October 2020 PAGES 56 ` 20/-
International Girl Child Day
Vol. 49 / No. 10 AIM Annual Subscription for India, Nepal & Bhutan Rs. 200/- (Other countries $ 20)
A monthly publication of EFI Publication Trust
Editorial Taking Care of our old parents Rev. Vijayesh Lal ...... 4 Dr. Sanjay Avinash Mall ...... 31
Pandemic What the Bible says to the Old Mr. Chacko Thomas ...... 07 Generation Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj ...... 36 Growing in Biblical Faith Rev. Dr. David Mende ...... 14 The Fruit of the Holy Spirit Rev. Richard Masih ...... 42 A warrior for Non-Violence Dr. Shantanu Dutta ...... 17 Elders Mr. Hanraj Jain ...... 46 Tea Garden churches (Part 2) Rev. Dr. Takatemjen Ao ...... 20 Prayer ...... 50 When one monk lost his cool Rev. Kuruvilla Chandy ...... 24
ADVERTISEMENT RATE Editorial Committee Centre Spread (Color) : Rs. 7000/- Rev. Vijayesh Lal : Hon. Editor-in-Chief Back Cover (Color) : Rs. 5000/- Front Inside (Color) : Rs. 4000/- Mrs. Sara Chonghoikim : Associate Editor Back Inside Page (Color): Rs. 4000/- Dr. John Dayal : Editorial Consultant Ordinary Page (B&W) : Rs. 2000/- Mr. Manish Walter : Design Consultant Half Page (B&W) : Rs. 1200/- Mr. Hansraj Jain : Nagpur One third Page (B&W) : Rs. 900/- Quarter Page (B&W) : Rs. 500/- Mrs. Sonia Daniel : New Delhi
For subscription query call us: 011-26431133; Tele/Fax: 011-26285350, E-mail: [email protected], website: www.efionline.org
THE TREASURER, EFI PUBLICATION TRUST, 805/92, Deepali, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110019. Please Note: No article in AIM should be reproduced /translated without Editor’s written permission. Editor’s Note: Each Author is responsible for the point of view presented, which does not necessarily represent the view of Evangelical Fellowship of India.
3 October 2020/AIM Editorial
Rev. Vijayesh Lal
September 2020 has been quite ailing Advocate Sudha Bharadwaj eventful. From the announcement on once again denied bail. day one of the negative quarterly And meanwhile, our TV sets GDP, an important index of the numbed us to the reality of the nation national economy’s health, to the or to the pain of the people around us stormy session of Parliament that as high-pitched and high paid saw Question Hour being dropped, anchors led us to believe that all that the railroading of critical bills that mattered in life was gossip presented will go against the interests of India’s as expose of the film fraternity’s crores of farmers, and as a last straw, flirtation with the dark side. In the slamming through amendments to process, some of the media’s new the already draconian FCRA which favourites were given security will starve civil society groups of reserved for top politicians, while funding they need to help the needy the objects of their hate campaigns and the marginalised. were arrested on hearsay.
Activists Kafeel Khan and We had a few losses as well in public Devangana Kalita were finally life. Swami Agnivesh and singing granted bail while scholar Dr. Umar maestro S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Khalid was arrested, Professor India also lost Harley the Bike, while Apoorvanand targeted, and the Amnesty the Human Rights
4 October 2020/AIM Advocacy group was forced to shut of September. Her family carried the down operations. Religious body home, but policemen did not let minorities were targeted both in the them. Media showed visuals of villages of Kondagaon and Simdega policemen forming a human chain to as well as from the floor of keep people away from the burning Parliament. It was in the august pyre they had made for the body. chamber of the Lok Sabha that a Another month in the history of a former police officer turned nation, and a civilisation. politician sought to besmirch the memory of a martyr and his young India, along with other nations will sons burnt alive 21 years ago while observe the ‘International Day of the serving the poorest of India’s poor. Girl Child’ on October 11. Let the observance move from mere The month ended with the tokenism to a firm resolve to tackle heartrending news of the police in the menace of gender violence in our Uttar Pradesh allegedly forcibly nation. cremating the broken body of a rape victim, a 19-year-old Dalit woman, The Church in India must lead this who was tortured, and gang raped by cause, both within and outside and four high caste men in the State’s for good reason. Hathras district. This was one of many similar crimes in that state and God created men and women equal others. She had been found on 14th and in His own likeness and image September, naked and bleeding from (Genesis 1:27). He blessed the her mouth, neck and eye, in woman and gave her authority along Bhoolgarhi village in the district. with the man over other living things Her tongue was cut, eyes were (Genesis 1: 28 – 30). bulging out and she had multiple The Old Testament is full of fractures. The courts have examples of women who were questioned the police for their laxity. leaders and used by God to fulfil His Civil society said the police sided eternal purposes. Whether it be with the powerful caste of the Deborah, or Miriam or Ruth or village. Esther, God’s plan included both The young woman died on the 29th women and men. In the New
5 October 2020/AIM Testament, we find Mary, the mother seen as a counterculture community of Jesus, and the Prophet Anna, who in a nation that is saturated with spoke about Jesus “to all who were patriarchy and structures that keep looking forward to the redemption of the women subjugated. Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38). God is prejudiced in favour of the Women were among the disciples of marginalized and the oppressed and Jesus and when He was crucified and identifies with them. The Church in His closest disciples had deserted India must follow the lead and him, the women stayed. The early challenge unjust power structures Church had women as leaders and in and work with Him, armed with His this the Church was markedly love and compassion to bring about different from the culture around justice and transformation, starting them. with our own homes.
The Church in India too needs to be Rev. Vijayesh Lal
6 October 2020/AIM PANDEMIC!
Mr. Chacko Thomas
I am not talking about the Corona valuing of boy-children. There are virus, the Covid 19. about 500 mentions of “children” in the Bible. Children, obviously, Pope Francis called Gossip, “a includes girls and boys. Girls are pandemic worse than Corona Virus.” specifically mentioned when God gave the Commandment about I wonder if he would call the “Girl REST, the fourth of the Ten Child” issues, a pandemic as well. Commandments. He knows well the Sadly, there are dozens more such human heart. He knew that we would Pandemics in our culture, claiming discriminate against the girls. So, the millions of lives annually. fourth Commandment is the longest of all Commandments and note what International Girl Child Day: The it says about the females and fact that the UN has to set aside an refugees. International Day for it tells us that the pandemic is not just an Indian Exodus 20:8-11: 8 “Remember the Plague, it is more wide-spread, sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six affecting billions of lives. Like days you shall labor and do all your gossip, it is neither recent nor is there work, 10 but the seventh day is a a vaccine against it. sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or The Good News first. The good your son or your daughter, your male news is that God is not for our under- or your female servant or your cattle valuing of girl-children and over- or your sojourner who stays with
7 October 2020/AIM you. 11 For in six days the LORD Consider the fact that just as our made the heavens and the earth, the Lord went out of his way into Jericho sea and all that is in them, and rested to save a man, Zacchaeus He also on the seventh day; therefore the went through the forbidden land of LORD blessed the sabbath day and Samaria to save a woman, an outcast made it holy. (NASB. Underline is at that, the woman of Samaria. mine) Again, just as our Lord raised a man, Lazarus from the dead He also raised Did our Lord Jesus value girls? girl, back to life. Matthew 18:1-6 tells us about who is the greatest in the Kingdom of A book “Lost Women of the Bible” Heaven. A “child”, “children” or is a study of nine women in the Bible, “little ones” appears five time in this with the tenth chapter being a study passage. Then in verse 6, The Lord of a group of women in Philippi. Jesus said, “but whoever causes one Among Carolyn Custis James' line of these little ones who believe in Me up of women are Noah's wife whom to stumble, it would be better for him she calls “The Unknown Soldier”. to have a heavy millstone hung Sara is titled “Life in the Margin.” around his neck, and to be drowned Hagar, the Egyptian slave is the in the depth of the sea.” “Invisible Woman”, Tamar is “Missing in Action”, Esther is If ever we doubted the value the Lord “Sleeping Beauty”, Mary the mother placed on a child, (girl or boy) this of our Lord is “The First Disciple”, verse (18:6) should settle it. What Mary Magdalene is “Apostle to the message are we sending them? Apostles.” Her last chapter, about Stumbling stones or Stepping the women in the Philippian church stones? It is no exaggeration to say who aligned themselves with the that our culture has been a huge Apostle Paul for the Kingdom work stumbling block to “Girl Children”. is entitled, “Recovering the Blessed Alliance”. These women stood Matthew 19:14 reads, But Jesus said, “shoulder to shoulder” with the “Let the children alone, and do not Apostle Paul in the work of hinder them from coming to Me; for evangelising the world. Eve is her the kingdom of heaven belongs to first candidate in the book and the such as these.” So, all children are chapter is called “A Forgotten welcome by Him. He blesses them legacy”. It is a great book that all all without regard for their gender or women and men would benefit from race or caste or colour or status. reading.
8 October 2020/AIM In her “Conclusion: Lost and behold, it was very good. And there Found”, she goes on to mention was evening and there was morning, times in the Bible when God sent a the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:28-31.) word to a woman. To Abraham, the God has not given up or replaced this Lord asked, “where is your wife, mandate. Sarah?” An angel spoke to that Egyptian slave girl Hagar and What God has “blessed”, let no Abraham's family learned the great man/woman or religion regard as truth that God is a God who sees and “cursed”. These significant verses of hears all things, even sees a slave the Creation Mandate need to girl. Amazing, isn't it that God sent influence India. It is good news for one of his main Angels, Gabriel to a all human beings. Let us make sure village in Nazareth, to speak to a that every Indian in India and abroad teenager Mary? When the Apostle know what God has said about them. Paul responded to the Macedonian Let girls and women grow up Call, the people who actually knowing the great value God has welcomed him were a small group of placed on them as His creation, women. (Please check out this book: created in His own image. ISBN – 13: 978-0-310-28525-0) Sorry, Now the Bad News. The Creation mandate: “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our Gender-based Proverbs: Here are a image, according to Our likeness; few proverbs about women from and let them rule over the fish of the around the world, (I have excluded sea and over the birds of the sky and some real violent ones, it is a shame over the cattle and over all the earth, to repeat them). I take no joy in and over every creeping thing that reproducing the ones below. I hope creeps on the earth.” 27 God created they makes you outrageous. I man in His own image, in the image include these proverbs here to show of God He created him; male and us a terrible ungodly mindset has female He created them. 28 God taken hold of us. Thus, we are all part blessed them; and God said to them, of the problem. If these proverbs “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the represent your mindset, then you earth, and subdue it; and rule over need to repent. Not only repent but the fish of the sea and over the birds break the cycle of such thinking. And of the sky and over every living thing join the solution party. that moves on the earth. … 31 God saw all that He had made, and Arab Proverbs: “A man loves first
9 October 2020/AIM his son, then his camel, then his alternative for each of them. I hope wife.” all such proverbs against women can be eradicated from our culture by the “A woman's heaven is under feet of power of the Word of God. We also her husband”. need to eliminate all wife jokes, trying to get a cheap laughter. We Orthodox Jews' Prayer, a part of: should be crying instead. “Lord, I thank thee that I was not born a woman”. All but the last proverb, quoted above is taken from the Appendix of Punjabi Proverb: “If a wife dies, it is the book “SOS: Save our Sisters” like a blow to the ankle. If a husband subtitled “An Action guide for dies, it is like a blow on the head.” helping girls and women at risk worldwide”. It is not an easy book to Ancient Atharva Veda “The Birth of read. But “… this book goes beyond a girl, grant elsewhere; here, grant a highlighting the ugly facts about boy.” female infanticide, child brides, girl soldiers, “honour” killings and other Nigerian (Yoruda): when an ass abuses. It is a book to inspire climbs a ladder, we may find wisdom individuals and churches to action in a woman.” that can help turn the tide”. SOS is authored by Deborah Meroff and Confucius of China: “It is a law of published by OM Books, available nature that women should not be in India, in English as well as in a few allowed any will of her own.” other Indian languages. (KC Joseph
10 October 2020/AIM part. They “have not backed away the pay of males for the same work. from speaking directly about some On a one hectare farm in the Indian of the most private and painful issues Himalayans, a pair of bullocks that impact voiceless women.” works 1064 hours, a man works (ISBN 1-4276-0425-8). 1212 hours and a woman 3485 hours in a year. Worldwide, over 60 % of Child Prostitution: 10 million people working in family enterprises children worldwide are engaged in without pay are women. some facet of the sex industry. Each year at least one million children, An African peasant woman typically mostly girls, become prostitutes works 16 hours daily, trudging long (most usually organised by an distances to fetch firewood, animal intermediary like, a parent, family fodder and water, growing and member, procurer or teacher.) In harvesting food, tending crops and Thailand, 10-12 year old girls cooking and caring for her family. service men in the sex industry. They This leaves little time to seek typically have sex with men 10-15 education and training, the very times daily, sometimes as many as things that enable women to break 20-30. Let us pray claiming what the the cycle of low status and poverty. Bible says, “Because of the Let us pray because the Bible says, oppression of the weak and “Who is like our God who rescues groanings of the needy, God will the poor from those too strong for now arise” Psalms 12:5. Pray that the them” Ps. 34:10. Lord would arise and defend the little ones, that God would raise up Barren Women: 50-80 million lawyers, moviemakers and people worldwide suffer from government rulers who will bring an infertility. The impact of infertility is end to this savage exploitation. compounded because women are generally held responsible for Female Labourers: (Definition: reproductive failure. This blame can Female labourers are women who result in divorce, husbands taking a work too long, too hard and too second wife, difficulties with in- much, especially in backbreaking laws, domestic violence and manual work.) Out of the 550 economic abandonment. In some million working poor in the world, places, motherhood is the only way an estimated 330 million, or 60%, for women to enhance their status are women. Majority of the women within the family and community. earn on the average about 3/4th of Let us pray that God would raise up
11 October 2020/AIM Christian leaders in traditional The book also mentions a few cultures to speak about the true value countries one of which is of women. Pray for “miracle” Afghanistan which I shall mention babies. below, because it is a country that badly needs our prayers. And God is Slavery: Slavery is forced labour. at work there. For women and children this includes being sold for prostitution Afghanistan: Afghanistan has had o r d e b t b o n d a g e , u s e d i n wars for decades. It had an extreme pornography or armed conflict or fundamentalist government until being harvested for human organs. 2001. It is one of the ten poorest There are over 27 million slaves in countries in the world. The female the world today. There are 218 population is over 15million. Life million working children between expectance for women is 42 years of the ages of 5 and 17. An estimated age. It is the only country in the 100, 000 women and children are world where girls are banned from forced to enter the sex trade in the secondary school education. USA each year. Children aged 7 to Schools for girls have been attacked 10, work 12 to 14 hours a day, are and set on fire. 57% of girls marry paid less than one-third of the adult before the age of 16. Zaynab, 18, wage and are vulnerable to sexual Afghan mother of five says, “My and physical abuse. Because God is father forcibly married me to an old the redeemer of those in slavery, man when I was 11 and my husband (Deut. 7:8), let us pray for the treated me like a slave over the last redemption of those trapped in seven years.” slavery, that media would expose slavery, and for governments to Please pray that Afghanis would enforces anti-slavery laws. grasp the truth that when God created man and woman, He said it Well, these are just four of the 30 was very good. Pray that God would “Girl Child” related evils listed in the restore in Afghanistan His image book. The list is long, it includes which is distorted through Domestic violence, Single Mothers, oppression and exploitation. And Education, Missing Women, Dowry, that God would send many workers; Rape, Honour Killings, Teenage educators and evangelists into its Mothers, FGM, Trafficking, harvest fields. Starvation, Pornography, Incest, Purdah, Eating Disorders, Refugees Are you outraged? Grieved? and Abortion. Angry? Moved? Unmoved?
12 October 2020/AIM It was said of Robert Kennedy that his distinguishable quality was his capacity for moral outrage. “That is unacceptable”, he said of many conditions that we accept as inevitable …poverty, illiteracy, m a l n u t r i t i o n , p r e j u d i c e , crookedness, conniving - all such accepted evils were a personal affront to him.” …One might say Mr. Chacko Thomas that apathy is the acceptance of the is presently a Minister-at-large with unacceptable.” (quoted by John Stott Operation Mobilisation. He served - Through the Bible Through the for 15 years on the OM Ships Logos, Year.) Doulos, and Logos II. His ministry has taken him to 107 countries in six May the Lord move us to prayer and continents. One of his few passions is actions and use as answer to at least to see the earth filled with the one person's cry for help. knowledge of the Lord and His values blessing the nations. He can be contacted on [email protected]
13 October 2020/AIM Growing in Biblical Faith Rev. Dr. David Mende
The Necessity of Faith In this article, I want to briefly explain the true nature of biblical In the last few decades, there has faith by raising a few important been a growing emphasis on faith in questions about faith. many churches. Most of us agree that faith is an integral part of our Is Faith a Law? spiritual lives. The author of Hebrews says that without faith, it is Based on Romans 3:27, many so- not just difficult, but it is “impossible called “faith teachers” preach that to please him [God]” (Heb. 11:6). the “law of faith” is similar to the Unbelief limited Jesus from doing gravitational force. They believe that “many mighty works” in Nazareth, just as gravity works every time it is his hometown (Mt. 13:58). The New set into motion, the “law of faith” Testament clearly teaches the need works every time a believer trusts for faith to receive any blessing from God and makes a positive God (Mt. 9:2, 22, 29; 15:28; Mk confession. Furthermore, many such 9:23; 11:23-24; Jn 14:12; Jas 5:15). preachers view faith as a formula. Thus, every believer must strive to For instance, Fred Price argues that grow in his or her faith. But there is Romans 10:10 is a formula which confusion among several Christians anybody “could put anything in regarding the nature of biblical faith. t h e r e [ t h e f o r m u l a ] y o u want—healing, your needs met, new
14 October 2020/AIM job, car, home, whatever you need.” himself. God's people should However, when one views faith as a recognize that God is the source and mere law or a formula, there is a object of our faith. danger of reducing God to an impersonal being who invariably Can we Receive Whatever we works on preordained laws (similar Ask? to deism) rather than the sovereign In Mark 11:24, Jesus says to His God of the Bible who is actively disciples, “Therefore I tell you, involved in the lives of his people. whatever you ask in prayer, believe One should not think of faith as a that you have received it, and it will magical formula through which we be yours.” Based on this verse, some can manipulate or command God. teach that no matter what you want, Biblical faith is put in a person you can “name it and claim it” (God), not in a force. through faith. This is not true. We Can we Possess God's Faith? cannot twist the arm of God by exercising our faith or through Some preachers speak of having positive confession. While we must faith in our own faith. That is have a vibrant faith, we should not ludicrous. Mark 11:22 is clear that belittle the sovereignty of God. No we must “have faith in God,” not in matter how much faith we muster, our own faith. The object of faith is our faith cannot override the God. But some contend that Mark sovereignty of God. The psalmist 11:22 should be translated as “Have says “Our God is in the heavens; he God's faith” or “Have God-kind of does all that he pleases” (Ps. 115:3; faith.” However, the Bible nowhere also, see Ps. 135:6). Further, the explicitly teaches that God has faith. Bible teaches that “The heart of man Moreover, in Greek, the expression plans his way, but the LORD “Have faith in God” in verse 22 is an establishes his steps” (Prov. 16:9). objective genitive, which implies The entire Bible affirms God's that the object of faith is God. Jesus sovereignty, whereas some of the is teaching his disciples that we must “faith preachers” deny or belittle trust God, his character, his G o d ' s s o v e r e i g n t y a n d promises, his purposes, his plans, independence. and his will. We must have faith in God which is imparted to us by God So, we must pray in faith, but we
15 October 2020/AIM must always seek God's will as we faith. We must read the Word, pray. The perfect model for such meditate on the Word, relish the prayer is our Lord Jesus Christ. This Word, long for the Word, and live the is how Jesus prayed in the darkest Word. God's people must heed the hour of his life: “Abba, Father, all advice of Charles Spurgeon, “Visit things are possible for you. Remove many good books, but live in the this cup from me. Yet not what I will, Bible.” The Bible must become a but what you will” (Mk 14:36). This part of our daily spiritual diet. Then, verse demonstrates that Jesus had a we will be able to grow in our faith strong faith in the Father's power, yet and gradually become like Christ. he was willing to submit to his May the Lord help us to grow in our Father's will. Similarly, we must faith each day! have faith in God's power, but at the same time, we must be submissive to his will. We must have robust faith coupled with utmost submission to God's will.
How do we Grow in Biblical Faith?
Faith comes by feasting on God's Word (Rom. 10:17). In order to grow in our salvation, “like newborn Rev. Dr. David Mende infants,” we must “long for the pure is the pastor-teacher at El-Shaddai spiritual milk” (1 Pet. 2:2). Merely A s s e m b l y o f G o d C h u rc h reading the Word in order to perform (elshaddaiag.in) in Hyderabad. He a religious duty or to prepare a also serves as an adjunct faculty sermon will not enable us to grow in member at Southern Asia Bible our faith. Reading the Bible for five College (SABC) in Bangalore, to ten minutes and filling our minds Hyderabad Institute of Theology and Apologetics (HITHA) in Hyderabad, with “the cares of the world and the and SUM Bible College & deceitfulness of riches and the Theological Seminary in California, desires for other things” throughout USA. He can be reached at +91 the day will “choke the Word” (Mk 9 8 4 8 0 0 4 0 9 4 a n d 4:19) and hinder our progress in [email protected].
16 October 2020/AIM A warrior for non-violence
Dr. Shantanu Dutta
For the last few weeks, I have been of this, his birthday October 2nd is reacquainting myself with Mahatma observed as the International Day Gandhi's legacy through the talks against Non-Violence. If Gandhiji and lectures of the well-known were indeed inspired by the b i o g r a p h e r a n d h i s t o r i a n teachings of Jesus, where would he Ramachandra Guha. He reminds us have looked. Since most associate of the four pillars of his philosophy him with his reading of the sermon which to him were non-negotiable. on the Mount, I decided to begin They are, 1) Non violence or Ahimsa there. 2) Religious harmony 3) Abolition of Untouchability and other forms of The Sermon on the Mount (found in social inequity based on caste, Matthew 5, 6 and 7) is one of the gender, ethnicity and 4) Economic most detailed teachings of Jesus Self Reliance. It is undoubtedly true Christ recorded in the New that decades after his death, these Testament. In this vital sermon, tenets are of abiding relevance in Jesus Christ laid out the central India and the world. Christians claim facets of the way of life He taught that Gandhiji's teachings on and His followers. One of the central thought and nonviolence were themes of the Sermon on the Mount inspired by the teachings of Jesus. It is Christ's expectation that His may be true and if so, the circle was followers be characterized by completed when Gandhiji's life and peace—not violence or war. In the thoughts went on to inspire other famous opening to this great sermon Christian leaders like Archbishop known as the Beatitudes, Jesus Desmond Tutu and the Rev. Martin taught, “Blessed [happy] are the Luther King Jr in their own peacemakers, for they shall be called respective struggles. In recognition sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Christ's
17 October 2020/AIM followers should be characterized by John wrote: “Whoever hates his living a way that leads to brother is a murderer, and you know peace—totally the opposite of a life that no murderer has eternal life characterized by violence and strife. abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). Many other scriptures make it clear that The Christian standard of being a hating another person is sin and peacemaker is found throughout the breaks this commandment (2 New Testament. The apostle Paul Corinthians 12:20; Titus 3:3; 1 John wrote that Christians are to do 2:9-11). whatever possible to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Jesus called his disciples to love their Many scriptures support the basic enemies, to be abundantly merciful, truth that Christians are to “pursue to repent and forgive, and to offer no peace with all people” (Hebrews violent resistance to those who do 12:14; see also 2 Corinthians 13:11; evil. But he also modelled Galatians 5:22; James 3:17). You nonviolence by actively confronting have heard that it was said to those of injustice and violence, as when he old, 'You shall not murder, and defied the Sabbath laws to heal the whoever murders will be in danger disabled, confronted unjust power at of the judgment.' But I say to you that the Temple, challenged a throng of whoever is angry with his brother assailants accusing a woman of without a cause shall be in danger of adultery, and, on the night before he the judgment. And whoever says to died, commanded Peter to put down his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger his sword. Neither passive nor weak, of the council. But whoever says, Jesus' nonviolence is the power of 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell love in action for the well-being of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22). all.
Jesus was expanding the meaning of Imagine nurturing a new identity as the Sixth Commandment by nonviolent people in a nonviolent revealing the spirit of the law against church with a clear and deliberate taking human life. Jesus showed that commitment to preaching, teaching, it's not just the physical act of murder activating, and boldly proclaiming t h a t b r e a k s t h e S i x t h Jesus' nonviolence at every level. We Commandment. Inner anger and must return good for evil, break the hostility toward other human beings chains of escalatory violence and also break this law. Yes, having revenge, stand up to systemic feelings of hatred toward other injustice not with violence but with human beings is a sin and breaks the determined love, and fully trust the Sixth Commandment! The rest of the God of love and truth rather than the Bible elaborates on this key power of violence. And if the statement by Christ. Notice what theology and spirituality of gospel
18 October 2020/AIM nonviolence were more deliberately emergence of an overarching culture integrated into the life of the church, of nonviolence and just peace. we would more clearly recognize the sacred way and work of peace, In a world where violence is so reconciliation, and nonviolent prevalent, so systematically woven transformation in our time of through our lives and societies, so monumental crisis and opportunity. normal, we will be called to a determined, risky, and courageous In its first three centuries, the church formation process as people and wagered that Jesus was utterly church. We will be called to confess serious when he said “love your our violence, make amends for our enemies” and “peace be with you” violence, and give up our deeply- and therefore, consistently sought to embedded belief in violence, what embody the way and discipline of the late scripture scholar Walter spiritually grounded nonviolence. Wink called our “myth of Now, facing our turbulent age of redemptive violence.” As Christians, global violence, searing injustice, our best contribution to this and catastrophic climate change, we worldwide process is to reclaim the are dramatically invited again to vision and mission of the nonviolent recentre our lives and our church in J e s u s . T h i s w i l l m e a n the spirituality and practice of the acknowledging our violence, relying nonviolent Jesus—and to be on the God of peace and consciously freed from the alluring nonviolence, and bringing this temptation that violence is the power of love-in-action into the answer to violence. concrete life of our church and our world. There are no guarantees that nonviolence will in every case immediately end violence or injustice. But at the same time, violence cannot guarantee this either. Active nonviolence trumps violence in its ability to more often than not create alternatives, to mobilize people power, and to address the deeper roots of the Dr. Shantanu Dutta conflict rather than simply suppress a former Air Force Doctor serves as or obliterate one or another party. Senior Specialist, Thought Speaking broadly, the just war Leadership Initiatives, International doctrine hinders the discovery of Justice Mission. He can be reached new practices and stymies the at [email protected]
19 October 2020/AIM (from the previous issue)
The Tea Garden Churches in the Assam-Nagaland Border: A Missional Perspective The American Baptist Mission Rev. Dr. Takatemjen
From the beginning, the Baptist figures had risen to 775844. By this Mission had looked at the Assam time there were three Baptist Field as a major area of operation for mission stations, namely, Sibsagar, the Baptist missionaries because Nowgong, and Guwahati from they believed that the tea trade in where the Baptist Mission continued Assam would bring in more people the mission activities. The interest in from outside and will change the the Tea Tribes grew more and more landscape of Assam. The first amongst the Baptist missionaries American Baptist Missionaries were because of the failure of the very excited about the Tea indigenous peoples, that is, the plantations in Assam. Rev Brown Assamese people, to accept the prophesied that because of the Tea message of the Gospel. Year after Industry a great change was about to year, the annual conference reports take place in Assam, converting the of the Baptist Mission had indicated impenetrable jungles into “the that the Assamese people had failed garden of the Lord”- a happy abode to accept Christianity. At Guwahati, of industry. Even Mr. Ward was of though the work had been started as the view that the province was sure early as 1843 and the converts to to become one of the finest tea Christianity had numbered 1204 in gardens in the world 1 . The the Kamrup district, none of them immigration of Tea Labourers belonged to the indigenous reached its climax in the last decades population of the north bank of the of the 19th century. The labour force Brahmaputra.2 The immigrants in the Tea gardens increased to continued to come and settled down 510672 in 1891 and by 1901 the in the Brahmaputra and Barak
20 October 2020/AIM valleys and these valleys became the However, not everything about the chief attraction for the missionaries Christian movement amongst the to do their work of evangelisation Tea Tribes were pleasant. One of the and to introduce other mission regrets of the missionaries was that activities. By 1931, the Christians the number of leaders from the Tea numbering about 350000 resident in tribes were very few. Moore wrote: the Brahmaputra valley were either “The problem of consecrated, Tea Garden labourers or descendants trained, effective leadership for our of ex-tea garden labourers who had churches is still unresolved. How settled in those areas.3 can they be strong and aggressive unless they are rooted and grounded The Mundas or the Kols, who are in the truth”.6 Related with the believed to be of the Kolarian stock, leadership problem was the problem amongst whom the Baptist of poverty and ignorance and the missionaries started to work in worst feature in their society was the Assam are the major tribe amongst addiction to opium eating. The the immigrants in the Tea Gardens of missionaries tried to help but they Assam today. They originally were not willing to help themselves belonged to the large Ranchi plateau many times. And hence such people of of the Chotanagpur region. By were not permitted to participate in 1911, the missionaries could report the Lord's supper. Another problem that a satisfactory work had been was the non-cooperation of the Tea done amongst the Mundaris and management with mission. Some several churches established and were anxious to have the they were brought together under an missionaries visit the plantations, Association which met annually and others were not so friendly and they became an effective agency to unite even went to the extent of the Christians in fellowship.4 One of threatening the missionaries should the motives of conversion amongst they ever attempt to work there the Tea labourers was for social again. By 1900, work on the three progress. The Kols were often gardens in North Lakhimpur had looked down by their neighbours. come to an end because the Tea Christianity gave them respect and management did not allow the dignity of life. It gave them a unique coolies to meet for worship or to social position compared to their receive instruction. Apart from these neighbours. The work amongst the problems, there were also unhealthy Mundas continued to grow rapidly. competition amongst the missions.7 According to 1991 census, the Mundas in India numbered around D e s p i t e p r o b l e m s a n d 5,93,839 Christians. Of this 128000 discouragements, the church grew were in Assam.5 amongst the Tea tribes. By 1899,
21 October 2020/AIM work among them was carried on Labourers consists in rendering from 12 mission stations. The report education through the opening of shows that in the North Lakhimpur schools including boarding schools field there were 7 churches; in the for girls and through their Golaghat field, 4; in the Dibrugarh involvement in philanthropic field, 4; and in the Sibsagar field, 2. activities, uplifting and liberating Some of the churches were very them from their socio-economic small, being composed of the first bondage. Through the establishment few ingathering from different Tea of churches and by bringing them Gardens.8 The commission report of together into unity and fellowships, 1928-29 on Assam Baptist Mission9 the tribes were given an opportunity after touring Sibsagar, Golaghat, to embrace the moral teaching of the Nowgong and Gauhati mission g o o d n e w s r a i s i n g t h e i r centres of work reported that there understanding of morality and was an extensive work among the tea giving them a new sense of dignity garden coolie population, mainly and respect for life. immigrants from other parts of India. It was of great interest to the The Assam Valley Baptist Mission commission to visit one of these Tea After the departure of the American Garden coolie churches some Baptist Missionaries from Northeast distance from Nowgong, where they India, around 1954, much mission found that having served their term activities had been carried on by as contract labourers, these people local Baptist Churches amongst the had settled permanently upon Tea Tribes in the borders of Assam available tracts of land and were and Nagaland which continues till relatively prosperous compared to today. One such mission is the their former condition. There were Assam Valley Baptist Mission. also a number of Christians Mundari Before the starting of any villages, with their little churches in evangelistic programs amongst the region which the commission these people, especially in the visited.10 Jorhat District of Assam , the first contacts were made by the Ao Naga The Contributions of the American nurses and their families who were Baptist Mission to the Tea Tribes widely employed in all the Tea cannot be underestimated. Landing Garden Hospitals by the British Tea in Sadiya around the mid 1830s ,the planters way back in 1930s. Slowly mission started its work amidst there were converts and they were problems and discouragements till organised into fellowships in about the time when the missionaries different localities. In the beginning, were compelled to leave 1950s. all the churches (fellowships) were Their contributions to the Tea independent and as time went by
22 October 2020/AIM o t h e r C h r i s t i a n associations/Missions came and some of the fellowships were a f f i l i a t e d t o d i f f e r e n t Associations/Mission agencies. As for example, in Jorhat district, under the Sibsagar Baptist Association there are 13 churches. There are also 6 churches affiliated to Golaghat M a i d h a y a A s s a m B a p t i s t Rev. Dr. Takatemjen Association, and 10 Churches are is a former Principal of Clark affiliated to All Assam Soura Baptist Theological College, Mokokchung, Association, which is related with Nagaland. Currently he is the Orissa Baptist Convention. founder-Director of NEALEAST, an NGO working for the upbuilding of (to be continued) Christian leadership in Northeast India) Endnotes
1. Ibid 2. This is not the place to discuss or to examine the reasons for this negative response of the indigenous Assamese people to the message of the Bible, however, one thing is sure that the spirit of rejection amongst the Assamese population has had continued up- to this day. The record of the CBCNEI Diary 2016 shows that under the Assam Baptist Convention there are 6 Associations with a total of 730 churches. The total baptized membership of these churches are only 34471. The break up of this membership is: Kamrup Asomia Baptist Sobha (KABS), 34 churches with 5683 members; the Madhya Assam Baptist Sobha (MABS), 98+4 churches with 9050 members; Nagaon District Baptist Association (NDBA), 23 churches with 2328 members; Sadiya Dibru Baptist Association (SDBA), 94 churches with 5473 members; Sibsagar Baptist Association (SBA), 102 churches with 8924 members; United Baptist Churches Association (UBCA), 25+28 churches with 1370 members- house churches 322 with 1643 members. 3. Sheila Bora, “The American Baptist”, pp.14-15 4. American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, 1911. 5. Sheila Bora, “The American Baptist” p.17 6. P.H. Moore, cited by Sheila Bora, “The American Baptist” p.27 7. Sheila Bora, Ibid., pp. 27-28 8. P.H.Moore, Twenty years in Assam or Leaves from my Journal (Nowgong, 1901) 9. Sheila Bora, “The American Baptist”, pp.30-32; see also ABMS, 1928-29 10. In the early 1970s the proportional size of the churches established by the Christian missions in Northeast India are as follows: Council of the Baptist Churches in Northeast India (CBCNEI), 55%; Presbyterian Church of Northeast India (PCNEI), 15%; the Roman Catholics (RC), 19%; and a number of small protestant denominations, 11%. By 1990, the comparative figures were: CBCNEI, 43%; PCNEI, 23%; RC, 26%; Others, 8 %. The statistical break-down for 1990 is as follows: CBCNEI, 1,151,935; PCNEI, 623,971; RC,713,837; Others, 165,609. By 1900, although the great majority of Christians in the Northeast were associated with either the American Baptist or the Welsh Presbyterian missions, other Christian groups were also beginning to establish their mission, notable amongst which were the Anglicans, Lutherans and Roman Catholics. The church of England had chaplains supported jointly by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel(SPG), and the tea companies for the benefit of the British Tea planters. They became involved in some missionary work, mainly but not entirely among the Tea Garden labourers. The Lutheran Santhal Mission of Bengal established a colony in Goalpara district where it eventually undertook a highly successful self-support scheme based upon a tea garden and other commercial operations. Though the neighbouring Boros were evangelized, the primary relationships of this community were with the churches in Bengal rather than with other groups in Assam. The Gossner Evangelical church of Chota Nagpur also followed its members to the Assam Tea Gardens and organised them into churches. The most successful work amongst the Tea Tribes were done by the Catholics. The 1931 Census reported that two-thirds of the Catholic community in the Northeast was found among the tea garden labourers of Lakhimpur, Darrang, Nagaon and Sibsagar districts. Over 40% of the Catholics in the region were Adivasis, living in the Brahmaputra valley in 1990. See F.S. Downs, History of Christianity in India (Bangalore: Church History Association of India, 1992) p.69, 86, 89-90, 104-115.
23 October 2020/AIM WHEN ONE MONK LOST HIS COOL
Rev. Kuruvilla Chandy
Monks embrace a life of quietness into common English (1330-84), and asceticism as they want to live and John Huss (1369-1415) apart from the world. They fill their preaching in Bohemia (present day days with meditation, prayer and Czech Republic) against various chores done in silence. malpractices in the church.
So when a monk got all agitated and Martin Luther was a seriously decided to do something out of the committed monk of the German ordinary that would disturb the calm Augustinian order, of which Johann of not only his own life but that of the von Staupitz, (1468-1524) was the church community he belonged to, it vicar-general. Under Staupitz's must have been rather shocking and spiritual guidance Luther came to very disturbing. That is what understand that salvation was happened on Saturday, October 31, entirely by the grace of God, that it 1517. The monk, a professor of didn't depend on him being theology, nailed 95 theses to the door meritorious, and that it had nothing of the church in Wittenberg, to do with ceremonies, rituals and Germany. This was what finally acts of penance. ignited the Reformation. The Reformation began in Germany There had been stirrings earlier. with Martin Luther taking a stand There was the Waldesian movement against the malpractices prevailing putting the Scriptures into the hands in the Roman Catholic Church. It of peasants (12th century, France), was never Luther's intention to break John Wycliffe translating the Bible away from the church, but he was
24 October 2020/AIM forced to flee from the church when Luther was appalled. He was his life was threatened. outraged by the crass materialism. He preached stridently against the Grace Alone, Faith Alone sale of indulgences and the notion The watchwords of the Reformation that salvation could be bought. That were “sola gratia, sola fidei” (by was what made Luther lose his cool. grace alone, by faith alone). They Finally, he wrote 95 theses against have reference to the doctrine of indulgences and nailed them to the salvation. The Reformers insisted door of the Castle Church at that we are saved by God's grace Wittenburg on October 31st, 1517. alone. We are not saved by good The next day was All Saints' Day. works—our own or anyone else's. People, who came to church, read it, Salvation is a product of God's grace copied it and distributed it, rejoicing and the only way to receive what is at Luther's boldness. of grace, is to just accept it through faith. The Pope saw that it threatened his authority and the church's teachings. The context for this insistence was Luther was summoned to stand trial that to collect money for the in Rome, but since the German ruler rebuilding of St. Peter's Cathedral in Frederick was protective of Luther, Rome, the popes of that period had the trial took place in Germany. d e c i d e d t o s e l l s p e c i a l “indulgences.” People who were Scripture Alone worried about the after-life and When asked to recant his errors, wished to escape purgatory could Luther said that they were not errors ensure their salvation by buying but the truths revealed in God's merit from a treasury where the Word. His accusers appealed to the excess merits of saints and martyrs church's traditions, to which Luther were stored. They could even do this countered with what became another on behalf of departed loved ones so watchword of the Reformation, that they could escape the torments “Sola Scriptura” (Scripture alone). of purgatory. The most aggressive The doctrines of the Church, he said, salesman of these indulgences in had to find their basis in Scripture Germany was a monk named Tetzel. alone, and not man-made traditions He had a sales jingle that would though they may have been held for shame the advertising agencies of centuries. our day: The moment your coin in my chest While Roman Catholicism has rings, consistently held the view that that moment your loved one's soul Scripture and tradition are both the from purgatory springs. sources for the beliefs and practices
25 October 2020/AIM of the Church, it would be difficult to Paul II, in 1997, the Roman Catholic assert that they do not hold the Church signed a “Joint Declaration doctrine of salvation by grace. Their on the Doctrine of Justification” practices however do not fit in with with the Lutheran Church. It the doctrine of justification by faith. declares that the old condemnations The prescription of penance no longer apply. The Reformation promotes among the laity the notion wounds seem to have been healed. that salvation is earned through the Biblical studies leading up to Vatican performance of good works. Council II, and the Council itself had However there have always been provided the impetus for Roman proponents of salvation by grace in Catholic dialogues with other the Roman Catholic stream. The Christians. gospel of grace was never lost entirely. For instance, Catholic Today, a book that is influencing key t h e o l o g i a n K a r l R a h n e r ' s persons in the Evangelical world Theological Investigations is (e.g. Philip Yancey, Dallas Willard, Christocentric and stresses grace. Larry Crab, Michael Card, Michael W Smith, U2 – and, me too) is The The Augsburg Confession, as the Ragamuffin Gospel written by the first Protestant confession of faith, late Brennan Manning, who gave up symbolises the breach between being a Franciscan priest and kept Roman Catholics and Protestants. It his connection with the Roman was written by Philip Melanchthon Catholic Church. (1497-1560), Martin Luther's fellow-reformer. In 1974, the idea Veneration of Mary was first advanced that the Roman While those like Manning, who have Catholic Church should “recognize” had a conversion experience, don't the Augsburg Confession. It pray to Mary, almost all Roman received wider attention when Catholics do. The veneration of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Mary and the saints is essential to the Pope Benedict XVI, took up the practice of Roman Catholicism. possibility of a recognizing the Most Catholics argue that they do Augsburg Confession as Catholic. In not pray to her, but honour her and 1980, Pope John Paul II went to only ask her to pray for them. But Germany on the occasion of the that is praying. They pray to Mary 450th anniversary of the Augsburg (and the saints) to pray for them. Confession. Imagine that! The Pope They want Mary et al to mediate with went to commemorate a confession the Lord Jesus on their behalf. It is of faith that memorializes the ridiculous to suggest that there is a division between Roman Catholics need for someone to stand between and Protestants. Under Pope John us and the God who came so close to
26 October 2020/AIM us as to take upon Himself our Mary by some Roman Catholics. humanity, our sinfulness and our There were some attempts to make condemnation. The notion that their use official at Vatican II. There anyone else can mediate between us were, however, dissenting voices and God, goes totally against the raised against that. biblical doctrine that there is only one mediator between God and During his pontificate, John Paul II humans, the man Jesus Christ (1 had asked a commission of twenty- Tim.2:5). three Mariologist scholars to study the proposal for the new dogma. As Moreover, the veneration of Mary is those who focus on Mary in all their nothing short of worship, which is theological reflections, they were something that we are to offer to God most likely to approve the matter. alone. The words used in addressing Instead, by a vote of 23 to nothing, Mary manifest adoration. For the commission unanimously instance, when the Roman Catholic advised the Pope not to do it. The prays, “Hail Mary, full of French theologian and specialist on grace…Blessed are you…” it is Mary, Rene Laurentin strongly similar to the words of worship opposes the dogma for being offered to God in the Psalms and the unscriptural and offensive to the apocalyptic scenes captured for us in doctrine of Christ's uniquely the book of Revelation. redemptive death.
The cult of Mary has grown steadily, Transubstantiation not just in numbers, but also in The belief that in the Communion increasing Mary's role in the service, the ordinary bread becomes salvation of the faithful. What the the actual body of Jesus Christ and Bible says about Jesus alone, they the wine becomes the actual blood of say about Mary, and are bent on o u r L o r d i s k n o w n a s attributing more and more of what is transubstantiation. Apart from the divine power to her. Many Roman fact that no such thing happens, Catholics regard Mary, the mother of Protestants reject this view of the Jesus, as “Co-Redemptrix (Co- Communion. They focus on the redeemer), Mediatrix (Mediator) of words of Christ, “Do this in All Graces and Advocate for the remembrance of me.” The bread and People of God.” Sadly, even the the wine only serve as memory aids. much-idolised late Mother Teresa They remind us that just as food and held this view. For a long time, the drink sustain our physical bodies, terms “mediatrix” and “co- Jesus is the spiritual nourishment of redemptrix” have been applied to our souls, and that just as the food
27 October 2020/AIM and drink must be ingested to do any were no bishops, leave alone a pope. good, so too must the Lord Jesus be received into our hearts. This notion that Peter was a pope derives from two sayings of our Even though I did not serve in the Lord. When Peter confessed that Anglican Church, whenever I Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the administered the Lord's Supper, I Living God”, the Lord said to Peter: said the words of the Anglican “I tell you that you are Peter, and on Communion Service to the this rock I will build my church, and participants: “The body of our Lord the gates of Hades will not overcome Jesus Christ: take, eat and feed on it. I will give you the keys of the Him in your hearts, by faith, with kingdom of heaven; whatever you thanksgiving.” I believe that, that bind on earth will be bound in wording captures the essence of heaven, and whatever you loose on what is involved in Communion. earth will be loosed in heaven (Matt 16:18-20).” Did Jesus mean that Papal Infallibility Peter would be the foundation on This is the final major point of which the entire Church would be divergence. We must not think that built? the Roman Catholic insists that the Pope is always infallible. Rather, he In Greek, what Jesus said translates is supposed to be infallible only this way: “You are Petros and on this when he speaks ex cathedra (for the very petra, I will build my church.” If church). The question is whether our Lord had meant that Peter even this could be true of a mere himself was to be the foundation, He mortal. History records the fallibility would not have used a word different of popes. Some were downright from the new name he had given immoral and one was insane while in him, but would have said, “You are office. Could what they pontificated Petros, and it is on you that I will have infallibility? build my church.” While Jesus called Simon Petros (masculine Roman Catholics insist that Peter gender), Jesus said that He would was the first Pope even though there build His Church on this petra is no evidence whatever for this (feminine gender), the mother lode. claim. If he was pope, all others were Chrysostom, Origen, Eusebius and not made in his mould. He was no Ambrose are recognised by the celibate, nor did he exercise the kind Roman Catholic Church as Church of hierarchical authority that popes Fathers. They held the view Jesus have. Monarchical hierarchy was was saying that Jesus would build alien to the Early Church. There His Church on the confession that
28 October 2020/AIM Jesus is the Son of God, for Jesus Catholics as “separated brethren”. Himself is the Rock (1 Cor.10:4), the foundation of the Church (3:11) and John Paul II, coming from behind the after Christ, all the apostles together, Iron Curtain, was instrumental in not just Peter alone, form the dismantling it, by inspiring a longing foundation (Eph.2:20). for freedom throughout the Communist Bloc. While still a Had the sale of indulgences not cardinal, he invited Billy Graham to confronted him, Luther probably preach in his pulpit in Krakow, going would not have revolted against against the Polish Catholic R o m e . A f t e r a l l , h i s o w n establishment. In 2000, as Pope, he understanding of the grace of God declared that Jesus is the “unique had come to him through the Saviour” of the universe. He was ministry of the superior of the willing to take a stand: “In recent Augustinian order. years, a mentality has emerged in theological and ecclesial circles At the time of the Reformation, the which tends to relativize Christ's office of the Pope had to some extent revelation and his unique and been corrupted and stood against all universal mediation in the order of attempts to reform. However, the salvation. In order to remedy this fact that there was a Counter relativistic attitude, we must insist Reformation initiative within the on the definitive and complete Roman Catholic Church shows that c h a r a c t e r o f C h r i s t ' s all was not lost. Then in the 1960s, revelation…Therefore the theory of Vatican II was held and it changed the limited character of the things a lot. revelation of Christ, which can be complemented by other religions, is Recent Popes contrary to the faith of the church.” Many of the popes of our times have Critical of those who taught that the been rather admirable. John XXIII truth about God “cannot be grasped was known for his openness to and manifested entirely and change evidenced by his having completely by any one historical initiated the Second Vatican Council religion, not even Christianity", the intending “to bring the Church up to Pope said, "This position contradicts date”. the affirmations of faith according to which there is full and complete Paul VI continued the Vatican revelation of God's salvation in Jesus Council and among other things Christ," he said. "It is wrong to permitted Roman Catholic laity to consider the church as a path to own and read the Bible in their native salvation equal to those of other languages and designated non-
29 October 2020/AIM religions." Martin Luther would a chairman's ruling (v.19). Peter's have no quarrel with that statement view was that he was only a shepherd of faith. under the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1- 4). Benedict XVI followed. He was known to be a hardliner, but he That one act of resigning shows surprised the whole ecclesiastical Benedict XVI was truly following in world by resigning from the papacy. Peter's footsteps. Question is, does To top it all, Benedict promised the Spirit of Jesus rule in Protestant submission to the authority of the or Evangelical or Pentecostal new pope. churches or our parachurch organisations. Are there people Peter had taken the lead initially, but willing to give up office within our he didn't keep increasing his powers circles or do we have popes who to the point of diminishing others cling to office? and subordinating them. Instead, he himself submitted to being The Spirit of Jesus still moves within questioned and investigated for the Roman Church. Protestants are behaviour considered suspect by the largely averse to admitting this fact. first believers who were all Jews and But there are persons who have at thought that their faith was just various times shown that Jesus still Judaism, in a new garb and has a place in that church. They are reformed. Peter was criticised by the continuing with reformation. Does rank and file of the community (Acts the Reformation go on still among 11:2-3), requiring Peter to give a Protestants, Evangelicals and complete explanation for his actions Pentecostals? (vv.4-18). That's not what popes are subjected to.
More significantly, when the Judaising controversy erupted in the Church, with Jewish believers insisting on imposing Jewish practices on new Gentile converts, mainly requiring them to be circumcised, Peter was not the one who presided over the meeting. Rev. Kuruvilla Chandy James (the brother of our Lord), a is a freelance preacher and writer. He newcomer, presided over the c a n b e r e a c h e d a t : meeting (Acts 15:13) and even gave [email protected]
30 October 2020/AIM TAKING CARE OF OUR OLD PARENTS – A SACRED AND BLESSED RESPONSIBILITY
Dr. Sanjay Avinash Mall
Our parents in their old age are our remain. There is no sense then in responsibility. When they were decorating their graves with the most young, they gave their best to bring expensive flowers on Christmas and us to the point in our lives where we their birthdays. We need to take care are today. They sacrificed many of them when they are alive. We all good things which they would have have our regrets on the passing away wanted for themselves but they put of our parents which is alright. I just our needs before theirs and provided want to explain it this way: if we had for us. This includes the best of taken our father or mother to such education, food and clothes and and such doctor then he or she would many other things which cannot be not have died. That is a regret that counted. We do not know the number most of us would have. What we of sleepless nights they would have should not live with is repentance of spent when we were ill either at not having taken care of our parents home or in hospital. The list is whatsoever the reason may have endless. What children forget is that been when they needed us most. whatever they are in the world and society it is because of their parents. In the present times, we find that old More than that they fail to realise that age homes have come up in the parents are not a commodity that cities. Children who are not able to cannot be bought from the local devote time and take care of their market. Once they die, they are gone parents often have them admitted in forever and then only memories these homes. They are under the
31 October 2020/AIM false impression that the care abusers were sons (57%) and provided in these institutions will be daughter-in-laws (38%). Only 18% of premium quality. In doing so, they elders have confirmed that they have think that they have fulfilled their made an attempt to report abuse. responsibilities towards their And, only 35% of the total reporting parents. While the children may be was successfully resolved.1 spending their money in these old age homes, they are not providing We often assume that our greatest the physical and emotional care that dangers are from strangers on dark their parents need when they are in streets or from violent men who the sunset years of their lives. It is for might break into our houses. The sad us to reflect and think what would truth is that the highest perils of have happened to us if our parents brutal and persistent violence lurk had dumped us in such institutions within the intimate spaces of our during the years that we were homes, from those to whom we are growing up. Thankfully, there were closest. The author Little illustrates no institutions for bringing up this with more poignancy and children where our parents could immediacy than a recent 12-city admit us and leave us at the mercy of study by Helpage India. Its stunning the staff out there. finding is that every second elderly person who its researchers spoke to The Country Scenario: testified to suffering abuse within their families. According to a report published by t h e N G O H e l p a g e I n d i a , India is home to 100 million elderly a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 0 % e l d e r s people today. Their numbers are confirmed that Elder Abuse is likely to increase threefold in the prevalent in our society. Of those, next three decades. People are now who reported prevalence, 88% of living much longer and couples are them believed its existence is high. raising fewer children. Moreover Nearly one-fourth (25%) elders have three in four elders still report living confirmed they have been victim of with their children. The result is that Elder Abuse ever with no gender smaller numbers of adults are variation. The most common form of responsible for many more years of abuse they experienced was old-age care than in the past. disrespect (56%), verbal abuse Consequently, as the parents grow (49%) and neglect (33%). The main older and become frail relationships
32 October 2020/AIM within families have come under e m e r g e d a s t h e t o p - m o s t great strain. perpetrators (of abuse of the elderly),” a 2013 study by the NGO The abuse, elders report are common found. Wherever property or across social classes and cities. finances are involved, the children Cities such as Bengaluru and Nagpur are nice to their parents till the time report the highest elderly abuse and that it is willed to them. Once the Delhi and Kanpur the least. Four in legal formalities are completed for ten old people testify to verbal abuse, the property and the money, the three to neglect, and a third to parents are forced to leave the house. disrespect. One in five recount Though the elderly often don't report enduring such abuse almost daily, a s u c h a b u s e t o “ m a i n t a i n third around once a week, and a fifth confidentiality” of family matters, every month. Six in ten report the their children are dragging them to daughter-in-law and an almost equal court. According to lawyers, number the son as the major sources daughters-in-law are often at the of abuse against them. Just 7% centre of such legal battles. “More daughters are abusive of their and more criminal cases against old parents. Nearly half the old people people are being filed by daughters- interviewed in the study, identified in-law, many at the behest of the one common reason for their abuse parent's sons. The abuse of the at the hands of their children that elderly people in the country has they depend economically on their increased from 23% in 2013 to 50% 2 children. in 2014.3
According to 2014 estimates, India This is the real situation in our has more than 100 million elderly country regarding the care of the people (60 years and above). And 10 elderly and our parents who we are million of them live outside their supposed to respect and take care of family homes, most of them evicted in their old age. What these by their own children for property shortsighted people forget is that one according to the activists. HelpAge day they too will be old and be India, an NGO working for the subject to such or even worse elderly, quotes that 53.2 per cent of treatment at their hands of their own all elderly abuse was due to children. “property and inheritance disputes”. “Daughters-in-law and sons What the Bible Teaches us about
33 October 2020/AIM Taking Care of our Parents: The apostle Paul in his epistle to One of the very good examples of a Timothy writes that taking care of son taking care of his father and our ageing parents is pleasing and brothers in spite of all that he went acceptable in the sight of God. through is Joseph. Once he had Children and grandchildren of revealed himself to his brothers he widows need to practice piety asked them about his father. He then towards their own family and also made all the arrangements to have make some return to their parents for his father and other family members what they have done for them.8 to be brought to Egypt.4 Further on, the apostle Paul in the In the Ten Commandments, it is same letter mentions very clearly written very clearly “Honour your that if one does not take care of his father and mother, so that you may family members and especially of live long in the land the Lord your the members of his household, he 5 God is giving you. has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.9 In the Book of Proverbs, it is mentioned very clearly that children The supreme example of taking care are to listen to their fathers who gave of His mother in her old age was them life and not to despise their exhibited by Lord Jesus. Even when mother when she is old. This is He was on the cross he was worried exactly what is happening in the about her as Joseph his earthly father world of today. Children have totally had died, though it not mentioned neglected their parents in their old anywhere in scripture. Jesus' age and thus, break the fifth concern for His mother is amply 6 commandment. displayed in the fact that he wanted to ensure that she was well taken care The strongest rebuke that Jesus gave o f a n d s o H e p l a c e d t h e to the Pharisees is found in the responsibility in the hands of the Gospel of Mark. In this passage, He Apostle John who obeyed His is telling the Pharisees that they have command and took Mary to his violated the fifth commandment home.10 claiming that they have set money aside for the temple and so they Thus, we see that the Bible also lays cannot take care of their old parents. a lot of importance of taking care of 7 This is an excuse and a grave sin. our old and aging parents who when
34 October 2020/AIM they were young did not leave a be your choice is the question that I stone unturned to give us the very leave you with. best that they could afford and at times even when they could not Submitted by: afford it.
What is the duty of the children towards their parents when they are old and frail? God gives us only one set of parents. It is for us to decide whether we will take care of them or not. If we take care of them then blessings will overflow in our lives. Dr. Sanjay Avinash Mall If not, then one day our own children is working with World Vision India will also abandon us, the way we as an Associate Director and Head abandoned our parents. of the Corporate Projects Unit. He l i v e s i n L u c k n o w . Life is all about choices. What will [email protected]
1. Elder Abuse in India – 2018 Changing Cultural Ethos & Impact of Technology. A HelpAge India Report - 2018 2. Neglect and Abuse: The Reality of India's Elderly People. Harsh Mander, The Hindustan Times, March 2, 2015. 3. Till property tear us apart: Why children are taking their old parents to court. Avantika Mehta, The Hindustan Times, June 19, 2016. 4. Genesis Chapters 45:18. 5. Exodus 20:12. 6. Proverbs 23:22. 7. Mark 7: 9 – 13. 8. I Timothy 5:4. 9. I Timothy 5:8. 10. John 19:25 – 27
35 October 2020/AIM WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS TO THE OLDER GENERATION Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj
It is a joy for me, a youth evangelist What was challenging for Billy by calling primarily, to write an Graham were these two things: essay, to encourage older folk! I having to live in the world for over particularly do this as 1 October is 10 years after his dear wife Ruth Bell being observed as the International passed away (this made his feel so Day of the Older Person. lonely, humanly speaking) and having to live till the ripe old age of Someone asked Billy Graham, the 99 (this was his life's greatest man who has been called the challenge, he felt). He particularly Greatest Christian in the world after recalled the time when after the age Apostle Paul, this question: “What of 90, when he could not confidently has been your life's greatest carry off a video recording of a challenge?” In reply he said, that the message he wanted to preach at the biggest challenge of his life was old request of his son, Franklin, because age (Read his 2013 book, Nearing of old-age related problems Home). His book He was the man (shivering of hands, inability to who had announced the Gospel to stand, loss of memory, etc). This was most number of people in the planet. heart-crushing experience for a man He was the founder of a big Christian who had to take a helicopter to see organisation. He had a lot of the vast crowd that came to hear him financial needs with regard to his preach in Seoul, South Korea (1.1 organization. There were many million people in the year 1973)! critics of his ministry. But for him, the greatest challenge was old-age. So, if you are a person from the older
36 October 2020/AIM generation reading this article, I – before toothless gums aren't able to want you to know that I have a great chew food and eyes grow dim.” regard for you! I take my cap off for Tremper Longman, a Bible Scholar you in respect! says Ecclesiastes 12:4 talks about two common old age related What does God want to say to the problems: hearing loss and older generation? Let us explore restlessness (The New International what God's word says to the older Commentary on the Old Testament: generation. Though I am much The Book of Ecclesiastes, Wm. B. younger than the older folk who may Eerdmans Publishing, 1998, page be reading this, I want you to know 271). He summarizes Ecclesiastes that I speak with authority as what I 12 this way: “The metaphors (found convey comes from the written Word in Ecclesiastes 12) of the darkening of God, the authority of which we are of the cosmic lights and the all under, irrespective of what our encroaching rain clouds are age is! I want to give four counsels understood readily enough on a for older people from the Bible. p s y c h o l o g i c a l p l a n e a s communicating Qohelet's (the 1. REMEMBER author of Ecclesiastes') belief that You must remember your creator old age is a catastrophe that before you become old and die. You endangers sorrow. As one grows old, must remember your creator now. one grows weak, having less control This is a truth that I understand when over body and mind. Finally, death I read Ecclesiastes chapter 12. comes….” (page 269). “Remember your creator in the days The message of Ecclesiastes 12 is of your youth” – so goes Ecclesiastes simple: 'Remember your Creator 12:1. After this verse, this chapter before you have the walking talks about the problems of old age. problem! Remember your Creator Ecclesiastes 12:3 from The Voice before you have the chewing Version of the Bible, a contemporary problem! Remember your Creator English version of the Bible done by before you have seeing problem – a Team of Scholars, makes gripping eye problem! Remember him before reading in this regard. It says, your sexual desires wane away! “Remember Him before the arms Remember your creator before you and legs of the keeper of the house die (Eccl. 12:6-7 talks about death begin to tremble – before the strong using a smashed earthen jar grow uneasy and bent over with age imagery)!' Why should we
37 October 2020/AIM remember our creator, now? you will go to hell. But I want you to Because after we die, it will be too come to heaven with me!” late to repent from sin (Luke 13:1-5) and put our faith in Jesus who died What second command does the for us on the Cross (see Hebrews Bible give specifically for older 9:27 which says only judgement and folk? no salvation opportunity awaits us 2. SURRENDER after we die). Dear older folk, let me appeal to you: 'Remember your The Bible calls the older folk to Creator before it is too late! surrender their body, soul and spirit Remember your Creator before your to God. It does so through the possible death, something that can example of Caleb, who was 85 years happen any second!' Come to Jesus old (Josh. 14:10). The Bible talks right now in an attitude of repentant about this amazing character in faith with all your burdens – Joshua chapter 14. “The others who including the burdens of old age – were sent as spies only discouraged and you will feel light and discover the people and melted their hearts, rest for your souls (Matt. 11:28-30). but I obeyed the Eternal One, my And if any of us die without God, completely” (Josh. 14:8 The 'remembering our Creator' or Voice). Other versions use the phrase without accepting Jesus as our Lord “whole-heartedly” here. Caleb, a and Savior, eternal hell is where we member of the older generation, will go! surrendered his whole self to God! It was not just Caleb's claim that he May I challenge all those older folk surrendered his life completely to who have already known Jesus as the Lord. Moses, a man who saw Savior to sit with another older Caleb from close quarters for many friend and read Ecclesiastes 12 with years, had this testimony about him or her? And transfer the above Caleb: “Someday the land on which contents to that senior, silver-haired you have walked will be given to you friend, the best way you know how, and your children as an inheritance following the leading of the Holy forever because you have been Spirit! Tell that friend, “Before your completely faithful to the Eternal silver cord is snapped, and the One, my God” (Josh. 14:9, The golden bowl is shattered, before your Voice). The assertion that Caleb earthen jar is smashed, before you followed Yahweh 'completely' is die, you must turn from your sins and done again in Joshua 14:14. Three put your faith in Jesus! Otherwise,
38 October 2020/AIM times in Joshua 14, the Bible tells us King David and helped her out. Dear that old Caleb had this golden virtue senior citizen reading this, I am – the virtue of total surrender of life appealing to you to repent from to Yahweh! every secret sin and surrender every area of your life to the Lord! My older friend, have you surrendered every area of your life to Now, let me talk about the third the living God? Some mothers-in- counsel the Bible gives to the older law say, “My whole life is for Jesus! generation. But I can never tolerate my daughter- in-law! She stole my son from me!” 3. SHOWER But the Word of God through the The Bible encourages older folk to example of Caleb says, “Surrender shower what you have, give what everything and every area of your you have, for the work of God, life to the Living God!” My through the example of Barzillai. 2 esteemed senior friends, do not keep Samuel 19:35 says he was 80 years back an area of your life for flesh- old. That was when King David was gratification! Surrender every area in trouble. David's son, Absalom was of your life to the Lord! trying to kill his dad. King David A young woman from a particular was on the run, afraid of losing his Indian city wrote to us (my wife and life. On one occasion, David crossed I). She was talking about her old River Jordan. He came to a town father. He had lost his wife when he called Mahanaim. That's when was in his forties. There-after, to Barzillai, a man who came from a gratify his sexual desires, he would town called Rogelim came to meet watch pornographic movies using him (Check out 2 Samuel 17:27). CDs on his DVD player. One day, When Barzillai came to meet the on- she accidently bumped into one of the-run King David, he showered the those CDs, her dad had been beleaguered King with “beds, watching. And when she played basins, earthenware, wheat, barley, them, she was shocked. This first meal, parched seeds and grain, experience set her on a long path of beans, lentils, honey, butter, sheep, addiction to pornographic movies. and local cheese” for David and his And now she wanted victory from men to eat, for he knew, David and this sinful habit. I showed from 2 his company, were “hungry, tired, Samuel 11:27 that God was not and thirsty” there in the wilderness pleased with 'live-porn-watching' (2 Sam. 17:28, The Voice). Billy
39 October 2020/AIM Graham writes, “Barzillai saw a older generation, shower gifts which need, and he did everything he could will ensure that the Kingdom of God to meet it in spite of his age and is built and expanded! For example, infirmities. If he had failed or if he if you have a piece of land which do had refused to help, David and his not use and your children are well- men might well have perished in the settled, consider giving that land for inhospitable desert beyond the Dead the work of the Gospel! One day Sea – and the subsequent history of when you die and go to be with Jesus. God's people would have been vastly You will get to look down from different” (Nearing Home, page 11). heaven at that land you donated for the work of the Gospel! You will be As we get older, we are perhaps super-thrilled to see many heathens thinking, “My income has come come to Jesus because of the work of down drastically following my God going on in that land! retirement! So, I hope I can get some help for me from somewhere!” I This brings to the final counsel from want to tell you older folk that if I am the Bible for the older folk. writing an essay for the younger generation, I will tell them to take 4. WARN ABOUT DANGER care of the valued older folk in their Who is the oldest man in the Bible? It lives – you can take my word for it! is Methuselah! In Genesis 5:27, the However, this essay is about what Bible says, Methuselah lives for 969 the Bible says to the older folk! So, I years. He nearly lives for one am talking to you, my older friend! I millennium! Do you know the name am challenging you through the of Methuselah's father? It was example of Barzillai, dear older Enoch. In the Bible times, when a uncles and aunties, that you should baby was born, the parents prayed bless the poor, the needy, the local and often God gave them a name for church, those who have blessed you the baby he graciously gave the spiritually, with what God has couple. This was particularly true of graciously blessed you with! parents who worked closely with Though I run a ministry to bless God! Enoch, who walked with God, young people primarily, a good had a son, he named his son directed chunk of my financial support comes by God as Methuselah and this name via the sacrificial giving of the older meant, “When he dies, it will come!” generation who want to see the (“Muth” means 'to die' and it was younger generation reached through used 8 times in Genesis 5 alone, T. A. my ministry! Dear people of the
40 October 2020/AIM Pruett observes; “Shalak” means to I want to challenge you older folk, to send forth, the same author writes). warn the younger generation about What will come? God's judgement the coming judgement of hell, will come upon the human race! lovingly and persistently. Challenge When Methuselah died – after the younger generation to get ready having lived 969 years, the longest for the return of Jesus as you yourself period of time any human being had get ready for the same. The younger lived – that's when the flood generation may make fun of you! judgement of God came! Jeff Kinley They may say, “Why this old man is writes that Methuselah was 849 talking rubbish?” They may scorn years old when God spoke to his you. But you must keep at what God grandson Noah about building the has called you for, without taking a Ark and the Flood occurred when break! Noah was 600 years old, exact year Methuselah died (after reading Genesis 5:25-27 and Genesis 7:6, and doing the math). This is a testimony to God's long-suffering love for us! So, for many years, E n o c h w a s a p r e a c h e r o f righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). He preached this message (I believe): Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj “God's judgement is coming! When is the founder of Grabbing the my son dies, God's judgement will Google Generation from Gehenna come! God has given him a long life! Mission, a ministry that reaches out That's a testimony to God's to present day people via writings, extraordinary patience! But that pulpit preaching and counselling. does not mean, you take his patience Find out more at www.dukev.org or by WhatsApp to +91-8886040605. for granted (2 Peter 3:9)! Repent He is a fulltime itinerant preacher now! Otherwise, a judgement from and writer-in-residence with this God is coming!” ministry
41 October 2020/AIM F. THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (1) The Holy Spirit: Sent from heaven (1Peter 1:12)
Introduction- someone who has direct connection with the high. We become a mighty When we are filled with the Holy m a n / w o m a n o f G o d w i t h Spirit, his fruit is seen in us. The fruit supernatural power. We get large of the Holy Spirit is described in following and fat bank balance. Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of Once there was a family in a certain the Spirit is love, joy, peace, city. Whenever I and my wife visited patience, kindness, goodness, them and prayed for the family at our faithfulness, gentleness, self- departure, they never said Amen to control; against such things there is our prayers. When asked why they no law.” We can't be selective in fruit don't do that, they said point blank bearing, which fruit we want and that we are not connected to heaven which fruit we don't want. We need since we don't speak in tongues. all the fruit in our nature and character. The fruit of the Holy Spirit I remember, years ago I used to enhance and give beauty to our conduct one-month residential Bible Christian character. They make the study center course in Kotagiri, gifts of the Holy Spirit authentic in Tamilnadu. One night there was a us. I have never seen anyone praying heavy discussion in the men's and pleading for the fruit of the Holy section as to which one of them had Spirit. But I have seen people how many gifts of the Holy Spirt. praying with fasting for the gifts of One person meekly asked, “What the Holy Spirit, especially 'speaking about the fruit of the Holy Spirit? in tongues.' Why so? Because the Others replied with tongues in gifts are more dramatic. They are cheek, “That's not our concern at spectacular They draw people's present. What we want is the gifts of attention to ourselves. We become the Holy Spirit.” But, we can't
42 October 2020/AIM emphasize the gifts at the expense of filled Christian. Our Lord said, “A the fruit. Our Lord said in the context new commandment I give to you, of the false prophets, “Thus you will that you love one another: just as I recognize them by their fruits have loved you, you also are to love (Matthew 7:16,20). The fruit of the one another. By this all people will Holy Spirit are very much important know that you are my disciples, if to authenticate our life and ministry. you have love for one another” (John They show whether we are genuine 13:34,35). The Old commandment or false. We can't manufacture or was, “You shall love your neighbor manipulate the fruit of the Holy as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). But Spirit. If we are bad tree, if we are not the new commandment is “Love one born again, we cannot produce the another: just as I have loved you” fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. “Are (John 13:34). Our love for one grapes gathered from thorn bushes, another should be selfless and or figs from thistles? So, every sacrificial, unconditional and healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unlimited. This kind of love can be diseased tree bears bad fruit. A only the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, fallen human beings are selfish, self- nor can a diseased tree bear good centered and self-seeking. Our fruit” (Matthew 7:16-18). Maybe, by capacity to love unconditionally is our smooth talk and equally smooth very much limited. We have learnt to behavior we can fool some people, love one another from God. “Now but soon our true nature and concerning brotherly love, you have character will be evident to no need for anyone to write to you, everyone. for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? (1Thessalonians 4:9). As Christians, As it says in Galatians 5:22,23, “But we love God (Deuteronomy 6:5). We the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, love our family members (Ephesians peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 5:25,28,33; Titus 2:4). We love our faithfulness, gentleness, self- neighbors (Leviticus 19:18). We control.” The cluster of the fruit is love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). one. So, it's given in singular We love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). number. “The fruit of the Holy Spirit 'Love your neighbor as yourself' is” not 'the fruits of the Holy Spirit entails that we love ourselves. If we are' (plural number). Well, let's look don't love ourselves, how can we at the individual fruit in the cluster: love someone else!
1. Love. 2. Joy.
Love is the hall mark of every Spirit- Joy is another hallmark of a Spirit-
43 October 2020/AIM filled Christian. This joy is the joy of him his peace (John 14:27). No one the Lord. “The joy of the Lord is your and nothing can give him this peace, strength (Nehemiah 8:10). This joy and no one and nothing can take it of the Lord gives strength to a away from him either. As a result, he Christian to face and overcome any can lie down in peace and wake up in adverse situation. It helps him to be peace (Psalm 3:5). He enjoys the joyful at all times. This joy does not peace of God which surpasses all d e p e n d o n s i t u a t i o n o r understanding because he presents circumstances. Like his Lord he has his requests and petitions to God been anointed with the oil of joy with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). beyond his companions (Hebrews His God keeps him in perfect peace 1:9). The secret of this anointing (Isaiah 26:3). The peace of God with the oil of joy lies in the fact that floods his heart like a river (Isaiah he loves righteousness and hates 66:12). Contrary to him, there is no lawlessness. Because of this joy, he peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22; can rejoice always (Philippians 4:4). 57:21). He has peace with God The Apostles could rejoice even because the enmity between them is when beaten up, insulted and gone. He is no longer a child of God's humiliated because for the sake of wrath. He has peace with himself. He the name of their Lord (Acts 5:41). has been forgiven, his conscience Someone has said that a sad and has been washed and cleansed in the depressed Christian is a bad precious blood of the Lamb of God. advertisement of the gospel. From It's no longer a guilty conscience. He where does a Christian receive his is at peace with his fellow human joy? Where does it come from? It beings. He knows how to love, comes from the forgiveness of his forgive and accept them. He is at sins. It comes from the joys of peace with his surroundings, salvation (Psalm 51:12). It comes situations and circumstances. He from his name being written in the knows that 'in acceptance lieth book of life/heaven (Luke 10:20). It peace.' comes from the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). It comes from a 4. Patience. clean and clear conscience (Acts 8:39). It comes from fellowship with Patience is another hallmark of a God and with one another (1John Spirit-filled Christian. He does not 1:4). do anything in a hurry. His God sees to it (Isaiah 52:12). He is not hasty or 3. Peace. impulsive either before God or before men (Ecclesiastes 5:2). His Peace is another hallmark of a Spirit- each step, each decision, is well filled Christian. His Lord has given considered, soaked in prayer, before
44 October 2020/AIM taking an action in the will of God. our spirits and lose peace, and are He is patient with himself. He knows worried and anxious like any that he is not perfect. He knows his unbeliever, as if God is not there. We shortcomings and failures. He contradict ourselves when we are knows that he is still under impatient with ourselves and others, construction. The Great Potter is still especially with our family members at work in him (Jeremiah 18:3,4). He and fellow believers. We become is patient with others- in the family, perfectionist and demand perfection. fellowship and friends circle. He We forget that only God is perfect. knows they have their own strengths Let's have a look at ourselves and let and weaknesses. They have their the Holy Spirit do his healing and own frailties and struggles in life. filling work. (to be continued). Some are fast, others are slow, some are quick to comprehend, others take their time. He is called to be patient with everyone (1Thessalonianns 5:14). The Bible says that love is patient (1Corinthians 13:4). The qualification of the Lord's servant is that he is patient with those whom he teaches (2Timothy 2:24). He is patient in affliction (Romans 12:12). When undergoing suffering and pain, he does not doubt God, question God or rebel against God. We learnt patience as we go through difficulties, trials and setbacks in life. God turns everything for our Rev. Richard Masih good (Romans 8:28). is residing in New Delhi. He studied theology in All Nations Christian We contradict ourselves when we College, England. He served the claim to be Spirit-filled but have no Lord for 40 years with the Union of love for God, for the lost, for the Evangelical Students of India and fellow believers, for our family members, for our enemies and for also authored several books in ourselves. We contradict ourselves English. He is available for the when we have no inner joy in our ministry of the word in Hindi and hearts, reflected on our faces, when English on invitation. He can be we go around with a gloomy face and reached at Mobile: 9958747748 and a downcast spirit. We contradict [email protected] ourselves when we get troubled in
45 October 2020/AIM ELDERS: ARCHAIC OR CONTEMPORARILY RELEVANT?
Mr. Hansraj Jain
A businessman, having completed English Language in his Senior his business in the Karol Bagh, New School. Delhi, headed to his parked car a little distance away. To his horror, he At his persistence, she narrated how found himself unable to take his eyes she had been forced out of her flat by away from a 70+ years old woman. her son. A few years ago, her son and She sat under a lamp with a couple of daughter-in-law had persuaded her metal trunks by her side. Taking to sign over her flat to them, which courage, he walked up to the elderly she had happily done, thinking that lady. Squatting, he addressed her in she was getting old. They had lived English and said, "Madam, are you with her for ten years since her not Mrs. so-and-so?" Shocked by the retirement. Now, when she needed stranger's direct approach and being them most, they had forced her out of recognised, she said in her old the flat. Her son had driven her and Principal's voice, "Yes, I am. Tell left her on the street with the two me, who are you?", she replied in trunks by her side. perfect English. For the stranger, it Tears were running down the young affirmed his shock - she was indeed businessman's face as he heard her the Principal of his school. narrate her tale. Holding her fragile The 'stranger' told her his name, hands in his, he gently whispered to bringing a smile to her face, after a her, "Madam. Please give me a long time. She had taught the moment. Calling his driver on his
46 October 2020/AIM mobile to bring the car around to One of the fantastic example the where he was in that crowded street, Bible presents to us where he gently asked her to stand up worldviews of the Elders (cf 1 Kings saying, "I will not allow you to live 4 : 2 ff ) a n d " C o n t e m p o r a r y on this street. You will come home Colleagues" (the Youth who grew up with me right now. You are like my with King Rehoboam), clash, is in 1 mother. I will not tolerate my mother Kings 12. The summary of this left like this on the street.” episode is simply this:
The world today tells us, the Our attitude and conduct have the unproductive are liabilities, power to make or break, for good especially the ageing who today live or bad immediate consequences longer lives. It's an open fact that we for ourselves. There is a collateral have convinced ourselves that ours consequence that involves those is a time, where only the "fittest are who are immediately associated fit to live and will survive." with us, as family and friends. On a broad scale, it impacts our Is there a counter-culture to secular authority. The lesson here is that: mindset disguised as "informed "entitlement to rule and boss" modern thought and way of life and does not exist even if, for conduct, and expectations"? generations, ours was the 'first family" in the land. The Bible embodies it through and The second lesson is that Elders through. Look at Exodus 20: 12. It need our ear and our trust. reads, "Honor your father and your Listening to them and displaying mother, that your days may be long respect for them does not in the land that the LORD your God necessarily mean following their is giving you." (ESV). advice. Still, it does mean giving Did people, really take such advice them the honour by acts of seriously? Did the Bible and its appreciation and acts that application and interpretation not demonstrate being held in esteem change over time, environment, by us. situation and lifestyle? Indeed, Unfortunately, Rehoboam failed in change of geography would have the fundamental criteria when he had its impact on the understanding foolishly chose to be "contemporary and application of this directive? and current" over against seasoned
47 October 2020/AIM with life-experience insight and When we come into the New shrewdness, advice. Testament, hundreds of years later after Exodus 20:12, we find that Results for Rehoboam were: Jesus actually, becomes even more demanding in the application of 1. Rejection = loss to 11 Tribes 2. Rebellion = Ran for his life to Exodus 20:12. For example: Let us Jerusalem. look at Matthew 15: 3-9. Promises 3. Division of the nation. made to parents by the children are to Jeroboam, without the Royal be honoured, always. Jesus goes on Blood, was made king of the to say that true religion does not Eleven Tribes of Israel. accept or sanction any deviation from it. Basic Lessons to be learnt are these: Sadly, today, a lot of young and old, think that such a directive would be Our elders are our benefactors archaic and that the honouring and patrons. Our elders seek to see our parents, is a thing of the past. progress and success. On the contrary, it is even more Our elders' love demands that severe in its application in the New they behave in ways that would Testament. Such a view presented by demonstrate protection, welfare the New Testament is the hallmark of and blessings. Our elders seek to leave behind a all counter-culture worldviews. legacy that they would like their Why, because, as time has progenies to treasure and be repeatedly proved, stability and proud to inherit. consistency, trust and honour, are When rejected and undermined, non-negotiable and a part of Christ's the elder usually neither rebel, followers' way of life. nor do they work against us. They Everyone needs a rock to build their refuse to create any hurdles or an lives on. Firm-ground always helps environment of fear and threat. When the chips are down, it is our life stay steady, balanced and in elders who rally together in progress, too.
support and encouragement We, humans, tend to digress easy, get while others abscond, fault, distracted and deviate. Instead, we attack, revenge, reject, and cry love to do that which is right in our for blood. own eyes or suits our own
48 October 2020/AIM unexpressed and inventive and Come, let us demonstrate our love, creative frame of mind. respect, by holding them in esteem, and honour!! Then there is the element of emotion, and a sudden desire for momentary, diversionary and passion fulfilling acts. These tend to build on our weak, flirting hearts. Such moments are addressed, shown how to deal and overcome them too.
As for elders: New Testament, as does the Old Testament, repeatedly infers that "Our Elders are not our enemies but friends with fragile bones available to us only for a Mr. Hansraj Jain 'season'. They are a treasure trough Managing Director, Family, of insight, perception and wisdom. Marriage & Human Relationships, Only the truly wise know their INHERITORS. worth!"
49 October 2020/AIM THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF INDIA invites applications from residents of West Bengal who are dynamic, result oriented, enterprising and committed to the Bible Cause for the post of AUXILIARY SECRETARY FOR THE CALCUTTA AUXILIARY, KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL. The applicant should be an ordained person who should have completed BD/M.Th. along with a secular University Degree from recognized and reputed Universities. He/She should have administrative experience in a senior position in Churches/Christian Organizations. Extensive tour of entire West Bengal would be involved. Candidates should be between 40 and 50 years of age and fluent in Bengali, Hindi and English. This post is in the salary scale of Rs. 10800-680-17600-760-29000-840-37400. Additional allowances like DA - 74% of basic, CCA – Rs. 1500/-, Medical – Rs. 1700/- and Children's Allowance - Rs. 1500/- per child for children upto the age of 21 years who are unmarried/unemployed will be paid. Residential accommodation and a vehicle for official use will also be provided. Age/Salary/Qualification will be relaxed in deserving cases.
Those called for interview will be eligible for actual train/bus fare from the nearest Railway/Bus Station to the place of interview and back by the shortest route plus 10% of the fare towards incidentals.
Application on plain paper with detailed resume including age, education, training, experience, salary now drawing and expected, contact details, Church background etc., along with copies of certificates/testimonials, two reference letters and a passport size photograph should be mailed to the General Secretary, Bible Society of India, LOGOS, 206 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore 560 001 in a sealed envelope superscribing “Application for the post of Auxiliary Secretary, Calcutta Auxiliary”, to reach him by October 20, 2020. Those who are presently working with Churches/Christian Organizations should apply with the endorsement of the concerned Head of the Church/Organization only. Selected candidates need to undergo a thorough medical examination at own cost in a hospital recommended by the BSI particularly to see if the appointees suffer from any pre-existent illness and whether she/he is fit to take up the position offered.
50 October 2020/AIM Intercessory
October 2020 Points
1 THURSDAY International day of love and concern and put others the Older person. Pray that every ahead of them. May our churches senior citizen of our country may get display the love of God through our a dignified life and a loving home. works and deeds. Pray for the care givers too, to serve them with compassion and grace. 5 MONDAY Pray for Nagaland. Pray also that God may comfort Pray for Christ to be the center of them. peoples' lives in this state. Pray for hunger and thirst for God's Word to 2 FRIDAY International day of non- grow. violence (Gandhi Jayanthi). Pray that every citizen of India would 6 TUESDAY Pray for believers in uphold and value non-violence. Pray Odisha to be strong and courageous. that it will be practice in daily lives Pray that they would share their faith too. boldly and wisely to their neighbours. 3 SATURDAY Pray for all Christian agencies in our country to be 7 W E D N E S D AY P r a y f o r accountable, faithful, consistent and Rajasthan. Pray for God's light to focused. Pray that our works may shine on the people of Rajasthan. display God's salvation grace that May God reveal Himself personally was revealed in and through His Son, to those who seek Him. Jesus Christ. 8 THURSDAY Indian Air Force 4 SUNDAY Today let us pray for our Day. Today we are celebrating 88th pastors, evangelists, missionaries Air Force Day. May God Almighty and all those in church leadership. continue to bless and use them to Pray that they may serve their safeguard the country. respective responsibilities with deep
51 October 2020/AIM 9 FRIDAY Pray for Punjab. Pray for fresh encounter with the Lord Jesus God's servants to be strengthened Christ in a new and fresh way. Pray despite many obstacles and for the Holy Spirit to work actively challenges. Pray that the churches in believers' heart and minds. may grow. 1 5 T H U R S D AY P r a y f o r 10 SATURDAY Pray for revival in Chandigarh. Pray for hearts that are Jharkhand. Pray that the Word of teachable and ready to accept the God would be accepted and message of the Cross. Pray that practiced and that it would change people who are sharing the Gospel people's mindset and eventually would do it with the power of the their lives. Holy Spirit.
11 SUNDAY International girl child 16 FRIDAY Pray for Lakshadweep. day. Pray for protection for each girl Pray for God's amazing grace and child. Pray for awareness that every love to reach every individual in child is special and are equal in the these 36 islands. Maker's sight. Pray that parents would take extra care for their 17 SATURDAY International day daughters with love. for the eradication of poverty. Pray for all those who work towards this 12 MONDAY Pray for the ministry goal. Pray that people may have the of Evangelical Fellowship of India. desire to love and share with others Pray that EFI would effectively the material blessings that they get. continue to serve as the voice of the evangelicals. Pray for all the 18 SUNDAY Pray for all the departments to reflect God's love worshippers today as they gather to and care as they function in their honor, praise and worship Jesus respective fields. Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill their hearts as they empty 13 TUESDAY Pray for Delhi today. themselves. Pray that the love of God would overflow this city. Men and women 19 MONDAY Pray for Dadra and would turn to God for help. Pray that Nagar Haveli. Pray that God would the churches in this city would be open the way for those seeking to revived and bear many spiritual know the truth. Pray for believers in fruits. this place to love the Word of God and obey it wholeheartedly. 14 WEDNESDAY Pray for the people of Daman and Diu to have 20 TUESDAY Pray for Puducherry.
52 October 2020/AIM Pray for spiritual awakening of the 26 MONDAY Pray for the ministry people of this UT. Pray that their of EFI through the publication spiritual hunger and thirst would be department. Pray that God may bless quenched with the Word of God. and use the articles in the AIM Pray for God's mercy and grace for magazine to bring hope, peace, this land. comfort, guidance, love and strength to the readers. 21 WEDNESDAY Pray for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Pray 27 TUESDAY Pray for your city that the people may learn to seek today. Pray that God would heal the God in times of trouble and need. sick and comfort the bereaved. Pray Pray that God would provide the way for God's intervene and take away to draw people to himself. Covid19 soon.
22 THURSDAY Pray for Caleb 28 WEDNESDAY Pray for our Institute, Gurgaon. Pray for the nation and its leaders. Pray for safety students and the teaching staff of this and protection from enemies. Pray institute that they may be equipped for unity. Pray that every citizen and empowered to share the Gospel would enjoy their fundamental very effectively. rights and carry out their responsibilities with gratitude. 23 FRIDAY Pray for Evangelical Trust of North India (ETANI). Pray 29 THURSDAY Pray for the that God would give wisdom and suffering servants of God to be discernment as they deal with church encouraged, emboldened and properties and legal cases. courageous. Pray that nothing would dampen their spirit to serve their 24 SATURDAY Today is UN Day. Almighty God with undivided heart. Pray that the UN would continue to work towards international peace 30 FRIDAY Pray for the victims of and security. physical abuses. Pray for justice. Pray for healing both emotional and 25 SUNDAY Let us continue to pray physical. Pray for the strength to for our nation that Christ's light may forgive and move forward. shine brightly and that more and more people may see the love of God 31 SATURDAY Thank God for His and develop a greater desire to know protection and all His blessings Him. during the month of October 2020
53 October 2020/AIM 54 October 2020/AIM
RNI. Regd. No. 19728/70 / Postal Registration No. DL(S)-01/3241/2018–20 Licensed to post without prepayment at NDPSO New Delhi –110 002 / U(SE)–9/2018–20
Printed & Published by Mr. Vijayesh Lal, on behalf of EFI Publication Trust, 805/92 Deepali Building, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110 019. Printed at Royal Press, B-82, Okhla Phase -1, New Delhi - 110 020. Editor Mr. Vijayesh Lal