Some intriguing observations concerning Passion Week in the time of this Pandemic.

The world is practicing social distancing, but social media helps us keep in touch with one another. We Christians are thankful for the technology. We are not naive of the value of technology, nor are we anti-science, anti-technology, or anti-intellectual. Rather we contend that the reason for all this development of technology and its possibility is because the God of the Bible endowed human beings the potential and the moral obligation to be so. In the beginning, when God created human beings, he blessed them and commanded them to have dominion over the things of the earth. The word “dominion” in Genesis 1:28 has the idea of ruling over, subduing to our advantage. So, man building bridges, curving tunnels, exploring oceans, and etc., defying the law of physics (nature) for our advantage is commendable and not surprising to Christians.

In this pandemic, as the scientists search for the cure and as we Christians stay indoor out of love for our fellow neighbors, we continue to need one another and keep in touch with one another through social media. It is unfortunate that we have to stay indoor for this long especially that we cannot gather together for the events of Passion Week. However, God continues to work in a mysterious way for our own good to the praise of His glory. Here are some of the intriguing observations I see concerning Passion Week in this time of Pandemic. I called it “intriguing,” because they are good but at the same time, we need to be very discerning. I would want them to be far better than these, to go deeper than the peripheral, into the truths revealed in the Scripture.

1.      Some people have a better theology in their WhatsApp status update than their actual theological convictions.

It is good to see people expressing their faith in social media. Actually, we Christians are to be salt and light of the world. With the arrival of the Passion Week, many are updating their WhatsApp Status with gospel-centered quotes, and theologically profound verses. On the other hand, it is also true that some of them have no idea what they are uploading. They are just sugarcoating their spiritual looks. Social media has become like the Athens of Paul’s day. They are for people to tell or hear some new things, new fads, or new trends. While some are doing with a theological conviction consistent with their beliefs, others aren’t. Sure, with the technology, one can easily access the best quotations of our times, the most relevant lines of our day. You could find almost anything by just googling it. Even without googling, there are ways how certain things get your attention through a way of recommendation by artificial intelligence. Moreover, part of what it gets to be in social media is to receive and to see many (if not all) the latest stuff of the time.

My concern is regarding the skin-deep profession of faith. It comes easily and goes away easily. While it may (Oh! I pray) stir up convictions to some of the viewers, it doesn’t last long. One of the great penetrating truth in all these is the availability of the word of God for all of us. God’s word, sound doctrine, Christian ethics, faithful teachings are at our reach. We have no excuse for not accessing them when in need. Also, what it means is though how sinful we may have become, still, the image of God in us continues to reveal to us our moral obligations, what is good for us and what we should be doing. I would like to compare with the sentiments offered by most of the politicians and public speakers in times of calamities. They would often say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with them!” Well, we all know that such statements have become just a way of reacting politely, and not meaning anything. As Donald Trump questioned the sincerity of Nancy Pelosi’s prayer for him, much of the spiritual sentiments of our days are often just a cultural way of conversation. But in expressing so, we are demonstrating that we really have the obligation to do so, which is morally good and right to do so.

2.      Genuine Christians miss the church: the fellowship of the saints, the gathering, the worship, the singing, the unison of prayer, and the hearing of the word of God.

Christian missing the church, which I mean is the emotional aspect of wanting to go church, and not the action of skipping church, is actually deeply encouraging. One of the great revelations of the suspension of church worship services is the distinction of the genuine Christians from the cultural Christians. The genuine Christians come to church because they love to in the manner of Psalmist and early Christians. Oh! How the psalmist loved to be in the worship place! He would rather be in the place of worship a day than to be anywhere else thousands of days. The cultural Christians come to church because it looks cool to be spiritual sometimes. As long as the culture favors, they go along with it. When the culture of social distancing and the government says otherwise, so, the love of gathering not only vanished but they even repudiate those who seek to gather.

It is unnatural for a Christian who has a normal life to be skipping the church consecutively. It is a sin to do so according to the teaching of Hebrews. Just as the deer pants for water, so Christian must long after the fellowship of the saints. It’s natural for Christian to be in the church. It is really encouraging to see Christians expressing their desires to come to church. I admire and share the concerns of Tom Buck when he tweeted here and there questioning the suspension of Church as non-essential while, on the other hand, permitting the industry of abortions and fake news media as essential. Actually, it is not the high morale of an individual Christian that makes him yearn for the gathering of the saints, but it is the Spirit of God that works in us. It is a theological reality.

3.      Some Christians are popularizing the truth written by the humanist and naturalist regarding the environment, which they have discovered on the basis of a Christian worldview, but with a pretense of finding it from their obfuscated worldviews.

Every now and then, social media is sharing the effects of lockdown on the environment. There are really some good outcomes of this lockdown. I am not an environmental scientist to come out with scientific evidence that the sky is brighter, the air is purer, and what else, but I sure hope and believe so. It should be a thing of delight to share such good news, but most of what has been said and shared are unfortunately virtue signaling. They condemn man in third-person as if they themselves are above reproach. And they exalt animals and nature as if they are of more value. What is a Christian response to this? A Christian knows that he is responsible for his sins and his actions. We all are wicked people without exception. No matter what we say or mean, what we do or try to do, how we try to do, each of our motives is mixed with sins. We affirm with the book of Genesis that all the intentions of man are only evil continually. We all live in a fallen world and are inescapable in our participation of sin, directly or indirectly.

The basis to care for the environment is very much a Christian teaching. We are just a steward of God’s world. And by the way, God is not done with the creation, He is preserving it. No greed of man nor threat from an extraterrestrial object can exhaust the resources of the earth unless God wills so. In fact, God in an amazing way has a way of preserving the environment. For the Israelites, He has the concept of Sabbath, Sabbatical year, and Jubilee. It could be true that the lockdown we are experiencing could be a way of preserving the environment, but we don’t know that for sure. But no matter what, only human among the creations of God is the bearer of God’s image. What that means is Human is of infinite value if we are to weigh it in the scale of our material possession. Sure, what is the profit if one gains the whole world and loses his own soul?

I can’t intellectually appreciate the activities and saying of the environmentalist and naturalist especially when they are outspoken deniers and rejecters of God. They have no basis for their values from their worldviews. Some of the things they said are true but it is because they happened to live in God’s world, though they denied its Lawgiver. It has to be true because God created the world and preserves it continually through various means. With the true thing they discovered, they mixed it with this and that with their atheistic assumptions. And the unthinking people received it without discerning what is true and what is not. They are the hijacker of Christian worldviews. As I think of this I remembered what Ravi Zacharias said of Richard Dawkins when Dawkins forgot the name of a book and said “Oh God!” Ravi commented that Dawkins had invoked the name of the Lord whom he denied in order to help him deny His existence. It’s true that even the atheist can only exist in God’s world.

4.      Many have expressed the reality of God’s mysterious grace in this pandemic without acknowledging the Creator but attributing to the Coronavirus.

One of the resounding testimony of the Bible is that God is and always remains faithful. He remains faithful even if we are wicked and gone astray. He sends sunshine and rain for the just and unjust alike. So, it is not a surprise for Christian to see many people saying good things that come with the coronavirus. People are dying of this coronavirus, more than a lakh have succumbed to this virus already. It is also true that with or without coronavirus over 56 million people are dying every year. The bible says it is God who gives life and takes life. We can’t live longer nor die earlier than the will of God. God continues to preserve us. Despite the falling of stock markets, and the rate of unemployment soaring up, many are thanking for some of the things they get in this time such as the quality time with family members, a vacation like suspension of works, a generosity from neighbors, a love for a fellow human, and many more.

We know that these are not the gifts of coronavirus. The virus cannot give anything. In fact, these are abstract things that cannot be handed over to someone as gifts which we normally do when we talk about giving. Also, this virus is invisible (to our naked eyes). If there is anything this virus can give is itself, which of course is the one we dislike most currently. We Christians know that it is God who is working for our own good to the praise of His glory. It is His mysterious grace. I agree with Obadiah Sedgwick, a Puritan: “No good man ever lacked anything that was good for him. I may lack a thing which is good, but not which is good for me: ‘For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.’ ‘God has a special providential care for His church because we are the apple of His eye, His children, His lambs, and His jewels. God's care for His people is gracious, tender, mysterious, glorious, exact, and often extraordinary.’” This should help us to worship God.

5.      Some Christians are delighted to share the live streaming link of their church service or of other churches like those competitive exams minded people who were uncannily excited to share the link of each and every match of Barcelona vs Real Madrid, and McGregor vs Mayweather.

It is delighted to see Christians seeking for some kind of Christian fellowship through any means. We thank God that many churches could continue to minister to their members through live streaming technology. It’s equally a delight to see Christians inviting and encouraging others to join them by sharing the live streaming links of their churches or of others. It reminds me of some people who are too excited to share the news of their favorite footballers and celebrities. Not a long time ago, when La Liga wasn’t suspended, many have the habit of updating their WhatsApp status update about the matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The first time I heard of “El Clasico,” I thought it was chocolate, but it turned out to be one of the most exciting events of the Laliga football league. I also remember the time my WhatsApp world is filled with the news of the match between McGregor vs Mayweather. Many were excited to watch the match. While the watching of El Clasico is not amoral, even if that means staying up late till 03:00 AM, and inviting others to join is also not amoral, it is telling what our hearts are after. In fact, sometimes I wondered why some people, who are supposed to be preparing for competitive exams are so obsessive about football matches. Their online activities seem to suggest that they are looking for a career in a football club.

My main concern is not that some people are too obsessive about football matches (though I am concerned somehow) but that not many professing Christians are taking the time to watch the live streaming of the church services in this lockdown when they are staying at home with almost no works. In fact, even if there is any work, must a Christian not lay aside his time to spend time with the word of God? What I am trying to accomplish from this comparison is to encourage more people to be committed (even if not excited) to the live streaming or church services in this time of lockdown, and also to encourage one another to do so by means of sharing the links. At the same time, we thank God for the many preachers who have decided to preach to webcams and empty rooms. That’s not a very comfortable experience. Also, we thank God for pastors and leaders of small churches who are organizing meetings through video conferencing apps. It is the experience of many that technology comes with lots of distractions. No Christians want this to be normal, nor should never be, and will never be. Nothing will prevail against the bride of Jesus Christ for He continues to build the Church.

Head-covering: Principal or Customary?

        The great (late) R.C. Sproul speaks passionately as always in this video clip about head-covering of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. Is head-covering a principal commandment which transcends all the cultures of all times and must be obeyed; or is it a customary practice to show the submissiveness of woman unto man, which in that case, submissiveness is the principal commandment to be obeyed in all generations; or are head-covering and submissiveness both principal commandments? You may not agree with R.C. Sproul (he argues for both to be principal), but his explanation on Principal and Customs is quite edifying.

Below is the transcript:

(00:00-05:33) . . . the panel is asked this question, “Can you comment on the method of determining from Scripture and in Scripture what is strictly cultural in the New Testament, and what is for today? The common examples are things like head covering in 1 Corinthians, women in the ministry (is on the list here) and comment on that 1Timothy, but how do you go about determining what is something that is cultural and what is still for today?”

R.C. Sproul: First thing you do is you go out and you buy a book called Knowing Scripture because it has a whole chapter on Principle and Custom, and how you deal with it because there's a biblical principle that addresses that decision and that's whatever is not of faith is sin.

Now obviously you admit it the first that there are certain things that are customs you know when Jesus tells the people on the (inaudible) sends out the 70 throughout the villages of Israel, you know, not to wear shoes. This is not a universal mandate, cross-cultural mandate for shoeless evangelism in every generation. Obviously there are certain things that are clearly customs tied to the culture of the time, and there are other things that are clearly principal that transcends time.

But what you have to do, there are times when it's not immediately apparent to determine what is principle and what is custom, and I say this principle is, the burden of proof is always on the one who says it's custom rather than principle, because the principle applies that if I'm going to err I'd rather err on the side of being over scrupulous of treating something that was a local custom as if it were a transcendent principle rather than ever being guilty of taking a transcultural principle of Almighty God and reducing it to a first-century custom.

And you know you take that business about the covering the head cover and I use that as the illustration in there, and I'm a voice crying in the wilderness because if you go and get 10 commentaries on 1 Corinthians you'll find 10 commentaries, commentators that will quick to point out that in Corinth, which was a seaport city of sin cities, the sailors coming there, big red-light district and that the sign of the prostitute was the uncovered head, and so, Paul obviously gave this mandate to the Corinthian community, for the women to keep their heads covers there, was not to scandalize the community, and there is a case where this New Testament scholar studies the (inaudible) the life situation in which the letter was written and says aha this must be why Paul told the women to cover their hair.

I said no there's an exegetical principle here and the principle I would like to suggest to biblical scholars is that when the Apostle Paul gives a reason, for instructions that he imposes upon the church, you never never never never never substitute a different one. And Paul in this case, doesn't say to the Corinthian community, “Have the ladies cover their heads because the prostitutes are walking around with their bare head.” And in fact he appeals to creation and if anything transcends local customs and boundaries it’s creation ordinances. So, I said those are certain things you look at.

Now you take the whole question about covering the head, now the reason he gives this for the woman to covers are glories and shows submission to her husband, and covered in, you can say, covers, some text, so they covered by a veil or whatever, so the question is, “Well, is the submission of the wife to the husband, is that cultural, first-century only?” A lot of people think so, and so they would say the fact that the woman is supposed to be submissive is a custom, and you show that submissiveness, by the custom of the hair covering. And the customary hair covering is a veil for the hair, whatever you however you translate it.

Then the next possibility is, No, the submissiveness of the wife to the husband is transcultural, it's the principal principal matter, but it varies from culture to culture how you display that willing submission. And in the first century the way it was, was with the woman covering her hair. My mentor, John Gerstner believed that the submissive, submission was principal, the hair covering was customary, and so that that's it.

Or you can go the whole hog and say it's all principal: that submissiveness is principal, head covering is principal, and it should be with a veil not with a kerchief of babushka or a hat even like had a hopper. It, I would say, doesn't matter what the woman covers her head, and I think that, what type of covering is customary, but I think the head covering is transcendal and principal and I'm probably the only guy left it teaches that.

Image Scripture: Proverbs 1:20-21

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

RAVKAI TATNIMEI GE (LAM/THOUC)

(Mi blogpost hei Mukti Namdai Baptist Church tuang KaanpatNgai-KaithanKumei-Jubilee Celebration tuang Souvenir khou contribute sulou mei article e. Posted with permission. For an English version mi khou click/tap sulou nu e.)

Aniu namdic hei Khristian riak tatchuy mak bam sinic Khristian ningmei raana dithe. Aseikum hei, aniu kapumna Khristian ningmei raana dithe tuna “Kaanpatmei Ngai,” raengclou bam the. Howzat zat makmei Ravkai gayhak meine kasiamh luailou bamthe! Tiki aniu Ravkai khatni Ravkai kunimei ge thay minc bam dai cho? Samlapna khou, Nang Ravkai kulinhg/tatlingh bam dai cho? Mei nche (article/latdin) khou Ravkai tatnimei ge kathay ncham kho.

Reymei khou, Ravkai tabui cho tumei zaengrui:

Khristian ningmei guay hei paapc kandic khou rui Ravkai lungc khou kau lou tuang e. Mi Ravkai kiu Poubaumei Jisu Khrista pumc kahak kiu the! Khristian ningmei guay, (kaganv kathuic, kabamv kathuic, zaatc kathuic) Khrista Pumc, Ravkai tumei khou bam e (1Korinthian 12:12-13). Ravkai khou kazauh makna, meic Khristian sw makge! Khristian kathuic hei Khrista khang e, khatnic Khrista khou bam e.

Kummetiki, mikrui howmei phwamling, thing-ntauh rui kasiamh loumei Ravkai, Khristian ningmei guay rui kubammei ninai e. Kabamv azuh khou, mik rui howmei Ravkai peyna nai e.  “Tiki, mik rui howmei Ravkai the tuna sana bam mei guay ko Ravkai ling day cho?” tuna thanv khang ni nai e. Baibal, Kathancmei Latding khou mikrui howmei Ravkai peyna nai e. Kathaichuymei nunc ruina Ravkai twna kau khang key nganvmei khou kalangv kathumh taanv, taanc nina e tuna sa e: 1. Ravguangc lat (Baibal) dinhmei 2. Kristian thiak suihmei (Duilupmei khatni Maniak taektw) 3. Sinriapmei. (Matthiu 18:15-20 kathai lou pu o).

Heizaengrui, kabamv akhat khou Baibal kathai nchamcmei phwam, kai akhat khou Rakalum kariumei, hamhethei kamung akhat khou dungc kariumei, twmei guay hei Ravkai twna kau khang kazi makge. Internet, YouTube khou Baibal pary nkingmei, hamhethei TV khou Ravkai service zaohmei, twmei guay hei– Ravkai, meictuang phwamling khou kumei lev khatse nchammak ge. Kapaengc-kazaengc khou bam mei guay nunc rui mi hei kakhanh chuy lou o.

Kaneimei khou, Ravkai lwnlung zaengrui:

Ravkai lwnlung zauc pukhou, Khristian kathuic Ravkai kulingh nina e. Ravkai (Phwamling) hei teipumc (meipum) kumcna ring e. Kristian kathuic, meic-sing khang Bumaeng kaipat kei-nganv mei khou akhat khat nai e. Aposal Paul ruina 1Korintian 12:12-31 khou, Khristianmei nunc ta meipumc nanu khang kida lou e: Khristian asaek hei, meimik e tei, asaek rui nukuanc, baanh, tan, le na e. Aniu Khrista pumc khou e; Kamei rui Kapi the. Aniu khat khat khang pumhsuna ringh khang siamruai sw kari nina e.

Aniu asaek meizak makna kumsa e, “Ravkai tatmei guay ko kumhmei khiatnahmei naibo? Nchamc rap! Tingkao tatnimei, meicram, lum lum ruideh! Ganvkhat ta latzan suri o!” Tikih, ringhmei malav nuh-makmei Ravguangc lat ruina tho, nang, ai Khrista pumc khou bam nina e tuna dinclou e. Nukuancna swna, hamhethei, mikna suna ringc bammei mak e. Jared C. Wilson rui, “Nguay, Aniu meira meirana swna kanloumei/ ringhbamv phang e (khristian su e), tikih meira meirana Khristian ningni nimei thiak khou ningkhang hamhmak e” tuna saamei tei nchumh e!

Asaek rui meizakna sa e, “Ai kumhmei rui tabui siamruai sungam, sw thayna cho!?” Nchumh nana Ravkai khou guangmeina sinina peyna khang siamruai e twmei, zaengayhakna thaylou o. Ravkai khou, mei guang rauna, dungc nru rangh rang bam ethei, mansei guang dungc bammei guay, thith thithna, zaengsina dungc bam tanc e. Kalingsa pw khou, tingsi, neihsu, puanlu, ganhkey, khumngai, lat-lu naibam sini, Ravkai khou guang tanh tanmei guay ta howna peyna khang lungning mik rak gaanc kah kah e. Neihla e, nzian e, pian e. Ravkai guangmei zaengrui, heikummei gay kanmei ta malaa rio. Machunh o.

Heininai e twmeithu, kapahloumei/langloumei Ravkai Gaanthaih nunc hei Phwamlingmei nunc ta lauziugaengpou kumc gaengclou khang e. Kaniu rui dinclou, zaylou, makavlou, nchamlou nina e– phwamling taanv taanc thuih ngam khang. (Ephesiamei 4:7-16). Ravkai kulingmei nunc rui Khrista lwn luicna daicthau puni e. Ibrimei 13:17 khou hylou e, “Nangniw ta zayloumei nunc lat tei piu o. Kaniwbangc khou bam o. Kaniw tuang taanv chakh tei kaniw Ravguangc khou tiini la pui zaeng rui, kaniw nangniw bumaengc ta kadanna zauc bam tuang e. Kaniw neihlana taanc bam khang latpiu o. Kaniw chwn sw ryanrana taanc e thei hei tei nangniw khang gaengmak ge.” Aniu Ravkai tatmei hei Ravguangc rui chakbam e.

Kathumhmei khou, Ravguangc lat rui katiumei zaengrui:

Ibrimei 10:24-25 khou kumna katiulou e, “Nzian thay khang khatni gaytaanv taanc thay khang khatkhat ta akumhna katiu thau kho cho twmei kakhanh kho. Meic gaanv saekc kaniw chav sw bammei tei kumcna, aniu guang kariumei khoun taamv rikho. Poubauhmei tuang Tingmik anaguang the twmei nangniw howpui thei layna aniu khat khat ta katiu thau mbu hay hay bam di kho.”“Ntaamvrikho” (v.25) tuna sabammei hei, kum tanctipui zaeng rui e. Ravkai guang-nliauhmei, guang makmei nai geic tipui zaeng rui e. Kaling sa pwkhou, nang, ai ne aliauh hak thao rapmei neic tho nai ding e. Asaekc tho Ravkai guang makmei kacha sw the (aniu tingzin Ravkai guang rau meikum). Khatzat tho sa e thei, Paul ruina kum sa tuang e, “Ravkai guang tanh tan kho!” Guangliang guat, kanei meita hamh e, tiki guang tanh tanmeita e. Ravkai ku alingh nina e.

          Ravkai guang nini mei ganv khou guangna, tat dat, khangni hamh makge. Mansei “guayna guang kariu” nina e (v25). Khat khat ta ntinna thay nina e. (Ntinna thay mak ge thei, ntinna thay mak san guang kariu ni tuang e.) Aniu guang kariumei hei khat khat ta katiu thau karih khang ni e. Ravkai khou reireina dungna tat dat tumei hei ravchap tat duhmei nunc thiak hamh e, aniu Ravguangc tani kachuc, Ravguangc lat ni nking, khat khat ta ni kachuc ni tuang e. Kum pu khou rui aniu “nzian thay” khatni “gaytaanv taanc” pat geicpuni (v.24).

Luaimei khou, aniu mi lat than kho, “Nang, ai Khristian sw khang (tingkao ku khang) Ravkai tat tanh tan ni tuang cho?” Meiko changh tho hamh makge! Nnaumei guay Ravkai guang ngam makmei gan nai e. Ravchap tatmei Doctors nunc guay ni, meicpui nah puanc nimei nai ethei, Ravkai khou rui sini katum kaluakna mipui daeng tho nkhav lou khang tat re. Tikih Kristianmei de tuna sana, pumhgay lana Ravkai guang hak makmei nunc tei tho, kaniu Khristian ling hamh makmei ram lung e. Aniu Khristianmei nunc Khrista rui kunghmei Phwamling ta nzianna Kalumlu hymeipu kumna, sa lak na cho, “Ai RINGHPOUC khou ramh khat ney e; ramh khatna ai kahaw e: ai ringh saanv RINGHPOUC kai khou bam khang, mi khou tei karamgay ta makumh bam khang, khatni kamei rui zaylou khang ney bam khang e” (Kalumlu 27:4); “Nang tuang Ravkai khou zaeng neihkhat bam lou mei hei; kabamv baih thangc zaeng 1000 bammei suangc gay e. Ai mu meicsimei kai khou lungc bammei suangc, aRacguangc kai kaimun nkhwanmei sw kannii e” (Kalumlu 84:10)?


Ronglat khou hilou mei asaek hei ni palou nu e:
1. BAIBAL PAC NI KIH PAC THUYLAK E TA (If You Struggle To Read The Bible)
2. RAVKALUM LINGH NI KIH KALUM THUYLAK E THEI... (If You Struggle To Pray)

Image Scripture: Proverbs 3:3-4

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

Last time I met a shopkeeper who said that his philosophy of sale is "Honesty is the best policy." I also know a lady friend of mine who is determined to “have courage and be kind” in all situations, inspired by the movie Cinderella (2015). It is one of the most recurring themes of that movie.

It is good to have a motto or philosophy of life. Try Proverbs 3:3-4, “Always be Merciful and Truthful!” This could be our philosophy especially when it comes to our relational aspect of life.

Importance of Church Attendance

Mukti Namdai Baptist Church

Our society is a Christian society at least in the name even if not in practice. Also, there are lots of churches around us, but do we really understand what a church is and the importance of church attendance? Or to be succinct, do you attend church regularly? Here, in this short article, I would like to explain why church attendance is important.

First, because of what the Church is:

Every Christian is called out from the sinful world to the Church, which is the body of Christ. It is also known as the Universal Church, to which every Christian of all times of all places of all tongues belong (1Corinthians 12: 12-13). No Christian exists outside the Church; every Christian belongs to Christ and is in Him. However, we also have a Local Church, a visible congregation of believers in a particular place, that’s what we want to talk about. Yet, how does one know if what calls itself a church is really a church? The godly Reformers have concluded that there are three distinguishing marks of the church (Belgic Confession, 1561, Article 29): 1. Preaching of God’s Word 2. Practicing Ordinances (baptism and communion) and 3. Practicing Church Discipline. (Sadly, most churches abused or neglected the biblical method of Church discipline, which is laid out in Matthew 18:15-20).

Therefore, a small group bible study, prayer meeting, or campus ministry aren’t a church at all. Moreover, watching live streaming of a church service or listening to sermons on YouTube is not equivalent to attending a local church. If you haven’t been a member of a local church where the word of God is preached, where you are accountable to the leadership of the church, and participating in its ordinances, would you look out for one (especially you city dwellers, who are far away from home, or else, you have never been to a church for long long time!)?

Second, because of the nature of the church:

The nature of the church requires us to attend church regularly. The church functions as a body. Each Christian is gifted by the Spirit to serve one another. Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 12:12-31 compared us to the members of the body: one is an eye, and others are ear, hand, feet, and so on. For those of us who often have the habit of saying, “Church is full of hypocrites, my relationship with God depends on my faith, don’t you dare to judge others,” well, the Scripture is rebuking you. You must be in the body of Christ! There is nobody who is just an eye or just an ear and exists. Jared C. Wilson rightly wrote, “We are saved as individuals, but we are not saved to an individualized faith.”

Have you ever realized that your regular church attendance (even if you do nothing exceptional) serves as an encouragement to others? Personally, it makes me cheerful when members come to the church regularly even in the sunshine, rain, and storms. Some members feel discouraged (and even uncomfortable and boring) when the attendance is so thin. Don’t underestimate this gift of encouragement.

Furthermore, the elders of the church are to shepherd the flock of God (Acts 20:28). They must equip each member for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:7-16). Regular attendance of church will make the members equipped to grow up in all things into the likeness of Christ. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” Our church attendance matters to God.

 Third, because the Scripture commands us:

Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” It is expressed negatively (“not forsaking”) because they (the original audience) and we have the tendency to skip church. Some have formed the habit of skipping it whatever their excuses are. Positively, it is saying, “Let us Keep Coming To The Church!” It has the idea of regularity, not a one-time gathering. Church attendance must be regular, and the fellowship must be often as it can be. It is also not an individual fellowship according to one’s likes, but an assembling of more; we must get along with one another.

We are also to Keep Communicating With Others for it says “exhorting one another.” We come to church not just to listen to sermons or to talk to God, but also to talk to one another to stir up love and good works.

In conclusion, let’s consider this question: Does one need to attend church regularly in order to be a Christian or to go to heaven? The answer is “No!” A sick person might not be able to turn up to the church meetings. A devoted Christian doctor might (sometimes) need to rush to the hospital to assist a woman delivering a baby. But a professing Christian who hardly comes to a church fellowship is likely to be a false convert! Should we Christians who love Christ not cherish His bride and say like the Psalmist, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: ​​that I may dwell in the house of the LORD, ​​all the days of my life, ​​to behold the beauty of the LORD, ​​and to inquire in His temple” (Psalms 27:4), “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. ​I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God ​​Than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalms 84:10)?

Recommended Readings:

1. The Marks of the Church by Mark Dever

2.  Attending Corporate Worship by Jared C. Wilson

Christian Decision Making

        Every day we make a decision. Making Decisions come naturally. Sometimes, we made a wrong decision, and regret bitterly for its consequence. There are times when we get stuck in our decision-making process because we want to discern the will of God. God is alive and active and is overseeing everything in our universe. Nothing, not even a speck of tiny dust in the sunrays moves without the knowledge and will of God. As Luther says, “Even the devil is God’s devil!”

Here in this video clip, Justin Peters is helping us how to go ahead with our Decision Making as Christians.

Below is the transcript of what he said:

“We cannot interpret the Bible by what we experience, we must interpret our experiences by the Bible, by the prophetic word made more sure.

Well, the Bible doesn’t tell me where to go to college. The Bible doesn’t tell me who to marry. It tells you to marry a believer, but it doesn’t really tell me who to marry. The Bible doesn’t tell me what job to take or what house to buy or which car I should by. The Bible doesn’t tell me, “Should I be an engineer or a dentist?”

How do I know God’s will for my life? How do I know God’s will for my life? Here’s how you know God’s will for your life. Read, study, and obey God’s Word. Read, study, and obey God’s Word. If you’re not doing that, then nothing else matters anyway. Read, study, and obey God’s Word.

And then if you’ve got some situation in your life, you’ve got some decision to make and you’re not real sure what it is to do, some crisis and you’re not sure the right thing to do, or you want to know God’s will for a particular thing that’s going on in your life or in your church or whatever, read, studying God’s Word, obey God’s Word. Pray for wisdom. James tell us that: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.”

Now if you’re not reading and studying and obeying God’s Word, then don’t bother praying for wisdom, He’s not going to give it to you. But if you are, pray for wisdom. And then, seek godly counsel. The Bible says there is wisdom, there’s safety in a multitude of counselors. And if I’ve got something going on in my life or my ministry and I’m not sure what to do, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to seek godly counsel. The first person I’m going to go to is my wife Kathy and talk about it with her first. And if both of us together decide, you know, we need some other voices on this, I’ve got some men in my life that I go to from time to time; and I’ll say, “Brothers, this is what’s going on in my life, this is what’s going on in the ministry. Give me your counsel. What do you think?” There’s wisdom in doing that.

So read, study, and obey God’s Word; pray for wisdom, seek godly counsel; and then Proverbs 3:5 and 6 it: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not unto your own understanding. But in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and” – He might direct your paths; He’ll direct your paths if He’s got nothing better to do – “He will direct your paths.” How does God do that? I don’t have the slightest idea, I just know He does.

Friends, He spoke the universe into existence; I think He can direct our paths. You don’t have to worry, “Oh, well if I choose this when I really should have chosen this, everything’s just going to fall apart and unravel like a row of dominoes.” Relax. Relax. He spoke the universe into existence; He can certainly direct your paths.”

Book Application: A Glorious Institution: The Church in History

A Glorious Institution: The Church in History

-         Stanford E. Murrell

This book is published by Chapel Library, Florida, USA. I find it to be not only factual but also theological because it is about the church of Christ. The author helps readers to see Jesus Christ building His church amidst all heresies, corruptions, and persecutions. Here are the Ten Applications I deduce implicitly or explicitly after reading this book:

1. Do not REACT against heresy; rather CONTEND the Faith.

Arius was reacting against the teaching of Sabellianism too much that he became heretic. It is wrong to react against anything. The Bible tells us to contend for the faith. It is to defend the gospel in such a way that we protect the sheep from the influence of false teachers. Furthermore, the Bible tells us to be as harmless as doves and as wise as serpents (Matt10:16). There are lots of factions and divisions among Christians. Denominations are popping up here and there condemning one another. If we are not reactive but try to sort out things according to the teaching of the Bible, this thing would not happen so.

In the church, we have even seen bloodshed and tortures because of reacting against one another. Any reaction is always accompanied by waves of anger that produce sins. Christians must be well equipped with Scripture to refute false teaching and to protect the sheep. If we are not well equipped, we would run short of knowledge and would compel us to react against them.

The other thing to overcome reaction is to be depending on God. We should not rely on our strength to fight against the schemes of Satan (heresy). We have to be prayerful for wisdom to answer them. Our goal also includes bringing them to the light of the truth- that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes and grant them repentance (Acts 8:18-24)

2. Do not be OVERWHELMED with the rise of the world, Christ is building His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Bishops, ecumenical council)

The early century churches were not only persecuted by the world but were also influenced by the culture of the world. There were godly men who had the zeal for the spread of the gospel for the fame of Christ. However, their methods were not always right.  The formation of the ecclesiastical hierarchy was neither scriptural nor justifiable. Rather, it brought an abuse of power and corruption of the church as a whole. The corrupt leaders extinguished the light of the truth. One of the reasons for the formation of the hierarchy is to protect and shepherd the church from false teaching. The Bible requires that a pastor is the shepherd of the local church - not needed to be accountable to bishops or popes. He is the under-shepherd of Jesus the Great Shepherd.

When crisis comes, Christ is big enough to solve it in His ways - not through ecumenical means. Christ is present in His church. He is building it, nothing can demolish His building even if it is attacked. Christian must not be overwhelmed to be looking for one man on earth to make a decree, Christ should be the one. Nor necessarily be forming a council to prevent it. Christ is actively alive!

3. Do not think Church History as just factual; it is theological studies. (Sovereignty of God)

In the Old Testament, history, we see not only factual events, but also the hand of God in preserving the remnants, and His finger in judging the wicked. That is exactly true as we see the Church History. He raised up nations, empires, kingdoms that sometimes favored and sometimes persecuted the church. God is totally sovereign over it.

When there were influential heresies, God raised up an equally potential man of God to counter it. We see Athanasius for Arius, Augustine for Pelagius, Luther for Erasmus and the Church of Rome. God did not leave His church as an orphan to be attacked and be devoured by savage wolves. As we see the pages of history, we see the character of God. We see God’s providence, His grace, His judgment. It’s a theological study.

Christians must be very well aware of Church History for this reason. It does not only protect us from heresy. It does not only equip us for the battle, but it also gives us comfort and confidence and trust to stand true for Christ because God is sovereign. He is preserving His people.

4. Do not go after influential men; look for faithful men!

In Church History, we see the false teachers were all influential people. They were not only influential, but they also occupied some of the greatest influential positions of the church hierarchy. Often the great heresy came from within the church. For this reason, when we appoint for church leadership we should be careful of their doctrines. We should not look for their eloquence, nor should we look for their intellectual prowess. We can’t look for their social position or economic status too. We should be looking for faithful men.

Even from the Scripture, we see the Judaizers were influential men coming from Jerusalem, who had the reputation of being the men of James. They swayed away even Christians. A church that has influential people will command the congregation for good or bad. If he is a leader how much would be the impact? Scripture tells us to look out for faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2).

In the later part of the Church History, before the reformation, the church leadership positions were bought by people with wealth. The people who elected the pope were of the noble Italians in Rome. In Christianity, leadership is judged by faithfulness. When we are faithful, Christ rewards us that we would be influential like the light on a hill - shining brightly for all to see and come to Christ.

5. Be careful/discerning of children who profess to have “spiritual” knowledge.

In the days of the crusade (1212 AD), a German youth claimed that God had entrusted him for the crusade. 30,000 young people joined him. Many died of hunger, some were devoured by wolves. In the same year, another guy Stephen claimed to be of God and marched out with 20,000. They got shipwrecked and died. Those who survived were sold as slaves. What an insane to pay attention or yield to the claim of a mere child! Christian must be very careful of children no matter how talented or prodigious they may be. The church of Christ is reasonably sound and spiritually sound, adequate time must be given to show the fruit of their conversion.

For that matter, children should not be given a pulpit ministry as seen in lots of charismatic churches. Moreover, even for the enrollment of membership in the church or in baptism, children should be evaluated carefully.

6. A plurality of elder is a must.

The church had faced lots of corruption at the leadership level, which in turn had blinded the whole members of the church. The hierarchy of leaders was established, which felicitated the abuse of power by the leaders. They had become lovers of money, glory, and even sensuality. Of course, there were remnants who were faithful. However, they too were the product of their times found difficult to discern it or were not aware of some important matters.

These problems would have been reduced if they had a plurality of elders, instead of leadership hierarchy. The Biblical model of church leadership is plurality as is seen with Paul instructing the churches to appoint elders. In such a model, there would be checks and balances in everything. They would be accountable to each other. The church would be healthy. The church would be free from corruption, and it would yield much fruit.

In one instance the church has 3 popes (1033-1050). The popes excommunicated one another.  The author commented that “the depth of human depravity became manifested” (Chapter 11). Such incident rings out loud that the plurality of leadership which is the model of the New Testament church is the best and only form of church leadership.

7. Do not let any philosophy be equal with the Bible.

Church theologians and philosophers like Thomas Aquinas tried to synthesize Aristotelian philosophy and biblical theology which has been highly criticized by Protestants. Most of the time, philosophies developed or discovered by the wise people of the world are contradictory to the teaching of the Bible. Paul warned the philosophy of the world in Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

 Moreover, we need to realize that Scripture is given because no man can be saved by studying the natural revelation. For that matter, the “natural theology” should not be studied as equal to studying the Bible. Bible stands above all. It is the only source that teaches man the way of Salvation and of Christ.

By the way, the heresy of Arianism and Sabellianism are deeply rooted in worldly philosophy. They were influenced by pagan philosophy. They did not originate from the Scriptures. They tried to accommodate the teaching of the Bible in the philosophy prevailing in their times.

Moreover, it is also true that there is a mystery in the Trinity. No human ideas can comprehend the depth of it. Attempting to understand it or deduce it by mere human philosophy is impossible. In fact, if we can do it, God will not be God. Human beings are not only depraved beings but also are finite creatures with finite knowledge. So God gives revelation (Scriptures), that we may know what is needed, which we would never discover by our philosophy. Every Philosophy should be scrutinized under the lens of Scripture.

8. Reform the church; don’t break the church.

When Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses it was not to break the church but to reform it. John Wycliffe and John Huss were not having any intention to break with the church. They were not trying to make their name or to become popular. They wanted to bring out the true teaching of the Bible. With great pain, they had to accept the consequence of what happened when they started proclaiming the truth.

In our days, the church us splitting every now and then. Rebellion against authority is rampant. Floating new organizations (in the form of para-churches) and new churches that are not under any form of accountability have become normal. Nobody seems to love the unity of the church; everyone seems to love building their own empire under the name of truth. So, there are confusions among young Christians. The testimony of unity is greatly affected. Moreover, the churches and the organizations though claimed to have been formed for purity and truth. They have become more immature and easily attacked by false teachings.

We do need to learn from the past reformers. They were first learned man who had a deeply religious life who lived for the fame of God. They were the people who loved people. They were the preachers. They were the shepherds. They knew and were concerned about the people of their times. It was because of these affections, they could reform the church to bring truth and deliverance for their people from the corrupt leaders of the church.

Our times are totally different. Leaders who break away from the churches seem to be very careless of the spiritual condition of the people and are concerned about their emotional condition. We do need reformation all the time, especially when our practices omit or exceed the teaching of the Bible. But our concern must be to bring back to Scripture, not to break away from a church, on this lies the spiritual maturity.

9. Reject the traditions when they conflict with the teaching of the Bible.

From the early century, the church had lost itself to traditions. These traditions were good at their time, but not necessarily good for our times. In fact, as culture changes, preference also changes, and some of the traditions of the past are not only meaningless but disturbing. Traditions are things not found in the Bible but are handed down to the church from across the Church History.

Some of these traditions are heresy like ‘Mass,’ ‘Veneration of Mary.’ Some are just problematic like the position of church leadership: Bishops and Popes. We must reject them. We do not need bishops. Elders in the church are sufficient for the individual believers for spiritual guidance, in fact, he has the Holy Spirit as the true teacher. Christ is the builder and nourisher of the church. One must yield to His leadership and not to the imaginary leadership in the form of man (Pope and bishops).

 Furthermore, all kinds of traditions concerning dresses and celebration of days must not be legalized. Even the established traditions concerning such as baptism must be in accordance with the scripture.

10. Be equipped to counter heresy; it never dies.

Heresy existed right from the times of the Apostles. The Judaizers of the New Testament church had reappeared in the form of Roman Catholicism. Recently it appeared in the form of a New Perspective on Paul (NPP). The Gnosticism of the Bible appears in the form of Jehovah's Witnesses and others. The heresy of Pelagianism in the form of Arminianism. Heresy never dies. It just comes in new clothing.

We must be well equipped. Paul, Peter, and Jude warn us to do that. We are not to give up the fight but must contend for the faith. This equipping is not only for protecting ourselves but also for the congregation who are under the care of shepherds. Pastors are accountable to God for the sheep under his care.

In the olden times, people condemned heresy by forming a church council. In our days, church councils are formed to not condemn heresy, but to get along with it. We are living in a difficult time where heresy is acceptable and even endorsed. People are pleasing the sinners to come to church, rather than to please the One who called them to holiness. We must be well equipped not only to detect heresy but also to rescue the people who are held captive by it.