Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)
Dr. Eva M. Fabian: Qualifications, conflicts, compensations
worship betray their dangers more obviously. Between these two extremes, hundreds of others hide the vicious face of the devil. If any of the elders of Christ’s church is involved in any of the cults, sects, pagan religious organizations besides regarding themselves as Christians, they have a civil war going on in their hearts and minds. Christianity does not tolerate any alian bedfellows. The affiliation of Christians with cults induces an inner conflict. Eventually, that conflict will eat up anybody from the inside and will tip the scale of that person’s loyalty in favor of the cult and of hell. “See to it, ” as we read in Colossians, “that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to human traditions, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ. ” (Colossians 2:8.) Jesus Christ our chief Prophet, just like the prophet Elijah, cedis us to decision, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. ” (1 Kings 18:21.) The elders’ conference provided assistance by: a) a list of tele-evangelists whose teachings are false, deceptive, emd dangerous; especially those who teach the so-called “we are little gods” theology; b) a list of major cults that cause inner conflicts and tear Christians apart from Christ; c) copies of the Heidelberg Catechism and the II Helvetic Confessions (the latter with correction regarding doctrinal changes in the role of women in the ministry). The two lists may be available from the President of the Presbyters’ Association; the readers may buy the creeds themselves. Interpersonal Conflicts The other type of conflicts elders encounter are interpersonal conflicts, problems in general. In those cases, they should be part of the solution. Is perpetual peace our dream for congregational life? Can we find uninterrupted tranquility on earth at any place where people are together? That place must be the cemetery! Right? To prove a point in this context, let us probe into our spiritual life. 141
