-induced faith is that for it to
continue it must be constantly reinforced with more fearful scenarios. Without
the fear factor such faith quickly wanes. Fear prompts a frightened citizenry
to rally behind the flag and trust the system to free it from the "enemy
of the day". Fear may also drive the condemned sinner to God. However we
should be asking what is it that keeps him there?
Fear may be defined as "a misuse of imagination" but faith is its proper function. The human faculty that permits us to create images within our mind therefore may be seen as a link between faith and fear. Fear is a conduit through which ignorance and prejudice may be channeled. When fear grips the heart it is not what is known that concerns us but rather what we do not know. When will Saddam strike with his "weapons of mass destruction"? Where will terrorists attack next? When will I meet with the awful judgment of this fire breathing God? This fearful ignorance breeds prejudice. The faith that comes from a response to fear is steeped in ignorance and prejudice. Is ignorance and prejudice the desired result of faith whether it is in nationalistic goals or religious principles? Will history reveal our folly as it breaks the horns off our demonized enemies? On the other hand, faith when properly established brings about compassion and understanding.
Fear may be an
effective means but is it the best way to bring about a faith-filled response?
The example of Jesus suggests a better way. He shouted an invitation to all
that would hear, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I
will give you rest." [Matthew 11:28 NAS]
He calls to everyone that is tired of struggling under a lifetime of sin
and sorrow with a simple invitation, "Come to Me!" There is no sense
of coercion to be found in His invitation - no ulterior motives. Love is at the
heart of the Gospel message rather than fear. The wrath of God and eternal
separation are spiritual realities for the rebellious and unrepentant soul
before God but God does not use fear of these things to promote faith. In love
and mercy He calls everyone to a faith-filled relationship with God through
Jesus Christ, His Son.
There
are many fearful images and statements found in the Holy Bible but the nature
of God is clearly revealed as love. A beautiful old hymn states, "Oh, the
love that drew salvation's plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to
man!" If love and grace revealed cannot promote faith in the heart of man
then I suggest that we are hopelessly lost. "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only-begotten Son..." [John 3:16 KJV] The apostle Paul
wrote, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us." and again, "For by grace you have been
saved through faith..." [Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:8 NAS] There is no
fear factor involved in God's invitation to mankind only love, grace and mercy.
His loving arms are still open wide to receive those who are struggling in this
world. Jesus says, "Come to Me...
and I will give you rest".
One night when I
was about seven years old I woke up whimpering. I had somehow managed to get
out of bed, climb to the top of a basket of clothes located on my dresser and
curl up with my knees under my chin without waking. Though frightened and
shivering I wrapped myself in the darkness of the room and went back to sleep.
Yet I did not know what fear had driven me there. Was it a bad dream? Had I
imagined a bogeyman under the bed? Or, was it the accumulated insecurities and
uncertainty of life in the first year after my father's death? Perhaps it was
all these things.
Early
this morning while still in the dark hours before dawn I remembered this
incident. Yet the little boy whimpering in a clothesbasket in the darkness was
someone else. I recognized the face of this little boy as that of the American
people. Fear and insecurity has a way of bringing out the child in all of us -
even a society. Was it the nightmare of a foreign war escalating out of control
that has brought us here? Was it the bogeyman of an uncertain economy glaring
at us from the corners of our room? Or, could it simply be the accumulated
angst of our modern world? Perhaps it is all these things.
The
shuttle disaster brought a shiver to our nation as a stark reminder that we are
not in control. The deaths of seven astronauts had nothing to do with political
agendas, the "war on terrorism" or Saddam Hussein. It was an accident
and accidents tend to reveal how vulnerable we are as creatures of earth. These
brave men and women ventured into space on a mission. They did their part of
that mission courageously and with integrity. The men and women on earth
monitoring their flight did their part equally well. Yet the earth is littered
with the wreckage of Saturday morning's disaster.
As
an American citizen I shudder at the persistent sound of sabers rattling. The
9-11 image of falling towers is indelibly printed on my mind. I shiver also
when I am reminded of how vulnerable we are as creatures of earth. Then I think
of the good news of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom and I know there is hope.
Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world." Fear and anxiety fade away as the light of Christ pierces the
darkness. Truth shines forth as a beacon from the Kingdom of God. It flashes a
message to a world floundering in a sea of uncertainty, "There is
hope!"
This
hope is found in Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. God does not desire
"that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance". He
has a plan for mankind. It has nothing to do with political agendas, the
"war on terrorism" or "weapons of mass destruction" but
rather it is a message of hope. It is about unconditionally loving God with all
our being and loving others as Jesus has loved us. It is not a message of
religious correctness but of right relationships.
God has made it
possible for human beings to live in right relationship with Him, with others
and even within our own heart. Unconditional love through the power of the Holy
Spirit is the key that opens the door to this right relationship. Jesus Christ,
however, is the door. The Bible refers to this right relationship as the
Kingdom of God. In this Kingdom there exists no fear or anxiety from worldly
uncertainty. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and
of love, and of a sound mind." By God's unbounded grace we are truly set
free to experience life as God intended.
As a Christian I
have but one message for the world: "There is hope in Jesus Christ and His
Kingdom." I am not here to condemn anyone or anything but to bring a
message of hope to a world struggling with sin. I believe from personal
experience that sin is its own condemnation. Yet God has responded to sin by
sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver us through His selfless sacrifice. If
you wish to get down from your refuge in the dark then I can tell you how. I
can take you by the hand and lead you to the Door (i.e. Jesus Christ) but the
rest is up to you. God has made it possible for you to know enduring peace and
everlasting life. Will you accept His gracious offer?
For nearly two
decades I have considered myself to be a minister of the Gospel. Until recently
I thought that this designation was appropriate and accurate. However recently
a believer asked me a question that made me reconsider this habit. The question
was simple, "What exactly is the Gospel?" I assumed that every
Christian knew that the Gospel meant "the good news of Jesus Christ and
His Kingdom". I answered the question with this rather pat definition but
it only prompted a follow up. "Yes, but what is the good news of Jesus
Christ?" I thought, is it possible that this person, whom I know has been
a faithful member of a local Christian congregation for years, does not know
this? Have I been guilty of assumption? I must confess that I have. I assumed
that Christians know the good news of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. It is a
mistake that I do not want to make again. I would like to take this opportunity
to share with you, as simply as I can, God's good news.
Before beginning I
would like to point out that there are two ways to look at the term, "good
news". In popular usage good news is relative. In other words, what is
good news to one person is often bad news to someone else. For instance, a day
of rain might be a real blessing to the farmer whose crops are drying up but
the same rainy day may be bad news to someone attending an annual picnic or
outside event. Should we look at the Gospel as relative? Is it good news to
some but bad news to others? No, the Gospel does not have a downside. It is
good news for all persons. Therefore we should understand at the beginning that
unlike the popular usage of "good news" the Gospel is not relative.
The good news of
the Bible simply stated is this: it is possible for man to live in personal
relationship with the Almighty God through Jesus Christ (i.e. the Messiah of
Israel). This is good news to everyone on this planet. Every Christian believer
should proclaim this good news. This, however, suggests something other than
merely another religion in this world. It directs man, as both individual and
community, into a personal relationship with the Creator. What could be better
news than that? This relationship also extends beyond our brief stay in the
world - it is eternal. Eternal life with God is truly the greatest news of all!
But how can man, whose heart is essentially wicked and unholy, ever experience
a personal relationship with the holy God? I am glad that you asked!
Is it possible for
man to live in a way that pleases God? It is true that man's heart is
essentially wicked and unholy but God is able to change the heart. It is not
possible for man to do it himself - God must do it! Yet He has already made the
way for us. He has already provided all that is necessary for that change. All
that is required of man is that he simply trusts God. This is what believers
refer to as faith. John 3:16 [NAS] states, "For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life." Believing or trusting in God's Son is the
only requirement. God has loved the world, gave His only begotten Son (i.e.
Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of Israel) and promised eternal life to all that
trusted Him in this. The foundation of our relationship with God is simple
trust. We must trust Him for what He has done, for what He is doing in our life
right now, and for what He will do in the future. All of these things are very
good news.
God's provision for
man is found in His Son, Jesus. Through the perfection of His righteousness and
love the Son revealed how far short we have fallen from what God has intended
for man. Also He has provided the perfect sacrifice for mankind's sin. No
riches, ritual or religion could do what Jesus has completed on the cross. His
shed blood is God's provision for sin. There is no need to add anything to it.
In fact, to do so would be wrong. All that man must do is trust God for the
provision that He has made for man's sinfulness. Perhaps that is too simple for
you. Well, God has made it simple for people like me. When we trust in the way
that God has prepared, He cleanses us of sin, He makes a covenant with us to
live in personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ and He promises us
eternal life. Now that is truly good news for everyone!
[Feb. 1995]
Saturday
evening I called Brother Hobo in Pasadena, Texas. "There comes a
time", I said to myself, "when I need to hear an honest voice."
Whenever I think of an honest voice I often think of Hobo. So we talked. I
shared what was on my mind and he quickly cut to the chase with expected candor
revealing what was really on my mind. I like that. I need that in my Christian
walk. It was a very pleasant visit though separated by 1500 miles or more. I
always enjoy our talks. He always leaves me with something to chew on for a
while. Strangely, this time I was left with an issue that we did not talk about
directly but rather it seemed to permeate everything we said. Christians are
rising to the top like cream in whole milk. It is not a determined or even
conscious effort but a natural response. By their very nature Spirit-blessed
believers will separate from and rise above the worldly masses.
It is this process that has become so apparent to me as I watch and listen to brothers and sisters in the Assembly of God's people. It seldom involves similar situations but ultimately the process is manifested in a similar way. A brother or sister loves assembling together with other believers but becomes increasingly uncomfortable in the situation. It often appears as though he or she has gone to seed on some area or other and may even seem obsessed with it. In searching their heart they ask, "Why do I feel this way?" "Why can't I just climb on the bandwagon with all the rest and enjoy the ride?" The questions are brought before the Lord and He gives them peace. They take their questions to the Bible and leave even more fired up than ever. Something has to be done. But how can they be faithful to what they are convinced is true when nearly everyone they know disagrees with them? How can they be faithful to the persistent urging of the Spirit while at the same time "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"? The resultant struggle is part of the process of rising to the top.
Clearly
it is important then that one responds properly to this internal struggle.
There are different ways to respond and not all of them are positive. For
instance, it is possible to back away from the problem and associate only with
those that share your particular concern. This happens regularly among
believers and the devil rejoices to see it. But the Spirit-directed believer
knows that this holds no solution. The Christian knows that there is no
separating one's life from the Body of Christ. The believer agonizes over the
situation or issue while resting in the grace and wisdom of the Lord to resolve
it. He or she never loses the sense of oneness with the Assembly but instead
bears the pain for truly what is being felt is the grieving of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that every "born of God believer" recognizes that he or she
is intimately connected with a Body that transcends any denomination or non-denomination.
The believer can say with genuine simplicity, "I am a Christian!" Any
response beyond that leads one away from the truth.
In
my Christian life I have seen many examples of this upward struggle - of this
rising to the top. They all seem to have one thing in common. They all begin by
asking questions. One dear brother in particular comes to mind. His questions
revolved around the Christian's relationship with the Masonic Lodge and other
such fraternal orders. The questions, however, did not end there. Along with
them come concerns about holiness and salvation. His questions provoked others
to ask related questions thus jostling things about a little. In the process he
matured as a believer and helped a few others along the way. His questions were
nurtured by a Christian heart and fed by daily ministrations of the Spirit and
the Word. The same questions posed by a less mature believer or by an
unbeliever would most certainly lead to dissension. I thank the Lord that He
haunts His people with such thoughts! What the devil would use to divide the
Lord uses to lift men to greater spiritual heights.
Another
man was plagued with the question of sanctification. He pondered in his heart
and mind, "Why are some believers inclined to build their entire religious
experience around this theological issue while others avoid the term like the
plague?" "Are the teachings
of such godly men as John Wesley and John Calvin really opposed?" One
question led to another until those around him were forced to either look
beyond their current stand or reject the one asking the questions. If these
were questions without answers then he could be marked off as a gainsayer or
troublemaker. But they do have answers with serious implications. Again the
questions jostled and kicked moving the seeker onward and upward in spiritual
maturity. He could not simply agree to disagree as was suggested but he sought
a resolution in the Spirit of peace and truth.
The
Scriptures set forth a precious promise for believers today in James 1:5 - 7.
It promises believers a source of divine wisdom. Whenever a situation or issue
goes beyond your limited grasp of things God has promised His wisdom. Answers
for such pressing and often contentious issues may be found in the wisdom of
God. I have claimed this promise over and over. A request for wisdom in simple
faith God always honors. The response of the Lord's Spirit always points to a
loving, yet uncompromising resolution and reconciliation of the situation. It
may not be according to man's logic but it will always be the right answer.
There is a great need today for restoration among God's people. That
restoration - I do not believe - will come through the worldly councils of
religious organizations but rather through humble hearts that cannot rest until
some matter is resolved. We should thank God for those faithful few!
I
would like to share a burden that has weighed heavily on me for years. Yes, it
may be said that I have "went to seed" on the subject of
discipleship. I have a shelf full of books on the subject of "Christian
discipleship" but the majority of them have little or nothing to do with
being a disciple of Jesus Christ. If they are to be called discipleship books
then I would have to ask, "Of what is one expected to be a disciple?"
Perhaps they are designed to make one a disciple of the "Church"
(i.e. students of Church-ianity or followers of some particular religious
persuasion). Such discipleship serves only to make the distance between
believers only greater. Jesus told His disciples, "make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them... teaching them to observe all that I commanded
you" [Matthew 28:19, 20 NAS] This is the Lord's mandate for discipleship.
But was there any question among those present regarding the nature of that
discipleship? I do not believe that there was - they were to follow Jesus as
they had been taught to follow Him. What a difference we would see in the world
today if disciples of Jesus Christ preached from the pulpits; if disciples of
Jesus Christ taught what He taught; and if disciples of Jesus Christ let His
Light shine everyday in this sin-darkened world.
But
as I have discovered this is not a popular direction to take. It is, however,
the right direction. It is the way of the cross. One quickly finds that there
are precious few that want life enough to die for it. There is little challenge
or benefit in being a disciple of the Christian religion. It does not take much
strength to float downstream. How dare men and women teach discipleship that
asks no more of a believer than to develop good study and prayer habits for the
purpose of becoming an active and faithful member of the "church"?
Jesus, our Master, said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow
Me!" This is the Christian format for a "discipleship program".
"The Word became flesh and dwelled among us" and He is still becoming
flesh and dwelling in the world through His disciples. May God help us to see!
There
are innumerable examples of God's Spirit working in believers today. You may be
seeing someone rising to the top in your local assembly but take a good look
because he probably will not be there for long. Spirit-blessed believers rise
to the top through the opposition of the religious majority. You will not see
them leading some multi-million dollar TV ministry because they know that this
is not the way of Christ. You will not see them quit because they know where
they are going and the path it takes to get there. They know that their Master
walked the path before them. They know that the path - though narrow and rough
- is worn deep by the feet of countless saints whose names are known only to
God. I thank God for the faithful few that honestly sing, "I have decided
to follow Jesus - no turning back, I'll follow Him!" I thank God for their
faithfulness as they are jostled to the top amid religious struggles for their
rising to the top is the leaven of restoration in the Christian faith.
I will never forget
the tear in Miss Bean's eye. Once more I sat in Miss Bean's history class at
Athens High School. As a senior in the early spring of 1966 my thoughts were
distracted by what might happen after June had come and gone. My mind reeled
with future possibilities while Miss Bean spoke of things past. But this
session was different. For the first time in my life, history had acquired a
face. No longer would I think of the past as merely names and dates that were
recorded on endless sheets of paper. A faithful and dedicated teacher brought
the dusty past and uncertain future together in a lifetime of present moments.
The
subject turned to Vietnam. It was prompted by a student's question, "Why?
What business is it of ours?" The question hung like a dark and deep cloud
over our young minds. Would Miss Bean be the one to finally settle our fears?
Would she be able to untangle the confusion in our minds before the bell rang
sending us scurrying like mice to Trig or Phys. Ed. class? All eyes turned to
our tall, lanky mentor. For many young men Vietnam was spelled D-r-a-f-t. One
way or the other Uncle Sam's irresistible voice would call us to visit this
mysterious land of jungles, landmines and snipers. I listened closely and
watched as our teacher prepared a response.
With
a swift and rather ungainly movement Miss Bean pulled down a map of Southeast
Asia. Pointing to the region labeled Vietnam she commenced giving a history of
the conflict. Her explanation for the U.S. involvement was one that I had heard
before many times. "Communism", she bellowed, "must be stopped
before it spilled out into all the region". Smelling once again the mildew
of old history books I began to lose interest. Then something happened. In the
midst of her discourse she suddenly stopped. Looking at the young men
individually in the classroom her eyes began to moisten and soon tears flowed
down her cheeks. As she looked at me the answer came. Excusing herself she
turned to wipe her eyes and regain her composure.
Miss Bean did not have to say anything else - her message was clear to me. This woman, who had faithfully served for many years teaching a subject that interested so few, cared for me. The tear in her eye as she looked at me brought history - and the future - into the present. The real lesson of history is that genuine love makes sense of the past and calms the uncertainty of the future. It was enough for me to know that this person cared for me at this present moment. I had thought that the answer was found in philosophical debates on ethics and politics. But I found that the answer for me was found in the tear in Miss Bean's eye.
I never did see
Vietnam with its jungles, landmines and snipers. A medical condition gave me an
early discharge. But I could face it knowing that someone cared for me as an
individual. I am now a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The world is
again engaged in a war that defies definition. Many seek their answers and
clarification from the news media and White House press releases. Men and women
from various "think tanks" attempt to rationalize the war. But, in
truth, war is not rational. It may be necessary in our world but it is never
rational. Hating one's enemy and retaliating against their cruel acts is not a
rational act but rather a natural response for fallen mankind. Selfless love is
the only proper response to hatred. This is the teaching of Jesus Christ. God
sent His Son Jesus Christ to die because "God so loved the world".
His death was for those who hated Him. In this may be found the Good News (i.e.
the Gospel) of Christ and His Kingdom. Can we learn the lesson of selfless
love? I saw it first in a teacher's tears but I saw it most clearly in the
cross of Jesus Christ. We are given a lifetime of present moments to love one
another as Christ loved us. These moments should not be interrupted by anger
and the terror of the day.