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Editorial
K E John.
"But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you". (Rom. 10:19)
"They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation" (Deut. 32:21)
The fiftieth birthday of Matha Amrithanandamayi was celebrated at Ernakulam recently. 191 nominees of U. N. O membership countries participated. There were politicians, scientists, social and religious leaders. The media celebrated the event! I am not trying to comment about it. But to me the event appeared as a great challenge to the Christianity. Amrithanandamayi spoke about love and unity. She mentioned about the wonderful love of Jesus Christ who came to this world to redeem us. It is true that many noble missionaries from abroad came to our country with the message of cross and proclaimed the love of Christ to our people. Finding that illiteracy was one of the major obstacles for our progress, they established many educational institutions some of which are still the best in our land. But do we Indian Christians have the same burden about our motherland? Now schools and colleges are started even by Christians with the sole aim of amassing wealth!.
Miss. Ida Scuder came to India with her parents who were missionary doctors. In those days, it was a custom that the ladies never go to consult a male doctor even if they were on the verge of death. Witnessing a lot of deaths among women due to non availability of medical help, this girl returned to her native place to study medicine and came back to India and founded the first medical college exclusively for women at
Vellore. This Christian medical college continues to be the premier medical institute in our country even today. . Since then hundreds of medical colleges have been started; but most of them have become only money-spinning industries.
Majority of our fellow country men are living below the poverty line. There are many people who do not have even a home of their own. Many girls in India could not get married because of demand of high dowry. But do we care? Matha Amrithanantha Mayi does all the charitable works that we Christians refuse to do. She builds lakhs of houses and helps the poor girls to be married. Christians here build huge church buildings and houses, spend crores of money for the marriage of their daughters. But they forget the duty of a Christian. Sree Narayanguru once said that Christians make others do what they ought to be doing. He is right! The saints who rejected world, leaving all its pleasures to serve the poor are the real treasure of Christianity. But now such saints have no place in the church. The world looks forward only for such Christians.
Few years back I visited Rajasthan with my wife. I got an opportunity to speak in a church there where few lepers gathered to worship God. Along with me there was a visiting family and the husband was requested to deliver a speech. In his address he specified that if only there were churches among all the leprosy colonies as there, there would be so much difference in the communities' response to the Gospel would live in peace. After the meeting I met him and understood that he was an IAS officer, the head of the Dept. of Leprosy Welfare Department. What a testimony from a Hindu brother about Christianity. O children of God, let us come back. Let us come back to the first love....
Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. (Lam. 5:21)
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Go and make disciples in all the nations
(Matt. 20:19)
Dr. J C Kurudamannil
Fire exists by burning. The church exist by preaching the Word of God and believing it. When God has a task to be performed He seeks a suitable person who would obey without reservation what He is commanded to.
God gave Noah a vision of Ark; and he built it as directed....
God gave Abraham the vision of a city and he looked for it...
He gave Nehemiah the vision of a wall and he repaired it;
He gave the Apostle Paul a vision of evangelizing the whole world... he covered the earth with the message of Christ, sparing no pains. We are given the same Great Commission.. Evangelist Mathew reminds us that the good news of the kingdom of God has to be preached through out the world, for a witness to all man kind, and then will come the end (Mt:24:14). The commission is valid today and will continue to be so, until the Good News is preached to all nations. The commission must be understood to include social action evangelism and healing ministry as Jesus mentioned in the Nazareth Manifesto. Christianity is concerned with the whole personality - body, soul and spirit. It alone has the power to cope with life, for the Lord has given it the strength.
Analysing the grammar involved in the commission, the main verb is to make disciples. The rest are participles - going teaching, baptising. Therefore we should not be satisfied with anything less than the fulfillment of the commission - to make disciples of all nations.
The church and the missionary movements should be acting on war footing and not simply like country clubs. Often we are infatuated by the going. Lately we see that many indigenous missionary bodies hold their annual conferences abroad. The participants may obtain a sort of thrill from such exercises, but no one else is benefited, while people are starving for the word of life, there is no justification for any extravaganza, why should anyone hear the gospel twice before every could hear it once?
The great Apostle Paul availed his opportunity of the audience of imperial dignitaries of Rome, Felix, Festus and Agrippa. When Paul was summered by Felix, to defend his faith, he went on discussing about goodness, self control and the coming day of judgment. Felix was afraid and said, "You may leave now. I will call you again when I get the chance (Acts. 24:25).
Before King Agrippa, Paul presented his position so eloquently that Festus the governor shouted at him and told him that he was mad. (Acts. 26:19-25). At the close of the trial or interview as the case may be both of the dignitaries agreed on the comment: "This man has not done anything for which he should die or be put in prison (Acts 26:30-32).
Hearing the logical presentation of Paul's testimony and a respectful challenge, Agrippa blurted out "almost thou persuades me to be a Christian. The Living Bible presents it almost as a sarcastic interruption with trivial proofs like these, you expect me become a Christian?
That may be enough to disarm an average witness. But not so with Paul - "Whether my arguments are trivial or strong, you and the rest of you who are listening to me to day might become what I am, except of course for these chains. That is evangelist par excellence.
In the Epistle to the Philippians, reminding the reader, of the humility and greatness of Jesus, Paul prayed that all being will honour the name of Jesus and fall on their knees and proclaim, Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.
May we emulate the great Apostle and be good evangelists.
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The Blessing of Not Knowing It All
Warren W Wiersbe
The wiser a man becomes, the more ignorant he knows himself to be. All of us come to a certain point in life - usually when we are younger - when we feel that all wisdom is ours and there is just nothing more to learn. Then we turn a corner and discover that our store of knowledge is just a little puddle on the shore and that a vast and deep ocean lies before us. It's good for us to remember the simple statement that the Apostle Paul made in I Corinthians 13: "For we know in part." There is a blessing in not knowing it all!
"For we know in part. "Paul made that statement in his famous poem on love. He wrote to a group of people who boasted in their knowledge. Unfortunately, they didn't have love; and so they used their knowledge to tear down and not to build up. "Knowledge puffs up," Paul warned them, "but love builds up." Then he reminded them that they really didn't know as much as they thought they knew: "For we know in part."
When you and I realize the truth of this statement, it will bring some very practical benefits to our lives.
For one thing, it will keep us humble; and humility is an important factor in a happy, holy life. All of us know people who never admit their ignorance. For some reason, they think they have to know everything and be able to explain every puzzle of life or solve every problem. Well, I fee sorry for them: because the Bible says, "We know in part." I don't have to act like God. I don't have to explain the mysteries of the universe or untangle the troubles of the world. There are questions I can't answer, and there are mysteries I can't explain-because I know in part.
This doesn't mean that we should close our minds and stop learning. Quite the opposite is true. There are many things God hasn't revealed to us, but there are many more things that He has revealed; and we should delve into these things and learn all we can. But it does us good while we study to pause and remind ourselves that we know in part.
Knowledge mixed with prude leads to tyranny and persecution, but knowledge mixed with humility generates a wonderful power of good. The fact that we know in part ought to make us easier to live with. It ought to deliver us from useless arguments about minor matters. We can disagree without being disagreeable.
You see, the person who admits his ignorance is the one who learns the most. It was Paul's pride of learning that kept him ignorant of God's simple plan of salvation. God literally had to knock Paul down-He had to humble him-before He could teach Paul the truth. And then, after Paul had experienced so many wonderful blessings, including being taken to the third heaven, God had to give Paul a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. Humility is the secret of wisdom, and humility comes when you and I realize that we know in part.
There is a second result - the blessing of kindness toward others. The next time you are tempted to judge someone severely, remember what Paul wrote: "For we know in part."
When I ministered as a pastor, I had to be reminded of this often. More than once I have wrongfully passed judgment on another Christian without really knowing all the facts; and , I must admit, more than once I have had to confess it to God and to those involved. How quick we are to judge! We know perfectly well that "man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart"; yet we jump to conclusions and pass judgment anyway. We know that Jesus warned us, "Judge not that ye be not judged," but we go ahead and announce the verdict.
You and I don't really know what goes on in the heart of the other person. Perhaps if we knew his burdens at home or his problems at work or the physical pain he has to bear we would be more charitable and less critical. I recall with shame an experience I had in one of the churches I
pastored. Once of our Sunday school teachers was not at all faithful to the services of the church, although he was always present to teach his class. I said something severe about him to our superintendent, and he wisely replied: "Pastor, you've been here only a short time. You haven't had opportunity to visit in his home. Make a visit, then pass judgment."
Well, I made the visit, and my heart was broken. That man had an invalid child at home-a case so pitiful it would break your heart too. Instead of criticizing that man, I came to admire him and work with him because I better understood the burdens that he bore. The French have a proverb: "If we knew all, we would forgive all." That may not be totally true; but it does remind us to be slow to judge, because we know in part.
The blessing of humility; the blessing of kindness toward others: Here are two practical benefits from admitting that we don't know it all. But there is a third benefit, one that has helped me over many a rugged road in life, and it's this: When you realize that you know in part, you are better able to accept the burdens and disappointments of life.
Romans 8:28 doesn't say, "And we see all things working together for good." No, it says, "And we know that all things are working together for good." We know it whether we see it or not!
Many a person has wrecked his life on the rocks of disappoinment, only to discover later that those same rocks could have been used as steppingstones to greater things. Perhaps life has taken a turn for the worse for you, and you're wondering if God really cares. As you look the situation over, it seems pretty impossible, and may be you're ready to call it quits. Just keep in mind we know in part. You don't see the whole picture now, and you may not see it a week from now or a year from now. But God sees it. And if you could only see the total picture as He sees it, you would be shouting for joy instead of weeping in sorrow.
"We know in part," and because we do, we're not going to give up when life becomes difficult. Like Job, we will say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." We will join with Paul and shout, "All things are working together for good!" With the choirs of heaven we will sing: "Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent
reigneth!"
Someone has compared life of a medical prescription. The pharmacist mixes the ingredients and produces medicine that will help you get well. If you took those ingredients separately, or if you changed the proportions, you might do irreparable damage, or even cause death. God knows best how to mix the ingredients of life. We know in part, but God knows fully and completely. One day, when we see Jesus Christ, God will show us the whole picture. Then we will understand the meaning of the so-called tragedies of life.
Quite frankly, I'm glad that we know in part. I'm not so sure I want to know what lies at the next bend in the road. God knows the future, and that is security enough for me. God does not have to give me reasons or explanations or previews, because He has already given me promises; and His promises cover every problem of life. Jesus said to Peter, "What I do, thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." Today, we know in part; but the day will come when we will know even as we are known-and I'm willing to wait. Never doubt in the darkness what God has told you in the light. Rest on his promises, and all will be well.
Many years ago, the pastor of the City Temple in London, Joseph Parker, wrote a lovely poem that best expresses what I have been trying to say on this theme. Read it carefully and ponder its message.
God holds the key of all unknown, and I am glad.
If other hands should hold the key, or if he trusted it to me,
I might be sad.
What if tomorrow's cares were here, without its rest?
I'd rather He unlocked the day
And, as the hours swing open, say,
"My will is best!"
The very dimness of my sight makes me secure.
For, groping in my misty way,
I feel His hand, I hear Him say,
"My help is sure."
I cannot read His future plans,
But this I know:
I have the smiling of His face,
And all the refuge of His grace
While here below.
Enough! This covers all my wants,
And so I rest-
For what I cannot, He can see,
And in His care, I saved shall be,
Forever blest!
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The Israelite rabble, newly escaped from the clutches of proud Pharoah, needed time to develop their national consciousness and to establish their God as King in their new nation, and to become familiar with the constitution God gave them through Moses. So far a full moth following the setting up of the tabernacle the Lord outlined the rituals and sacrifices recorded in Leviticus. God purposed to dwell among them, in their camps, and this wonderful fact was meant to establish the character of their life from this point on.
Then as we pass from the details of sacrifices and God's standards of holiness in Leviticus and start going through the book of Numbers, we are surprised by a dramatic shift. Suddenly we are introduced to God's Selective Service Act. God orders the numbering of Israel's men of war. Inherent in God's character is an aggressiveness against sin and a motivation to redeem mankind from its bondage.
But in order to wage war and to deliver captives, God needs men and women. If God's light is to shine in the world and to dispel its darkness, it will be through human light holders. If his truth is to displace the lies and deceit of Satan, it will only be as men and women pay the price for holding to the truth and strive together for the spread of the gospel. If the knowledge of the one true and living God is to overthrow the worship of false gods, God needs demonstrators to display the transcendent glory of his grace and power. The purposes of God for his people do not end with the blessings of their deliverance from Egypt. The Lord needs them to fulfill a vital role in his warfare against all the power of the enemy.
In this move from ceremonies to the more practical facts of living, God is showing the development that is to characterize the life and service of the Christian. Salvation and the divine indwelling are the preliminary steps to the call for active service. Not many people seem to realize this; yet the picture that is given here should dispel any illusions about the character of the Christian life. It is a life of the drawn sword.
But as the registration of the men moves forward, God suddenly interrupts the proceedings with a special command: "You must not count the tribe of Levi" (Num. 1:49). The draft board was not to include this tribe in the census of Israel's fighting men.
Any who have the hot blood of patriotism flowing through their veins will have some idea of what it must have meant to the men of Levi to be set aside. The heroic always carries with it more romance than a mundane stay-at-home existence. What could be more important than fighting at the spearhead of attack for the cause of their God? And what could be more ignominious than having to say at home and be de-elected, when their peers are sent out to figith for the homes and families of the nation? It must have been a blow to the pride of the men of Levi. Perhaps the patriotic spirit has died out, but I think you will understand something of what it must have meant to the men of Levi when they heard the decision that they were not to be included in the muster for war.
Obviously there is a lesson here on priorities. Was God disqualifying the men of Levi? Far from it. Nor would it be reasonable to suppose that he was giving them up for some unimportant, second-rate service. The truth is that he was singling them out as an elite corps of specialists to act as his royal guard, with a top-priority assignment. In fact, they were so important to him that, in a representative capacity, he claimed them for himself. "The Levites are to be mine," God declared. Theirs was a special task. They were "to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name." (Deut.10:8).
Judah and the warriors of the other tribes might be out on the battlefield slugging it out with the Hittite, Amorite, Amalekite, or whomever-but the strength of their cause and the roots of their victory lay in the fact that their brethren, the men of Levi, were back at home, camped around God's tabernacle and keeping the fires burning on his altar of sacrifice. For had not God commanded, "The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out" (Lev.6:13)?
The importance of this service was such that to allow it to fall into disarray would immediately be reflected in a lack of success at the front line. The death or wounding of soldiers in battle is one of the expected hazards of war. But to let the altar fire go out and the sacrifices cease would create a hazard they could not afford to consider.
The place of God in the life of a people is always more important than the activities of the group. This is because spiritually productive activities stem from and are the result of God's being given his rightful place. Accorded his throne-rights in a group or in an individual, he will soon make it manifest where his priorities lie.
Draft boards can only exclude the disabled from the muster for war. But when God is in command, he can choose whom he will for his royal guard. These special ones do not come to their appointment as priests by default, but by deliberate divine designation. Therefore if God has set you apart for special priestly ministries, "do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense" (2 Chron. 29:11). You are God's gift to his great High Priest to offer prayer as incense, just as the Levites were given as a gift to Aaron and his sons, to keep the fires burning on the altar of God.
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God's Wonder in the Weather
Russell J Asvitt
There is one important fact that most people who talk about and predict the weather fail to recognize even though the Bible makes it clear. Do you know what it is?
The weather has been a subject of conversation, study and prediction for many years. Feeble, unsuccessful attempts-such as
cloudseeding-have even been made to control it. The meteorologist is frustrated in his attempts to find natural laws that regulate the weather. He fails to realize that the weather is not limited to natural laws but is regulated by God.
The meteorologist studies the clouds and classifies them according to their appearance. Their names describe the type of clouds but do not explain how or why the clouds are formed as they are.
Observation stations are located in remote parts of the earth to obtain the wind direction, air pressure and temperatures. The scientists hope that gathering this information will help them predict what the weather will be. Radar is used to identify storms and cloud systems and to measure the amount of rainfall all over the world. Thanks are used to measure evaporation, rain and snow. The weather scientists hope that by gathering enough statistical data they can find the key to more accurate weather forecasting. Weather satellites and the most modern digital computers are enlisted in man's search for this knowledge.
With the expenditure of millions of dollars and hours and hours of studying charts produced by sophisticated data processing equipment, how effective is this research in accurately predicting the weather? If you have been listening to the daily weather forecast on the radio or TV, you know that there have been great strides made in the technology of weather observation; but the accuracy, or shoudl I say inaccuracy, of predictions remains about the same. We still wash our cars when fair skies have been predicted and then are surprised by an unexpected rain shower. You will notice that the forecaster never positively predicts rain but uses gambling terms such as "a 60 percent chance of rain."
I recent years, scients have charted the circular motion of the winds and how they affect the ocean
curents. These charts are also general in nature because the exact paths of the winds cannot be accurately predicted. The Bible, which critics have called "unscientific," is about 3000 years ahead of the scientists.
Ecclesiastes 1:6 says: "The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits."
Solomon had no satelllite pircures, electronic devices or aerial observers to report this to him; but God gave him the wisdom to report this truth.
Balance in the Clouds
One of the greatest factors in weather observation is cloud formation. Clouds are classsified by their shape, color and elevation. The type of cloud gives an indication of the expected weather.
Job was asked a perplexing question about the clouds. "Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?" (Job 37:16).
The word "balancings" is from the Hebrew word miphlas, which is used only this one time in the Bible. It means poised, in perfect balance. How remarkable! Millions of tons of water vapor are suspended in clouds all over the earth, poised, ready to be released whenever God wills it.
With all of modern man's knowledge, he still cannot answer the question put to Job thousands of years ago. How can tons of water defy the law of gravity to remain suspended as much as 50,000 feet above the surface of the earth for hours or days and then be released to fall gently on the petals of delicate flowers, leaving them unharmed, or to come down at other times in torrential downpours with massive destructive power?
How can we explain the unpredictable behaviour of the weather? It may be unpredictable to man in his limited knowledge, but it is clear from the Scriptures that God is the Author of the weather and the One who balances the clouds.
Jeremiah 10:13 explains: "When he [God] uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures."
There is not natural law known to man that can explain evapration. We know what happens, of course-water rises in the form of invisible water vapor. But what causes it to do this? Jeremiah says that God utters His voice. Psalm 33:6 says: "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."
By this same voice the waters are gathered together. Because we cannot hear this voice does not mean it does not exist. We cannot see infrared light, either, but it does exist; and it can be recorded on special film.
Purpose of Rain
For what purpose does God call His clouds into being? "Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy" (Job 37:11-13).
What a picture this is of the power of God! He fills the clouds with water. He burdens them with a weight they cannot bear for long. Then He turns them in whatever direction He wants them to go. No wonder the weatherman is often frustrated in his predictions. He sees the clouds proceeding in one direction, and without warning they change and go another way. They pass over one city and rain on the next.
Three reasons are given for the rainfall.
First, it is for correction-that is, to correct man's thinking about his own greatness. The psalmist said: "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves"
(Psa. 100:3). We need to be constantly reminded of this.
Second, rain is necessary for the land. Rain is vital for plant life and for growing food for our very existence. Even when the clouds do not drop rain, the wind that drives them is very important to the earth's ecology. Because we breathe oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, it is necessary for the air to be continually stirred up. Otherwise, we would shortly use up all the oxygen in our environment and die. Trees and vegetation, on the other hand, produce oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. Because most of our forests are in unpopulated areas, the winds are needed to make this proper distribution and exchange of gases. No evolutionist can explain this perfect plan of God for the good of the land.
Third, rainfall shows God's mercy and kindness to bestow the gentle rain on an undeserving human race that continually reels against Him. As Jesus said in His sermon on the Mount, God
"sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45).
Good weather depends upon man's obedience to God, as we can see in Leviticus 26:3,4. "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and to them; then I will give yourain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."
The disobedience of man results in God's judgment. Besides sending the floods and the storms, the Lord can also with hold the rain as a form of punishment.
Deuteronomy 11:16,17 says: "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; and then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you."
The weather has been used by God in the past to reveal His majesty to man. It is still being used today and will be a factor in insuring man's obedience in the Millennium when Jesus return.
In speaking of that day, Zechariah 14:17 says: "And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."
God's Word reveals His commandments, His discipline for disobedience, and, more than that, His mercy and forgiveness. In answer to a prayer of Solomon, the Lord has given us the method of obtaining relief from His judgment for our disobedience. It is found in II Chronicles 7:13,14: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain ...if my people, which are called b my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
First, the Lord speaks to His people to humble themselves. Humility is the first order of business if we want relief. Next, we must prayerfully seek God's face. We often come to the Lord with our hands our asking for things but not really seeking His fellowship. We must then determine to turn from our wicked ways. When all these conditions have been met, then God will keep His word. He will answer our prayer. Notice that He always puts first things first. When He hears us, He will forgive our sins. This is the thing that separates us from God, so it must be put away. Then God will heal our land. If He has withheld the rain, He will send it to give life to the land. If He has sent us storms, then they shall cease.
Who Controls the Weather?
There is only One who can control the weather. He walked among us almost 2000 years ago.
This is what Mark writes: "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, tnd say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (4:37-41).
Volcanoes all over the world are erupting, sending up giganti clouds, disturbing weather patterns even more. The scientists are baffled, The Christian need not be. Romans 1:18 says: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness."
It is time for us to openly acknowledge the One who can not only say to the elements, but to our hearts, "Peace, be still!"
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