1. INTRODUCTION

In Old Testament times God was very keen that his people should meet together as a community on a regular basis. They were to worship him, and encourage and build one another up. So he commanded people to meet weekly. In addition, he commanded people to celebrate certain festivals. And the purpose of those festivals was to remind the people of some of the great things that he had done for them. To remind them of the things he had promised. And to give them an opportunity to respond to him.

The festivals were to be held in a central location, to which everyone was expected to travel. Consequently people would have to travel great distances, and sometimes in very dangerous conditions, to participate. But they did (or those who were faithful did). And as the years went on, and the number of things that God did for his people increased, the number of festivals celebrated grew.

Now of course we don’t live in Old Testament times. Despite that, God still wants us to meet together on a regular basis – to worship him and to encourage and build up one another. We also have festivals reminding us of the things that God has done, and the things he has promised his people. Now, they may not be same festivals as in Old Testament times, and these days we may not need to go on a pilgrimage to a central location to celebrate them, but these festivals remain important nonetheless.

So what I would like to do, is to briefly revisit the major festivals that we celebrate; to examine the significance and importance of celebrating them.

2. CHRISTMAS

Now Christmas, despite the way that many people celebrate it today, is about the birth of a baby. A baby who is the link between ourselves and our creator. Christmas is about a creator who loves his creation very much; and it is about us, who have a nasty habit of caring more about ourselves than either him or others.

As a result, like all good parents, God needed to deal with that problem. He didn’t want his people excluded from heaven because they weren’t good enough. Consequently he provided the means by which our mistakes and failures could be blotted out; treated as though they never happened. Thus making us worthy to enter heaven and be with him.

Of course that means a baby needed to be born in the world. A baby who would grow up, live a perfect life, and take on all the punishment that we deserve. And that baby was his son, Jesus. As a consequence that is what the first Christmas was all about – the birth of a very special baby.

3. EPIPHANY

Now, for those who think that Christmas is one of the most important festivals in the Christian calendar, then I’m sorry to say you are quite wrong. Christmas may be considered important in popular culture (and the church may well have got on the bandwagon too), but in reality the way we celebrate Christmas today only really began in the nineteenth century. Indeed, the church never intended the birth of Jesus to be a major festival at all. Rather the introduction of Christmas was a means to stamp out the pagan worship of the sun god, which was very popular in Roman times.

Of far more importance in church history was the celebration of Epiphany. Originally it celebrated the baptism of Jesus, and the commencement of Jesus’s manifestation to the world; the beginning of his adult ministry. But these days it gets confused with the arrival of the Magi. Epiphany, then, should still be an important day, traditionally celebrated on 6th January. Unfortunately with the popularity of Christmas, these days it gets largely forgotten.

4. LENT

Next we move to Lent… to which some funny things have been attached over the years. It’s a time when people have given up all sorts of food and drink, as though they feel they have to abstain from particular things. Traditions have built up, like not having flowers in church. And all sorts of ideas have surfaced about what you should and shouldn’t do during Lent.

Now originally Lent lasted only two or three days. It was intended to be a time of preparation for Easter. A time to reflect on the historical events of the first Easter, and a time to reflect on the meaning and appropriate response to that event. But those two days of preparation soon became a week, to include what we now know as Holy Week. And a time of fasting became a feature of the spiritual preparation.

In very short time however that week became forty days (excluding Sundays), and a whole new purpose for Lent emerged. And the purpose of Lent? Well, it was a time of preparation for adults wanting to be baptised. Why forty days? Well, there are two reasons. Firstly, in a church open to persecution, it was important that baptismal candidates proved themselves to be genuine. And consequently 40 days of rigorous examination was considered to be a pretty good test. However, secondly, in those days the church took seriously the fact that baptism should be a response to faith. Therefore 40 days of teaching was necessary to make sure of a good solid grounding in the faith. Those who passed scrutiny would then be baptised on Easter Day in the evening.

Of course the theory was that those forty days were also expected to be a period of fasting for the congregation too. After all it was their responsibility to accept and nurture all new church members. However, that idea didn’t prove very popular, and in reality was only observed by those who were very keen in the faith.

Despite some very strange modern practices, then, the importance of Lent, as a festival, should be one where we examine our integrity and the depth of our commitment to our Lord. Particularly in response to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

5. EASTER

Now, Jesus (and his family) took seriously the importance of celebrating the major Old Testament festivals. During Jesus’ childhood, Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem for Passover each year (and we have the story of one such occasion in the bible, when Jesus was aged twelve). About twenty years later Jesus was still going to the festival sin Jerusalem. And it was there that he was arrested, put on trial, found not guilty, but crucified anyway.

Now Easter is the oldest of all the Christian festivals. Originally it was celebrated with Good Friday and Easter Day being treated as the one festival. But by the fourth century Good Friday was split off to make it a separate day.

Easter is the most important festival in the church’s calendar. And the reason is, that unless someone who had lived a perfect life voluntarily gave up their life for others, there would be no solution to the problem of sin. As a consequence the birth of Jesus may have been an essential step in the carrying out of God’s solution. But without the willing death of a perfect life, the solution and even Jesus’ birth would have been for nothing.

And the proof that that God’s plan had worked, we see in the fact of Jesus’ resurrection. In God bringing Jesus to new life, having completed the task that God had given him to do, and having completed it to God’s total satisfaction.

Easter, then, is a celebration at the (excuse the pun) crux of the Christian faith. It is also a challenge. Because Easter, is also about whether we want to accept God’s solution to our sins, or not. God’s solution is not automatic, it needs a response. If we respond positively, and put our faith in Jesus, then all well and good. But if we don’t respond positively, or if we simply sit on the fence and make no decision one way or another, then we are effectively tell God that we want nothing to do with his solution at all, and that we are happy to be left to our own devices.

6. ASCENSION DAY

Now forty days after Easter is Ascension Day. After Jesus’ rose from the dead, he appeared before his disciples many times. But forty days after the resurrection Jesus’s disciples saw him being taken up into heaven, as he disappeared from their sight in a cloud. Yes, from then on he would occasionally make appearances to them and other people. But nothing like with the regularity, or in the way, that they had got used to.

Now, Ascension Day is important, because without it Jesus couldn’t have sent his “other comforter” that he had promised his disciples. Which is why in the church’s early history, Ascension Day and Pentecost were celebrated as the one festival.

7. PENTECOST

Ten days after Ascension Day (seven weeks after Easter), is Pentecost. It was the day that God sent his power on the disciples. They were all huddled together in a room, when God sent his Holy Spirit to dwell in them. Then all of a sudden they were able to do many wonderful things. Instead of hiding away, they went out into the public arena. Instead of being awkward and tongue tied, they were confident and bold. They discovered abilities they didn’t know they had. And they demonstrated supernatural gifts they hadn’t had used before. They did all sorts of things that they never thought were humanly possible.

Now, like the other festivals, Pentecost has its challenges. Indeed most people do not consider it to be an important festival at all. But if Pentecost is all about the day that God sent his Holy Spirit on his disciples, and we are Jesus’ disciples too, then Pentecost is a reminder of the power that God has provided his people. As a consequence we need to be switched on to that power. Indeed we are useless to God unless we are switched on.

Pentecost, then, is about accepting God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s about growing in the faith. And it’s about sharing our faith with others. Things that we can only do when we have, and use, God’s power. And that’s why Pentecost has and continues to be considered by many to be the second most important Christian Festival (i.e. after Easter).

8. ADVENT

And that leaves our look at the Christian Festivals, with the one which actually starts the Christian year – Advent. Now beginning on the Sunday nearest to St Andrew’s Day (30th November), Advent like Lent is about a time of examination. A time to check on how genuine we are in our Christian walk.

However, unlike Lent which has the death and resurrection of Jesus as its focus, Advent, these days, has the coming of Christ at its core: Christ’s first coming as a baby, which we celebrate at Christmas, and Christ’s second coming, when he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Now, I said “these days” that is the focus of Advent. Originally, however, before Christmas was ever considered being celebrated, and for a long time afterwards, Advent was focussed well and truly on the second coming of Christ.

And its purpose… well, it was like Lent. A time of preparation for adults wanting to be baptised. It was a time of rigorous testing to make sure that the candidates for baptism were genuine. And at the time Advent continued unbroken through to Epiphany, when the baptisms took place. It was a time to reflect on the future event of Judgement Day, with all its implications (for believers and non-believers alike). In other words Advent was a festival whose focus was primarily on how prepared we are for Judgement Day, and for life after death.

Now, whichever focus we want to accept today, the festival remains a reminder of our mortality, and of our failure to meet God’s standards. It’s a reminder that one day we will be asked to account for everything that we’ve done, and everything we’ve failed to do as well.

Of course on that basis we have a problem. We’re not good enough; we don’t meet God’s standards. However, we’re told, that come Judgement Day, those who have faith in Jesus will be acquitted for all they’ve done wrong, whilst those who don’t believe will be condemned. And why will those who believe be acquitted, after all we all make mistakes? Well, it is because Jesus has already paid the punishment for their sins, on their behalf.

Advent then is a reminder that Judgement Day is very real. That it is something that we will all face.
And that unless we are people of faith in this world, come Judgement Day, eternal damnation will be our lot. And we don’t get given a second chance.

Of course the question that is so easily asked is. “Why does the church’s year begin with Advent and not Christmas?” Well for a time the church’s year did begin with Christmas. But as I’ve already suggested, as far as church history is concerned, Christmas was the last of the festivals I’ve mentioned to be added to the calendar. It has, historically, also been deemed to be the least important. Which is probably why Christmas as the beginning of the church’s year didn’t last. However, Advent, with its focus on the need for people to be reconciled with God, picks up the very theme that was so close to Jesus’ heart. And it’s the theme that should be the main focus of the church’s life and teaching too.

9. SUMMARY

Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension Day, and Pentecost – these are the principle festivals that the Church celebrates today. Some began to be celebrated very early in the life of the church, others were later additions. Some remain much as they were at the beginning, whist others have changed their meaning. Some have evolved to meet the needs of the church, and dare I say it, sadly, some have evolved to meet expectations of the wider community. Most have always been considered important, whilst one at least, Christmas, until the nineteenth century was never really considered important at all.

10. CONCLUSION

Meeting together for worship has always been important, not only in Old Testament and New Testament times, but today as well. In the scriptures, God continually reminded the people through his prophets and the apostles, of the need for the community of faith to meet together regularly (i.e. weekly). And, in the Old Testament in particular, of the importance of remembering specific religious festivals.

Now we don’t live in either Old Testament or New Testament times, and we no longer live with a list of required festivals to be kept. But meeting regularly for worship to express our faith, and to encourage one another, is an essential part of the expression of the Christian faith. And remembering specific Christian festivals is an important part of the building up of our faith and our Christian community too.

However I believe that it is time to do some juggling in regards to which festivals we celebrate, and why. And we certainly need to have a conversation about the importance we place on each.

Posted: 26th May 2015
© 2015, Brian A Curtis
www.21stcenturybible.com.au

Christmas can be a very confusing time. After all, we are expected to go out and buy presents, and to meet up with family and friends. We are also encouraged to get into the mood, by drinking and eating far too much. We have parades, and we sing carols. And on top of that we tell our poor that all of that is necessary—and even provide handouts to perpetuate such expectations.

Now I don’t know whether I am too cynical, but it seems to me, that we have it all wrong. Christmas should not be about presents or food, or parades. And it shouldn’t necessarily be about meeting up with family and friends—although that is good to do at any time of the year. Christmas should be about the birth of Jesus, and about responding to God’s gift of grace.

If we have a parade, then, it shouldn’t be Santa who everyone has come to see, but Jesus. We shouldn’t be singing carols about Santa, mistletoe or ivy, but about God’s son. Our poor may indeed need our help, but they may also need relief from the expectations that are placed on them. And they, like us, need to be told the story of Jesus’s birth, and have it explained why it was all necessary.

As Christmas approaches, then, on what is our focus? Is our focus on food and drink, and even spending time with family and friends? Or is it on an encounter with Jesus? Christmas may well be a confusing time, but to which “true” meaning of Christmas are we preparing to celebrate this year?

Posted: 8th December 2016
© 2016, Brian A Curtis
www.21stcenturybible.com.au

A. INTRODUCTION

Every now and again it is good to stop and reflect on one’s progress in the Christian faith. It’s also good to take a step back and to check the things that we believe, to make sure that they are actually part of the faith that we believe in, and not something we have adopted from elsewhere.

As a consequence, today, I thought I would raise nine issues – all of which relate to things that many people assume to be a normal part of the Christian faith. And I’m going to give you a few minutes to look at them, and ask you to decide which of three classifications they fit best with.

And the three options are:
1. Is this an issue which is basic to the Christian Faith?
2. Is this an issue which is part of Christian Tradition?
3. Or is this an issue which is neither, but rather part of our Inherited Culture?

B. QUESTIONAIRRE

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Christian Faith, Christian Tradition or Inherited Culture?

Questionnaire

For each issue listed below, please indicate whether you think that belief or practice has its origins in either: our Christian Faith: our Christian Tradition; or is part of our Inherited Culture.

(please circle one only)

1. Monogamy
Monogamy (the marriage of one man and one woman) as the basis of the family unit

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

2. Democracy
Democracy (government by the mass of people or by their duly elected representatives) as a system of government

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

3. Discipleship
Discipleship as the basis of the Christian faith

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

4. Holy Communion
The practice of having Holy Communion as part of a church service

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

5. Regular Worship
Regular weekly worship and attendance at all major festivals

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

6. Weddings and Funerals
The conducting of Weddings and Funerals by the Church

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

7. The Baptism of Children
The baptism of children

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

8. Good Works
The belief that doing good deeds is sufficient to earn one’s salvation

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

9. The Beginning of Life
The belief that human life begins at (or before) conception

Christian Faith/Christian Tradition/Inherited Culture

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So, nine questions to which you need to decided which is the best option. Is it basic to the Christian Faith? Is it part of Christian Tradition? Or is simply part of our Inherited Culture?

Now you are not going to be asked to share answers. The completed questionnaires are not to be handed in. But please hold on to the pens to mark the correct answers.

Any questions?

[Give a few minutes for people to mark their responses]

C. ISSUES AND ANSWERS

1. Monogamy
Issue: Monogamy (the marriage of one man and one woman) as the basis of the family unit
Answer: Inherited Culture

In the Old Testament it was not unheard of for polygamy – a man marrying more than one woman – to be practiced. Sarah, for example, gave Abraham her servant Hagar as a means for them to have children (Genesis 16:1-2a), and in one passage Hagar is actually called Abraham’s wife. Jacob married two sisters, Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:14b-30). Although it must be said he only intended to marry Rachel.

Whilst it may have been more normal for poorer people to have only one wife, King David had eight wives of whom we know their names, plus several other wives and concubines. And King Solomon had at least 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3).

By New Testament times it had become normal for monogamy to be practiced. However even then polygamy was not unheard of or forbidden. For example, Paul himself alludes to polygamy in his comments to Timothy about Christian Leadership. Paul had a personal preference for all leaders in the church to be single. However in his first letter to Timothy he suggested a compromise – that at the very most leaders must be the husband of only one wife. (1 Tim 3:12a).

Now today around the world monogamy has become the generally accepted norm. However there are places where Christians practice polygamy, in terms of one husband with several wives – or one wife with several husbands.

2. Democracy
Issue: Democracy (government by the mass of people or by their duly elected representatives) as a system of government
Answer: Inherited Culture (i.e. Western (and increasingly) other cultures

In the bible the standard is not democracy, but rather theocracy: Government by God or by his representatives.

This was the standard that God set from the beginning. It was the way that God governed his people throughout the time of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, through the period of Moses and the Exodus, through the conquering of the Promised Land, and as the people were settling in the Promised Land.

However the people became dissatisfied with the judges. They wanted more consistent and continuous leadership. So they looked around at the surrounding nations, and demanded a king. Hence the adoption of a monarchy (1 Samuel 8:1-21).

As time progressed the idea of a future ideal Davidic king blossomed. So come New Testament times what the people were looking for in the Messiah was a king to lead them forward.

As a consequence, over the centuries the church has often been favourable to some form of constitutional aristocracy (or monarchy). However with some of the authoritarian regimes with which some churches had to learn to live with, today there is a tendency to accept democracy as a better alternative.

Nevertheless the ideal remains that theocracy – the rule by God – is the system that all Christians should be seeking.

3. Discipleship
Issue: Discipleship as the basis of the Christian faith
Answer: Christian Faith

Discipleship has always been the basic response to the Christian faith. In the Old Testament, and the New, the emphasis is on being believers – not just having some intellectual acquaintance.

For example, in the Old Testament Covenant, the contract was that if people obeyed God’s laws then they would be blessed by him. And the covenant was a typical covenant of the period. If you do this – then expect blessings. But if you don’t do this – then expect disaster (Deuteronomy 28:1-68). However, the point is that the response to God was not just an intellectual exercise, but the need to be active in the faith.

Consequently, when we get to the New Testament, one of the first things we see is Jesus going around the countryside calling people not just to believe, but to follow him. In addition, after his resurrection Jesus’s instruction to his disciples was to make more disciples, and to baptise them. Whoever responded in a positive manner would be saved, and whoever did not would be condemned (Matthew 16:16-20)

Now the term “disciple” normally means a “pupil” or “learner”. However in terms of Jesus’s expectations the commitment to being a disciple also includes the need to be willing to abandon one’s home, business ties and possessions, and the willingness to go to any lengths to fulfil his claims on one’s life.

Consequently it is discipleship which is the basis of the Christian faith.

4. Holy Communion
Issue: The practice of having Holy Communion as part of a church service
Answer: Christian Tradition

For this one we need to go back to where Communion started on the night before Jesus was put to death. Because Jesus was in an upper room with at least his 12 disciples (although there may have been others with him too) (Matthew 26:17-29).

Now at the time Jesus was having a meal with his disciples. In fact a very special meal – a meal to remember the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt. Now at this special meal dishes of food would have been provided, there would have been the breaking of bread, and there would have been four cups of wine at different points in the meal. And the Last Supper was probably instituted at the breaking of bread and the third cup.

However, whatever the details, the important thing to remember is that the Last Supper was a meal. And Jesus’s instructions to the disciples were “to do this in remembrance of me”.

Now the earliest recording of the Last Supper being practiced by the church is recorded in the writings of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. And it relates to the abuse of the Lord’s Supper in which some people drank too much or over ate. Paul’s experience of Communion, then, is in the context of people sharing a meal, not simply including the symbols in some kind of worship service.

It was not until the second Century that the practice of using the symbols in the context of worship became well known.

Despite that, the importance of sharing a meal together cannot be over stated. In biblical times meal times was the one time of the day that people got together and shared what was going on in their lives. And that is an aspect of communion that can be so easily lost, when we reduce the fellowship meal to one or two symbols.

5. Regular Worship
Issue: Regular weekly worship and attendance at all major festivals
Answer: Christian Faith

The fourth Commandment reads: “Remember to keep the Sabbath Day holy. For six days you are to labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is to be set apart as a Sabbath to YHWH your God…” (Exodus 20:8-11). If the Ten Commandments were an essential part of the Old Testament covenant, then this one would have to be the one that is the most repeated.

Indeed not only is it repeated again and again throughout the pages of the Old Testament, but other tags are added to it as well, including: “Anyone who works on the Sabbath is to be cut off from among his people,” and “Anyone who defies the Sabbath is to be put to death.”

In addition attending three specific major festivals a year was compulsory (Exodus 23:14-17).

Come New Testament times, then, what we see is Jesus on the Sabbath in a synagogue or temple; Paul also was either in a synagogue, engaging with devout Jews somewhere, or was participating in worship in one of the newly formed house churches. In addition the writer of the letter to the Hebrews provided a stern warning to those who were not meeting together as they should (Hebrews 10:25).

Now, it may not be the habit anymore of the church to disassociate itself from those who are not as regular as they should be. But we do need to hear the warning behind the Old Testament instruction. That is, a casual response to worship undermines not just the person’s faith, but it can also be instrumental in destroying other people’s faith, and all that the church stands for too. Hence the need for all believers to take seriously the fourth commandment.

6. Weddings and Funerals
Issue: The Conducting of Weddings and Funerals by the Church
Answer: Christian Tradition

Now there are no recorded Weddings or Funerals conducted in the Temple, in a synagogue, or a in church in either the Old or New Testaments. Perhaps the first recorded wedding reception is that of Jacob who believed he was marrying Rachel (Genesis 29:23). However any ceremony (if indeed they had one) was not recorded. And in this case, the reception preceded the marriage, and was probably intended to get Jacob so drunk that he couldn’t see which daughter he was marrying.

Similarly, in the New Testament, the wedding at Cana does not deal with any marriage ceremony, but rather only with the reception (John 2:1-11). And indeed the story is more concerned with the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine, rather than the details of the reception itself.

Perhaps, only Jesus’ parable of the 10 virgins gives us the clearest view of what used to go on with the preparation for a wedding. But still no evidence that it was conducted by a minister of religion of any kind (Matthew 25:1-13).

What we do know is that in some places during the latter part of the first century AD, betrothals needed a bishop’s approval, and that it wasn’t until the third century AD that there is any record of the church being involved in any wedding ceremony. Even in England in the Middle Ages the common people did not get married in church. Yes, they may have had to knock on the vestry door and ask the church for permission to marry. But marriage itself was most likely simply the matter of the two people concerned beginning to live together.

The history of funerals is similar. There are two burials recorded in Acts – of Ananias and Saphira. However again there is no evidence of any ceremony. Simply a comment about a few young men, wrapping the bodies up, carry them out and disposing of the bodies – which was common practice in the Middle East at the time.

Weddings and funerals by the church has more to do with the acceptance of the church’s place in society, than it has about the purpose and function of the church. Consequently the reason that we continue to do them today has very little to do with the Christian faith, but rather with traditions that have been handed down.

7. The Baptism of Children
Issue: The baptism of children
Answer: Christian Tradition

Well it must be stated from the outset that the baptism of children (on their own) is quite foreign to the bible. Indeed, the instructions of Jesus are quite clear: the church is to go out and make disciples of all people, and it is those who have become disciples who are to be baptized.

Having said that, however, the tradition in the New Testament was that when the master of the house was baptized, then his whole family: wife, servants and children were baptised with him (Acts 16:13-15).

Of course, what happened to babies born after the master of the household was baptized, brings us to the issue of the baptism of infants today. The issue was not raised in the New Testament. As a consequence different denominations have different responses.

However, for those churches who practice infant baptism, it has been on the basis of Jesus’s words about letting children come to him, because the kingdom belongs to such as them (Matthew 19:14).

In the Anglican church, the baptism of infants is based on on two grounds: firstly, that the parents are disciples of Christ, and active members of the church; and secondly, that Jesus commanded that children be brought to him. Consequently those ideas are reflected in the baptism service.

Having said that, sadly, the practice of baptising children of parents who show no allegiance to the faith or the church has become common practice. This has been a major sticking point creating division in the church universal. It also denies Jesus’s basic demand for the need for discipleship.

8. Good Works
Issue: The belief that doing good deeds is sufficient to earn one’s own salvation
Answer: Inherited Culture

Indeed not just western culture, but many other cultures. Despite that the bible is quite clear: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

In other words it doesn’t matter what we do, none of us are good enough to be in God’s presence. We cannot undo the mistakes we have made, and there is a price we have to pay for our mistakes. No matter what we do, no matter how good we are from now on, we will continue to make mistakes, and we are required to pay the penalty for them.

Except for the fact that those who believe – who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their saviour – “are justified freely through the grace of Christ Jesus, by his redemption” (Romans 3:24).

So the first part of the answer is that no matter what we do, on our own, we will never be good enough. We will never be able to earn salvation on our own.

The other aspect to this issue, however, is that as a result of having faith, we are expected to do good works. James, the brother of Jesus quite clearly illustrates that by saying “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” (James 2: 26).

In other words faith comes first, and deeds follow as a result of faith. But it doesn’t work the other way around.

9. The Beginning of Life
Issue: The belief that human life begins at (or before) conception
Answer: Christian Faith

Throughout the bible are scattered images of the creation of individual human beings. In the book of Psalms we read: “Yes, you indeed created my kidneys and my inwards parts; you wove them together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13). And that is a concept that is repeated time after time in the pages of the Old Testament.

Indeed the Old Testament also talks about God knowing individuals before they were born. Regarding the Messiah, there are many things detailed about him before his birth; like the circumstances of his birth; where he was to be born; what kind of death he would face etc etc.. And the words of God to Jeremiah were: “I knew you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5).

These days many people want to redefine the commencement of human life to be so many days or weeks after conception. And the reason for doing so, is so that then allows a time frame in which an embryo can be claimed not to be a human being, and can, therefore, be legitimately experimented on. And regarding things like stem cell research you can understand some people’s desperation to do so. But the bible puts no such limitations on human life. Indeed it makes no distinction between the undeveloped life in the womb, and the more developed life after birth. So from a Christian point of view, the sixth commandment: “You shall not kill” still stands.

D. SUMMARY

So, how did you go? How many got all the questions right? Nine out of nine? What do your answers say about where you are in the Christian faith?

Now, the point of the exercise is to demonstrate that there are often things we take for granted, believing them to be part of our faith. And consequently we pass them on openly or inadvertently to others by either words or example, when they may have nothing to do with the faith at all.

1. Faith
In all the questions for which there were three alternative answers. Only three of them related to the Christian faith: question 3 about Discipleship; question 5 about Regular Worship; and Question 9 about The Beginning of Life.

Only those three I’ve raised today are issues on which Christians should base their faith.

2. Culture
Meanwhile the three questions which relate to our inherited culture, we should simply accept as cultural issues: question 1 about Monogamy; question 2 about Democracy; and Question 8 about Good Works.

As a consequence we shouldn’t be accepting them as part of the Christian faith, and we shouldn’t be trying to impose them on anyone else either.

3. Christian Tradition
But in regard to Christian Tradition we have to be careful. Thai is: question 4 about Communion; question 6 about Weddings and Funerals; and question 7 about The Baptism of Children.

Because whilst some of these practices may reflect good intentions in the beginning, we need to be aware of the traps that are inherent in each. We also need to be aware of their use and misuse over the centuries.

E. CONCLUSION

Faith, tradition or inherited culture?. So, how did you go? Well if you got nine out of nine. Well done. But regardless of your score, an exercise like this demonstrates – how easy it is to confuse Christian Tradition and Inherited Culture, with the Christian Faith. And after all, isn’t that a major reason the church is in the mess that’s in?

The reality is that we all need to keep on our toes, and we all need to use every opportunity to steep ourselves in the beliefs of our faith.

Because if we don’t then the lines between faith, tradition and culture get increasingly blurred. And when that happens not only will we find it hard to know what the difference is, but the people we mix with will have increasing difficulty in being able to distinguish between them as well.

Hand Out:
Questionnaires and Pens

Posted: 2nd January 2016
© 2016, Brian A Curtis
www.21stcenturybible.com.au

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS

Whenever we read the bible, we are faced with a number of situations closely related to our own. Within the history, stories, songs, poems, wisdom, letters, apocalyptic, etc., we can see people going through the same things that we face.

Oh yes, over the years, time has moved on. And over the years the context has changed. But the everyday issues of our struggle to find purpose and meaning in life—our search for God closely tied with our search to find ourselves and our relationships with other people and the struggles of life—hasn’t changed much at all.

As a consequence, the bible is just as relevant to us today as it was in the days that it was written. Or even before that, when it was passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another.

When we read the pages of the bible we find words of comfort. But we also find challenges. And the two most import challenges are: firstly, to accept God as our lord and saviour; and, secondly, to constantly review our position as we travel along faith’s journey.

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the bible—being a hodgepodge of different documents accumulated over the years—it doesn’t necessarily provide us with an easy scheme we can work through to check how we are going. So, what I thought I’d do is to put some kind of checklist together—but based on biblical principles—as a means for us to see just how we are progressing.

So, however inadequate, I’ve come up with fifteen questions. Five questions each regarding our relationship with God, our relationship with other believers, and our relationship with people in general. And I thought we’d see how we go.

[Get people to fill in questionnaire]

A Spiritual Check List

Please indicate a, b or c, as appropriate

A. My Relationship with God

1. Where does God fit into my life?
a). He always comes first
b). It depends upon the occasion
c). He fits in, when I remember

2. How often do I pray to God?
a). Daily
b). Every now and again
c). Only when something goes wrong and I need help

3. How often do I read the bible?
a). Daily
b). Every now and again
c). Rarely

4. How often do I go to God’s church?
a). At least weekly
b). When it suits me
c). Only when I feel the need

5. How much do I give to the work of God’s church?
a). More than I can afford
b). Only what I can afford
c). A small amount only

B. My Relationship with Other Believers

6. Why do I go to church?
a). To worship God, to learn, and to encourage one another in the faith
b). To worship God and to learn
c). For some other reason

7. When I go to church, how much time do I spend with the people?
a). I always make time to talk to others
b). Very little. I usually get to church on time, and leave when the service finishes
c). None. I’m usually late, and leave early

8. How often do I meet with other Christians (apart from church services)?
a). I attend a regular weekly Bible Study/Small Group
b). I meet with others periodically
c). I don’t belong to any small group

9. How do I use my gifts to build up the church?
a). I am very active in using my God given gifts
b). I occasionally use the gifts that God has given
c). I don’t have any gifts to use

10. How much time per week do I spend with other Christians?
a). A lot of time
b). Very little
c). Hardly any

C. My Relationship with People in General

11. Is it obvious to others that I am a Christian?
a). Yes, because of the way I behave
b). Yes, but only because I tell people
c). No

12. What kind of people do I care about?
a). Everyone, without exception
b). Some people
c). My family and friends

13. When I give someone material and emotional support, do I give them spiritual support too?
a). Yes
b). Sometimes
c). No

14. Does my behaviour reflect Christian values?
a). I try to live according to Christian principles
b). I try to live in accordance with the laws of Australia
c). I sometimes stretch the rules, to see what I can get away with

15. Is there anyone I haven’t forgiven?
a). No
b). Yes, but for good reasons
c). Yes, and I refuse to forgive them

A. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

1. Where does God fit into my life?
a). He always comes first
b). It depends upon the occasion
c). He fits in, when I remember

The most important commandment for Jesus was: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30). In other words, God should be in everything we do—every aspect of our lives.

When we are working out our programme for the week, God comes first—not other people, but God. God should have our priority. When we have to make decisions, either the big decisions like: “who do I marry, buying a home, what kind of lifestyle should I adopt” or even the small decisions, God should be part of all the decisions we make. The emphasis in Jesus’s words about loving God is on the “All.” All our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength. With every part of our being we are to love God, and to include him in everything we think and do.

God isn’t an optional extra. He’s not there only for when we need him. We should include him as the person we love in absolutely everything we do. Indeed, not only should we include him, but what should accept that what he says goes.

2. How often do I pray to God?
a). Daily
b). Every now and again
c). Only when something goes wrong and I need help

Prayer is the act of communicating with God. And how often should we talk to the person we most love? But every day.

When Jesus taught the disciples to pray – he taught them to pray daily. The Lord’s Prayer includes this line: “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11). Jesus didn’t say talk to God occasionally and ask for help only when you need it. Rather his emphasis was on daily prayer.

And the ingredients of this daily Lord’s Prayer include: Acknowledging who God is; praising God; looking forward to the resurrection of all believers; asking God to supply our needs for the day; asking God for forgiveness for the things we have done wrong; and confirming that we have forgiven others who have wronged us.

Now the importance of prayer—communicating with God—can’t be understated. After all, prayer is not just about us talking to God, it is also about God talking to us. So much so, that the Apostle Paul urged in his letters many times the need to be devoted to prayer (Colossians 4:2).

3. How often do I read the bible?
a). Daily
b). Every now and again
c). Rarely

The words of Paul to Timothy: “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and instructing in righteousness, in order that the man of God may be equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Of course, in olden days when literacy rates were low, it was one of the responsibilities of the priests or clergy to read the bible for the benefit of their congregations. When that didn’t happen, disaster struck.

Several times in the Old Testament the scriptures were hidden away or lost, and were obviously no longer read to the people. And on one such occasion when the scriptures were found after some years absence, and subsequently read (2 Kings 22), it became obvious that the people had strayed from God’s ways. People had stopped worshipping God, they had stopped meeting together, they had adopted behaviour and practices totally inappropriate, and they had replaced God with other idols.

Of course, these days with high literacy rates, and easy access to bibles, we have no such excuse. Because if we want to know more about the God we love, if we want to know more about ourselves and what God expects, and if we want to know what exactly it is that God wants us to share with others, why wouldn’t we take the study of the bible very seriously indeed.

4. How often do I go to God’s church?
a). At least weekly
b). When it suits me
c). Only when I feel the need

The fourth of the 10 commandments states: “Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. You are to labour for six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You are not to do any work—you, your son or daughter, your manservant or maidservant, your animals or any alien living with you. For the LORD created the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them, in six days. But on the seventh day he rested. For this reason, the LORD has blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11).

Having worked in a number of rural communities, I think it’s one of the ironies of life that God gave this command to a group of people who herded sheep, goats and cattle, but had no gates or fences either. There’s an element of trust tied up in this command. The command to stop work one day each week, and to set it aside for the public worship of God.

This is God’s church, not mans, and regular weekly worship is therefore important in our relationship with God. We need to worship the person who should be number one in our lives, and we need to trust in God the things that we leave behind in order to join in worship together.

5. How much do I give to the work of God’s church?
a). More than I can afford
b). Only what I can afford
c). A small amount only

The Old Testament practice of giving was to tithe—to give a tenth of one’s income to the service of God. Of course, in those days you gave a tenth of your crop or a tenth of the new born animals. Nevertheless, from Leviticus we read: “All the tithes of the land, whether from the seed of the land or from the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD. It is holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30)

Now the important thing here isn’t the amount (the tenth). Rather, what is important, is to whom the money was given—to God. The money wasn’t given to maintain a building, or a congregation, or to be used with certain limitations. The money was to be given to God, to be used as he directed.

The amount we give to God’s church then, reflects our attitude to God. And in particular, it signifies the value we place on our relationship with him. And that’s why I have a problem with fundraising. Because fundraising is about getting others to contribute to the costs of running a church, which is not what giving is about at all.

Now the Old Testament example was a tithe—a tenth. Or if you wanted to pay your share in cash rather than in animals and crops, then you had to add a fifth on top of that. But in the New Testament Jesus raised the bar even further. Because as he stood at the temple and watched people bring in their tithes and gifts, he saw some rich men give what they could afford, and he saw a poor widow give what she couldn’t.

And this is what he said to his disciples: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than any of the others. They all gave from their abundance, but she, from her poverty, put in everything that she had live on.” (Mark 12:43-44).

The Christian model for giving then is for our gift to reflect our love of God.

Scoring
OK so those are the 5 questions about God.

For each letter you can score the following points:
a = 10 – which means you’re well on track
b = 2 – which means you’ve started to progress, but you have some rather large hurdles to jump
c = 0 – which means you’ve got a long way to go in your Christian journey

There’s a maximum score of 50. And depending where you are between the range of 0 and 50, will give some indication of where you are in your relationship with God.

B. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS

6. Why do I go to church?
a). To worship God, to learn, and to encourage one another in the faith
b). To worship God and to learn
c). For some other reason

We have already covered the need to meet together in terms of worshipping God. We have also covered the need to learn, so we can grow in the faith. The third aspect of corporate worship however includes the need to meet together to build up and encourage one another. And this is spelt out in the letter to the Hebrews, but as a response to people ceasing to meet. I quote: “Do not stop meeting together, as some have become accustomed to doing. But let us continue to encourage one another—and more so, as you see Judgement Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25).

For many people church is something they can take and leave. And theologically we are saved by faith, not saved because we go to church. For other people church is still a very private matter. It’s about what they can get out of it for themselves, rather than what they can contribute. And that can be reflected in the following attitudes: Faith is private; communion is something that is done as a private devotion; and there is no need to be actively involved in the spiritual life of the church.

However, church is as much about meeting and encouraging one another. As it is about worshipping God and learning.

7. When I go to church, how much time do I spend with the people?
a). I always make time to talk to others
b). Very little. I usually get to church on time, and leave when the service finishes
c). None. I’m usually late, and leave early

Now this question relates to question 6, in terms of the appropriate times to meet with the people in the congregation to which we belong. After all, we can meet some people at other times. But apart from worship services, when do we get to see the people we worship with, to encourage them as they progress along their spiritual journey, to thank them for their participation in the life of ourselves and others, to hear their concerns—the things they are going through, to hear their needs in terms of both practical help and prayer needs, and to know if they need help in their spiritual growth, or to help them back on track?

Time before the service begins, and time after the service ends, are appropriate times that can be used for such purposes. And the added advantage for those who arrive early is that people can be warmly welcomed as they arrive. And that makes a major difference to how friendly or otherwise a congregation is to visitors and newcomers.

8. How often do I meet with other Christians (apart from church services)?
a). I attend a regular weekly Bible Study/Small Group
b). I meet with others periodically
c). I don’t belong to any small group

The practice of the early church was not only to meet in the synagogue daily, but to meet outside the worship services themselves. Their habit was to meet together in small groups in people’s homes. In fact, they more than met, they shared meals together. From the Acts of the Apostles: “Day after day they continued to meet together in the temple, and broke bread in their homes. They ate together with glad and generous hearts, praising God, and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to those who were being saved, daily.” (Acts 2:46-47).

One of the features of all healthy churches—and a feature of all churches that are growing that I know of—is that they are based around the idea of small groups that meet regularly on a weekly basis. Now that doesn’t stop all the people coming together to worship on a Sunday, but it’s in the small groups that growth takes place.

Small groups are more intimate and create the right environment for people to care. Small groups are places where nurturing in the faith best takes place. And small groups are places where it is easier to introduce people who are not Christians. On the other hand, churches without small groups tend to struggle, because they have poor networks in regard to caring, nurturing and growth.

9. How do I use my gifts to build up the church?
a). I am very active in using my God given gifts
b). I occasionally use the gifts that God has given
c). I don’t have any gifts to use

Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of ministry, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all things in all men. But to each person the manifestation of the Spirit is for the common good. To one person the word of wisdom is given through the Spirit. To another the same Spirit gives the word of knowledge. To another is given faith by the same Spirit. To another the one Spirit gives gifts of healing. To another they are given mighty powers, to another prophecy, to another discernment between spirits, to another speaking in different tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives to each one, as he sees fit.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

According to Paul, we all have gifts, and they have been given not just for our own edification but for the benefit of the whole church. (And incidentally that doesn’t just mean the local congregation.)

To start with, we may not be sure what that gift is—and we may need others to help us in recognising what that gift is—but we each have been given something special to help in the life, and the growth of the Christian church.

10. How much time per week do I spend with other Christians?
a). A lot of time
b). Very little
c). Hardly any

This question is more a summary of the previous four, but it goes a little further. Because we’ve dealt with how much time we spend with others before, after, and during worship services, we’ve dealt with meeting together in small groups, and we’ve dealt with using our gifts to build up and encourage others.

But apart from that how much time do we spend with other Christians? Caring. Looking after their needs. Or simply just being with them, like-minded people together.

Scoring
OK so those are the 5 questions about our relationship with other believers

For each letter you can score the following points:
a = 5 – which means you’re well on track
b = 1 – which means you’ve started to progress, but you have some rather large hurdles to jump
c = 0 – which means you’ve got a long way to go in your Christian journey

There’s a maximum score of 25. And depending where you are between the range of 0 and 50, will give some indication of where you are in your relationship with other believers.

C. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE IN GENERAL

11. Is it obvious to others that I’m a Christian?
a). Yes, because of the way I behave
b). Yes, but only because I tell people
c). No

Jesus’s words: “A new commandment I give you: You are to love one another. You are to love one another, as I have loved you. If you love one another, then all men will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35).

The way we behave will tell people—Christians and non-Christians alike—whether we are Christians or not. What we say we are—what we profess to believe—is one thing. But the only thing that really counts are our actions. And the only way people can know whether we truly are Christians, is not on the basis of whether we say we are Christians, it’s not on the basis of whether we go to church, and it’s not on the basis of our generosity to the church or other people, but it’s on the basis of whether people can really see that we love one another, in the religious sense of what it means to love.

There is a difference in the way that we use the term love today. Many people may go about doing good deeds—and in a modern sense are seen to “love” others. But that doesn’t make them loving in the biblical sense, and it doesn’t make them believers either. What Jesus is talking about is the need to exude the kind of love that only God can give. And if we do that, then it will be obvious that we are Christians.

12. What kind of people do I care about?
a). Everyone, without exception
b). Some people
c). My family and friends

It is very difficult sometimes to care for certain people. There are people who are very difficult to cope with; there are people who have unsavoury characters; there are people who have a very chequered past; there are people who are the product of an environment totally different to our own. And in all of this we may have been taught to be careful, to steer clear of certain people, or certain types of people. And it must be said, it’s often more comfortable dealing with those who seem to be on our level.

So much so that it’s easier to restrict the definition of the people that we should care for, in order to ease our consciences.

Unfortunately, this is the same background that the Teachers of the Law used in Jesus’s time to restrict who they should care for. Nevertheless, Jesus’s response was to tell a story—the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). And the conclusion of which is to do away with all the barriers and conditions, and to simply care for those in need—those who are worse off than we are.

And that’s certainly the example that Jesus was. As he cared for the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and the outcasts of his society.

13. When I give someone material and emotional support, do I give them spiritual support too?
a). Yes
b). Sometimes
c). No

This, of course, is the common trap that most charitable organisations fall into. And church organisations that are funded by governments fall into this trap too. Because material and emotional support can only help a person so far. And from a Christian point of view it ignores the more important, and fundamental spiritual needs of a person as well.

That’s why when Jesus was at Capernaum. And when the friends of the paralytic lowered their friend through the roof of the house, as the only way to get him to Jesus, Jesus didn’t just say: “Get up, pick up your bed and walk?” (Mark 2:11). But he began with the words, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5).

From a Christian point of view, people need healing or help which is holistic. Giving people food and clothing is one thing. But if that is all, then there is something very deficient in our care.

Of course, which way around the help is provided will depend upon the occasion. Because someone who is hungry will not be receptive to spiritual healing while he remains hungry. Nevertheless, a spiritual component still needs to be included for it to be Christian care.

14. Does my behaviour reflect Christian values?
a). I try to live according to Christian principles
b). I try to live in accordance with the laws of Australia
c). I sometimes stretch the rules, to see what I can get away with

Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus: “Although you lived in darkness, you now live in the light in the Lord. So, live as children of light (for the fruit of light is present in all goodness, righteousness, and truth). Learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not be involved in the fruitless deeds of darkness. Instead, expose them. For even to speak of the things that are done in secret is shameful. And when the light shines on them, all these things will be exposed. (Ephesians 5:8-13).

There’s a difference between God’s way and man’s way. There’s also a myth that we live in a Christian country, and that Australia embraces Christian values.

Since the very beginning, people have been picking and choosing aspects of the faith they can accept, reinterpreting other bits they feel will be OK if only given a bit of a tweak, and discarding the bits that they feel uncomfortable with. And the history of the laws and people of Australia are no different.

God has set us standards to live by—his standards. We are supposed to live them and be shining examples to others of what it means to be a people of faith. That means they are not to be changed to suit ourselves, reinterpreted to give the meaning we are more comfortable with, or ignored where we find them too difficult.

15. Is there anyone I haven’t forgiven?
a). No
b). Yes, but for good reasons
c). Yes, and I refuse to forgive them too

This is a serious issue. And one that brings us full circle. Because it not only says something about us and our willingness to forgive, but it has implications on the depth of forgiveness we can expect from God.

More words of Jesus from the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we have indeed forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12). In other words, we ask for God’s forgiveness on the basis of how much we forgive others.

Forgiveness is at the crux of our relationship with God. So too should it be at the crux of our relationship with others, no matter whether they are family, former friends, or anyone who has done us, or others harm in any way at all.

Scoring
OK so those are the 5 questions about our relationship with people in general. For each letter you can score the following points:
a = 5 – which means you’re well on track
b = 1 – which means you’ve started to progress, but you have some rather large hurdles to jump
c = 0 – which means you’ve got a long way to go in your Christian journey

There’s a maximum score of 25. And depending where you are between the range of 0 and 50, will give some indication of where you are in your relationship with people in general.

CLOSING COMMENTS

Now as I said at the beginning, there is no check list recorded in the bible we can use to assess our spiritual health. So, whatever your score, it is not accurate indication of your spiritual life. Nevertheless, having used biblical principles, it should give us some indication of where we are in the faith.

If you add the three scores together you will get a score out of 100.

75-100 – should mean you’ve made real progress on your spiritual journey. (But bear in mind even a perfect score of 100 doesn’t mean you’ve come to the end of the journey—only that you are on the right track).

51-75 – means you’ve come some way, but that there are still major hurdles to be jumped. There are still elements of the faith you need to come to grips with.

26-50 – you may have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, but there remains much work to be done. Indeed, there may be a need to get back to the basics.

However, whatever your score, what happens next is up to you. After all, what does your spiritual life look like today?

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Posted: 30th May 2018
© 2018, Brian A Curtis
www.brianacurtis.com.au