Calvin Synod Herald, 2013 (114. évfolyam, 3-12. szám)
2013-03-01 / 3-4. szám
Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed . . . They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles.” (Mark 10:32-34) • He died because he was too provocative. He stirred up the crowds, cleansed the temple and challenged the authorities. If he had just stayed with friends out in Bethany and, as we say, “minded his own business,” then likely he would have escaped trouble. • Someone else says, “He was crucified because his friends betrayed and denied him. Even the inner circle of disciples were AWOL when it counted.” But all of these circumstances are only facts. They do not give the meaning of the cross. The cross of Christ is the intersection of the sinful hearts of cruel people with the self-giving heart of God. The hymn writer, Harry Farrington, put it very simply: We may not know, we cannot tell What pains he had to bear. But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there. So it is not just the fact, that a certain man died on a hillside outside the city wall, that is important. It is the purpose in God’s heart and mind. It is the purpose in the mind and heart of the Crucified One. “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) As someone said, “It all goes back to the cross. In the cross God launched his counter attack against evil. From the death of Christ a tide of salvation and new life moves out into the world.” Does this meaning come close to us? Does it get inside of us? It means to confess that our lives are vacant lots, overrun with weeds, slept in by hobos, filled with broken bottles and debris. And through that vacant lot the Man of Nazareth walks by night, seeking the outcast and the unloved, only to be bludgeoned and slashed to death by us. And in the morning when we are questioned by the police, we respond, “Who? Me?” The crucial thing: Not just the fact that he died, but the meaning: He died for us. When we confess this we acknowledge him as our Savior. How is it that his death brings healing, help and hope? Much has been said in answer. In the end it remains a mystery in the heart of God. Once again, Harry Farrington answers: / know not how that Calvary ’s cross A worldfrom sin couldfree. I only know its matchless love Has brought God s love to me. Amen. Rev. David B. Bowman, PluD CALVIN SYNOD HERALD_____________________________ Five Traits of a Wholehearted Follower of Christ It’s not unusual for churches to have a statement like we do: “[First Protestant Church has a] commitment to making disciples who are wholehearted followers of Christ. We value a ministry that develops strategies to uphold and exemplify Christian discipleship.” It definitely is a Biblical sentiment. What does it mean in practice? Let me suggest 5 Traits of a Wholehearted Follower of Jesus Christ that we can use as a guide. These are not proof that we have “arrived” by any stretch of the imagination, but that indicate we are “on the way” to being “wholehearted followers”. Before listing the traits, please recognize that what enables these practices to have real value has nothing to do with our abilities. Instead, these practices are valuable to the degree that they are concrete ways in which we respond to Jesus Christ our Lord who tells in Mark 1:15 “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Each trait is simply another way in which we humbly and regularly come to Jesus Christ through the Holy Scriptures. Each trait is our attempt by God’s grace to live as people who have been set free by Jesus’ power and called to live as His followers. For that reason, each “trait” begins with our engagement with Holy Scripture and our intent to be found and transformed by Jesus Christ through this engagement. It is through Scripture that God teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains us in righteousness so that as God’s servants we may be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). So what are these traits? Wholehearted Followers of Jesus Christ... Trait 1 - SEEK Christ. They read and reflect on God’s Word each week. Whether that fresh insight comes Monday morning while reading the Bible or one has to give up watching TV later in the week to seek God, wholehearted disciples engage God’s Word regularly until they come to a fresh delight in God’s Truth... a fresh wonder and joy at knowing Jesus Christ! They find pleasure in digging into God’s Word and learning to understand it for themselves! They “continue in the teaching of Christ” (2 John 1:9). Key Concept: Wholehearted followers of Jesus regularly SEEK to know Jesus through His Word! Trait 2 - SPEAK of HIM. When the Lord communicates to us as we interact with His Word, it becomes natural to share what we rejoice in with others. If we inherited a million dollars, we’d be happy to share the news! As people standing to inherit God’s kingdom, the early Christians who were driven out of Jerusalem by persecution in Acts 8:4 still talked joyously about Jesus wherever they went. How could they do otherwise? How can we? But just as importantly, wholehearted disciples learn to en-Continued on page 6 _____________________________________________________5 03 £0
