Bishop Glenn Lyons Charge - Synod 2015
Synod 2015 Charge
Dear Friends
I greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I’m unsure whether I’ll be bringing you this year’s charge in my capacity as Chairman of the Leadership Committee or as the next Presiding Bishop. In either case the responsibility is a great privilege and I accept this role with much fear and trembling. I’m well aware of my own inadequacies and I am absolutely reliant on the enabling Spirit of God for the task. I value most deeply your regular prayers as we go forward as fellow servants of the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
This synod will see new faces at the chairman’s table, it’s illustrative of the fact that many of our stalwart servants have retired or gone to be with the Lord. I write this charge still saddened by the sudden passing of Rev Jeremiah Zondi and hope you will continue to keep his family in your prayers. This is life in our world, we are all perishable pilgrims on our way to glory. We must not forget that we too will very quickly pass the baton to another. Let us keep that perspective in mind as we conduct our discussions and make our decisions this week. There is an urgency to see souls won to Christ and we dare not be distracted from this task.
This will be the first time in over 50 years that Rev Brian Cameron will not be present at a Synod. We give grateful thanks to God for his committed service and ask the Lord to keep him and Thy fruitful for His service. His retirement has left big shoes to fill and I am grateful that we have a new Administrator, James Schonegevel, who is clearly the right man for the task.
I would also like to pay tribute to Bishop Des Inglesby who helped steer CESA into the REACH-South Africa era and did much to move our denomination forward. We saw many initiatives to improve our training standards (the L.Min course for Curates) and develop new leadership structures. The fact that we now have seven Bishops and two new regions is a tribute to his vision. I trust you will all continue to pray for Des’ health and for his and Jenny’s continued usefulness to the work of the Kingdom.
This year has given me opportunity to reflect more on our common ministry within REACH-SA. I have had some time to consult with fellow leaders as well as meet and discuss our work at various formal and informal meetings. This leadership transition has afforded us an opportunity to pause and assess ourselves. Who are we and where are we going? I believe we must measure ourselves with honest eyes, as the Lord would have us. Let us celebrate the Kingdom progress to His glory but let us also take responsibility and action in places where we are failing to answer His call.
I would like us take a moment to reflect on our Identity and Practice.
WHO ARE WE?
At Synod 2011, Bishop Des Inglesby succinctly summarized our identity in the 10 Distinctives. Let us briefly recall them:
- We are a Word centred church.The Bible occupies the primary place of authority in our denomination. This is expressed in our motto: ‘God’s word above all things’.
- We are an Evangelical churchHoly Scripture carries the final word, not “the church” nor any human institution. God works by His Holy Spirit through His Word to bring us to Christ and keep us in Christ.
- We are a Protestant church.We believe in the right of every believer to read, understand and obey the Scriptures. We hold to the priesthood of all believers.
- We are a Reformed churchWe stand in the shadow of the great Reformers and hold to the heart cry of the Reformation: “By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone and to the glory of God alone.”
- We are a Missional churchWe believe in the Great Commission. Jesus is the only way of salvation for the world. Therefore, we are Evangelistic and Missionary in our outlook.
- We are a Confessional churchThe Church of England is a church that uses confessions of faith to express our beliefs according to the teaching of the Bible.
- We are a Covenantal churchWe understand Scripture to teach God’s one single saving covenant with His people begun with Abraham. This covenantal theology finds expression in our church practice, most notably in infant baptism.
- We are an Episcopal churchWe see Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons as a part of a church government structure that is agreeable to Scripture.
- We are a Liturgical churchWe value and use set liturgy (confession, prayer, praise) in public services.
- We are an Anglican ChurchThe 39 Articles and the 1662 Book of Common Prayer are the touchstone of genuine Anglicanism. We hold unswervingly to those foundations. It follows that we consider how this works out in practice.
WHAT ARE WE ABOUT?
In 1999 Bishop Frank Retief memorably outlined the 6E’s to help us build healthy ministry in our local churches. They are still part of our professed vision and remain an excellent measure for our gospel communities. You will find a full version of the 6E’s on our REACH-SA website. Let me give you a condensed summary and reflect on their ongoing application:
1. EXALTATION
Our understanding of the gospel is that it will culminate and consummate in the worship, adoration and praise of God the father, Son and Holy Spirit. Now in part, in fullness in eternity (1 Cor.15:28; Rev.4:11). Our goal is that God is Exalted (or Glorified) through all we do as servants of the gospel.
2. EVANGELISM
We are committed to ongoing, unceasing, Biblical evangelism. An evangelistic edge should sharpen every aspect of local church ministry. We must prayerfully seek to use every Biblical means to win souls to the Saviour. This includes Church Planting, evangelistic discipleship (1-2-1), training, local and regional outreach programs as well as foreign missions.
3. EDIFICATION
Consistent expository Bible teaching is the most effective way for God’s people to be built up in their most holy faith. We gather together to encourage and edify one another with the Word of Christ. This is also seen in the outworking of the Word in our lives as we love and care for one another.
4. EQUIPPING
God’s ministers are called to “equip the saints for works of service” (Eph.4:12). Everyone in our church family needs to be discipled and trained in Christian service according to their gifts. Discipleship and lay ministry training should be an integral part of local church activity and a key responsibility of the ministers in that church.
5. EMPLOYING
Every local church should have a team of gospel workers. This involves more than the need to employ full time pastoral staff. Many of us are overlooking a vast resource in our lay members and volunteers. It’s my conviction that we need to revive our “lay-reader” office in a way that allows us to train and employ a wide variety of (paid and volunteer) workers in our churches.
6. EXPORTING
Local churches cannot ignore the missionary call of Christ. We are all to be resource centres for sending and supporting missionaries and gospel workers in our neighbourhoods and in the nations. A local church with no vision for mission is failing the Great Commission. Our mission includes taking the gospel to the poor and marginalized with all the care and compassion that context demands.
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My brothers and sisters, when I reflect on our Identity and Practice I rejoice that God has placed me in a denomination gifted with such a sound lifeboat in which to be fishers of men. But we need to ask a further question of ourselves today. If this is our confessed Identity and Practice, then what are we actually doing about it?
WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?
To put it plainly, our statistics don’t paint an encouraging picture of church growth. In a survey of the last 10 years, our official membership figures have remained largely static, with a slight increase in clergy figures. We also note an alarming decline in the numbers of ministry candidates being sent to GWC.
Diagram 1: Membership
Diagram 2: Clergy
Diagram 3: GWC - REACH-SA Student Enrollments
It’s probably true that the membership numbers only represent a portion of our congregations because of inaccurate record keeping or the high numbers of adherents. It is also true that local churches are reporting gospel conversions and discipling new believers. Overall, however, the figures are concerning.
Even with this basic survey and its imperfect measurements, its clear that we are not seeing significant growth in membership, ministry candidates, clergy or new churches. It is also concerning that we are not seeing much growth in our ministry to poorer communities, townships and new population centres. Our regional leaderships have identified several key areas where we have little or no gospel ministry. Soweto (Gaut), Mdantsane (E.C), the Cape Flats (W.C), Newcastle (KZN), Bethlehem (FS) and many other similar places.
Some may say that church is not about numbers but I would venture to suggest that the Gospel teaches us otherwise. God’s declared will for the world is that He ‘wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’ (1 Tim.2:4). Does the lack of growth reflect a fault in our ministry model or denominational structure? Or could it be that an evangelistic passion no longer drives us as it once used to? Are we not concerned for the lost millions who face an eternity in Hell? Have we grown complacent in our passion for winning souls to Christ? Are we perhaps also being worn down by the economic and social pressures of our day? Or have we became like the theologically strong Ephesian church and lost our first love (Rev.2:1-7)? I ask these questions of myself as much as I ask them of you.
In seeking a way forward, I have greatly appreciated the help of our Generate team in guiding and resourcing our efforts at church growth. Recent formal and informal clergy gatherings have helped me gain an understanding of the obstacles and opportunities we face. In assessing our strengths and weak-nesses. Here are some common answers that emerged.
Strengths
- Expository Preaching and Teaching (The Word is central to our activities)
- Denominational Unity (We are a close knit fellowship of churches)
- Theological Strength (GWC; Ministry Conferences etc.)
Weaknesses
- Lack effective strategy for reaching total population (e.g. poor, townships)
- Raising a diversity of gospel workers (more representative of population)
- Evangelism / Mission / Outreach - not finding the mark
It’s also concerning to see how some technological advances, as helpful as they are, are also hindering many believers from growing in His Word. There is a dark side to modern television, media and internet that is capturing an alarming number of believers. Our society is rapidly (and aggressively) moving away from Biblical moral values and we are being flooded with sensuality and pornography at every turn. We ministers are not immune to its temptations. The Apostle Paul urged Timothy to “watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Tim.4:16). If we separate our lives from our teaching we place ourselves in great peril. An ungodly pastor is an anomaly the world has seen more than enough of. I also urge all ministry workers to beware of isolation, I know from experience how dangerous this is. If you have not done so, I encourage you to form prayer partnerships and be accountable to a fellow trustworthy co-worker or mature Christian friend. We should not be afraid to confess our weaknesses to one another in order that the all sufficient Grace of our Lord may be powerfully seen in us (2 Cor.12:9,10).
Recommended Reading: “Dangerous Calling” - Paul David Tripp; “You can change” - Tim Chester; “Holiness” - J.C. Ryle
Planning: I’m concerned that a number of us are drifting or struggling to make progress. I feel for fellow workers who labour alone or with very little help. Relentless ministry pressure can mean that we enter “survival” mode and fail to make progress. Many of us feel that we are chasing our tails in our ministries. I believe that planning makes a huge difference in motivating and sustaining direction. I encourage all church leaders to set gospel goals and plan their steps. Having a purpose gives us direction and also helps us shed the unnecessary work that other people often offload on us.
Begin by diarizing a vision and planning week with key leaders and partners. It’s worth taking one week of planning to make the other 51 more effective. Make purposeful plans for church outreach, mission partnership and targeted expository preaching series. It’s important for us to regularly assess where our church communities are at and make plans for gospel progress.
Recommended reading: “The Trellis and the Vine” – Colin Marshall and Tony Payne; “Everyday Church” – Tim Chester and Steve Timmis; “Going the Distance” – Peter Brain
Partnership:
Regional Partnership: Resources are a struggle for us all. On our own, many of us just cannot find enough time or money to train workers, conduct outreach projects or plant churches. It goes without saying that we can do more together than apart.
We live in a country with one of the largest financial disparities in the world. This leaves us with many inequalities between our local churches. We must develop more creative and adventurous ways to bridge this gap. It should be unthinkable for comfortable suburban churches to ignore the plight of brothers and sisters struggling with far fewer resources in much larger population areas.
Denominational Partnership: I believe a proper partnership mentality will help remove an “us and them” mindset. Its not you and the denomination, we are all REACH-South Africa, its our church family and we are all working together in partnership for the Gospel. We cannot make progress if we are building individual kingdoms instead of God’s Kingdom.
Let us make good use of our REACH-SA family resources. One of the positives with our current structure is that we are not an admin heavy denomination. This helps us move much of our funding to the frontlines of ministry. This year I expect to see a particularly healthy financial report which means that any surplus will be directed back to the regions for ministry use. I believe there may even be enough to help launch at least one new gospel work in each region.
If we are going to harness these type of resources effectively there will need to be selfless collaboration for the sake of the gospel. We will need a united strategy to harness our resources effectively. During this Synod there will be breakaway sessions where delegates from the different regions will meet and discuss the various opportunities that exist in their context. I encourage you all to attend and contribute to the discussions.
Over this coming year I will also ask all the regional leadership to conduct an audit of their support commitments. Some of our ministries need to move from maintenance mode to missional mode. Are we using our material and people resources to the best gospel use? This may mean cutting some funding for unproductive or dying projects and rerouting funding to support new gospel initiatives in population growth areas. Friends, we need to ask some hard questions. Do some radical changes need to be made? Are we ready to take risks for the gospel?
The solutions will not be without difficulty but we cannot maintain the current status quo. We all need to work together. Our God is calling us to take the Gospel to all the nations and to all the people of our nation. uNkulunkulu uthi masihambise iVangeli ezizweni zonke, nalana kwesethu isizwe.
Modimo wa rona o re biletsa ho isa Evangedi ho ditjhaba tsohle Le ho batho bohle ba setjhaba sa rona.
Planting: Church Planting seems to be daunting to some of us. It also has a risk of becoming a ‘cure all’ solution to our problems. Perhaps the perceived cost of a church plant puts many of us off. Some out of the box thinking may be needed here. A local church could begin by planting a second service. Perhaps even in a different venue? A strategically placed Bible Study group could become a future church plant. Some churches have had some gospel success by planting an evening service in a local coffee shop or shopping mall. Other church plants began as Day Care Centres, Adult education projects, Pre-primary schools etc. Planting may also mean “re-planting”. It may be that some of us have to re-jig our church to reach a changing demographic. Some of you have decided on a new name for your local church or new logo and service times. Renovations and other practical building changes have also proved to be helpful in giving our members more confidence to invite friends to hear the gospel. One church reported an increase in attendance just by switching from instant coffee to filter coffee!
There are many creative ways to help us reach our communities with the Gospel if we will take the time to be more intentional in our outreach. Our Generate team have also done much to help us through conferences, workshops and resources. I gratefully urge them to continue in their efforts. Remember, we do not change the Gospel message, but we need to consider new ways to get more people to hear it.
Resources: www.thegospelcoalition.org ; thegospelpartnerships.org.uk ; genevapush.com ; www.redeemercitytocity.com
Prayer: ‘Unless the LORD builds the house, the workers labour in vain’ (Psalm 127:1). How can we even begin to make progress if we do not fall to our knees before the Lord of the harvest? We must be fervent in prayer at a personal and corporate level. Prayerless ministry is a contradiction and a reflection of our own unbelief. Church history teaches us that prayer was the aroma surrounding all the great revivals of the 12
church. It will not be different with us. At the end of this charge I will call us all to our knees as we implore God to help us achieve this humanly impossible task. May the Lord be pleased to hear us and accomplish His work even through unworthy servants like us.
Recommended Reading: “Prayer and the Voice of God” – Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne; “A Call to Spiritual Reformation” – D.A. Carson
A final word to my fellow pastors. In the light of this charge, it must not be assumed that the preaching of the Word is just one aspect of our work that needs attention. It is the very core of our calling and cannot be compromised. Give yourselves to continued study, prayer and preparation because God is still pleased to save people through the ‘folly of what we preach’ (1 Cor.1.21 ESV). Our God brings people to faith through the hearing of His Word (Rom.10:17) and we dare not neglect this high office in favour of some other more attractive, multi-media solution. Let us not take this strength of our denomination for granted but work all the more fervently at our task. I ask all of you to pray for the proclaimed Word to find fruitful soil and for God to raise up faithful servants of Christ who will carry on our God given task.
May our God give us more men like George Whitefield in our pulpits today.
J.C. Ryle says of him: “Whitefield preached a singularly pure gospel. Few men, perhaps, ever gave their hearers so much wheat and so little chaff. He did not get up to talk about his party, his cause, his interest, or his office. He was perpetually telling you about your sins, your heart, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the absolute need of repentance, faith and holiness, in the way that the Bible presents these mighty subjects. ‘Oh the righteousness of Christ!’ he would often say; ‘I must be excused if I mention it in almost all my sermons.’ Preaching of this kind is the preaching that God delights to honour.”
(Christian Leaders of the 18th Century – J.C. Ryle; Banner of Truth. p.51)
My brothers and sisters, may I be so bold as to ask you not to give this charge polite applause and then forget about it. May God be pleased to use what is true and necessary to spur us on in the task of seeking the lost and discipling the found. Let us fall on our knees together and ask God to give us Africa for Jesus. iNkosi inibusise. Amen.
Jesus, our blood-drenched warrior (and how children’s Bibles may have misled us)
Children’s Bibles, as helpful as they are, may give us a wrong idea of Jesus. Most children’s Bibles picture Jesus as a soft, gentle, hippie-type man who is always surrounded by butterflies and birds. Many people have grown up thinking of Jesus as an effeminate man in sandals, rather than the Warrior-God come into our world to do battle for his people. Of course, Jesus was and is kind and gentle, but that’s not all he is. In the Old and New Testament God is pictured as the divine warrior who fights for his people. We don’t often think about God, and God the Son, in these terms.
Soft Jesus
Dale Ralph Davis, a pastor and theologian, says: “No mild God or soft Jesus can give his people hope. It is only as we know the warrior of Israel who fights for us that we have hope of triumphing.”
Rider on the storm
Revelation 19 has one of the most startling and vivid pictures of Jesus in the Bible. The curtains of this world were drawn back and the Apostle John saw a vision of heaven and the world to come:
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True (Jesus), and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems (crowns), and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16)
Christ is pictured as the divine warrior who wages war against all the enemies of God. This war brings to a climax all the wars that God has waged on behalf of his people and finishes the triumph achieved by Christ on the cross. Jesus’ eyes are like blazing fire affirming his ability to see and judge every human heart. Jesus’ crowns indicate his kingly authority that he has from the Father. The name that no one knows indicates that the full and surprising aspects of his coming are still a mystery. Jesus’ name is the Word of God. His weapon is a sharp sword that comes from his mouth representing his all-powerful Word. He will save and conquer the nations, not with AK47s or suicide bombers, but through his Word, the gospel. As Jesus’ Word goes out it saves his people and judges his enemies.
Jesus’ robe is dipped in blood because, as the divine warrior conquers his enemies, their blood spatters his garments. Jesus has a warrior tattoo on his thigh which says: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You don’t read about this Jesus in children’s bibles. Those who follow Jesus are also dressed in white and riding white horses showing that God’s people all share in Christ’s victory.
Here’s the point: unless God fights for us we are doomed because our enemies of sin, death and Satan are too powerful for us to overcome. The good news for us is that God has fought for us in Jesus.
Christus victor
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:13-15)
The cross of Christ marks the decisive defeat of the demonic powers. On the cross, the demonic powers were stripped of their power to accuse Christians before God. The image in v15 is of a victorious Roman Triumph and military procession. Defeated kings with all of their surviving warriors and the spoils of war were paraded through the streets of Rome in New Testament times, as a public spectacle for all to see. Jesus is pictured as our triumphant warrior who wins a great victory over sin, death and Satan. These defeated powers are paraded along the “streets” of the universe behind Commander Jesus in the triumphant procession.
Victory march
14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Again the image is of the lavish victory parades celebrated in Rome. God is depicted as the sovereign victor with Christ as the general leading the victory procession. The Apostle Paul, and indeed all Christians, is pictured as being led by Christ, “captured” by Christ, but now joyfully following him.
God fights
A great battle has been fought and won in the death and resurrection of Christ. If God has fought and continues to fight for you, no enemy can ultimately overcome you. They may mock you in this world and even behead you, but Christ has overcome this world. And like the Apostle Paul said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain”. What can you do to someone who knows that “death is gain” because the ultimate battle has been won? However, if God is fighting against you because of your rebellion or apathy towards him, you can never win and you will finally lose.
Will you submit to the divine warrior and to his all-powerful Word? Or will you fight against him and continue in your stubborn rebellion? Jesus was not a hippie; he was and is our divine, blood-drenched warrior. The blood pictured in Revelation 19 is not his own, it’s of those who would oppose him.
Originally posted here.
Emmanuel Church Phoenix recent response to Xenophobia
Katlego Meslane made a Deacon
Dear brothers,Today I had the joy to be involved in the service at Christ Church Strand where Katlego was made a deacon. He has been a great blessing there as he has served in children's and youth ministry under Peter Makapela.
It was great to see so many in the community supporting him. Gavin Millard and Donovan Morling represented Christ Church Somerset West and Phumezo Christ Church Khayalitsha in the service.
Please do pray for and encourage Katlego and his wife Delight as they serve at Christ Church Strand.
Alan.
Song Ideas for Easter
We recently asked Cameron Shabangu from Southern Cross Church for some ideas for songs for Easter. These are his suggestions.
1. This is amazing grace - Phil Wickam
2. Come behold the wondrous mystery – Matt Papa
3. The Lamb of God – Vertical church
4. Jerusalem – CityAlight
5. Our Father – Hillsong
6. This I believe (The creed) – Hillsong
7. Namhla Nkosi – Zaza
8. Wahamba Nathi – Solly Mahlangu
9. Ketshepile Wena – Benjamin Dube
What songs are your church using this Easter? Are you going to use any of these?
Perspective - The Gift of Life
For most of us, the statement life is a gift is one that we would not only agree with, but probably take for granted. But what exactly do we mean when we say that life is a gift?
For a Christian, one verse that would certainly spring to mind is Romans 6:23, the verse quoted above. In this verse, Paul is speaking about eternal life and stressing the fact that this eternal life can be ours only by the grace of God and as a gift from God. Paul draws a contrast between this gift of eternal life which comes from God and the wages of sin which is death. Paul’s basic point is true and deeply humbling. As human beings, we all struggle with the reality of a sinful nature. Everything we do, even the best things we do, is thus tainted by the effects of sin within our hearts. Because motive is as much part of a deed as the deed itself, the result is that our deeds, even our best deeds, cannot and will not earn eternal life. Even our best deeds, tainted as they are by our sinful motives and imperfect as they are in practice, will inevitably result in death. This means that if we want eternal life, we must be willing to receive and accept life as a gift from God, and not as a reward for our efforts.
Those who do not align themselves with the Christian faith might well respond to this by saying that this eternal life about which Christians make so much, is no big deal and is of no real relevance to them. But to say this is to demonstrate that one does not know the true meaning of eternal life, or for that matter, of life itself
The problem is that many people only think of life in biological or sociological terms. For them, life by definition does not include God. The Bibles definition of life is however very different from this. Of course, in Biblical terms, life includes biological life, for we read that in the beginning God created man and breathed into him the breath of life" with the result that the man whom God created became a living being" (Genesis). This is what Paul is referring to in Acts 17vs25 when he says that God gave all men life and breath and everything else. But Paul goes on to state that God the life-giver has given us life so that we would seek for Him and hopefully find Him, since (in the words of a Greek poet) that the fact that God is the giver of life means that we live and move and have our being in Him" (Acts 17vs28). This means that a fundamental aspect of what we call biological life is the purpose of life, something we know instinctively to be true. And the primary purpose of life is that we to whom God has given life and breath should find and know the God who created us (see Acts 17vs27).
Strikingly enough, Paul says exactly the same thing about life as a sociological reality – life in community if you like. In Acts 17vs26, again echoing the teaching of Genesis, Paul tells us that God the life giver, is the One who orders our world, including nations and cultures. God has thus created us as living beings to express this life in community with other people. Another way of saying this is that true life is deeply relational, a fact that we know all too well, especially when our relationships flounder or we lose someone we love.
It is this fact that life is a gift from God to be expressed in relationships, particularly a relationship with God, that Jesus has in mind when He defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ" whom He has sent" (John ). For Jesus, to know God is to have life and by implication, not to know God, is to forfeit life and to suffer death. This is precisely what we see in Genesis chapter3. The moment the man and the woman, deceived by the evil one, turned their back on God the life giver, they lost their relationship with God and fell under the sentence of death. From that day on, they knew from bitter experience that the wages of sin is indeed death. What is absolutely amazing, and a testimony to the grace of God the life giver, is that even in the midst of judgement, God made a promise that through the fatal suffering of the seed" of the woman, the evil one would be overthrown, death itself turned back and life in the true sense of the word restored.
What Jesus claims in John 17vs3, what Paul declares in Romans 6vs23 and what the New Testament as a whole affirms, is that Jesus is that seed of the woman, the restorer of life. To a world living under the shadow of death, Jesus is Gods gift of life. To trust in Him is to know God and thus to have life as it was always meant to be, not life without God but life with God and in community with all who know Him.
He did Evil in the Eyes of the Lord
King Manasseh is a conundrum. He was the most evil king Judah ever had and yet he was the longest reigning king. (cf. 2 Chronicles 33) In the Old Testament books of Kings and Chronicles every king’s life is summed up either by, “he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” or “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” No matter what the king’s military gains, political accomplishments, feats of bravery or economic successes, in the end it boiled down to this one thing.
In the eyes of the Lord
To do what’ right in the eyes of the Lord meant to admit your great sin, submit to God as King and live life God’s way in obedience to his word. To do evil in God’s sight was to ignore or reject God’s right to rule over you, to live life your own way in rebellion to God and in disobedience to his word.
Modern rebellion
I met a young Italian man and his girlfriend while on holiday. They were a lovely couple, were very successful and flourishing in the world eyes. I shared the gospel with him, but he refused Christ. He said, like many people today, that he knew Christ demanded that Christians keep sex for marriage and he was not willing to stop sleeping with his girlfriend. His problem with Christianity was not intellectual, but moral. He was living life his way and what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Most people live like this today. Outwardly people might seem poite, respectable, and even moral, but deep inside they reject Christ. In the end, no matter their great achievements, the great book of life will say: He or she did evil in the sight of the Lord. It’s the Lord’s opinion that ultimately counts, not Facebook’s.
Note that Manasseh’s sins are the same sins that many commit today:
Worship of sex
v3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth…
Baal was the most prominent and powerful male deity of the Canaanites with Asheroth his female counterpart. These two deities were the gods of fertility that guaranteed children, a good harvest, a growing flock of sheep, or good rains, if worshipped correctly. The worship of these fertility gods often involved sexual intercourse with temple prostitutes and this is probably why Baal worship was so popular.
Today, many might not know the name “Baal,” but many still worship him. People today love sexual immorality more than God and worship at Baal’s new temples called Teasers, Mavericks and freeporn.com. Many worship Baal hoping that he will bring joy, happiness and meaning to life – but he, a false god, can do none of those things.
Astral worship
v3 ….and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
The Assyrians worshipped the astral deities of the sun-god, moon-god, Jupiter and Venus. The Bible tells us we should worship the creator not created things, but this did not stop Manasseh. He bowed down and gave allegiance not to God, but to the works of God’s hands. You might say that’s crazy, but think for a moment how many people in South Africa make decisions based on the Zodiac? Capetalk radio has a phone in programme where an astrologer who advises listeners about love, finances and the future. Many people today are giving the stars the allegiance they should give God.
Angels are also considered as part of the heavenly host in the Bible. Today there are thousands of people who claim to receive guidance from guardian angels and spirit guides. They write books about it. Little do knowing that they are dealing with demons. If you’re not communicating to God with Jesus, you are by default communicating to and opening yourself to satanic powers.
Syncretism
v5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
Syncretism is the combining of different, often contradictory beliefs, into one. He took the altars for moon worship and put them into God’s temple in Jerusalem. “Why not?”, thought Manasseh, “We all worship the same God anyway.” What was happening here was not an inter-denominational service, but an inter-faith service. Two weeks ago there was, for the first time, official Muslims prayers at the National Cathedral in Washington, where US Presidents have their funerals. Syncretism is here to stay. Of course, the God of the Bible will not be worshipped except in the way he has ordained
Child sacrifice
v6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom
The pagan God Molech demanded child sacrifice. Babies were placed in the smouldering bronze belly of the statue of Molech where they slowly burnt to death. Manasseh was willing to sacrifice his own sons at the altar of a false god. Today we call it abortion. Parents sacrifice their babies on the altars of career, personal dreams and convenience.
Divination
v6 …and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers.
Today many people consult sangomas, psychics and mediums thinking that they can truly help them. In today’s world Manasseh would be honoured and esteemed as a forward thinker, Nobel Peace Prize winner and a model spiritual leader. However, v6 and v9 gives us the real picture:
V6 …He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
V9 Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
Never too late
Yet even evil king Manasseh was humbled by God, turned from sin and submitted to the one true God – and found forgiveness. No sin is too small or too big for God to forgive. The astounding news of the Bible is that Jesus died to bear God’s just anger (cf. v6) for all the sins of all God’s people through all ages. Jesus died for Manasseh’s sin. If God can forgive Manasseh, he can certainly forgive you. Will you cast yourself on the mercy of Christ?
Perspective - The Saviour of the World
“We know that this man really is the Saviour of the world…” (John 4vs42)
Given our familiarity with the title, it comes as something of a surprise to discover that the New Testament only twice refers to Jesus as ‘the Saviour of the world’. Both of the references are found in the writings of John, the first in John 4vs42, to which we will return in a moment, the second in 1 John 4vs14. In the latter reference, the title is used by John himself in words reminiscent of the famous John 3:16. Calling upon the believers to love one another, John reminds them that God Himself is love and that as a result He has sent His Son to be “the saviour of the world”. It was to this great demonstration of the love of God that John and his fellow apostles were sent to testify through the gospel in the power of God’s Spirit (see also Romans 5vs8). In the former reference, the title is used not by John or by any of the early disciples of Jesus. It is used, rather unexpectedly, by a group of Samaritan villagers who were themselves introduced to Jesus by an even more unlikely witness, a Samaritan woman of dubious background.
The delightful story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman and His conversation with her is of course well known to readers of John’s Gospel. In the structure of John, it stands as a deliberate counterpoint to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Jewish teacher of the Law, recorded in the previous chapter. Convinced that Jesus is a teacher come from God, Nicodemus approaches Jesus and is met with a vital, but perplexing declaration. Though he is a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus needs to be born again in order to see and enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3vs3,5). Despite his privileged position and great responsibility as a teacher of the scriptures to Israel, Nicodemus in fact shows a profound ignorance of what Jesus is saying. Like the Samaritan woman, though with far less excuse, his mind seems locked in to earthly, rather than heavenly things (John 3vs4&vs12; cf 4vs11-15). His failure to understand Jesus’ words is itself a sign that he needs to be born again. Despite Nicodemus’ ignorance and lack of understanding, Jesus continues to teach him (and us!) the truth about the kingdom of God. This is surely a sign that Jesus remains committed to saving people like Nicodemus from among the Jews, though always by means of the clear proclamation of the gospel about his death (see John 3vs14-17). It is only by faith in the Son of Man (Jesus) who was lifted up that anyone is saved. And it is only through the regenerating work of the Spirit of God giving new birth that anyone can believe!
These important facts must be kept in mind as we move into John 4, so that as we follow the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, we know that her growing understanding of Jesus’ words is not due to her own natural insight, but to the Spirit’s work. Slowly but surely Jesus leads her to the point where the conversation turns, first to her own life and then to Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. She comes to see herself as she really is but also in the light of the grace that Jesus’ words hold out to her. Little wonder then that she leaves her water jar and rushes back to the village to talk about Jesus. “Come”, she says, and “see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done” (4vs29). The Spirit and the Truth work together and a woman whose notoriety and shame kept her away from the townsfolk, especially from the other women, now rushes among them bearing testimony to Jesus’ life changing grace.
The story ends with the remarkable testimony by the villagers – “we know that this man really is the saviour of the world”. It is clear from John 4vs42, that the woman’s words about Jesus did play an important part in bringing the Samaritans to this conclusion. It is however also clear that Jesus’ own words were absolutely essential in the opening of the eyes of the Samaritans to the truth about Himself. Formerly excluded from the promise of God’s kingdom blessing, they find in Jesus a saviour, not only for Israel, but also for themselves and therefore for the world. Their declaration about Jesus provides a fitting conclusion to the two stories found in John 3 & 4. Taken together with Nicodemus’ words about Jesus (“a teacher who has come from God”) (John 3vs2) and Jesus’ own description of Himself (“the Son of Man who must be lifted up” (John 3vs14), the words of the Samaritan villagers stand as a testimony to all who read the gospel of John so that they might believe in this Jesus as the Saviour, and that believing, they might receive His kingdom gift of eternal life.
Perspective - The Saviour of the World
“We know that this man really is the Saviour of the world…” (John 4vs42)
Given our familiarity with the title, it comes as something of a surprise to discover that the New Testament only twice refers to Jesus as ‘the Saviour of the world’. Both of the references are found in the writings of John, the first in John 4vs42, to which we will return in a moment, the second in 1 John 4vs14. In the latter reference, the title is used by John himself in words reminiscent of the famous John 3:16. Calling upon the believers to love one another, John reminds them that God Himself is love and that as a result He has sent His Son to be “the saviour of the world”. It was to this great demonstration of the love of God that John and his fellow apostles were sent to testify through the gospel in the power of God’s Spirit (see also Romans 5vs8). In the former reference, the title is used not by John or by any of the early disciples of Jesus. It is used, rather unexpectedly, by a group of Samaritan villagers who were themselves introduced to Jesus by an even more unlikely witness, a Samaritan woman of dubious background.
The delightful story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman and His conversation with her is of course well known to readers of John’s Gospel. In the structure of John, it stands as a deliberate counterpoint to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Jewish teacher of the Law, recorded in the previous chapter. Convinced that Jesus is a teacher come from God, Nicodemus approaches Jesus and is met with a vital, but perplexing declaration. Though he is a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus needs to be born again in order to see and enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3vs3,5). Despite his privileged position and great responsibility as a teacher of the scriptures to Israel, Nicodemus in fact shows a profound ignorance of what Jesus is saying. Like the Samaritan woman, though with far less excuse, his mind seems locked in to earthly, rather than heavenly things (John 3vs4&vs12; cf 4vs11-15). His failure to understand Jesus’ words is itself a sign that he needs to be born again. Despite Nicodemus’ ignorance and lack of understanding, Jesus continues to teach him (and us!) the truth about the kingdom of God. This is surely a sign that Jesus remains committed to saving people like Nicodemus from among the Jews, though always by means of the clear proclamation of the gospel about his death (see John 3vs14-17). It is only by faith in the Son of Man (Jesus) who was lifted up that anyone is saved. And it is only through the regenerating work of the Spirit of God giving new birth that anyone can believe!
These important facts must be kept in mind as we move into John 4, so that as we follow the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, we know that her growing understanding of Jesus’ words is not due to her own natural insight, but to the Spirit’s work. Slowly but surely Jesus leads her to the point where the conversation turns, first to her own life and then to Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. She comes to see herself as she really is but also in the light of the grace that Jesus’ words hold out to her. Little wonder then that she leaves her water jar and rushes back to the village to talk about Jesus. “Come”, she says, and “see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done” (4vs29). The Spirit and the Truth work together and a woman whose notoriety and shame kept her away from the townsfolk, especially from the other women, now rushes among them bearing testimony to Jesus’ life changing grace.
The story ends with the remarkable testimony by the villagers – “we know that this man really is the saviour of the world”. It is clear from John 4vs42, that the woman’s words about Jesus did play an important part in bringing the Samaritans to this conclusion. It is however also clear that Jesus’ own words were absolutely essential in the opening of the eyes of the Samaritans to the truth about Himself. Formerly excluded from the promise of God’s kingdom blessing, they find in Jesus a saviour, not only for Israel, but also for themselves and therefore for the world. Their declaration about Jesus provides a fitting conclusion to the two stories found in John 3 & 4. Taken together with Nicodemus’ words about Jesus (“a teacher who has come from God”) (John 3vs2) and Jesus’ own description of Himself (“the Son of Man who must be lifted up” (John 3vs14), the words of the Samaritan villagers stand as a testimony to all who read the gospel of John so that they might believe in this Jesus as the Saviour, and that believing, they might receive His kingdom gift of eternal life.
Christmas Crisis
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
(Isaiah 9:2)
It’s no secret that our country is facing a crisis Christmas this year. We are being swamped with stories of failing infrastructure, a fractured parliament and a fragile economy. Coffee shop conversations are notably pessimistic.
It is true that media negativity tends to overshadow the many positive aspects of our country. There really is much to give thanks for. Our churches continue to enjoy freedom to preach the message of Jesus without censure and people are coming to know Christ. Many people are also making headway and even progress in globally difficult times. Tourists are still flocking to our beaches and families are still filling shopping malls.
Nevertheless there are very real problems in our country and we are being tested by a myriad of challenges. Its concerning particularly to see the unwise responses people are making in these difficult days. Debt is crippling families and moral decay is disintegrating them. Very little godly behavior is evident and many believers seem to lack Biblical maturity.
How can we as God’s people respond to our current state of affairs?
Firstly we must pray. God has ordained that the prayers of His people are part of the cogs and wheels of His sovereign plan. We must particularly pray for our country and its leaders (1Tim 2:1,2). If Africa is to be saved, we must pray without ceasing.
Secondly we must trust. Jesus warned that trials would see people falling away from the faith (Mark 4:17). We also know that hard times are the fires that test the authenticity of our faith (1 Peter 1:7). Therefore we ought not to be those who shrink back but those who persevere through trials by faith (Heb.10:38,39). This is the time to stand firm in the faith.
Thirdly we must act. Faith is not a noun, it’s a verb. Faith works. If we are truly trusting in Christ it will be seen in obedient action. It is no coincidence that God has placed you where you are for such a time as this. So be the Christian, make good moral decisions, be ethical in business and willingly serve others out of obedience to Christ.
Lastly we must not be fooled into thinking that this year’s crisis is anything unusual. Every Christmas, from the 1st to the 21st century has been celebrated in the context of crisis. Our world is broken by sin and the messy state of affairs is the visible evidence. The ultimate crisis our rebellious world faces is its pending appointment at the judgement seat of God. This, in fact, is the very reason Christmas happened in the first place. Jesus is the Light of hope that has shone into our dark world of crisis. His death and resurrection brings forgiveness and restored relationship to all who turn and trust in the Light of the World. Nothing else in your life is worth putting right if this is not put right first.
For God’s people, the current crisis should spur us on to share this good news all the more urgently this Christmas . . . even if we have to do it in candlelight !