“The greatest man in history was a child refugee. Born into poverty and obscurity, as a youngster he was taken to Egypt to escape Herod and persecution by the oppressive regime of the Romans.
Jesus received no formal education, but rather, worked hard a labourer. He never wrote a book or a song.
He formally preached and ministered for only three years.
He never spoke to flatter the authorities; He refused to compromise His message, and eventually was executed by crucifixion at the age of thirty-three.
In those three years of public work, without travelling far, He made blind people see, dumb people speak, and deaf people hear. He healed lepers and lame people. He raised the dead to life. He fed thousands of hungry people with just a few loaves and fish. He instantly calmed a rough storm at sea and walked on the water, dispelling the fear of terrified fishermen.
Nobody spoke as Jesus did; He had authority.
He gave to the world the highest moral standard, preaching only what He practiced.
Christ said, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you,’ and ‘turn the other cheek’ (Luke 6:27).
Jesus Christ gave dignity to women, respect to the disabled, significance to children, credibility to the family and status to each individual.
He has made an indelible impact upon our literature, art, music and architecture and is the foundation principle for our democratic freedoms.
Judas, who sold Him, cried, ‘I have betrayed innocent blood’ (Matthew 27:4).
Pilate, who ordered His execution, said, ‘I find no fault in Him’ (John 19:6).
John, the disciple, said, ‘In Him is no sin.’ The great missionary, Paul, said, ‘He knew no sin.’ And Peter said, ‘He did no sin.’
It is impossible to fault Christ.
He had no sin, nor did any sin, because He was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible says of Jesus, that God ‘became flesh and made His dwelling among us’ (John 1:14).
Stripped naked, beaten and humiliated, Christ died on a cross. As He hung there, God laid on Jesus the sin of us all.
The Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16).
‘For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God’ (1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus was punished in our place, that we might be forgiven for all our sin, all our wrongdoing.
Three days later, the tomb, where Jesus’ body was laid, was empty; He had risen from the dead; He was alive.
Over an extended period of time, He showed Himself physically alive again to many people. He changed their lives, giving hope and peace to each one who trusted Him.
Jesus Christ had come to earth with a mission. He had come, not to call to Himself the righteous people, but sinners. He was more than a great example to us. He was greater than the supreme teacher.
He accomplished more than simply performing great miracles. The Bible states: ‘The Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world’ (1 John 4:14).
Millions have followed Jesus simply because they trust and love Him. Civilisations have been changed as people have come to know God. He is able to set free each person who comes to Him. Instead of the hell we deserve, through forgiveness, God can reserve a place in heaven for us.
The Bible makes it clear that God’s command to us, is that we turn from all that is wrong in our lives, and ask the once-crucified, now-risen, living Jesus to free us, forgive us and become our Lord and Saviour. When we turn our back on sin and trust Christ, He becomes our Saviour and Helper, making everything new. As our constant Companion He helps us in all the decision making of our lives. Jesus Christ has been such a real Friend to individuals for twenty centuries, all over the world.
Only Jesus had the power to defeat death and rise from the dead – He said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6).”
*
(D. J. Carswell, Real Lives)
Apparently I’m a Worldly Calvinist!
After reading the article ‘The Merger of Calvinism with Worldliness’ by Peter Masters (his comments on Collin Hansen’s book Young, Restless, Reformed) in the latest issue of Sword & Trowel I’ve come to realise that I’m a Worldly Calvinist.
What makes me a Worldly Calvinist? I’m a Calvinist who likes contemporary worship music.
Although Masters points out four issues which he says contradicts a genuine Calvinistic outlook the focus is on how the Calvinistic resurgence reported by Hansen’s book is a mix of Calvinism with contemporary charismatic-ethos worship (“worldly-worship variety”).
So for example:
Passion conference: “young people revelled in contemporary music, and listened to speakers such as John Piper proclaiming Calvinistic sentiments”.
Resolved: “usual mix of Calvinism and extreme charismatic-style worship” “worldly, showbusiness atmosphere created by the organisers”
Described large conferences: “at which the syncretism of worldly, sensation-stirring, high-decibel, rhythmic music, is mixed with Calvinistic doctrine”.
Mars Hill Seattle: “the most ear-splitting music of any”.
He then goes on to talk about how New Calvinism is encouraging people to become friends with the world but again the issue is in the area of style of music.
The examples he gives:
“When a secular rapper named Curtis Allen was converted, his new-born Christian instinct led him to give up his past life and his singing style. But Pastor Joshua Harris evidently persuaded him not to, so that he could sing for the Lord.”
On the book Worldliness (edited by CJ Mahaney) he says that it: “hopelessly under-equips young believers for separation from the world, especially in the area of music, where, apparently, the Lord loves every genre.”
I agree with Masters concern that we aren’t of the world but I’m not convinced that liking or preferring a contemporary style of music makes you worldly. Even though I’m not convinced by Masters argument, I did find it a helpful reminder that there is a danger of becoming united to the world.
Am I a Worldly Calvinist? It depends whether you agree or disagree with article.
Read ‘The Merger of Calvinism with Worldliness’ online HERE.
Subscribe to Sword & Trowel HERE (which I highly recommend; even though I don’t always agree fully with what Peter Masters says, I appreciate that his writing always gets me thinking).
The Contemporary Calvinist comments on the article HERE.