j u l y 2 0 0 8

Guidance Revelation, experience and the will of God

Peter Bloomfield • Dying to go • The widow’s might PREZRA School of Theology and PCA Ministries

Please COME OVER and HELP US in Adelaide and South Australia

We need Ministers and Home Missionaries to come to Churches without a Pastor who will preach the Gospel, care for the flock and reach out in Evangelism. Otherwise, come to Adelaide and study at the PREZRA School of Theology and get equipped in the Bible and the Christian Faith for Practical Christian service. Prepare to become a Home Missionary, or a resident Supply Preacher, or a PCA Lay Ministries Worker. PREZRA courses are FREE. They include the Australian College of Theology’s ThA (Associate In Theology) and the Advanced Discount Offer For a limited time all new subscriptions, or new gift subscriptions to the Diploma of Theology (ThL) Diplomas, as well as the Home Missionary Certificate Australian Presbyterian magazine are available for $15 + GST for the first 12 (HMCertif) and PREZRA’s Certificate of months (a saving of $22 on the regular price). Biblical Studies for lay workers. Pass this offer on to your friends, or give a Gift Subscription today, so that:­ “All may be informed, encouraged and equipped to serve Christ in the world” Contact: PREZRA / PCA Ministries Contact: Australian Presbyterian Office for 2007 Handbook: P.O. Box 375, Kilsyth, VIC 3137 Rev Dr Reg Mathews Phone: (03) 9723 9684 Fax: (03) 9723 9685 [email protected] Email: aus­[email protected] (08) 83 95 78 41 July 2008 No. 605

GUIDANCE He leadeth me: Peter Bloomfield ...... 4 God’s final word: Paul Cornford ...... 9 editorial Marriage guidance: David and Reneé Hann ...... 11 hen Christians sing Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah, we are responding to the many promises BIBLE STUDY of Scripture that God will guide us. As we read the Rebuilding the rubble Bible we discover this to be so. From Genesis to RevelationW we find that God has guided His people through 20 Bible studies in Nehemiah 1­8 ...... 13 many different modes of revelation – audible voices, visions, pillars of cloud and fire, signs and prophecy. NEWS The question is, how does He guide us today? Should we still expect Him to use the same forms of disclosure that Across Australia ...... 19 played a crucial role in Israel’s history? For instance, does Around the World ...... 20 God still speak to us with an audible voice as He spoke to Moses? Are we meant to put out a fleece in the same way as On the Agenda ...... 22 Gideon? Should we elect church leaders by using the lot? What place should we give to dreams and visions? What are REFLECTION we to make of claims to contemporary prophecy? New Earth, old error: Peter Jones ...... 24 One of our commitments as Presbyterians is to the importance of biblical theology. We recognise that there is a definite progress in the way in which God has revealed EUTHANASIA Himself to His people over time. As the Old Testament era Dying to go: David Palmer ...... 25 passed away, God introduced a new way of communicating with us. During the period of the Old Covenant He spoke in FAMILY a variety of different ways, but now in the age of the Gospel God has spoken finally and definitively in His Son (Heb. 1:1­ The widow’s might: Miriam Neff ...... 27 2). The clear implication is that these former Old Covenant LETTERS ...... 29 modes of communication are outmoded with the arrival of Jesus Christ. What was makeshift and transitory has now PRAYER ...... 30 given way to a complete and permanent source of guidance in the Scriptures. The primitive Old Testament forms of

BOOKS ...... 31 guidance have been superseded by the final and superior “tradition/teaching” of the New Testament (2 Thess. 2:15; Soul­Depths and Soul­Heights: Octavius Winslow 3:6). It is interesting that Paul counsels Timothy to guard the On Being Presbyterian: Sean Michael Lucas good “deposit” which God has left us (2 Tim. 1:14). This Sketches from Church History: Rebecca Frawley constitutes the “pattern of sound teaching” which is to be found in “all Scripture” (2 Tim. 3:16). Clearly, the only source The Promise: Alec Taylor of guidance which God has now authorised for believers is to be found in the Scriptures, interpreted by the Holy Spirit, all BACK PAGE other forms of revelation having now ceased. Peter Hastie ap His Lordship first: Peter Barnes ...... 32

THE AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN (ABN 81 498 399 755): The national magazine of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. Editorial committee: Peter Hastie (NSW) Themes Editor; Barney Zwartz (Victoria) Production; Stuart Bonnington (West Australia) News Editor; Peter Hastie (NSW), World News Editor. Graphic Design: Sandra Joynt for A&J Moody Design: www.ajmd.com.au. Advertising and subscription inquiries: Michael Timmins, PO Box 375, Kilsyth 3137; Phone: (03) 9723 9684. Subscription: $38.50 a year inc. GST; bulk (etc) $35.20 each inc. GST. Office: PO Box 375, Kilsyth 3137. Phone: (03) 9723 9684. Fax: (03) 9723 9685. Email: aus­[email protected] Printed by Adept Mail & Print Services, Boronia, Vic. Published: Monthly except January by the National Journal Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Australia; Convener Peter Hastie. Opinions expressed are those of the contributor and not necessarily those of the PCA, the editor or the committee. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement. Contributions: Submitted articles are welcome. The deadline is the first of the previous month. Donations are always welcome. Print Post approved 34918100384. www.ap.presbyterian.org.au

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 3 G U I D A N C E He leadeth me God guides – but He doesn’t send emails from heaven.

he Rev. Peter Bloomfield taught at act according to the word of God, we are high schools in NSW before com­ Peter Bloomfield free to decide as we wish. And this is a pleting theological studies at the talks to problem for some of us because many Reformed College in Geelong Christians cannot cope with this sort of Tduring the late 1970s. Since 1990 he has Peter Hastie freedom. ministered in the Presbyterian Church at Again, there’s another problem we face Bald Hills after pastoral ministries in the confusion. Christians know that God when we talk about the will of God. It Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia guides them – the Psalmist tells us that arises because the expression “the will of and the Westminster Presbyterian “He leads me beside quiet waters… He God” is an ambiguous term. It has two Church. guides my feet in paths of righteousness” distinct meanings. The right approach to He has served on the lecturing staff at (Ps. 23:2, 3) – but they have difficulties in guidance begins by recognising that dis­ the Queensland Theological Hall for 18 knowing how He leads. For instance, tinction. God’s will is either revealed or years. Peter taught a variety of subjects does God communicate personally with unrevealed. His revealed will is also called there including Greek, Old Testament, us, revealing His own individual plan in all His moral or preceptive will. It refers to and especially Homiletics. Peter has also the twists and turns of our lives? Are we what God has plainly said, what He written four books with Evangelical Press meant to get on to some heavenly chatline expects and demands from people. It con­ in recent years – in addition to a book on and get answers for what clothes we sists of all the ethical principles that He guidance, he has written three expositions should wear or what we should eat for wants to shape our thoughts, words and of Old Testament books(Esther, Job, and dinner tonight? deeds. It tells us what should happen and Judges). Peter and his wife Lesley have The problem is that many Christians what should not happen. two daughters and three grandchildren. are unaware of the enormous liberty God However, there is another aspect to has given us in decision­making. The “will God’s will which is not revealed. We call Peter, do you find that many of God” from our perspective is not just this God’s sovereign or secret will. It’s Christians have a real struggle with one small dot in the centre of a circle. God’s master plan for everything in the the idea of divine guidance? Rather, it is a number of different possi­ universe. It is a blueprint of all that will Yes, it’s a great problem for many peo­ bilities where a range of alternative definitely come to pass throughout his­ ple and causes them a lot of stress and choices are pleasing to God. So long as we tory.

4 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 However, we face a problem in know­ The right approach to guidance recog­ His revealed will) and “behind the scenes” ing this secret will. If you want to know nises that God has “shared” only the guidance (corresponding to His secret what is going to happen tomorrow morn­ broad parameters of his plan but not the will). The Bible is God’s candid up front ing, then you are going to have to wait intricate details. Asking if something is guidance. There He tells us what should until tomorrow afternoon to find out. We “God’s will” is really not helpful because and should not happen in the world. We simply cannot know in advance what God it’s an ambiguous term with two different are responsible to act accordingly. But the has in store for us in the future. In other meanings, as I have already mentioned. master of the universe also works behind words, it’s impossible to know God’s so­ All we need is God’s moral or preceptive the scenes to bring about good results that called “perfect plan for your life”. When will. Guidance is not a search for divine would not otherwise occur. In Paul’s people are looking for this type of guid­ messages outside the Bible. There is no words, “God causes all things to work ance, they will be frustrated. God does not extra revelation to look for. We have the together for good to those who love God, give it. We only know it from hindsight. whole counsel of God, namely everything to those who are called according to His There’s another point too: there’s no the Bible teaches or logically implies. purpose” (Rom. 8:28). advantage in being able to pry into God’s Of course, we are usually unaware of sovereign will, because you cannot possi­ Does the fact that we are sinners this happening. What we do experience bly miss out on it anyway. It is impossible mean that we are always going to can be so unpleasant that it feels like God to avoid or frustrate what God has have troubles with guidance? has actually lost control. It may feel like secretly purposed or decreed. Yes, it does. nothing is working for our good. Job Good guidance didn’t know what God was doing behind Is this desire to know God’s secret comes from the scenes when he was afflicted with suf­ will a major problem that Christians knowing the Personal fering, nor did Jeremiah in the pit, nor have in understanding guidance? Bible well, and integrity is Joseph in prison. But the Bible asserts that Yes, I think it is. When you fail to using proper God always remains in control. God is clearly a factor understand that one aspect of God’s plan methods for mysteriously guiding His people accord­ is always hidden from us, then it’s easy to interpreting and in guidance ing to His sovereign plan. become engrossed with looking for what applying it. and each of us This behind the scenes guidance is some Christians think of as “God’s per­ Since we are all must answer to unpredictable since it allows many things fect plan for my life”. Inevitably guidance imperfect it’s God for that. to happen which God’s up­front guidance then becomes a search for that plan – “the easy to make says should not happen. He tells us up­ centre of God’s will for me” – in every­ mistakes. A high front not to cheat, or murder, or steal, or thing. This implies that doing God’s will view of Scripture tell lies. These happen, but God overrules always amounts to just one possible out­ is good but that will not automatically them as He pleases. The problem is that come based on one right decision. For prevent us from misusing it. We need to there is no standard rule for predicting example, if God’s perfect plan for my life let factors such as the literary genre of the how God will direct the course of history. includes marriage, then I must somehow text as well as the historical, grammatical, Such information is not available for our “discover” the identity of the partner He and contextual details play their full part daily decision­making. intends for me. This turns decision­mak­ in correctly reading the Bible for us. We It is important to trust in God’s behind ing into a mystery pursuit. We become should never interpret one part of the the scenes guidance. Our spiritual matu­ detectives trying to discover in advance Bible in a way that is contrary to another rity depends on that. So we sing “Guide what God has decreed. The assumption is part or the teaching of the whole. If we me O Thou great Jehovah ... hold me with that God leaves a trail of clues for us to ignore the organic (progressive) nature of your powerful hand”. Even when we get find and fit together like the bits of a jig­ revelation then we are likely to make lots things wrong, God is behind the scenes saw puzzle. of errors. We are bound to make wrong guiding so that our ultimate good is The problem with this approach is that decisions if we treat all biblical texts with­ achieved. But He does not tell us the “God’s perfect plan for my life” is not a out respect to their cultural background steps in that process: “The secret things biblical concept. In fact, it can lead to a lot and their place in God’s unfolding plan of belong to the Lord our God” (Deut. of frustration because it just doesn’t work. revelation. For instance, there are some 29:29). Our duty is to listen to God’s up I defy anyone to show me where in the Christians who think that all the laws of front guidance and walk by that light Bible they can discover God’s will for the theocratic Israel still apply directly to the alone. God’s secret will reassures us, but endless little decisions we have to make Christian church, which is clearly wrong. only His revealed will can guide our deci­ like which shoes to wear, what to eat, or Again, even when we correctly inter­ sions. what form of transport to use. It simply pret the Bible sin can still affect us. Our can’t be done. Nevertheless, a perfect plan decisions might be shaped by undesirable What implications does this have for must include all these things. Thankfully, pressures like covetousness, lust, ambi­ other ways of trying to discover the people become inconsistent and end up tion, and pride. Personal integrity is future such as fortune­telling and ditching this approach. They simply make clearly a factor in guidance and each of us astrology? What should Christians a free choice based on common sense and must answer to God for that. think of these practices? personal preference. Of course, there will Well, God has told in the Bible what always be pious Christians who will “bap­ If God has a plan for us which will be He wants us to know. The rest of His tize” their decisions with religious fulfilled, how does He reveal it to us plans are “His secret things”. Insofar as mantras like, “I felt led to do this; I have a as individuals? fortune­telling and astrology try to real sense of peace about this”. But the God fulfills His purposes by means of uncover the hidden purposes of God, they Bible never speaks like that either. “up front” guidance (corresponding to are clearly wrong. Scripture itself plainly

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 5 G U I D A N C E

forbids trying to pry into the future. I why a considerable part of my book What is the distinction between Christian expe­ think Isaiah chapter 8 sums it up well. the Bible Teaches About Guidance is rience and Christian guidance. After rebuking Israel for even considering devoted to proof of the sufficiency of The guidance is uniform and normative contact with clairvoyants of any kind, the Scripture. because the same Spirit reveals the same prophet asks the loaded question … There are now lots of churches with truth to all of us in Scripture. We must all “Should not a people consult their God? self­styled “prophets” who claim that live by the same inspired words. Within … To the law and to the testimony! If God has given them special messages. It’s that uniform framework we are free to they do not speak according to this word, irrelevant whether these messages come make our personal decisions. But the it is because they have no dawn.” through tongues or “words of knowl­ Christian experience is multiform and edge” or the leading of the Spirit, or any non­normative. It is different for every Guidance is a hotly contested subject other name. The bottom­line is that these Christian. No Christian can expect or among believers. Some Christians alleged revelations are in addition to the require anyone else to have precisely the think that God leads in very specific Bible. Virtually same spiritual experiences. These min­ and dramatic ways such as voices, every cult relies istries of the Holy Spirit are both vital, but dreams and inner promptings while A lot of on this sort of they are not the same. We must not others think that God has given us confusion revelation. It is equate experience and guidance, nor can nothing more than a set of biblical not orthodox we define what we may feel as a message arises because principles. What are the extremes we Christianity. from God. Happenings are not hints. need to avoid? people fail to The only place There is always a degree of mystery in the One extreme to avoid is rationalism. distinguish the where we find things humans experience. Some Christians think that guidance is Holy Spirit’s true and authori­ merely a clinical intellectual matter of work as the tative guidance In the Old Testament God revealed rightly interpreting and applying the comforter for our knowl­ Himself through prophets, Urim and Bible, while ignoring the importance of a from his edge and relation­ Thummim, the lot, dreams, signs and

loving, obedient and personal walk with work as the ship with God is by direct speech. Are Christians God. Another extreme is individualism. Holy Scripture. under the New Covenant meant to This happens when Christians ignore the revealer. It is perfect, God­ seek any of these things? fruits of great scholarship and the historic breathed, and suf­ No, these things belong to the age of creeds. Manipulation is also another prob­ ficient to equip the church’s infancy, the age of incom­ lem, where we try to bargain with God believers “for every good work”. It has no plete revelation. The Westminster and pry into His secret will. gaps that need to be filled or supple­ Confession is unambiguous: “God’s for­ Personally, I am convinced the greatest mented with fresh revelation from mer ways of revealing his will have ceased” danger facing evangelical Christians today heaven. This explains why the (1:1). There is no further revelatory prod­ is the resurgence of mysticism. Presbyterian Church of Australia rightly uct and no further revelatory process. Mysticism takes place when we treat mere confesses, “Nothing at any time is to be God has ceased giving His will. He fin­ experiences as divine revelations. This is added, whether by new revelations of the ished speaking when He sent his Son. now quite common and has become a dis­ Spirit, or human traditions” (Westminster Jesus is God’s final word, the climax of all turbing trend. Christians today are repeat­ Confession of Faith 1:6). These are the revelation (Heb. 1:1). He has nothing ing the errors of the past when they use basic truths of historic Christianity. more to say. God’s last word is essentially, mystical language about “feeling led” as “This is my beloved Son, listen to him” they baptize various experiences as the What is the role of the Holy Spirit in (Mark 9:7). We “listen to him” until the promptings of God. These problems have guidance? Does He bring us fresh end of the New Testament. Beyond that a long history in groups like the Gnostics, revelations of God’s will or does He we are hearing strange voices. Montanists, Pietists, and Quakers. merely help us to understand its full The Protestant Reformation, with its meaning? On the basis that God spoke to Elijah focus on “sola Scriptura”, delivered us It’s impossible to understand God’s in a still small voice and Christ from mysticism by focusing on the Bible Word without the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. revealed Himself to Paul in a blinding alone. It’s sad to see mysticism becoming 2:14), but a lot of confusion arises because light, should we expect amazing popular again in churches around the people fail to distinguish His work as the encounters with God as a means of world. I have no hesitation in calling it the comforter from His work as the revealer. divine guidance? Is there anywhere in scandal of the modern church. That’s As our comforter, He draws near at vari­ the New Testament where we are ous times, and in various ways, providing taught to seek special revelations of help for us according to our needs. His such a nature? help may take the form of restraining, Elijah and Paul are not paradigms of us. ‘The Manse’ protecting, strengthening, motivating, God chose them for unique roles, as Stanley, Tasmania reviving, or encouraging us. In this min­ instruments of revelation. What hap­ istry we come to experience God Himself. pened to them was typical of all true Holiday Accommodation This is not the Spirit revealing His will and prophets and apostles – they received 3 bedroom furnished home available word. That has ceased with the Bible. direct revelations of God’s will. That is to Presbyterian family and friends – Rather this is the Spirit revealing Himself. not the case for the vast majority of God’s Very Reasonable Rates This is God drawing close to us in His people in other ages. We need to under­ For More Information phone: gracious embrace. The distinction stand that a biblical account of some event (03) 6458 1116 (03) 6458 1321 between these two ministries of the Spirit is not necessarily a prescription. We have

6 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 the inspired record of these revelations in the illumination of the Holy Spirit if He is gracious alternative to a sentence of abuse Scripture. That is all we need. grieved by our lives. We cannot expect until death. But even a legitimate divorce heat from a fire that is quenched. Personal is no panacea. It might solve an immedi­ Does God intervene anywhere in the integrity is an important factor for divine ate problem but it inevitably creates oth­ New Testament in answer to a request guidance. ers. Anyone considering divorce should to manifest His will? first get advice from mature Christians When the Apostles nominated three How should we apply these principles with proven competence at interpreting candidates to replace Judas as an apostle to marriage, for example? Are there both Scripture and people. Let them help they requested God to show His choice. certain prohibitions to note? What you weigh up all the options and the likely God obliged by causing the lot to fall specific teachings about marriage consequences. If possible, you should upon Matthias. We should keep in mind would we need to know? Does the also speak to reasonable people who have that this happened during the final period Bible help us to determine the kind of suffered divorce. Above all, avoid naïve of ongoing revelation (there was no com­ person we should be looking for? and simplistic individuals and those who plete Bible at this stage). I think it’s also Apart from avoiding close blood rela­ make light of divorce! Also, avoid the significant that this issue was not decided tionships, the Bible warns believers not to self­righteous on their high moral ground by a subjective appeal like “I felt led”, or marry unbelievers regardless of how (the “holier than thous”) and steer well “God told me”, or “we had a real sense of attractive they find them. God’s covenant clear of legalists. Give yourself plenty of peace about Matthias”. God used the with us in Christ always sets the legiti­ time to think deeply before you make objective indicator of the “lot” as He had mate boundaries for every other commit­ such a momentous decision. done in the past. How does God lead us with respect to Can you explain how God guides us jobs and callings? Are some areas of through the Scripture? To what Church history work inappropriate for Christians? extent does He guide us through its is littered with How do we know if God is leading us teachings, commands and prohibi­ the wrecks of into some particular career path? tions? misguided The choice of careers is a matter of Even a perfect map will produce wrong people who Christian liberty. There is no right or guidance if we misread it. Church history thought they wrong job in this vast area of freedom is littered with the wrecks of misguided were doing with the exception that you should people who thought they were doing God’s will. exclude any job that compromises God’s will. The Apostle Peter warns us Christian ethics. The best way to make a that the Bible contains “some things hard wise choice is to get a sober assessment of to understand, which ignorant and unsta­ your gifts and interests. There are differ­ ble people distort”. God certainly does ment we might consider, especially mar­ ent sorts of tests which people can not guide us via ignorant mishandling of riage. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for undergo which are quite helpful in provid­ His word. True guidance requires a com­ Christians to find out the hard way about ing guidance. mitment to good scholarship and to the the folly of ignoring this truth. Personally, harmony and unity of Scripture. Despite I am not inclined to draw up a check­list Does God guide us through prayer? what some modern scholars have claimed, for a good marriage partner. References Why is it so essential to guidance? there are no secret encoded messages to to “compatibility” are simplistic. Prayer is an important element in be dredged up from beneath the surface of Experience often shows that contrasting seeking guidance because when you pray, the words. personalities with diverse interests and you recognise that you are absolutely It’s almost certain that we will get poor gifts can enjoy long happy marriages. dependent on God’s wisdom for direction guidance if we follow mantras like, “God Presumably some sort of chemistry is and that you must have a submissive heart said it, I believe it, and that settles it”, as if involved, but genuine love means living to to do His will. The problem is that not all the Bible is transparently simple and be a blessing for one another. There is a prayers about guidance honour God. requires no intense thought about its lot of freedom here and God is amazingly Some prayers virtually deny the meaning. It’s much wiser to follow the gracious. As long as the person you pro­ sufficiency of Scripture. The denial may line “a text without its context is a pre­ pose to marry is a committed Christian, be unintentional but nonetheless it’s real. text”. And since God is consistent, we the safest advice is to marry a reasonable should be suspicious of any so­called person with adequate social skills and guidance that is contrary to good theol­ whose company you enjoy. ogy. A wise man values the historic creeds and stays in the main stream of orthodox Does God have any guidance for scholarship. To seek God’s guidance in Christians who may be considering novel ways from Scripture, especially in divorce? ways that are foreign to well­established There are many simplistic opinions on biblical interpretation, is a recipe for disas­ this complex issue, like “The Lord hates ter. divorce”. Yes He does, but He also hates adultery. He hates wives being used as How important to receiving guid­ punching bags, or mentally abused, or ance is it to develop a heart for God? treated as a piece of property. The Bible It’s very important. We cannot expect (properly understood) allows divorce as a

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 7 G U I D A N C E

It happens when people ask God to possible consequences of our decision. writer of the Proverbs says: “Plans fail provide new or extraordinary revelation We also need discernment to know which for lack of counsel, but with many advis­ or when they ask the Lord to “speak to of any valid alternatives will be the most ers they succeed” (Prov. 15:22). Wisdom my heart” about what decision to take. expedient, useful and practical. learns from those who have walked a Not only is this asking God to spoon­feed And we should pray for the humility path before us. The way to get good us like babies by making the decision for and spiritual discipline to be submissive to answers is to ask good questions. But at us, but it also embraces the idea of Scripture, especially when it goes “against the end of the day we need to weigh up “ongoing revelation”, an error that is the grain”. Godliness involves self­denial. all opinions. We also need to assess how emphatically denied in the historic Options that may personally suit us might godly the counsel is. Christian creeds. be detrimental to others. If we put the interests of the kingdom of God first, How important is it to get advice Should we pray to “discover” God’s there is always a from mature Christians? Should we will? cost. We also ever seek guidance from non­ No, we shouldn’t be praying to One of the need humility Christians? discover God’s will at all. There’s no need consequences after a decision is One of the consequences of God’s to discover it because we already have it of God’s made. No mat­ common grace is that non­Christians are fully revealed. Our task is to correctly common grace ter how wise our often some of the most useful and gifted read, interpret, understand and then apply decision is, the people. They frequently have invaluable is that non­ it to our daily lives. Our prayers should results may not advice to assist our decisions in important focus on these sorts of issues. So we pray Christians are be what we matters like health, housing, education, for the illumination of the Holy Spirit… often some of hoped for. God finances, and law. Being a Christian “Lord, help me to gather up the biblical the most is not bound to doesn’t mean that you are a better teachings in context, in harmony, and in useful and join the dots mechanic or builder than someone who is proportion. Give me a right under­ gifted people. according to our unconverted. Sadly, in some cases it standing of Scripture as it relates to the mental projec­ doesn’t even guarantee greater integrity. decision I need to make”. tions. Only a fool would refuse good advice We should also pray for wisdom and from people qualified to give it. discernment to correctly assess the cir­ What place does godly counsel have cumstances around the decision. We need in determining God’s will? Is the Presbyterian Church’s system wisdom to keep things in proportion, to The counsel of wise Christians can be of government, with its opportuni­ set correct priorities, and to avoid prejudi­ very helpful, especially when we are fac­ ties for godly people to be directly cial blind­spots. We need wisdom to deal ing several legitimate options. It’s a involved in the decision­making with the opinions and reactions of others, mark of humility to recognise that others process, well adapted to discern the and wisdom to know how to handle the can know far more than we do. The will of God? In theory our polity should screen out wrong forms of guidance, but in reality problems still occur. The best system is only as good as the people in it. Ministers and elders should be godly and have a deep knowledge of the faith – at least, that’s the theory. However, there are cer­ tain realities that arise as a result of sin. For instance, do ministers and elders always take their ordination vows as seri­ ously as they should? Do all office­bear­ ers actually understand the theology embodied in those vows? Do congrega­ tions always give full respect to biblical qualifications when they elect elders? Are Presbyterians free of unhelpful traditions? Is a plethora of committees a sure way to wisdom? The answers to these questions are fairly obvious. I remain committed to Presbyterian polity but I am aware that sin affects every system of church govern­ ment. Having served in three different Presbyterian denominations, I have some­ times witnessed people claiming to know the will of God who use mystical, subjec­ tive, and guilt­tripping practices to discern it. The “God told me” error is alive in Presbyterian circles and we deceive our­ selves if we deny it. ap

8 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 G U I D A N C E God’s final word Direct revelation ended with the New Testament.

ith the meteoric rise of modern and the express image of His person”. Pentecostalism and its claim to John gives us a similar description of ongoing revelation it is hard this revelation in the following passages. not to ignore the challenges it Paul “And the Word became flesh and dwelt putsW before the traditional churches. Cornford among us, and we beheld His glory, the Should we have prophets? Should we be glory as of the only begotten of the speaking in tongues? Should we expect Father, full of grace and truth” (John miracles? Indeed it is these very things over a thousand­year period (approxi­ 1:14). that are being thrust forward as the ingre­ mately). It came in various ways such as Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the dients of church growth and success. by visions, dreams, voices, a sheep’s fleece, Father, and it is sufficient for us.” And we have to ask: why are the the urim and thummim etc. And it came Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you Pentecostal churches growing and the tra­ by various prophets beginning with so long, and yet you have not known Me, ditional churches shrinking? Have we Moses at around 1500 BC and ending Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the missed something? And where does the with Malachi at around 400 BC. Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Bible say that tongues, prophecies and By contrast the writer describes New Father’?” (John 14:8­9). miracles have ceased from the church? Testament revelation, i.e., the revelation of In both of these texts we see some­ There are a number of passages in the the “last days” thing of the uniqueness of the revelation New Testament which I believe help us to (Acts 2:17) as of God in Christ. It is as if John were answer some of these questions, particu­ God having spo­ Jesus has met telling us that not even all of the Old larly on the matter of revelation. Let’s ken to us in a all of the Testament prophets put together could begin with Hebrews 1:1­3: “God, who at son. rival the utter clarity and transcendence of various times and in various ways spoke in Let’s stop church’s the revelation that Jesus provides us. time past to the fathers by the prophets, there a moment. prophetic needs We conclude, then, that the Lord Jesus has in these last days spoken to us by His I want to sug­ and has ren­ Christ is the prophet of the New Son, whom He has appointed heir of all gest that this is dered obsolete Testament church who has given us a things, through whom also He made the one of the most the dreams, vastly superior revelation to anything the worlds; who being the brightness of His profound state­ visions and ancient church ever received through its glory and the express image of His per­ ments in the voices of the various prophets and various modes. Jesus has met all of the New Testament son, and upholding all things by the word whole Bible and Old Testament of His power, when He had by Himself worthy of our church’s prophetic needs and has ren­ purged our sins, sat down at the right meditation. The dispensation. dered obsolete the dreams, visions and hand of the Majesty on high” (NKJV). writer has just voices of the Old Testament dispensation. To understand these verses we must answered all of our questions concerning take into account the main purpose of the New Testament revelation. Why do I say aving answered the fundamental writer of this book which was to convince that? Let’s take a closer look. Hquestion concerning the nature of his readers of the superiority of the New The words “has spoken” in the Greek New Testament revelation we go on to Covenant over against that of the Old. are in the aorist tense which can be illus­ explore exactly how this singular act of They were hankering after the “good old trated by a full stop. It denotes completed revelation was achieved and how it applies days” of Old Covenant practices. The action or something that has happened to the church of the last days. apostle Paul had an ongoing battle with once and does not continue. This suggests We know that Jesus’ entire public min­ this throughout much of his ministry. So that the speaking of God in Christ, either istry was completed within three years. this wasn’t unique to the Hebrew church. through Christ Himself or His apostles, is This was well and good for the church of In these first few verses of the book the a completed action that terminates with Jesus’ day but what about the rest of the writer gets straight to the heart of the the New Testament. church who didn’t see and hear Him issue: the matter of revelation. How does The main difference then between the speak and weren’t able to put their hands God speak to us today and how is this Old and New Testament revelatory into His nail prints? To understand the better than the way He spoke to the Old modes is the difference between a plural­ mechanism of New Testament revelation, Testament church? In answering this ity of prophets, modes and portions on we turn to John 14:25­26: “These things I question he makes a direct comparison the one hand and the singularity of have spoken to you while being present between two different forms. prophet, mode and portion on the other. with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Old Testament revelation was “at vari­ And in case you are thinking that God has whom the Father will send in My name, ous times”, “in various ways” and by vari­ short changed the New Testament He will teach you all things, and bring to ous “prophets”. The key word here is church, the writer goes on to describe your remembrance all things that I said to “various”. It came at various times begin­ who and what this “Son” is. He is, among you.” ning with Moses and arriving piecemeal other things, the “brightness of His glory Although these words were addressed

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 9 G U I D A N C E

specifically to the 11 (Paul came later) it will vanish away. For we know in part and Paul’s use of the childhood metaphor: In guaranteed them a good memory of all we prophesy in part. But when that which verse 11 Paul compares prophecy, tongue­ that Jesus had taught them throughout is perfect has come, then that which is in speaking and supernatural knowledge His public ministry with the help of the part will be done away. When I was a child, with childhood and the coming of the Holy Spirit. And what better way to I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, “complete” with adulthood. This is not record this teaching than in writing; from I thought as a child; but when I became a the only instance where Paul uses this which came the New Testament. Jesus’ man, I put away childish things. For now metaphor. We also find it in Galatians 3:23 promise of the Holy Spirit enabled His we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to – 4:7 where he compares the church of the apostles and their associates to record the face. Now I know in part, but then I shall Old Testament as a child under the tute­ teachings and events of Jesus in a way that know just as I also am known. And now lage of the Mosaic law. This church comes guaranteed their truth and accuracy right abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the of age in the “fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4) down to the very words used. This is greatest of these is love.” when “God sent forth his Son”. called “verbal inspiration” and is a core Here Paul tells us that prophecies and doctrine of the Presbyterian Church. tongues and the supernatural gift of aul’s use of the mirror metaphor: In We might feel at this stage that we have knowledge will fail when the “perfect” Pverse 12 Paul goes on to describe more than adequately answered the chal­ comes. The question is: what is this “per­ tongues, prophecy and supernatural lenge put to us by modern non­cessation­ fect” that Paul is talking about and when knowledge as looking into a dim mirror. ists (those who believe in ongoing revela­ We know that the mirrors of Paul’s time tion). But when we turn to the book of The full canon were of polished brass and gave only a dim Acts and Paul’s teaching on the charismata reflection. The “complete”, on the other we find that new revelation was still com­ of Scripture hand, is like a face to face encounter ing thick and fast right up until the end of taken together where we see others as clearly as they see the apostolic period. For example, in the does indeed us, or to use Paul’s words, to know others apostolic church we have prophets such as provide us as they know us. The question arises: is Agabus who prophesied a great famine that with a “face there any sense in which the completed almost wiped out the church in Jerusalem to face” canon of scripture gives us a face to face (Acts 11:27­28) and Paul’s encouragement encounter with encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ?

to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 14 to the divine The mirror metaphor is not about seek the gift of prophecy. what Jesus actually looked like. If that So how do we explain this in the light character. were important God would have pre­ of Hebrews 1:1­2? We turn to 1 served an image or an inspired drawing of Corinthians 13:8­13. “Love never fails. will it be? Some commentators see it as the his face. But we do know that it was the But whether there are prophecies, they final return of the Lord Jesus Christ and divine character of Jesus that the apostles will fail; whether there are tongues, they verse 12 would seem to support that view. came face to face with and which they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it However the word rendered “perfect” by bequeathed to the future church in the our translators can just as easily be ren­ Scriptures. And it is no overstatement to dered “complete”. In fact, if we take into say that the full canon of Scripture includ­ account the previous verse where Paul is ing the books of the Old and New Vacancy: talking about the “partial”, it is more likely Testaments taken together do indeed pro­ that he would contrast this with the “com­ vide us with this type of “face to face” plete” rather than the “perfect”. encounter with the divine character. There are several good reasons why we In conclusion, we affirm along with the writer to the Hebrews and the apostle Melton Presbyterian Church should interpret the “complete” as a refer­ ence to the completion of the New Paul, that the revelation of the completed is a well established church in Testament canon of Scripture and the par­ canon of Scripture, especially the Old and a rapidly growing area in tial as Paul’s word for what is essentially New Testaments taken together, is actu­ Melbourne West. an Old Testament mode of revelation still ally far superior to the partial mode of

It is seeking a full time operating in the church up until the end prophecies, tongues and miracles. It is as of the apostolic age. Let’s consider them superior as adulthood is to childhood, as a Minister whose gifts include separately: face to face encounter is to polished brass, Teaching and Discipling. Paul’s reference to the partial: In verse 9 and as the complete is to the partial. Paul refers to the supernatural gifts of tongues, prophecy and knowledge as par­ Paul Cornford is the minister of North Pine tial. This reminds us of what the writer to Presbyterian Church, Brisbane. ap Hebrews says about the nature of Old Further details please contact Testament revelation which came in parts:

Interim Moderator a part here and a part there, but was never complete. If this is true then it means that Rev. Shane Cassidy. Christian Singles the Old Testament mode of various His email address is prophets, various modes and various parts Any nice singles can join! [email protected] persisted in the church up until the com­ Send for FREE colour brochure: PO Box 122 WALLSEND 2287 Church Website is pletion of the New Testament canon at Ph/Fax: 02 4955 5445 www.melton.presbyterian.com.au which time the “partial” was no longer necessary. www.christiansingles.com.au

1 0 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 G U I D A N C E Marriage guidance Are you asking the right questions?

o get married, or not to get mar­ be married, and will be more likely to ried is not as easy as it seems. For respond to God’s potential calling in a start, there’s an apparent theo­ other areas of our lives. logical difficulty. In the book of David and A third question is, is your proposed TGenesis we read, “it is not good for the Reneé Hann marriage partner a Christian? Paul warns man to be alone” (2:18). This seems to us, “Do not be yoked together with unbe­ suggest that marriage ought to be for lievers” (2 Cor. 6:14). Remember that everyone. But then in Paul’s First Letter says we need to be content in whatever finding a Christian isn’t about finding to the Corinthians, we read, “It is good circumstances God has appointed for us. someone who says they are a Christian for a man not to marry” (7:1). His testimony is, “I have learned the and goes to a reputable church. The Bible Is this a contradiction or is Paul saying secret of being content in any and every tells us “by their fruit you will know that there are some exceptions to the gen­ situation” (Phil 4:12). We must recognise them” (Mt 7:16, 20). eral rule? It seems that the latter is more that He has the guiding hand in our cir­ Look for someone whose actions likely the true interpretation. However, if cumstances (Proverbs 19:21). God will reflect their hearts’ desire to know our it’s OK to be married or single, how do determine our Lord Jesus more deeply and on a daily we work out whether we should marry, marital status. basis. Find someone who displays humil­ and if so, what sort of a marriage partner If we try to ity in speech and action: “The sacrifices of should we be looking for? take matters The reality that God are a broken spirit” (Ps. 51:17). Make Let’s assume that God has gifted you into our own the Bible so sure they are honest: “Surely you desire in such a way that you are meant to be hands then our clearly spells truth in the inner parts” (Ps. 51:6). Even married (1 Cor. 7:7). Now for the big lives can out is that if Christians have been deceived by others question: Who is the right person and become very you’re not who have withheld information about where is he or she? I’m waiting! Why complicated. content to be drug use, gambling and a criminal past. Be aren’t they here yet? Maybe they are here Eve wanted to assured that they acknowledge their sin single, you and I haven’t realised it? Oops! Better do just that – to (Ps. 51:6). Are the fruits of the Spirit obvi­ marry my girlfriend quickly! What if take over God’s certainly won’t ous in their lives? he/she doesn’t come along in time? What job. You may be content if I don’t meet every single available per­ find yourself married. ourth, are you committed to sexual son in the world before it’s too late and doing this when Fpurity? “But among you there must therefore I never meet the right one? your desire to not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or Panic! How will I know? be married usurps your desire to honour any kind of impurity…” Girls, don’t buy If you are a single person who is trou­ the Lord. Ask yourself whether the rela­ the lie that you will cement the love and bled by uncertainty over whom you tionship you are seeking is more about commitment of a man if you give yourself should marry, or panic over whether you fulfilling your own needs rather than serv­ to him sexually. Men, make sure you are will ever be able to get married, then read ing the Lord. You must accept that God treating “younger women as sisters, with on. doesn’t owe you a husband or wife. He absolute purity” (1 Tim. 5:2). God loves us too much to leave us may have some other plan for you. Furthermore, we should take a sober­ without guidance in every area of our Remember that God’s wisdom transcends ing leaf out of Song of Solomon, where lives, and how to get married to the right our own: “How unsearchable His judg­ the female “beloved” counsels the person is no exception. As the creator and ments and His paths beyond tracing out?” “daughters of Jerusalem” not to arouse or sustainer of life and relationships, God (Rom. 11:33). awaken love until it so desires (Song 2:7; gives us the wisdom and warning we need Another is, are you praying to glorify 3:5; 8:4). This refrain in the Song of from Scripture as we contemplate mar­ God in your decision? “Dear God, please Solomon is timely wisdom for us. We live riage. give me a spouse.” Is this the kind of in a society that everywhere says, “if it prayer God wants to hear? Perhaps a rea­ feels good, do it… sex is there to be irst, let’s look at some important ques­ son for the Lord’s silence in response to enjoyed and indulged as much as you like Ftions that we should be asking our­ these sorts of prayers is that He wants us – with whomever and whenever you like”. selves as we consider the possibility of to grow in godliness. Our prayers reflect But the Song reminds us that it violates entering into a life­long marriage relation­ our maturity – one of the reasons that God’s law to push sexual boundaries ship with a potential husband or wife. “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful before you get married (Song 2:7). To do One is, are we truly content in God and effective” is that the prayers of the so is to awaken “love” before the time is regardless of our condition in life? The righteous reflect the Lord’s pleasing will right – which binds yourself to someone reality that the Bible so clearly spells out is (James 5:16). By reading the Scriptures with whom you have no commitment that if you’re not content to be single, you and praying daily, we will be more able to before God. certainly won’t be content married. Paul keep a proper perspective on our desire to Fifth, are you carrying guilt for sexual

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 1 1 G U I D A N C E

sin? If you have fallen into sexual tion, and in the end you will be wise” gospel, issues. Endlessly arguing over how immorality, remember that sexual sin is (Prov. 19:21). Ask some of your trusted to interpret “the rod of correction” might not the unforgivable sin. You can receive Christian friends and leaders for counsel. be amusing for after­dinner conversation, forgiveness, cleansing and spiritual What do they observe about the two of but when your children are throwing renewal (1 Cor. 6:9­11). If you have fallen, you? Ask your parents. This is true tantrums in the supermarket you had bet­ are you repentant? You can confess your whether you are 20 or 38. Even if your ter know and agree on what you are going sin and receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9). parents aren’t believers, the Lord has seen to do. Men, have you confessed your sin to a fit to have them raise you – so they may Choose someone who is self­con­ trusted brother, and girls, to a trusted sis­ have some valuable insights to offer. The trolled. Do you think the man who is ter in Christ? (James 5:16). If you have Bible does not instruct adults to obey unable to control himself before marriage baggage from previous relationships in their parents, however it does point out with his girlfriend is likely to be able to this area, it is vital that you deal with it the folly in completely disregarding their control himself as a married man with before taking it into the next. Remember, instruction. other women? “Like a city whose walls Jesus Christ offers a fresh start. Commit are broken down is a man who lacks self­ your past to the Lord as you trust Him in control” (Prov. 25:28). the present with your hopes for the Ask some of Think seriously about whether or not future. your trusted you are ready to leave and cleave. Do you Christian understand what “leaving” your parents or further consideration… friends and will involve? Do you understand what F Consider seriously whether or not leaders for “cleaving” to your spouse will require? you are ready for marriage. What is your counsel. You may need to talk with both sets of relationship history? How do you rate parents about this reality to help deter­ What do they your maturity as a Christian? What are mine what your new life as Mr and Mrs you going to bring to this relationship? observe about will look like. Do you seek to solve problems biblically? the two of you? Is it your habit to submit to Scripture in Ask your on’t be discouraged by the images of all areas of life – and especially the rela­ parents. D“beauty” and “desirability” that our tionship domain? culture prizes. The Bible is starkly absent Think seriously about the character of of instructions such as you must be able the person you might consider marrying. Look for someone you agree with on to dance, you must be a gorgeous blond, Write a list of the things you really admire most things. Girls, would you be able to you must be a size 6 (or the new 4!), you about them. Your list should include the lovingly submit to this man on points must be able to make others laugh, you fruits of the spirit – love, joy, peace, where you differ? Men, is this woman one must have a lot of money and a successful patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, you are able to lead tenderly in the Lord? career in order to be a worthy marriage gentleness and self­control (Gal. 5:22). If “A quarrelsome wife is like a constant partner. The Lord’s wisdom tells us that it only includes things like “he makes me dripping” (Prov. 19:13). There are many “charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting” laugh”, “I try new things with him” or areas of Christian living that are still being (Prov. 31:30). Remember, God is the one “she’s really hot”, then you have a prob­ debated by great theologians. You are wise who made you and he loves you more lem. to choose someone whom you agree with than you can ever fully comprehend this “Listen to advice and accept instruc­ on most, if not all of these big, but not side of Heaven (Ps. 139). Consider how you relate to each other’s families. A common reason for marital problems is due to a failure of the husband to defend his wife against criti­ cism by her in­laws. A final note: perhaps you are in a rela­ tionship right now and are trying so hard to make sure that you have covered all the biblical ground you need to cover that you forgot to enjoy being with the other person. Remember God’s intention for relationship: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Marriage is a wonderful gift from our Lord, one to delight and rejoice in. It has been our experience that in God’s time, with God’s leading, getting married to the right per­ son is not hard work. May the Lord bless you and keep you as you look to Him.

David Hann, a graduate of Moore College, is the manager of Reformers’ Bookshop, Stanmore, NSW. Reneé, his wife, is a young mother. ap

1 2 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 BE I V B A L NE G ES TL UI SD MY

oth the beginning and the end of the Babylonian captivity of the southern king­ Rebuilding dom of Judah are spread over many years. The deportation went from 597 to 587 BC, Band although the return began with Cyrus’s decree in the rubble 538 BC, the resettlement process was still going on nearly a century later when in mid 445 Nehemiah 20 daily Bible studies in rebuilt the Jerusalem wall. Jeremiah’s prediction of “70 years” (25:11f, 29:10), while symbolic of a Nehemiah 1­8 “whole/complete” lifespan (cf Psalm 90:10), is usu­ ally taken to be the time from the temple’s destruction in 586 to its rededication in 516. Nehemiah’s place in salvation history was to organise and supervise the rebuilding of the city wall from the mess of rubble that had remained an embarrassing blot on the OT church’s geographical and theological landscape for nearly a century and a half. The calibre of his leadership – with its deci­ siveness, its total looking to and depending on God to guide and provide, its perseverance in the face of every kind of discouragement, and its transparent humility – stands out as a powerful model for us today. Nearly 500 years ago, God brought His church back to its true historic roots under the leadership of Luther, Calvin and others. These great men of God built walls to define the church in contradistinction to the world. Are these walls being reduced to rubble? Are we trying so hard to be relevant to our culture that we no longer know who we are? Are we demolishing our defining boundaries in the cause of ecumenism? These are hard, confronting issues. How, and where, is God guiding His church today? There is much we can learn from Nehemiah’s leadership as we face this question. Bruce Christian�

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 1 3 B I B L E S T U D Y

DAY 1 Blessed are those who mourn. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 1:1­4 the “wall is broken”: we have compromised with the world so THE POINT What do we do when things are not going well much that offensive, defining doctrines to do with the cross, for the people of God, His Church? The Scriptures are full of repentance, election, hell, justification, creation, inerrancy, etc, God’s promises for us, and reminders of His sovereign power are no longer at the cutting edge of our message (or even in it and covenant faithfulness. The OT is looking forward to the at all). Perhaps it is time to weep with Nehemiah! coming of the Church’s Messiah­King; the NT is anticipating THE PARTICULARS the Bridegroom returning for His holy, pure, radiant Bride (cf • Nehemiah was deeply concerned for the state of God’s Ephesians 5:25­27). But we look around us today and see, or Church because he was deeply concerned for the honour of hear of, “trouble, disgrace, and broken down walls”. There are God’s name. some good things happening, but sadly the overall picture is • Nehemiah’s first resort was earnest, heartfelt prayer and fast­ not as encouraging as we might have hoped. There is “trou­ ing. ble”: the world is opposing our message; there is “disgrace”: our TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY behaviour often brings dishonour to the name of Christ; and • How concerned are you for the spiritual health of our Church?

DAY 2 A model prayer. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 1:5­11 sin, their failure to fulfil their side of the covenant; a penitent, THE POINT Nehemiah’s prayer is a model for us to copy in contrite heart is a prerequisite for prayer (6b­7; cf 1 John 1:8ff). our prayer life. • God’s promise of forgiveness and restoration for the repen­ THE PARTICULARS tant sinner, or sinful people, is the third foundation for his plea • God’s overwhelming awesome greatness is the first founda­ (8f). tion on which Nehemiah will make his specific plea (5a). • His all­powerful God’s track record of covenant faithfulness • God’s covenant love/mercy/kindness promised to those who is the fourth foundation on which Nehemiah builds his case are His people, His Church, is the second foundation (5b). (10). • Nehemiah is totally committed in prayer; he shuts out every • Nehemiah’s request is sincere, whole­hearted, and specific (11). distraction and sets no time limit, because God listens always • He recognises God’s providence in all this (11c; cf Esther (6a). 4:14). • Nehemiah knows he cannot proceed with his request without TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY first acknowledging his personal involvement in the people’s • Do all the elements of Nehemiah’s prayer feature in yours?

DAY 3 Mighty God, bold petition. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 2:1­10 • Nehemiah had no way of knowing how the King would react THE POINT “Zeal for the Lord’s house” (or in this case to his wall­building idea; it had the potential to be his undoing “wall”) consumed Nehemiah; it motivated him to trust God – but he trusted God to help him: he prayed ... then spoke (2b­ and make big requests. 5). THE PARTICULARS • Artaxerxes’ favourable responses at each step in the dialogue • If Nehemiah had always been a bit grumpy and hard to get prompted Nehemiah to be more bold in asking (cf Luke 11:5­ on with, Artaxerxes wouldn’t have even noticed he had a prob­ 13). lem! What an important lesson this is for us! (1­2; cf Proverbs • Whenever the work of God’s Kingdom is advancing we can 15:30) expect to see organised opposition from vested interests (10). • It is usually not easy to hide “sadness of heart”; are we sensi­ TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY tive enough to the needs of those for whom we have the duty • How excited are you about seeing the Church grow and of care (family, neighbours, friends, fellow believers) to recog­ prosper? nise their need without their having to tell us? Artaxerxes was • Are our petitions to our heavenly King too tentative/vague/ (1­2). reserved? Do we suffer from “chronic timidity syndrome”? DAY 4 Mighty job, careful planning.

THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 2:11­20 faster! (11­16) THE POINT We see here the real genius of Nehemiah’s lead­ • Nehemiah was a great motivator. He points out two unde­ ership qualities. He knows exactly what he wants to achieve; niable facts to his potential labour force: their situation in he distinguishes clearly between the factors/people that will Jerusalem is desperate, psychologically/spiritually as well as help in the pursuit of it and those that won’t; and he plans the physically; and the project already had his God’s blessing upon whole exercise very carefully before enlisting too many others. it (17­18). He is a model leader. • Opponents of the Gospel are experts at using ridicule and THE PARTICULARS false rumours to undermine God’s work. We must identify and • Nehemiah can’t rebuild the wall alone; but allowing too big a rebuke them, and then ignore them and press on in God’s committee of well­meaning “experts” to get involved too early strength (19­20). in the planning process of such a complex operation could be TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY quite counter­productive. So he does the reconnoitring under • In the light of Nehemiah’s example, what changes do you cover of darkness with a few trusted men. Time taken to plan need to make to your leadership style within the life of the carefully usually means the overall job will be done much Church?

1 4 • A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 B I B L E S T U D Y

DAY 5 Teamwork. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 3:1­16 Nehemiah’s working bee. By doing this, and by dedicating THE POINT Do you think Melatiah (7) – or any other their finished product to the Lord who had given them tongue­twister named person in this chapter – would have strength to do it, they set the tone for the whole operation (1; guessed that 25 centuries later, millions around the whole world cf 17, 22, 28). It also contrasts with the pompous nobles of would be reading about their contribution to the wall? But Amos’s territory (5)! that is just how God works, achieving amazing things, building • People of all gifts, abilities, skills, trades, etc, joined in (eg 8). His Church and His Kingdom, through ordinary, insignificant • A mark of Nehemiah’s godly leadership was his attention to people like you, me, Melatiah of Gibeon, and Shallum’s daugh­ detail and his personal interest in individuals: he remembered ters (12). Everyone has a job to do; everyone matters. This is and recorded who did what; everybody was very important to the reality Paul was trying to impress upon the status­seeking him. Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:18ff. TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY THE PARTICULARS • Are many hands making light work in your Church fellow­ • The clergy rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty at ship?

DAY 6 Rubble­rousing. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 3:17­32 their faithful God had done, was significant. It was the old wall THE POINT We live in a society that doesn’t restore old being repaired; it was not a “new” wall. buildings: it is much easier to knock them down, clear the site, THE PARTICULARS and build a new one. We do the same thing with old electrical • A striking aspect of the work here was the way so many appliances and hymns. Think how much simpler Nehemiah’s next­door neighbours all pitched in and did their little bit. A task would have been if he’d ignored the rubble and just started totally daunting task became an achievable reality simply by again from scratch. But for him, the connection with the past dividing it up into small, workable segments. What a lesson meant something: the old wall had been important, defining there is here! God’s covenant people over against a world that opposed, or TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY just ignored, Him; its destruction had brought disgrace to • Do we too readily give up on the old traditions of the God’s name (2:17) and it needed to be re­established. With Church because it’s easier to start afresh than to deal with the the lessons of the Exile behind them, there was a bright new rubble? What valuable things are we in danger of losing if we future for Israel, but its continuity with the past, and all that do this?

DAY 7 Let the world deride or pity. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 4:1­5 than a physical barrier! This is borne out by Nehemiah’s total THE POINT There is a sense in which Sanballat and Tobiah commitment to its necessity, and Ezra’s public reading of the represent people excluded from the divine Covenant but want­ law (Ch. 8) after its completion. Nehemiah has special rele­ ing the boundaries to be widened to include them. They are vance to our own “age of tolerance” – there is no shortage today much like people today who are upset by evangelical theology of detractors and mockers of Reformation truth! that holds a firm line on the person and work of Christ, the THE PARTICULARS authority of Scripture, and the Reformation doctrines of grace – • There is nothing more discouraging or crippling than mock­ people who want salvation to be more inclusive than is allowed ery. by John 14:6 or Acts 4:12. To them, the wall Nehemiah is • Nehemiah’s defence was his steadfast dependence on God building stands for a defining line that is too precise a divide (4­5). between God’s Elect and Man in his lost condition. No, they TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY don’t want the wall rebuilt. For them, it is less a defence strat­ • It would have been easier for Nehemiah to forget the rubble egy and more a theological statement, a spiritual symbol rather and start afresh elsewhere. What does his perseverance teach us? DAY 8 Watch and pray.

THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 4:6­9 wrath of God, repentance, hell, etc, we will find we are up THE POINT The opposition of the Jewish authorities to against many Sanballats and Tobiahs who see these things as a Jesus’ ministry was not unlike that of Sanballat, Tobiah and Co divisive wall, totally out of place in a post­modern society. to Nehemiah. As the repairs to the wall progressed steadily THE PARTICULARS and surely, with noticeable milestones being reached, their sim­ • Nehemiah never allowed anything to turn him from his ple contempt and ridicule turned to scheming and plotting of resolve to build the wall. When opposition came, he did two specific militant action. The effectiveness of the Church’s mis­ things: he prayed to God; and he took decisive action to meet sion can often be measured by the intensity of the opposition it the threat. encounters. If we cave in to the demands of a world that sees TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY the preaching of the cross as foolishness, and try to take the • Have we been too long allowing popular opinion to define offence out of our message to make it more user­friendly, we our preaching and worship? When does a sincere effort to be will face little antagonism; but if we are faithful to God’s relevant with the Gospel slide over into capitulation to a hostile revealed Word and refer to contentious issues like sin, the world?

A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 • 1 5 B I B L E S T U D Y

DAY 9 Remember the Lord... and fight.... THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 4:10­14 and complexity of the task, and the discouragement of mess THE POINT Nehemiah is a very useful role model for the (10); secret infiltration into our ranks and guerilla warfare (11); Church because he had to face every conceivable tactic the devil the “numbers game” (cf Psalm 33:16­19), and panicky gossip uses to undermine and frustrate the advance of God’s (12). Kingdom. His ability to deal calmly and decisively with attacks • Nehemiah’s defence strategy included: careful use of available on many different fronts all at once is very impressive, and we resources, and family solidarity (13); keeping everyone in the would do well to learn from him today. Satan’s strategy is to picture (including his leaders), reminding them of God’s power, catch us off guard from behind while we are trying to ward off and reminding them of their responsibility for dependants (14). a frontal attack. Nehemiah is not the first or last of the Bible’s TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY heroes of faith to strike a right balance between God’s sover­ • What are some of the particular ways Satan attacks the eignty and man’s responsibility. Church today? In the light of Nehemiah’s example, what spe­ THE PARTICULARS cific things can we do, and what precautions should we take, in • Satan’s common weapons include: physical tiredness, the size defence?

DAY 10 The trowel and the sword. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 4:15­20 the other half in building, 16) and at a micro­level (each build­ THE POINT Presbyterian ministers and elders promise to ing worker having a trowel in one hand and a sword in the “assert, maintain and defend” the Church’s doctrinal position. other, 17­18a). All are important and necessary if we are to prevent the spread • The Lord’s work can often be lonely, and therefore discour­ of harmful heresy. aging; coming together on a regular basis gives an opportunity THE PARTICULARS to be encouraged by others, as well as to encourage them (18b­ • Here we have a good, practical example of Paul’s principles of 20). teamwork (cf Romans 12:4­8, 1 Corinthians 12:4­30, Ephesians TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY 4:7­13). Encouraged by God’s providence in dealing with their • Do we organise rallying “trumpet calls” for mutual encour­ enemies, everyone had a specific job to do, and stuck at it (15). agement in the Lord’s work? Do we take up all the existing • Nehemiah was careful to maintain a balance between attack­ opportunities for encouragement? Is it always your first prior­ ing the work and defending the workers. He did this at both a ity to answer the regular “trumpet call” to worship each Lord’s macro­ level (half the workers being employed in defence and Day?

DAY 11 Work while it is day.... THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 4:21­23 Nehemiah encouraged all the people to make efficient use of THE POINT There is much debate and division in the Church every minute of the daylight hours, and even to stay alert dur­ today about the relevance of the 4th Commandment for ing the night! No wonder they finished in 52 days! Christians. Does God require us to observe a “sabbath rest”? THE PARTICULARS In our society, with its “weekend”, “long­weekend” and “leave” • A significant aspect of Nehemiah’s impressive leadership mentality, it is easy to overlook completely the first bit of the model was his emphasis on community for both protection and Commandment: “Six days shall you labour and do all your progress, as well as setting a clear example, practising what he work.” Most Australians see work as something you have to preached. put up with to be able to enjoy the real purpose of life: the weekend. Our wrong attitude to the fulfilling “labour” that TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY God ordained for our benefit and well­being, a blessing for its • Have we lost the “Protestant work ethic” today? Is it possi­ own sake, is ruining our national health and economy as we ble to be a modern, corporate workaholic and yet have a wrong become more obese, lazy, demanding, and welfare­dependent. attitude to the place of work in God’s created order of things? DAY 12 You can’t eat walls.

THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 5:1­8 THE PARTICULARS THE POINT As if having to rebuild a wall from discouraging, • The war/wall effort was taking its toll on the community held

messy rubble, infested with over 140 years of weeds and under­ together by subsistence farming in need of a labour force (1­3). • There can be much unnoticed injustice in human society (4­ growth, was not enough, Nehemiah also had to contend at the 5).

same time with the gripes and squabbles of the people under • Problems always arise if our natural human tendency towards his care. Here is yet another valuable lesson to be had from his greed is left unchecked. Nehemiah saw the need and addressed leadership style. As I write these notes, Australians are facing it, as did the Early Church (cf Acts 2:44­45; 4:32­37; 6:1­6)(6­ hard economic times because increasing interest rates and fuel 8). prices are putting a big burden on even a moderate­income TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY family with a high mortgage. And it seems that unless this • Is it possible that we can become so intent on Gospel min­ problem is addressed, we will continue to see the rich getting istry we overlook the every day needs of our own Church fam­ richer and the poor getting poorer, with quite disastrous conse­ ily? What precautions do we need to take to avoid this hap­ quences for our society as a whole. pening?

1 6 • A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 B I B L E S T U D Y

DAY 13 Good, godly leadership costs. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 5:9­19 amazingly effective! Who would take such a risk today? THE POINT I’ve never studied economics and am completely THE PARTICULARS ignorant when it comes to financial matters, but it does seem to • A Christian’s credit card belongs to God, and is a vital part of me that the more people are earning their crust by invest­ his Gospel witness to the watching world around him (9). ing/manoeuvring money instead of real work that makes a • The very low 1% criticised by Nehemiah (11) could have material contribution to the lives of others, the more fragile the been a monthly rate, comparing with 12% per annum. Jesus economy becomes! The things that stand out about did not condemn the fair investment of money (cf Matthew Nehemiah’s leadership in today’s passage are: he addressed the 25:27), but our prime concern must be the welfare of others. problem head on, challenging the offenders with core ethics; he Nehemiah was attacking people’s greed and underlying selfish put his money where his mouth was and set a transparent example of self­sacrifice; and he was not afraid to declare the motives (10­11). issue to be a spiritual one, reminding the people of their TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY accountability to the living, sovereign God. It was risky, but • Is Nehemiah challenging any area of your life today?

DAY 14 Nehemiah’s plain “O no!”. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 6:1­9 THE PARTICULARS THE POINT When the Devil failed in his attempt to divert • Nehemiah remained fully committed to his God­given task Jesus from taking the path to the cross by opting for a social (1­3). welfare gospel (“turn the stones to bread”) or a “signs­and­ • Satan never gives up easily (4; 2 Cor. 11:14; 1 Pet. 5:8). wonders” gospel (“jump off the Temple”), he pressured Him to • The more the Church stands firm on revealed truth (cf Jude compromise, to meet him half way, avoiding the offence of the 1:3), the more the world’s media will try destabilise it by innu­ cross and substituting it with a more reasonable approach that endo, rumour­mongering, and distortion/misreporting of its would allow people to have the best of both worlds – a foot in motives. Nehemiah refused to give an inch, relying on God both camps. Now that the doors were all that needed to be alone (5­9) done, Sanballat needed to negotiate – and in the process proba­ TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY bly to look for a chance to remove his nemesis altogether! • In what ways has the Church tried to be more acceptable to Nehemiah resisted this ploy ... again, and again, and again. the world by compromising its message/stance, its defining Sadly, the Church has not been so steadfast. “wall”?

DAY 15 Be alert.... THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 6:10­14 danger (cf Jesus, Lk 13:31­33; and Paul, Ac. 21:10­14), nor did THE POINT What a salutary lesson this is for us today! he go beyond his limitations (cf Joseph, Gen. 39:8­9) as a non Somehow, we have become so soft and gullible, believing any­ priest (cf Uzziah, 2 Chron. 26:16), but trusted God (11, 9b). thing that seems to be “spiritual”, especially if it “works”, with­ • Nehemiah first stood firm, then later verified what he sus­ out testing it carefully, thoroughly and prayerfully against pected; “faith is believing what we do not see” (12­13; Heb. Scripture. Satan must be quite encouraged by how easily he can 11:1). trip us up, and then turn our mistake into an accusation against • In the end, our final vindication against all the false prophets us – a double whammy! who try to undermine our testimony and frustrate the work of THE PARTICULARS God’s kingdom, must come from God (cf Romans 12:19); our • How easy it is for Satan to seduce us into moral failure by a task is to remain faithful against inside and outside attacks (14). seemingly harmless “home visit”, “behind closed doors”?(10, TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY 13) • Are we as vigilant as we should be against the Devil’s • Nehemiah did not shrink from his responsibility in the face of schemes? DAY 16 ...and keep on being alert.

THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 6:15­7:3 • Like many others in the 2,500 years since, Tobiah (a Jewish THE POINT What had seemed like an impossible task, name meaning “the Lord is good”) tried to use his “good ridiculed by its many detractors (cf 4:2­3) was completed, with works” and family/marriage connections to influence the God’s help, in under 2 months. This “miracle” of grace was Church to his own advantage, to shift it away from the true not only a triumph of faith for Nehemiah and his team, but a faith (6:17­19). great source of discouragement to all those who had opposed • Having the wall itself in place was not enough to guard the it, much as Paul pointed out to the Philippians in 1:27­28. This city from outside influences: faithful, godly people are neces­ did not mean, of course, that they would not continue to sary to keep constant watch at the gates. To get our Church undermine God’s Church by every means possible. Nehemiah back to its historical Reformation roots 30 years ago was one knew he would have to maintain the vigil. thing, but is useless if we don’t “assert, maintain, and defend” THE PARTICULARS these (7:1­3). • It is ironical that those who have opposed God the most will TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY be left with the least excuse for rejecting Him (6:16; cf Psalm • What’s symbolised by having “some near their own houses” 2:1­6) . (3)?

A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 • 1 7 BE I V B A L NE G ES TL UI SD MY

DAY 17 Roll call. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 7:4­73 cial role to fulfil, but the common people, although here THE POINT As mentioned in the notes yesterday, having the remaining nameless, still need to be accounted for on the offi­ building of the wall as a symbol of the defining of the Church cial roll. The keeping of an accurate record of names in every must not lead us into thinking the Church is bricks and mortar, generation was necessary in order to establish their identity as or even orthodox doctrine – the Church is the assembly of true children of “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”, but more impor­ God’s redeemed people, bearing witness to and serving their tantly because they were waiting for their promised Messiah in Saviour in a hostile world. Nehemiah’s “roll call” at this point the line of David. in the story, with the wall completed and the gates installed and • The special mention of the “priests, Levites, gatekeepers, functioning, might be boring (because we know little else of singers, and temple servants” (39­56, 73) shows the central most of the names) but it is an important reminder of this fact. place the worship of God had in the whole life of the city and Every believer, saved by grace, counts. its people. THE PARTICULARS TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY • The leaders among the people are recognised as having a spe­ • How important are Church membership and worship to you?

DAY 18 Amen! Amen!. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 8:1­8 through so they could get on with the real things of life (1, 5­ THE POINT The wall is in place, the people are all accounted 6). for – all that remains to put the smile back on Nehemiah’s once • There was no age or sex discrimination; everyone who could sad face (cf 2:1­3) is for the Book of the Law of Moses to be understand was there, hanging on every word for 6 hours (2­3)! read. This was the foundation of their faith, the LORD God’s • The presence of the Levites as counsellors, and the sponta­ revelation of Himself to His Covenant people whom He con­ neous response of the people, emphasise the event’s signifi­ tinued to love and save by His grace. What a moment, what a cance (6­8). blessing, what a God! TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY THE PARTICULARS • Has the regular worship of God become a chore for you, or • It is only a few days since the completion of the wall and the do you look forward to being with God’s people each Lord’s large, high platform is erected; Nehemiah had lost no time (1). Day to hear significant slabs of God’s Word read and • The people “as one man” were genuinely keen to be there; explained? Do you start looking at your watch if it is going on this was not a drudgery, a compulsory ritual that had to be gone too long?

DAY 19 The penny drops. THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 8:9­12 THE PARTICULARS THE POINT The emotional atmosphere on this truly amazing • Because the leaders, Ezra and Nehemiah, made it clear that day in the life of the repatriated exiles is (hopefully) typical of the reading of God’s Law was a very sacred thing, their our response to God’s Word. There is sadness because it con­ response of weeping was spontaneous and appropriate. victs us of our sin; but there is joy because it tells us of God’s Nehemiah’s correction helped them to focus on God’s gra­ mercy and blessing and of His gracious provision of a Saviour. cious provision. And we don’t seem to get the balance right: some of us are • A proper understanding of the Gospel will always result in a always dour at worship because we are overwhelmed by God’s deep, godly joy that expresses itself in close fellowship with holiness; but some of us are so happy­clappy that we somehow other believers and in sharing together, especially in meals. forget we are sinners! Nehemiah again shows his true qualities as a leader – there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4), and he seems • Do the people with whom you worship get the balance right? to know which is which! What adjustments would you like to see for a better balance? DAY 20 Wow! A Bible party!.

THE PASSAGE NEHEMIAH 8:13­18 new love for, and appreciation of, God’s Word as a guide for THE POINT “So the move to make Scripture the guiding life. Do we need to make this discovery? principle of Jewish life was powerfully initiated. The great THE PARTICULARS teaching operation on the first day of the month, the training • The extensive reading of the Law led to an intensive study of session which had followed it, and now the seven days of read­ it. ings at the festival, had exposed the people to the fundamentals • Their discovery of the feast of Tabernacles led to obedience of their faith with considerable thoroughness.” (Kidner) The requiring a lifestyle change (cf 2 Kings 22:11­14; James 1:22­ psalmist declared, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light 25). for my path.” (Ps. 119:105) Do we need to recapture the spirit • Their joyful celebration of the Feast for 8 days incorporated of the Feast of Tabernacles, rejoicing in a God who is willing and able to guide us as pilgrims through the wilderness of this in it the reading of the Law of Moses. sad world to His Promised Land? The Jews had now experi­ TO PONDER ... AND TO PRAY enced a second “exodus” from Babylon and had discovered a • How is your daily Bible reading going? Is it life­changing ?

1 8 • A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 N E W S

that we seek to achieve at PSS. I have been privileged to be able to work with a group istry of the Australian Aerial Medical Across of dedicated staff, paid and unpaid, who Services of the Australian Inland Australia share the vision of demonstrating in prac­ Mission of the Presbyterian Church of tical terms the truth of God’s word.” Australia. The second was the 35th anniversary of the vote that approved the Scot attacks PCA Burma prayers make paper 1971 Basis of Union. Peel joins PCWA The outgoing Moderator of the Church When news of the Burma cyclone of Scotland, the Very Rev. Sheilagh broke, St Andrew’s, Camden (NSW) The Presbytery of Western Australia Kesting (the first woman to hold the took prayerful action – their efforts even has admitted the Peel Christian office), has criticised the General making the local paper. The Camden Fellowship into the PCWA. The Peel Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of youth group sponsors two students, Ram congregation meets in the Mandurah dis­ Australia. Uk and Ang ta Ang, who are training as trict. It is hoped that this work in Perth’s In her retiring Moderator’s report to native missionaries at a Bible institute in far southern suburbs will be matched in the Scottish Assembly, she said: “The the Burmese capital of Rangoon, while the due course by the re­establishment of the Presbyterian Church of Australia had just church has supported a missionary to Presbyterian Church in the Rockingham taken a decision at its assembly to discon­ Burma through Mission Partners. area as a result of the Moderator­ tinue the ordination of women to the Interviewed by the Macarthur General’s Australia­wide appeal for funds eldership (sic) – a similar decision having Chronicle, assistant minister David for church planting in Perth. been taken in relation to ministry a few Trounce said he was astonished that not a In receiving the Peel Christian years ago. single death had been reported in the Fellowship (and at their request) the “One of the saddest moments in my Evangelical Church or sponsored stu­ Presbytery resolved to re­name it the Peel year was when I asked why the church had dents. Presbyterian Church to express both taken this decision. Was it a growing the­ continuity with the past but also speak of ological conservatism? ‘No,’ I was told. PresAID raises $22,000 the future direction of the fellowship. ‘It is worse than that. It is about purify­ ing the church’.” The 2008 Good Friday Mercy PresAID New elders “As a woman whose call to ministry has Appeal closed on June 15, with more than been confirmed by the church that has $22,000 raised for Vanuatu and Indonesia. The Fremantle (WA) congregation since called me to be its Moderator, I Outstanding donations should now be recently elected two new elders, Mr found that very hard to hear and my heart sent to the PCV Office. Malcolm Ivatts and Dr Phil Burcham. went out to the women in the Malcolm is a long standing member of the Presbyterian Church, ordinary, everyday Inventive fund­raising congregation, being baptized by the previ­ women who are the backbone of any con­ ous Minister of Fremantle, the Rev. Jim gregation, and who in their conversations Presbyterian Social Services (NSW) Nocher. Phil, his wife Elizabeth and their with me were so clearly hurt by the deci­ has reported a positive response to the daughter moved from Adelaide where sion of their assembly. And it goes out too launch of the Friends of Allowah Phil served as session clerk at the St Giles to those men whom I met who also strug­ Children’s Hospital and call for dona­ (Norwood) church. gle with this decision.” tions to the building appeal, including some creative ideas for fundraising. Service for Allan Lendon Sponsorship coordinator Ruth Forsayth said she had been heartened at the interest A service of praise and thanksgiving was in helping the hospital, which needs to held on 12 June at the North Geelong raise another $3.5 million to fund major (Vic.) church, following the death of the extension and refurbishment works. Rev. Allan Lendon after a long illness. “People are really looking outside the box,” she said. “One parishioner is plan­ 20 years of service ning a pearl jewellery party; another is hosting a luncheon for 40 people; the Presbyterian Social Services (NSW) Beecroft PWA collects small change for CEO Colin Llewellyn has celebrated 20 Allowah. A cakeless cake stall raised years in the role with colleagues at the $1200 recently.” church offices in Surry Hills in May. Mr Llewellyn started in the role on 2 May Double anniversary 1988 and has seen many changes during the past two decades. In May the Presbytery of Western “Arguably, I have one of the best jobs Australia marked two important anniver­ in the Presbyterian Church,” he said. saries. One was the 80th anniversary of “Helping others in need and being able to the very first flying doctor flight, when make a real difference in the lives of so the Victory flew Dr K. St Vincent Welsh many is the thing that keeps me focused from Cloncurry to Julia Creek and energised. The gospel is central to all (Queensland) and back as part of the min­

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 1 9 N E W S

Archbishop Peter Jensen, say they will Books help Japanese meet again in two years to reflect and Around expand on the structures. Mrs Sarah Young of the Leederville Virtue Online (WA) congregation has written a num­ the World ber of best selling books (Jesus Calling World’s oldest church? and Dear Jesus: Seeking His Life in Your Life, published by Thomas Nelson). A Anglicans change structure fund has been established from the sales Archaeologists in Rihab, northern to support short­term, part­time volun­ Leaders of the Global Anglican Future Jordan, say they have discovered a cave tary assistance to the ministry of the Conference (GAFCON) meeting in that could be the world’s oldest Christian Japanese congregation. The first Jerusalem say that while there will be no church, according to a report posted to helpers, a married couple from Japan formal split from the Anglican the BBC website. The underground were due to arrive in Perth in June to Communion, permanent structures are chapel, dating to the period AD33­70, help the Rev. Steve Young. They are being put into place to be true to the would have served as both a place of wor­ expected to stay for up two years. Two Bible, to continue the work of mission ship and a home. other Christian Japanese families have and to do so as Anglicans. It is claimed that the site was originally migrated to Perth and are getting The conference comprised several hun­ used by a group of 70 persecuted involved with the fellowship. The dred Anglican bishops and clergy Christians who fled from Jerusalem. Japanese congregation has four unhappy about American churches conse­ These early Christians lived and practised Christian Japanese men now. crating a gay bishop and backing gay mar­ their faith in secrecy until the Romans riages. It was an alternative to the 10­ embraced Christianity several hundred New Hope yearly Lambeth Conference, a meeting of years later. all the world’s Anglican bishops that The cave is located in Rihab, in On 9 March an evening church service many of those in Jerusalem will boycott. Northern Jordan, beneath the ancient began at Living Hope congregation Kenya Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi church of St Georgeous, itself one of the (WA). The initial response has been said that Archbishop of Canterbury oldest known places of worship in the encouraging with attendances of about Rowan Williams and the four world. According to Dr Abdul Qader 12, about half of whom are new people. Instruments of Unity had “betrayed and Al­Hassan, the director of the Rihab Some families from Africa have been abandoned” the Anglican Communion Centre for Archaeological Studies, the attending the morning church which has and therefore new structures were cave site shows clear evidence of early increased the diversity of the congrega­ needed. Christian rituals that predate the church. tion. GAFCON leaders, including Sydney Other experts say they are cautious about the claim. They want to examine the artefacts and see clear dating evidence. The earliest confirmed examples of churches date from the third century, they say. WEA leaders meet

Fifteen World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) leaders from around the world convened for a two­day conference on the campus of Olivet University, a Bible­ based institution in San Francisco. The conference centred on the creation of the WEA Leadership Institute whose pur­ pose is to meet the organisation develop­ ment needs of WEA’s 128 member alliances. According to Dr Jonathan Lewis, director of the Leadership Institute, the institute has its historic roots in the work that Dr Jun Vencer carried through with WEA alliance leaders during his long tenure as WEA International Director from 1992 to 2001. “We are developing tools that will help us analyse the specific needs of each alliance, and provide case specific training in the following areas: unifying evangeli­ cals in voice and action; association lead­ ership, governance, and management; sus­ tainable funding; representation before

2 0 • A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 N E W S government; servicing constituencies; and in number, thanks to Algerian church Pastor’s daughter gang­raped partnership development,” said Dr Lewis. planters and Christian satellite TV. “They The institute will be officially launched at are afraid about what God is doing in the WEA General Assembly in Thailand Algeria,” said Farid Bouchama, a France­ Muslim villagers in Mymensingh district in October. based Algerian televangelist. eager to rid the area of the Christian work Compass Direct of a local pastor have gang­raped his 13­ Coin evangelism upsets Muslims year­old daughter. Pastor Motilal Das of Copts seek protection United Bethany Church said that at around 3am on 2 May the villagers sexu­ The US Army has suspended a Marine ally assaulted his daughter, Elina Das, and for distributing coins quoting the gospel Egypt’s Coptic church is calling on left her unconscious in front of his house to Sunni Muslims, an incident that has President Hosni Mubarak to guarantee in an attempt to drive him and his enraged Iraqis who view it as the latest Christians’ safety after a violent attack on Christian ministry out of Laksmipur vil­ example of American disrespect for Islam. a monastery in which four Copts were lage. The Marine, stationed in Fallujah, injured. The Coptic Ecclesiastical Local residents have long been angry handed out silver­coloured coins this Council called on Mubarak to stop “more with him for his ministry and evangelism, week that said in Arabic: “Where will you armed attacks on monks”, and “insults to he said, and he has received death threats. spend eternity? (John 3:36).” The other the cross”, Egyptian newspapers reported. “I did not pay attention to any of the side read: “For God so loved the world AFP said the move follows a land dis­ threats or hindrances – I continued evan­ that He gave His only begotten son, that pute involving a historic monastery which gelical and pastoral activities with prayer,” whoever believes in Him shall not perish turned violent on 31 May, leading to the Das told Compass. “When nothing but have eternal life (John 3:16).” death of a Muslim man who was report­ stopped me, then they wanted to leave me “We are sorry for this behaviour,” said edly attacking the monastery. Four Copts, scarred for life, so that I would be upset Mike Isho, a US military spokesman in including two monks, were injured in the and not be able to show my face to the Anbar province, which includes Fallujah. attack on the Abu Fana Monastery near society for shame, and therefore I would Mohammed Amin Abdel­Hadi, the the southern city of Minya. leave the village.” head of the Sunni Endowment in Egypt’s Copts – the largest Christian Fallujah, an institution responsible for community in the Middle East – account Olympic glare reveals persecution overseeing the sect’s mosques, criticised for an estimated six to 10 per cent of the US troops, whom many in the city view as country’s 76 million inhabitants. They What potentially could have been occupiers, for acting like Christian mis­ complain of systematic discrimination China’s proudest moment has turned into sionaries. The coins were part of a pattern and harassment. something of a public relations minefield of insensitivity towards Muslims, he said, Assist as world media probe China’s human citing the outcry this month over a US rights gains and abuses ahead of this year’s sniper in Baghdad who used a Koran for Muslims jailed Olympic Games. target practice. Among key issues raised is religious Washington Post In a snap ruling that surprised local freedom, with China watchers reporting Christians, an Ethiopian court has sen­ ongoing restrictions on freedom of wor­ Clamp down in Algeria tenced three Muslim men to life impris­ ship, particularly for unregistered church onment for a deadly machete attack on groups, arrests, detention in labor camps In the past six months Algeria has begun two churches last March. At the initial and confiscation of Christian literature. enforcing a restrictive 2006 law resulting hearing on March 26, the West Arsi Zone The government has stepped up an official in jailed Christians and closed churches. Higher Court handed down four sen­ campaign against human rights activists Reasons for the crackdown are varied. tences – life in prison for three attackers, and lawyers in recent months – and Local experts said the pressure could stem and a three­month suspended sentence increased its suppression of religious from top­down efforts by government for an accomplice – for the 2 March believers, particularly members of unreg­ officials to restrain Christian activity assault in south Ethiopia that killed one istered Protestant and Catholic groups. or from bottom­up populism against and injured 17. Compass Direct Christians inflamed by Arabic press The victims’ families said they had accounts. been told the hearing would take place on Don’t execute murderer: church Some point out that President 25 April and only learned of the sentenc­ Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s gambit to change ing after their right to appeal had expired. Iraqi church leaders have spoken out the constitution to allow him a third term Of another 17 people initially arrested for against the death sentence given to the in 2009 will require the support of Islamist the attack, six remain in prison while the alleged murderer of a Chaldean bishop political parties. Still others hold that the rest have reportedly been set free. Local kidnapped in northern Iraq in March. The issue of Protestant church growth may be Christians said they have been refused Iraqi Central Criminal Court charged intended to distract Algerians from press­ information regarding whether these peo­ al­Qaeda in Iraq member Ahmed Ali ing domestic concerns such as a national ple will be tried. Ahmed with killing Mosul’s Chaldean housing shortage and inflation of staple Three local Muslim officials arrested on archbishop, a government spokesman goods prices. suspicion of involvement in the attack are said. Christian leaders believe that the now back in their government positions Archbishop Paulus Faraj Rahho’s increased persecution comes less because even as a separate investigation against corpse was found in a shallow grave in Islamists are growing in power than them continues, local Christians said. Mosul on March 13 after gunmen snatched because Christian converts are increasing Compass Direct him from his car two weeks earlier.

A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 • 2 1 N E W S

Speaking from Baghdad, Auxiliary Bishop

Shlemon Warduni said that Ahmed Druse, Christian, pro­Western coalition;

should be punished for his crime but that and a pro­Syrian, Islamist, mostly Shi’ite, On the executing him would be pointless. “If Hezbollah­led opposition. The Lebanese

somebody is killed I think there is no use in Agenda Army is similarly divided. The Christians

it for the Iraqi people,” the Chaldean too have been split, with the pro­Syrian

church leader said. “Our principles are love Barbarism in Lebanon Free Patriotic Movement of Christian

and pardon and reconciliation.” leader Michael Aoun backing Hezbollah. By Elizabeth Kendal Hezbollah’s main allies however are Nigerian blasphemy tensions the state’s various Shi’ite and Palestinian Since the 2003 fall of Baghdad, ascendant militias, along with Syria and Iran. The Iran has been spreading its tentacles and main ally of the pro­Western government The Supreme Court of Nigeria has flexing its muscles. Iran’s Shi’ite dictators is the US. The government envisages confirmed the death sentence for are moving to replace the Sunni Arab dic­ Lebanon as a modern, secular, liberal, Abdullahi Ada and others involved in the tators as the leaders of the Muslim world democratic sanctuary on the murder of Abdullahi Umaru, con­ and to replace the US as the dominating Mediterranean, while the opposition demned for “blasphemy” of Muhammad, power in the Middle East. One key ele­ envisages Lebanon as an Islamic citadel in the prophet of Islam, in Kebbi state in ment in this strategy involves waging a the front­line of the jihad against Israel. 1999. Justice George Oguntade ordered genocidal war/jihad to eliminate Israel. The government controls the north and that Ada be hanged until confirmed dead. Iranian influence and military power west whilst Hezbollah controls the east With sharia in force in Kebbi and 11 now extends in a crescent from Tehran and south. other states in northern Nigeria – though through Iraq and Syria into Lebanon Hezbollah does not want to take con­ supposed to be applied only to Muslims – where Iran­sponsored Hezbollah is re­ trol of Lebanon as it does not want the the high court judgment has further arming, re­organising and rebuilding right burden of government. What Hezbollah prompted Muslim calls for legislation on Israel’s northern border. Meanwhile, demands however is total freedom to re­ against “blasphemy”. The National Sunni but Iran­sponsored Hamas threat­ organise, rebuild and re­arm for war with­ Assembly is amending the 1999 constitu­ ens Israel from Gaza in Israel’s south. out interference. On 6 May the govern­ tion, and Muslim leaders in northern Whilst the eradication of Israel is the ulti­ ment boldly banned Hezbollah’s Iran­ Nigeria’s Kano state have called for a mate goal, the present flash­point is built independent telecommunications national law against “blasphemy”, leaving Lebanon, home to a vulnerable Christian network. It also fired Beirut airport’s Christian leaders fearful that Islamic law minority of over one million. security chief, who is linked to Hezbollah could be used to arbitrarily put Christians Lebanon is split between two diametri­ which is accused of compromising airport to death. cally opposing forces: a ruling Sunni, security.

FROM THE MODERATOR – GENERAL IN REGARDS TO CHURCH PLANTING IN PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

‘The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the I would invite you to pray especially for a single most crucial strategy for 1) the numerical growth of the suitable church planter to be raised up Body of Christ in any city, and 2) the continual corporate renewal and for a suitable, committed and sup­ and revival of the existing churches in a city. Nothing else – not portive core group to come together. crusades, outreach programmes, para­church ministries, grow­ The 2007 General Assembly of Australia authorised the ing mega­churches, congregational consulting, nor church Moderator­General to coordinate an annual appeal during 2008, renewal processes – will have the consistent impact of dynamic, 2009 and 2010 to raise funds from across the Presbyterian extensive church planting.’ (T. Keller) Church of Australia to provide for the opening, staffing and Perth is currently growing at an unprecedented rate. People are development of a new church planting congregation in metropol­ moving to the Capital of Western Australia from all over Australia itan Perth. The new church (the Lord willing) in the Rockingham and the world. The West Australian General Assembly has district will be the recipient of the funds raised. Gifts can be sent developed a METRO­WIDE STRATEGY which seeks to respond to to ‘GAA WA Church Planting Appeal’ c/­ PO Box 2196, this growth and has as a key component, the planting and estab­ Strawberry Hills, NSW, 2012 with cheques made out to lishment of at least five new congregations. The West Australian ‘Presbyterian Church Funds’. A covering letter should state that General Assembly has declared that under the METRO­WIDE the gift is for the ‘WA Church Planting Appeal’. The GAA WA STRATEGY, the next area for church extension work will be in the Church Planting Appeal will be placed before the Lord’s people Rockingham district, half an hour drive south of Fremantle on the in our Church in a number of different forms. coast. The Presbyterian Church in Western Australia is mar­ Thank you for taking time to read this Communication. I would shalling its own resources to launch a new effort in church ask that we work together to ensure a very generous response planting but it also needs the help of the wider Presbyterian to this call for gospel partnership with the Presbyterian Church Church in this great task. (More details on the METRO­WIDE in Western Australia. STRATEGY can be obtained from the Clerk of WA Assembly, Mr. Glenn Muskett on 08­9339 9400 [email protected]) ROBERT BENN, Moderator­General

2 2 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 N E W S

Hezbollah’s response was “swift, people have dubbed The Jesus Film “The The European religious leaders meet­ furious, disproportionate and bloody” Miracle Film”. The region’s governor has ing on Monday included Christian, Jewish (Jonathon Spyer). While the Lebanese personally called the “Jesus” film team to and Muslim European heads. The main Army watched on, Hezbollah blockaded thank them for the “miracles” the movie focus of the meeting was to call on all the roads to the airport and forced the has done on the witches in his area. Europe’s religious leaders and their con­ pro­government media off the air. It The next project for the “Jesus” film gregations to be more engaged in climate burned the offices of the pro­govern­ teams is to reach those speaking the change. ment newspaper and seized control of Gbeya language in CAR. There are some Christian Today western Beirut, laying siege to the 176,000 people in the country that speak homes of Prime Minister Foud Siniora this language. Islam will ‘fill vacuum’ and Sunni leader Saad al­Hariri. After Christian Today demonstrating its strength, Hezbollah By Jennifer Gold handed its gains over to the Lebanese Protect Christians Army, which is reportedly working to The Bishop of Rochester has warned restore order. By Ethan Cole that the demise of Christianity is leaving So Lebanon teeters on the brink of a Britain with a “moral vacuum” that radical civil war: primarily a sectarian war of The European Union should do more Islam is ready to fill. Writing in political Sunnis v Shi’ites; a war between US­ to protect Christians worldwide, a repre­ magazine Standpoint, Dr Michael Nazir­ backed, pro­West, Sunni­dominated forces sentative of the Russian Orthodox Ali quoted an academic who pointed to and Shi’ite Iran­backed barbaric forces Church has told European Union offi­ the failure of church leaders to prevent intent on genocide. If Lebanon does cials. Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Christian values from being substantially descend into war then it will actually be a Austria, the Russian Orthodox Church eroded in society during the social and regional war (like Iraq) fought by proxies representative to the European sexual revolution of the ’60s. Christianity and exploited by terrorists. The future of Institutions, spoke up for persecuted began to fall to the wayside just as more the Middle East is increasingly precarious. Christians during a meeting between EU people of different faiths were starting to officials and some 20 European religious settle in Britain, the Pakistani­born bishop World Evangelical Alliance Religious leaders in Brussels, Belgium, in May. added. Liberty Commission “Tolerance should not cause detriment “It is a situation which has created the to Christians, who still make up the moral and spiritual vacuum in which we Witches come to Christ majority of the European population,” find ourselves. Whilst the Christian con­ said Hilarion, according to Russian news sensus was dissolved, nothing else, except By Michelle A Vu agency Interfax. “Phobia and discrimina­ perhaps endless self­indulgence, was put tion of Christians should be condemned in its place,” he said. In a central African nation with a dark his­ officially.” Whereas Marxism failed to take hold in tory of witchcraft, the gospel message is He reminded officials of Europe’s British society, he went on to question breaking through and touching the hearts Christian heritage and called on the EU to whether society could counter radical and lives of villagers, including witches. help preserve the continent’s history. Islam with the same success. “We are now, Screenings of The Jesus Film in the “[Christian] churches are being ruined however, confronted by another equally Central African Republic has led to tens and thousands of Christians are homeless serious ideology, that of radical Islamism, of thousands of commitments for Christ, and banished in Kosovo,” the bishop said. which also claims to be comprehensive in dozens of churches planted, and witches He added, “This is also the case of the scope,” he said. “What resources do we being freed from dark forces, according to Cypriot area illegally occupied by Turkish have to face yet another ideological battle?” The Jesus Film Project. forces. Churches are destroyed and Bishop Nazir­Ali answered that only Central African Republic, which Christians are suffering there.” Judeo­Christian values could stand up neighbours the highly­troubled nations of In a recent Christian Today interview, adequately against the threat posed by Chad and Sudan, has struggled with what Cyprus’ ambassador to the United States, radical Islam. some might consider an epidemic of Andreas Kakouris, talked about the more “It remains the case, however, that witchcraft. Local witches reportedly have than 530 churches and monasteries that many of the beliefs and values which we the power to kill and cause excruciating were pillaged and destroyed in northern need to deal with the present situation are physical pain, leading to great fear among Cyprus after Turkish forces took over the rooted in the Judeo­Christian tradition,” villagers. The government routinely land in 1974. he said. imprisons accused witches, but has found Under Turkey’s watch, one­of­a­kind Earlier in the year, Dr Nazir­Ali that prison walls cannot contain their historic Christian artifacts from churches claimed that multiculturalism had failed power. have been stolen and auctioned off around and that radical Islam was turning some When witches saw The Jesus Film – the world. It is estimated that more than areas of Britain into no­go areas for peo­ which follows the life and teachings of 60,000 ancient artifacts have been illegally ple of different faiths. He appeared to reit­ Jesus Christ – in their own language, transferred to other countries, according erate his position in the Standpoint article, many reportedly were convicted by the to the Republic of Cyprus. declaring that the “newfangled and inse­ Holy Spirit. They repented of their sins, Bishop Hilarion said: “The European curely founded” doctrine of multicultur­ were freed from their spiritual bondage, Union administration could do more for alism has created communities of immi­ and committed their lives to Jesus Christ, the protection of Christians outside grants that are “segregated” and “living The Jesus Film Project reports. Europe, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi parallel lives”. In the Bossangoa area in western CAR, Arabia and many other Islamic countries.“ Christian Today

A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 • 2 3 R E F L E C T I O N New Earth, old error Christians are being seduced by a new Oprah­endorsed Gnosticism.

hen Oprah Winfrey declared a “true being”, not a separate “ego”. few weeks ago that “this is the For Tolle, “knowing self and knowing most exciting thing I’ve ever Peter God become one and the same”. The done,” she wasn’t referring to a millions who’ve turned to Tolle might newW charitable project, her endorsement Jones naturally conclude: I am the “I Am”. of Barack Obama, or even her new reality Sound familiar? It should. According to TV show. spirit of forgiveness, citing the words of the Bible, such “knowledge” springs from She was referring to an unprecedented, Jesus on the cross. the oldest error of all: man’s desire to be 10­week Web broadcast to discuss There are also parallels with the “as gods”. spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle’s latest benefits associated with Christian The Bible teaches that humanly bestselling book, A New Earth: conversion – phrases such as “new birth”, conceived “enlightenment” is actually Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. Millions “joy and peace”, and “grace” are sprinkled idolatry, the worship of the human self, a have joined this “webinar”, which throughout the text. creature, as the equivalent of – or in place concluded on 5 May. But here is where the similarities end. of – God, the only Creator. Such idolatry It’s not hard to see why. It appeals to On the issue of the nature of God and is moral rebellion against “our Father”. many disaffected believers because it humanity, and the way of salvation, the The Bible declares that the basic claims to liberate us from old, ideological, apparent agreements give way to problem is not ignorance, but sin. Thus “I am right; you are wrong” religious f u n d a m e n t a l the solution is not self­realisation through beliefs. It offers a new spirituality that contradictions. esoteric knowledge, but the grace that supposedly lies at the hidden centre of all At bottom, one At bottom, one flows from the depths of God’s love. As religions. approach is approach is we receive God’s gift of salvation by It has thus generated great confusion, rooted in rooted in God’s believing in Jesus Christ, we become, not and a serious backlash among those who God’s grace. grace. The other gods, but “new creatures”. see in the Tolle­Oprah juggernaut a is rooted in The other is pernicious teaching. “The Church of man’s vanity. n the webcast, a woman asked Oprah Oprah Exposed” video clip on YouTube rooted in For Tolle, Ohow she reconciles Christianity and has been viewed more than 6 million man’s vanity. echoing the “A New Earth”. The Baptist­raised Oprah times. teachings of the said she could because she had opened her Mr Tolle’s book is not, like The Secret, ancient Gnostics, mind to Tolle’s way of thinking and, just another glitzy, profit­driven work of the chief error is ignorance of our true earlier in life, freed herself from church self­help literature. It comes across as an self. This leads to the rise of “egoic mind rules and doctrine. In so doing, though, earnest attempt to meet our deepest patterns”, a false consciousness that Oprah – and her millions of followers – spiritual needs. Who doesn’t want to causes distress. This ego also mistakenly are accepting the rules and doctrines of experience freedom from anger, sees as real the “forms” and “content” of another system, Tolle’s Gnostic view. depression, resentment, bad habits, and everyday life and the distinctions we see We face a choice of ultimate emotional pain? Indeed, a new earth – a therein: right and wrong, creature and importance. We can stand with “the truth” new life – has been the fervent hope of all Creator. of Tolle­Oprah and a long tradition of who have experienced sin, sickness, and The spiritual truth, according to Tolle, mystics who suggest that man is God and suffering. is that much of what the ego calls reality is that “God” is merely a human creation. The Bible and “A New Earth” at first merely – as the Hindus say – maya, Or we can stand with Jesus Christ, who seem very similar, because Tolle’s illusion. Since the basic human problem is proved that he was “the way, the truth, teachings are often presented in a quasi­ ignorance owing to illusion, the solution and the life”, and affirm that God is God, Christian framework and affirmed by is the knowledge of how to attain a and man is God’s creation. Oprah as consonant with Christianity. transformed state of human As contemporary humanity seeks to Tolle’s book cites the Bible about 20 consciousness. create a global community, some sort of times, without the reader feeling that texts True consciousness, and thus salvation, “new earth”, the age­old challenge that have been wrenched out of their context. involves what Tolle calls “presence”. We Joshua issued to Israel is placed before us It describes our situation of dysfunction attain knowledge of “presence” by with added urgency: “Choose this day and anxiety, of man’s inhumanity to man, becoming aware of the “inner body”, whom ye will serve” – the gods or God – and our selfishness. It identifies actively eliminating distinction­making because, in the global community, as Bob inauthentic attempts to gain meaning thought, conscience and all forms of Dylan rightly observed, “you’re gonna through physical possessions or physical reality. By doing this, we can’t have to serve somebody.” manipulative relationships. It finds no overcome disease or suffering, which he worth in secular humanism and the advises us to accept, but we can see that Dr Peter Jones is director of Christian consumer society. And it encourages a we are an integral part of the world of Witness to a Pagan Planet. ap

2 4 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 E U T H A N A S I A Dying to go Christians are the last safeguard against a calamitous trend.

uthanasia is again in the spotlight. gram were suffering from depression. A At the present time the Australian 1991 study showed that an average of Senate has before it a Bill on three people a day underwent euthanasia euthanasia, Rights of the David without their knowledge or consent. ETerminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Palmer Studies in 1991 and 1995 showed that, Bill 2008 sponsored by Greens senator despite Dutch law requiring physicians to Bob Brown, while in Victoria the report physician­assisted death, the Legislative Council has before it Ms relieve the suffering of those near the end majority of deaths went unreported. Colleen Hartland MLC’s Medical of life”. This claim was ably refuted in an While Ms Hartland’s bill limits Treatment (Physician­Assisted Dying) opinion piece appearing in The Age by pal­ euthanasia to adults 18 years and older, in Bill 2008. liative care consultant Dr Adrian Holland children up to the age of 12, Perhaps indicating that she may need Dabscheck. including newborns, may now be killed by to do more work in building the numbers Dr Dabscheck says there is much that lethal injection with parental consent. for her bill, Ms Hartland has requested he can do, very effectively, “to make my Liberalisation of the law due to presenting that the third reading be deferred to the patient’s lives as free from pain and suffer­ cases is inevitable over time. This is pre­ next available sitting day, 30 July. ing as humanly possible”. Furthermore, cisely the Dutch experience. Senator Brown’s bill is “a first step” bill “in extremely rare cases, a patient may, that seeks to repeal the Euthanasia Laws with consent, be sedated at the end of life”. s this what Australians, including their Act 1997 which prevents the Northern Iparliamentarians desire for their Territory and ACT Legislative Assemblies A 2005 study nation? from legalising voluntary euthanasia. showed that at Could these parliamentarians pass Ms I will approach the subject of euthana­ least 50 per Hartland’s Bill and guarantee that none of sia by way of considering Ms Hartland’s cent of these things now happening in Holland – Bill, drawing as well on her eloquent sec­ a country where many elderly sick people ond reading speech. patients killed are afraid to seek medical help because The issue of dying, whether from a ter­ under the they fear being euthanased without their minal condition or advanced incurable Dutch consent – would not happen in Victoria? disease, is always something that tugs at euthanasia In truth, in Australia the restrictive our heart strings, particularly for family program were prohibitions of abortion, such as the members and close friends. It is deeply suffering from Menhennit ruling in Victoria, did nothing distressing to hear a dying mother or depression. to prevent the rate of abortions balloon­ father, son or daughter say “I want to die”. ing to one abortion to every three live The preamble to the bill speaks of a births. mentally competent adult person “suffer­ Ms Hartland spoke of the virtues of Australia, like all Western nations, is ing intolerably from a terminal or the State of Oregon legislation but failed undergoing a demographic shift with an advanced incurable illness to exercise their to mention that from 1994 to 2007 there increasing proportion of the population right to end their life ...” were 89 proposals in the USA to legalise being elderly. Will euthanasia become a euthanasia in 22 states, and none suc­ cost­effective method of medical treat­ n an ideal world this may sound a com­ ceeded. Oregon is the only state in ment for the elderly? Ipassionate thing, though to argue about America allowing legalised physician­ To guard against such an outcome, this “a right to end life” is to presume the assisted suicide. That this is so is partly bill – whatever form it takes – should not thing desired. Not only that, but there is due to the well­recognised under­funding be approved. no historical precedent for such a right. of Oregon’s health system. To commend There are more specific arguments None of the United Nations human the virtues of the Oregon legislation after against the bill. Consider these. rights instruments contain a “right to only 10 years of operation, and as the soli­ The focus in care should always be die”. They are all about the flourishing tary state permitting euthanasia in the upon the patient and not upon family and and development of each human individ­ USA, is unwise, to say the least. friends, no matter how distressing the ual, not the deliberate and orchestrated A far more appropriate example to patient’s situation appears to be to them. ending of an individual’s life. quote is Holland where euthanasia has In particular, while relatives may wish to In her second reading speech, Ms been openly practised since 1973. impose their “quality­of­life” judgments Hartland acknowledges the value of pal­ Overall, in Holland in 2005, about upon the elderly and chronically ill, the liative care but dismisses it with the 12,660 deaths, or 9 per cent of the total, person concerned may take a very differ­ unsubstantiated assertion that “the med­ were caused intentionally. A 2005 study ent view. ical literature suggests that even the best showed that at least 50 per cent of patients In 2003, the New York Times printed modern palliative care is simply unable to killed under the Dutch euthanasia pro­ a remarkable article by disability rights

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 2 5 E U T H A N A S I A

lawyer Harriet McBryde Johnson port euthanasia and only 14 per cent Church in all its varied and localised recounting her debate with and reaction oppose it. But the results of polling are manifestations, including the Presbyterian to Peter Singer, over his contention that highly dependent upon who is polled, the Church, has been involved in the care of parents with a child suffering the kind of information provided and the actual the elderly and chronically ill throughout disabilities that Ms Johnson herself suf­ wording of the questions. That poll its existence. People have been suffering fers – and, as she describes them, they should be taken cautiously. and dying throughout that period. are truly horrendous – should have the One particular factor that needs to be Individuals today are not unique. right to kill them. Ms Johnson says she remembered is that people who indicate We Christians worship a God who we was outraged by Singer’s argument, when younger that they support euthana­ believe creates, sustains and protects the describing his prejudice as “an ultimate sia can and do change their minds as to capacity for all human relationships and evil, and him a monster”. In fact she whether euthanasia is for them. A very communities to function harmoniously says, “I enjoy my life. (People like me), interesting poll, if polls now decide how and effectively. The commandment not to we take constraints that no one else we should act, murder not only asserts who ultimately would choose and build rich and satisfy­ would be a poll has the rights over all life, but also estab­ ing lives with them. We enjoy pleasures People who of the elderly and lishes a boundary condition for the flour­ other people enjoy, and pleasures pecu­ indicate when those chronically ishing of all human relationships and liarly our own. We have something the younger that ill and facing communities. world needs.” they support death in the not At the very least, even allowing for the too distant f our politicians truly care, then for the euthanasia different circumstances of the dying, this future. I suggest Isake of, and for the dignity of our story reminds us that the interests of the can and do such a poll would elderly and chronically ill, they should not elderly and chronically ill take precedence change their not produce a allow any of these euthanasia bills to pass. over those of family, friends and euthana­ minds as to figure of 80 per At the very least they need to give some sia enthusiasts. whether cent, nor even 20 thought to what our society might begin Second, the statistics on physician­ euthanasia is per cent for that to look like once humans are allowed an assisted suicide for persons suffering for them. matter. active power of death over others, for this depression ought to sound a clear warning A final point is what euthanasia legislation will set in bell. Euthanasia is not an appropriate concerns the train should it be passed. response to depression. nature of the doctor­patient relationship. It may be that MPs do not allow either Third, a major concern is that towards Doctors are meant to preserve life, not bill to pass. Such an outcome will be due the end of life people can become anxious end it. If the role of a doctor is redefined in no small measure to the pressure about being a burden, not being valued. from that of life preserver to include life applied by the Christian constituency. It is They are vulnerable to pressure from oth­ terminator, that precious doctor­patient a very sad thing to realise that the only ers, even family members, who from relationship will be potentially jeopar­ group in the broader Australian commu­ motives that may well be kindly meant, dised. nity prepared to campaign on pro­life promote euthanasia to the vulnerable In making the above observation and issues is the church – and even then not elderly. plea, I am not seeking to be somehow all of it. Ms Hartland quoted Newspoll statis­ heartless or ignorant of the issue of great Euthanasia is an issue that will not go tics that 80 per cent of Australians sup­ pain and suffering. The entire Christian away, given the fading Christian under­ standing in the broader Australian com­ munity. There exists what one euthanasia advocate describes as “a small but signifi­ cant number of determined patients, gen­ erally having strong personalities and a history of being in control, who are unlikely to be deflected from their wish to end their lives”. When we also remember that for the typical Aussie pagan – despite occasional bravado – death is the grim reaper with no hope­filled prospect to fol­ low, we remind ourselves of the enormity of the task to defend the right to life and to die a good death in God’s time and in a God honouring way. May God have mercy upon our nation.

David Palmer is convener of the Victorian Church and Nation Committee. Part of this article formed the basis of a letter that committee sent to every member of the Victorian Upper House and also for an article posted on OnLine Opinion (http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view. asp?article=7543). ap

2 6 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 F A M I L Y The widow’s might My husband’s death forced me to change in ways I never wanted to.

am part of the fastest growing while watching our three incredibly demographic in the United States. handsome African American grandsons We are targeted by new­home Miriam grow up. builders and surveyed by designers. In an exceedingly productive season of WeI are a lucrative niche for health and Neff his life, while serving as vice president of beauty products, and financial planners Moody Broadcasting, treasurer of the invite us to dinners. It’s no wonder the coat. In my haste to the train station, I National Religious Broadcasters, and a marketers are after us: 800,000 join our passed only two other people as I hurried board member for HCJB (Heralding ranks every year. over the dark waters of the Chicago River. Christ Jesus’ Blessings, an international Who are we? We are the invisible “I’ve never done this before in my life,” I broadcasting group), Bob fell. The among you—the widows. thought. Widows experience so many inconvenience and pain of a dislocated Studies show that widows lose 75 per firsts that we stop counting. shoulder began the journey from doctors cent of their friendship network when At 19, I embarked on my journey with to disease, all the while sorting through they lose a spouse. Sixty per cent of us Bob that lasted 41 years, 2 months, and 21 our theology, to face the bleak reality: experience serious health issues in that days. It began soon after the first day of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an first year. One third of us meet the criteria my college career. untreatable, fatal disease, had gripped for clinical depression in the first month “May I walk with you?” The soft hazel Bob’s body. after our spouse’s death, and half of us eyes of a Less than three years after that fall, remain clinically depressed a year later. gentleman looked Bob entered heaven willingly; I gave him Most experience financial decline. down into mine. up with more than reluctance. Our One pastor described us by saying we It was a warm Loneliness and oneness was now ripped in two. My move from the front row of the church to S e p t e m b e r solitude are unarguably better half was gone and the the back, and then out the door. We move afternoon on the not descriptive gaping wound created by his exit had from serving and singing in choir to campus of Indiana enough of the every nerve ending screaming — even solitude and silent sobbing, and then on U n i v e r s i t y . space that though I was supposed to be numb. to find a place where we belong. Singing Hoosiers becomes the While every widow’s story is different, With my husband Bob’s exit to heaven, rehearsal was over we all share the understanding of a loss cocoon of my daily life has changed: my calendar, and the baritone that is final beyond description. Watching my chequebook, the thermostat, the soloist was asking the widow. the gardener gently work the grass seed contents of my refrigerator, and even the to walk with me! into the fresh dirt on my husband’s grave look in my children’s eyes when they step Sixteen months set me apart forever from the life I once through the door on holidays. My living later, this 18­year­old freshman who had had. space is more cluttered. I seldom use never been to Chicago or heard of Moody makeup. I am now familiar with the smell Bible Institute married a man who knew idows gain a fresh perspective on of car oil as I sit in Lube Right waiting for his life calling was to serve God through WScripture. In 2 Corinthians 1:3­4, I an oil change. There are other changes so Moody Broadcasting. am reminded that no one can comfort a private and personal they cannot be Together we finished degrees, moved widow like another widow. In turn, we are shared. Loneliness and solitude are not from the farm to the city, had children, moved deeply when we see another descriptive enough of the space that adopted children, sang in church choirs, woman enter this experience, and we want becomes the cocoon of the widow. offered hospitality, and traveled to 40 to comfort her in her grief. With Had I been faced with these facts five countries. I became an educator—a desperation we study the 103 Scripture years ago, I would have stated, “It can’t be teacher and counselor in public high passages referencing widows. And we find so! In the community of believers, we schools—a working mother. As Bob we are not invisible to God. With support each other.” But I look back on followed his calling, he expanded the MBI gratitude we discover that we are not only my own responses to women who had network to 36 owned and operated close to God’s heart, but that He become widows and realise how little I stations. He successfully negotiated with measures others by how they treat us understood, how little I empathised, how the Federal Communications (James 1:27). This is both a comforting seldom I walked beside them. Commission and began a satellite and sobering insight. Widows, orphans, Yet because of our shared experience, ministry that at times has served 600 prisoners—the voiceless—God chooses we have an incredibly strong bond that affiliates. We parented our children to to speak for us. links us to each other. We discover we are adulthood, unquestionably the greatest He instructs that our needs be met vulnerable as we have never been before. I challenge of our marriage. We enjoyed the through the church’s tithes if necessary learned this one evening as I walked marriages of three—including two (Deut. 14:29; 26:12; Acts 6:1­4). He through the city, hunched over into the receptions in our own yard. No smile was instructs that in our vulnerability we be wind with my hood up on my long black broader on either Bob’s or my face than given legal rights (Isa. 1:17). He

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 2 7 F A M I L Y

commends one widow for her sacrificial strong because we have no other choice. first trip alone. While I had expected to giving (Mark 12:42­44). He tells our story We are compassionate because our heart rest and read, I found myself signing up in His Word: the widow at Zarephath and has been broken. As I listen to other for any and all activities: snorkeling, her generosity (1 Kings 17:9), the widow widows’ stories, I am awestruck by what horseback riding, and learning to sail a with her pot of oil, faith, and obedience (2 they have learned and accomplished. catamaran. Being the only single woman Kings 4:1). One of my own turning points to sign up for solo sailing lessons, my As I studied Scripture on widows, occurred in Africa. Following in Bob’s instructor eyed me with little enthusiasm these themes emerged: footsteps, I traveled to a place I had and told me where to plant myself on the To the widow: Be generous regardless previously been unable to visit. I was canvas. My eager attitude was soon of the quantity of your possessions; no connecting with believers whom Bob had deflated. “You can’t learn this. I’ll take you one’s “stuff” is their own anyway. Be assisted in broadcasting. Before my trip, I for a ride, and we’ll go back.” filled with faith: you can’t help but be received an email “Wrong,” I thought. when you see how special you are to your asking me to On my fourth lesson (and after my

Creator and new Husband. We become speak to widows’ requested change of instructors), my new To the church: The significance of groups there. Of instructor said those delightful words: your church is not in its numbers, but faith­filled course I would. “You can dump me now.” I was on my that its priorities match God’s. The because we This would be a own. character of your leaders is not measured cannot face the way for me to There are no words to describe being by their popularity or power, but by their day any other give as Bob had. alone on that canvas, gripping the attention and care for the powerless and way. We are The result: I rudder, feeling the wind at my back, and voiceless among them. compassionate spoke to seven racing out into the Atlantic. “Honey, can Taking care of widows can be complex because our groups of you see me?” I shouted to the sky. It was widows, ranging as if he answered, “You’ll do this and for several reasons. Churches today are heart has been varied in size and resources, and the from 20 to 200 more, sweetheart, and I’m not experiences and needs of widows also broken. listeners each. At surprised.” vary widely. There is no model of service one church Back home, after I described my for all to follow, though the early church service, the men were the predominant adventure to my family, my grandson clearly made it a priority by appointing note­takers. I spoke to one assembly of asked, “Nana, weren’t you afraid?” church leaders to oversee the care of five churches, and I delivered my message “No,” was my definite answer. “If I widows (Acts 6:1­7). I would also with five pastors sitting behind me in failed and drowned, I’d see God and recommend that leadership groups related large, impressive chairs. After listening Grandpa. If I succeeded, I’d have sailed a to widows’ ministry have a leading intently to my teaching, one pastor issued catamaran—solo. Nana has nothing to member who is a widow. Without such a a pronouncement: “It is good.” lose.” leader, churches’ decisions on how to I can only say, simply, that I was Yes, we have changed. Widows believe serve us often miss the mark. changed. I remembered Bob encouraging Romans 8:28 with a new tenacity. We have me to accept my first speaking new and relevant gifts to offer, not in spite hile the needs for financial support engagement after my first book was of, but rather because of our loss. We are Wand help with our homes’ upkeep published. I was hesitant. He said, bold because we have already faced death are common, the need for connection is “Honey, they want to hear the person in a part of ourselves. We laugh at things most pressing. Often, personal behind the book.” So I reluctantly went. many people fear and count blessings connections with the church are broken This was different. A different woman among the mundane events of an ordinary upon becoming a widow. This time is the emerged in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. day. Invisible? Let’s change that. widow’s most painful, lonely, and With my Bible open before hungry Welcoming widows reflects the heart of vulnerable part of her journey, a time learners, I was energised and embraced God. when she needs believing friends near her. the opportunity. As a widow, I have learned that we all A second turning point came in the Miriam Neff is the author of several books change. And much of the change is good. Dominican Republic. I was treasuring a and the founder of Widowconnection.com. We become faith­filled because we cannot week of rest and relaxation after four of This article is reprinted from Christianity face the day any other way. We become the hardest years of my life. It was my Today magazine. ap

Visiting Ballarat? Worship with us at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday 10.30 am. 214 Armstrong Street South. Rev. Dr John Woodward Phone: (03) 5334 2909

2 8 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 L E T T E R S

with our like­minded friends, do our­ It is now recognised that there are 3000 selves? to 4000 alcohol­related deaths annually Of course the referendum was including the death of one young person a Letters defeated, and it was the vote in WA that week in an acute situation. The number tipped the scale, but most certainly with damaged by alcohol misuse is very, very no thanks to the wider church­going pub­ much more, placing huge demands on our lic. health, law enforcement, legal and other Out of tune R. B. Dewar, services. There is commensurate family Samson, WA tragedy. During the early days of the Hawke Many helpful measures have been Government, the “powers that be” in Scripture, not history called for recently but over and above Canberra decided that our constitution these, I believe, a powerful circuit breaker needed updating, and a constitutional is needed to initiate reversal of the culture amendment should be put to the people. Colin Gould (AP May 2008) says of intoxication that pervades so much of One part in particular, “Freedom of reformed interpretation of Scripture is our culture. This needed circuit breaker, I Religion”, caught the attention of based upon an approach called “historical maintain, is the cessation of alcohol adver­ Christian activists because the fine print grammatical” which attempts tising on TV. Such a dramatic and high indicated that what was actually to understand the text of the Bible as it profile step will put the responsible use of intended was freedom from religion. would have been understood by the orig­ alcohol and how to achieve it high on the Theological principles were not to be inal hearers and therefore requires as community’s agenda. taught in any public place, including pri­ much knowledge about the cultural and The easy thing to do will be to contact vate schools. linguistic context of those readers as we your state’s Senators in Federal A small number of concerned have access to. Parliament urging them to support Christians, scattered throughout the This is a half truth. Firstly we are told Senator Steven Fielding’s Alcohol Toll community, marshalled their resources, that these things are not written for his Reduction Bill 2007 which includes such a and the regular meetings soon became (Abraham’s) sake alone but for us also proposal. He is aiming for a 9pm to 5am large enough to fill a big hall. A somewhat (Rom. 4:24) and concerning Moses “all ban but I believe a total ban would be ambitious plan was put together to letter­ these things happened to them for exam­ more effective in achieving the above goal box the whole Perth metropolitan area, ples to us and are written for our admoni­ of culture reversal. The names and contact and many country towns as well. tion” (1 Cor. 10: 11). If then they are writ­ details of Senators can be readily obtained Fortunately for the campaign this ten for us, whose culture is more impor­ from the website www.aph.gov.au. writer had recently retired, and had taken tant, theirs or ours? The answer is that all up printing as a hobby. The carport soon that is necessary to be known of those John Woods became filled with boxes of paper, as peo­ past cultures is given in the Scriptures. Winmalee, NSW ple from an area of many square miles Secondly, our understanding of the around exchanged a boot­load of blank language of the original texts pre­emi­ paper for an equivalent amount of pam­ nently comes from the texts themselves, phlets. not from archaeologists. Although all In the middle of all this frantic activity, languages decline, neither Greek nor a neighbor, whom I knew to be a church­ Hebrew was ever a lost language. Visiting goer, asked what was going on. When I Archaeology and linguists can verify the sought to recruit him, he replied bible as in Ramsay’s confirmation Outback adamantly: “No... NO... I can’t possibly that the early Christians did indeed turn get involved in all this.” Pressed for a rea­ the world upside down and by examining Qeensland? son, he became somewhat agitated. “No, recent texts such as the Isaiah scroll; but no, I can’t. I sing in the church choir,” he they can also be corrosive. Better Greek said. scholars rejected texts such as the ?:? Dumbfounded? So was I... and then Alexandrian text but moderns accept it. the penny dropped. He had found Corrupted texts produce corrupted Worship with us at an “out”. And isn’t this the way it is with churches. Did the Alexandrian text pro­ most of us? There are many things we duce Islam? Is the NIV doing the same Charleville know we should do. Our conscience is today? Are modern bibles, one new one a St James Presbyterian Church telling us. We pray constantly for our week, fraudulent? politicians, that God will give them wis­ Neil Cadman, 76 Galatea St, Charleville, QLD dom and that they will do the right thing Norman Park, Qld when a controversial issue arises, but the : idea that we should write a letter and tell Ban alcohol ads them our opinion and what we believe Worship Service they should do, or what they are doing On the assumption that many of AP’s wrong, is totally “beyond the pale”. We readers are concerned about many of the Sunday 9am find an “out”, and the sad and tragic truth bad outcomes from the current misuse of Contact: Rev David Knott is that, in far too many cases, any old alcohol may I suggest that there is one (07) 4654 3100 “out” will do. Isn’t it hypocritical to pray thing they can do fairly easily to help in qq for things which we could, by combining the mitigation of this problem?

AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 • 2 9 EVANGELISME V AP RN AG YE EL RI S M

31 Presbytery of Torrens SA – 4 charges Henty charge southern NSW with JULY 2008 and 4 home mission stations totaling 9 about 95 c&a, 25 yf and 8 e. 21 Pray for the interim moderator, congregations with about 365 c&a and 11 Melville Korean home mission station, preachers and filling of the vacancy in 90 yf, 1 theological candidate, 1 retired Perth with about 75 c&a, 20 yf and 1 Montrose special (home mission) minister. Chris ten Broeke clerk. e; Sang­Ean and Bronwen Hong. charge Hobart with about 35 c&a 12 Pray for the Interim moderator, (communicants and adherents), 10 yf AUGUST 2008 preachers and filling of the vacancy in (younger folk – Sunday School and 1 Fire on the Mountain teaching week­ Gisborne home mission station Vic. youth) and 3 e (elders). end at Tamborine Mountain, Qld – all with about 25 c&a, 25 yf and 3 e. 22 Presbytery of Hastings NSW – 7 who attend, and speakers Bill Edgar, 13 Wes and Dianne Fittell mission part­ charges and 2 home mission stations Frank Stootman, Annette Harden and ners (APWM) workers from Creek totaling 16 congregations with about Bruce Winter. Road, Brisbane with OAC Ministries 1435 c&a and 335 yf, 4 retired minis­ 2 Ryde charge Sydney about 70 c&a, 5 involved in work among children and ters. John Rooimans clerk. yf and 8 e; David and Lisa Woolcott. youth. 23 Isaac Yat mission partners (APWM) 3 Steven and Lan mission partners 14 Students (full­ and part­time) and aca­ worker from Clayton, Melbourne (APWM) workers from Canley demic and other staff at Queensland serving with the Presbyterian Church Heights, Sydney, in Indochina Theological College; Bruce Winter of Sudan in church planting and evan­ involved in training workers. principal. The ministry Training gelism training. 4 MACH (Ministry Across Cultural Committee – Phil Campbell convener. 24 The members, leadership and pro­ Horizons) training program in Sydney 15 Young people for two work parties in grams of Presbyterian Youth, Victoria: this month – Mike Wilson. Vanuatu next summer – one at Talua, Alex Venn, Russell Graham, Rene 5 Young charge NSW with about 50 Santo and one at a Bible College on Graham and Sarah Brightwell. c&a, 10 yf and 7 e; Tim and Susan Tanna. 25 Rudi and Heila Schwartz taking up Ravenhall. 16 Continued relief and reconstruction work in the Kerang charge, Victoria; 6 Alex Kowalenko mission partners following the devastating cyclone in pray also for the vacancy at (APWM) worker from Parramatta Myanmar (Burma) and earthquake in Townsville. City church, in Portugal with China and that many will be led to 26 LeetonYanco charge including European Christian Mission involved think of eternal issues. Narrandera NSW with about 180 c&a, in theological education. 17 Pray for the Interim moderator, 20 yf and 12 e; Richard and Karen 7 Antioch Korean charge with about preachers and filling of the vacancy in Keith. 225 c&a and 110 yf ; Ki­ok and Sun Geelong North charge Vic. with about 27 Bell charge Qld including Coranga Ok Jung; and Siloam Korean charge 40 c&a, 10 yf and 2 e. North and Maclagan with about 60 with about 290 c&a, 60 yf and 4 e; 18 John and Keit Leung mission partners c&a, 25 yf and 7 e; Ray and Myrna Byeong Jae and Yeorang Ryu. Both (APWM) workers from Sydney with Evans. meet in Strathfield, Sydney. Chinese Christian Mission Australia 28 Pray for the Interim moderator, 8 Christian witness to the thousands of involved in promoting outreach in preachers and filling of the vacancy in participants and spectators at the inland Australia, New Zealand and the the Hawkesbury District (Windsor) Olympic Games. Pacific. home mission station NSW with 9 Presbytery of North Queensland – 5 19 Paul and Christina Cornford as they about 45 c&a, 10 yf and 4 e. charges and 5 home mission stations settle into work in North Pine charge, 29 Mt Evelyn charge Melbourne with totaling 12 congregations with about Brisbane with about 55 c&a, 11 yf and about 40 c&a, 15 yf and 4 e; Mark and 735 c&a and 325 yf, 2 retired ministers 2 e. NSW Sydney Melbourne Linda Crabb. and 3 under jurisdiction. Gregory 20 Wisdom and integrity for all members 30 Tuggeranong charge ACT (Isabella Watt clerk. of our national parliament including Plains) with about 80 c&a, 50 yf and 7 10 Pray for the Interim moderator, those newly in the senate. e; Mike and Kerry Pittman. preachers and filling of the vacancy in

Subscription form ✃ Please send me Australian Presbyterian magazine ... Payment Details Please find enclosed 1 year subscription (11 issues) ($38.50 inc. GST) Cheque/money order to Australian Presbyterian for: $______2 year ($70.40 inc. GST) Please debit $______from my Overseas: $A45 per year Donation Visa Bankcard Mastercard Magazine Missions Gift Subscription Account number: Deliver to: Expiry date:____/____ Name on Card______Name ...... Address ...... Signature______...... City/Suburb ...... Please send completed forms to:

State ...... P.code ...... Australian Presbyterian PO Box 375, Kilsyth VIC. 3137 Country...... Phone: (03) 9723 9684. Fax: (03) 9723 9685. Email: aus­[email protected] Phone ...... 3 0 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008 B O O K S

though of course this is up to the individ­ believes (chapters 1­5), how it functions in ual parent or school using the course. For terms of piety, worship and church order mid to senior high school students it is a Books (in an American setting of course – chap­ wonderful first read into church history. ters 5­8) and its history (again focusing in For those older readers who may never the end on conservative Presbyterianism have been introduced to the wonder of Soul­Depths and in the USA – chapters 9­13). church history, here is an ideal starting There is much to be learned, noted and, point. Soul­Heights as God leads, that could be put into prac­ S.M. Houghton was a history teacher An Exposition of Psalm 130 tice by Bible­loving Presbyterians any­ himself and a man who contributed Octavius Winslow where. Each chapter has a good set of greatly to the Banner of Truth’s work. It is Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2006. questions for discussion and a substantial a wonder that this student workbook has Reviewed by Peter Barnes list of further reading. not been written and published before now! ctavius Winslow preached at the Stuart Bonnington is minister of Scot’s Kirk, Oopening of Spurgeon’s Tabernacle Fremantle. Mignon Goswell is manager of PTC Media in London in 1861, so he was highly at the Presbyterian Theological College in regarded in his day. This work dates Sketches from Church Melbourne. from 1874, and might be compared History with John Owen’s 325 pages on the same Psalm in volume 6 of his works. Student Workbook The Promise: Winslow is punchier in style. For a start, Rebecca Frawley Daily Bible Readings he knows what a full stop is, and knows Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 2007. Introducing the Christian the difference between a paragraph and a Reviewed by Mignon Goswell Message chapter. This makes Winslow’s work an Alec Taylor invaluable treatment of a most vital Psalm. he publishers of this book inform us Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2006. Luther called this one of the “Pauline Tthat one survey on Amazon.com Reviewed by Peter Barnes psalms”. It speaks clearly of God’s free placed S.M. Houghton’s highly readable grace as the remedy for our sins. book Sketches from Church History third his is a book that should have been There are apt illustrations all on a list of useful books for homeschool­ Twritten a long time ago. It provides through the work, such as the words ers. I read Houghton’s Sketches with great the new Christian or the earnest inquirer of the pardoned criminal to Philip delight soon after it was published in with a most helpful introduction to the Doddridge, as an illustration of verse 1980. It covers the march of Christ’s Bible. Thirty­one biblical texts are repro­ 4b. There are also a number of very church on earth up to the end of the 19th duced, and simply explained. The cre­ appropriate citations of hymns. This is century. ation, the Fall, the covenants, and major preaching that is faithful to Scripture, It is with pleasure that I note the pub­ prophecies such as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 and warming to the human heart. lishing of this student workbook to are dealt with, as well as an outline of the accompany Houghton’s Sketches. It is spi­ New Testament message. Peter Barnes is books editor of AP. ral­bound for ease of use, basic black and Some more historical detail might have white in its presentation apart from the been useful and, while there are four days On Being Presbyterian covers, and contains space for short devoted to the incarnation, no example is Our Beliefs, Practices and answers. The chapters of the workbook given of Jesus’ miracles (apart from His easily correspond with the original text own resurrection) or parables. Also, some Stories and each chapter gives a book (and even of the applications are a bit predictable –

Sean Michael Lucas Presbyterian and Reformed: 2006. the occasional movie) for further research e.g. “Will you be there in heaven?”

Reviewed by Stuart Bonnington by the interested student For all that, this book is an ideal intro­ The workbook contains a variety of duction to the message of the Bible, and tasks from straightforward questions to to the practice of regular Bible reading. his is a very attractive handbook which answer, to maps to fill in, to crosswords Christians should buy some copies to give Thas been produced to introduce the and to essay topics. There are also three away. Presbyterian Church to new people join­ tests included as well as an answer key. ing it in the USA. It also serves The book suggests it can be completed in All books reviewed are available from the Presbyterians anywhere who are interested 18 weeks, three classes a week, so one Reformers Bookshop – Phone: (02) 9569 9857 in what Bible­based Presbyterianism semester is the time frame envisaged, or visit www.reformers.com.au ap

A U S T R A L I A N P R E S B Y T E R I A N July 2008 • 3 1 B A C K P A G E His Lordship first Acts, our paradigm for evangelism, never mentions love.

he book of Acts reveals to us again, then ascended to heaven, and how the gospel was made now rules from there from where He known to people who were, ini­ Peter shall come to judge the living and the tially at least, not Christians, be dead. But as the Spirit of God grasps Tthey Jews or Gentiles. The epistles, Barnes the sinful human heart, it almost works however, were written to churches or in reverse. It is His Lordship that people who at least professed faith in which is past (Acts 17:31). In present­ should grip us first. The Lordship of Christ. Therefore, it should be clear ing the gospel to those who were Christ is not tacked on to the message that in order to learn how to present steeped in the Old Testament, Peter of the Saviour. In the book of Acts it the gospel to unbelievers, we ought to briefly mentions the fact of the cruci­ is there in the original presentation. turn first to Acts rather than the epis­ fixion (Acts 2:23) before demonstrating Because of this, we need to repent tles. If we do so, we learn some star­ from Psalm 16 and Psalm 110 that of sin and put our faith in the Lord tling things. Jesus has risen from the dead and is as Saviour. The starting point is not the love of now seated at God’s right hand (Acts God but His Lordship. In most 2:24­35). This means that the crucified oday we are told to invite Jesus churches, the evangelist starts with the man Jesus is Tinto our hearts or to make a deci­ love of God. Billy Graham tells us in now Lord and sion for Him. In Acts we are told to his autobiography that he went into a The crowd Christ (Acts repent and believe in Christ Jesus (Acts pub in a Roman Catholic section of condemned 2:36). Jesus is 2:38; 3:19; 17:30). The good news that not a great man Ireland on a Sunday morning to tell Jesus, but God is proclaimed to the sinner is that the among great Lord is also the Saviour. patrons “how much God loved them”. reversed that That is hardly the starting point of the men. He is the Again, we work backwards. The one apostle Paul. verdict. The Lord of all cre­ who is the risen Lord and judge of all When Paul was preaching in Athens, court on earth ation. the earth is the very one who died on he began by telling the Stoic and got it dread­ The only way the cross to pay the penalty for sin. Epicurean philosophers: “The God who fully wrong; to demolish The message is not “Jesus died for made the world and everything in it, the court in Christianity is to everybody, so you need to make Him being Lord of heaven and earth, does heaven got it demolish the your personal Saviour”, but “Jesus the fact of Christ’s not live in temples made by man, nor wonderfully Lord died for sinners, and you as a sin­ is He served by human hands, as resurrection. The ner need to cast yourself on His right. though He needed anything, since He person who mercy”. himself gives to all mankind life and accepts that breath and everything” (Acts 17:24­25). Jesus rose from the dead, never to die Peter Barnes is minister of Revesby again, is accepting that Jesus is Lord Presbyterian Church, NSW. ap ince God is the creator of all, He over all things, including death. He has Sis Lord of all, including you and defeated death, the last enemy, the one me, whether we believe that or not. whom we cannot defeat. Why believe Strangely enough, the word “love” is in Jesus of Nazareth and not Buddha not found in the book of Acts at all, or Mohammed? One of the first rea­ although Paul does tell the people of sons has to be that Jesus is alive now, Visiting Lystra that God is good to all (Acts but Buddha and Mohammed are dead. 14:17). This means that God is good Therefore, we are accountable to to those who are not good and who Him in the judgment. If the man Jesus Melbourne? do not acknowledge Him. is the risen Lord, then obviously I need This leads to the Lordship of Christ to be put right with Him. The crowd which is proved by His resurrection. condemned Jesus, but God the Father Worship with us at South Yarra Chronologically, the crucifixion natu­ reversed that verdict and vindicated Presbyterian Church rally comes first, then the resurrection, Him. The court on earth got it dread­ but in presenting the gospel, the apos­ fully wrong; the court in heaven got it 621 Punt Road tles pass over the crucifixion quickly in wonderfully right. Every Sunday 10.30am & 5.30pm. order to emphasise that Jesus rose This Christ is the judge. God has Session Clerk: Mr Jack Adlawan from the dead and lives forevermore. fixed a day on which He will judge the To the Athenians, Paul says that the world in righteousness by a man whom Phone: (03) 9808 7391 He has appointed (Acts 17:31). day of judgment, which is to come, is (Less than 3 kms from CBD) proved by the resurrection of Jesus, Chronologically, Jesus died, then rose

3 2 • AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN July 2008