Pastoral Note - 20th May 2007

Everyone has a view on what our problems are as a church. I am always hearing that the church needs to make changes, our leaders need to make changes, our people need changing. We need a ‘reformation’ of sorts. The ‘Reformation’ was a movement in the 16th century to reform the Catholic church in Europe. The Reformers were those looking to reform the church from its corruption and false teaching. In an attempt to reform the Catholic church came the REdiscovery of the Word of God, out of which the protestant churches have come out from (Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Lutheran).

One reformer was a man called Martin Luther who challenged the teachings of the church on how someone gets saved. Luther argued from the Bible that a man/woman is made right with God through faith alone in the work of Christ alone (Rom.1:16-17). It hinged on the conviction that the Bible alone is ones final authority on all matters of life and doctrine. He was charged with heresy. When questioned before the courts, standing before the most powerful men and women in Europe and asked to recant, he said, "Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me."

True reformation begins when you take the Bible as your final authority on all matters of life and doctrine. If we are to bring reformation to our church, our leadership and our lives, then we must be men and women of the Word i.e. Bible centered and Bible believing Christians. The revealed Word of God alone must shape what we believe and how we are to live. Sola Scriptura (by scripture alone) was the battle cry of the Reformers, many of whom died defending the authority of the Bible.

Transformation begins with a conviction that it is the Word of God alone that is our final authority on all matters of life and doctrine; a word that is inspired by God or God breathed, infallible (without error in what it teaches) and sufficient for my life (2 Tim.3:16-17). The best thing we could be doing as a church is to be men and women devoted to searching the Scriptures, reading the Scriptures and applying the Scriptures. Only then will you experience God’s personal ‘reformation’ in your life.

Pastoral Note - 1st April 2007

What is an ‘evangelical’ Christian? One of the problems is that lot’s of people call themselves ‘evangelicals’. You can find people who call themselves ‘evangelical’ Roman Catholics or ‘evangelical’ Pentecostals or ‘evangelical’ Greek Orthodox.

In fact, WE are called an ‘evangelical’ church. Historically, an ‘evangelical’ was a swear word in the 16th century; a divisive word that was narrowly defined. It was a word that was used of a particular type of Christian.

At its most basic level an ‘evangelical’ is a gospel-centered Christian. In fact, the word ‘evangelical’ comes from the word ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ in the New Testament (NT). What we need to be clear about is that not everyone who calls themselves an evangelical is a gospel-centered Christian. I say this because true ‘evangelicals’ are those whose beliefs and practices are shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor.15:3-4; Eph.2:20; Rom.1:1-5). And at the heart of the gospel is the atoning death of Jesus on the cross for our sins, his victorious resurrection from the dead, and the call to repentance, faith and a life of discipleship. The problem is sin and judgment: it is people’s greatest need. The solution is the death of Jesus on the cross: it deals with people’s sin and judgment. Therefore, personal salvation and change in society comes through bringing men and women to faith in Jesus and his work alone. I would venture to say that many popular ‘evangelical’ groups would not hold to this gospel, because when it comes down to it, they are not Word-centered Christians.

For an ‘evangelical’ is not only a gospel-centered Christian, they are also a Bible believing Christian. For ultimately a true understanding of the gospel must come from the pages of Scripture. The second thing we need to be clear about is that not everyone who calls themselves an evangelical is a Bible believing Christian. An ‘evangelical’ is committed to the authority of the Scriptures as the Word of God on all matters of life and belief (2 Tim.3:16-17; Heb.4:12).

Firstly, it means being committed to the inspiration of Scripture as the special revelation or the very Word of God. Whenever we open up to read or hear the Bible read, we must remember that God himself speaks. It is God-breathed (2 Tim.3:16a). It is the authoritative Word that stands above every culture, belief, value, opinion, government and life. Secondly, it means being committed to the infallibility of Scripture because it is the very Word of God. If the Scriptures originate from God himself, then it would also be true to say that it is without error in its teaching, its commands and its claims. Thirdly, it means being committed to the sufficiency of Scripture because as the very Word of God it is sufficient not just in saving us (2 Tim.3:15), but sufficient for all of life (2 Tim.3:16-17).

‘Evangelical’ Christians in the true sense of the word are Christians who’s beliefs and practices are shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in the written Word of God, inspired by God himself, infallible and sufficient for all of life. Are you an ‘evangelical’ Christian?

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