Author: fundyreformed

Intolerance, the Dali Lama, and the Bible

~ fundyreformed ~ 4 Comments

ks–this is cross posted at Kingdom Surge, my missions blog.

No one is more known for peace and tolerance than the Dali Lama. At least that’s what the world at large thinks of him. A Tibetan Buddhist, he crusades for world peace and harmony.

Sunday at our church, one of the leaders of an Indian church planting organization (directed and funded by Indians primarily, he did not ask for or even tell us how to give money) told a fascinating story about the Dali Lama.

A 17 year old girl from Australia felt that God had laid it on her heart to give a Bible to the Dali Lama. Not to witness to him or anything dramatic, but just to place a Bible in his hands. She came to India and visited this mission and went on a short term trip with them near where the Lama lives. She found a way to stay in that region longer than the others she was with and found a 15 minute audience with the Dali Lama.

She gave the Bible to him, encouraging him to read it as it will help him rule his people better and make wise decisions. The Dali Lama examined the book for a while and when he noticed it was a Bible he became furious. He said he would never allow that book into his kingdom. He felt it was responsible for many of the world’s problems. He then tossed it into one of the incense burning bins near his elaborate seat (almost like a throne).

But he did more than just insult the Holy Bible and the Christian God. He had this Australian girl thrown in prison without notifying the Australian embassy. Members of the Indian Christian mission mentioned above, regularly visited the prisons in that area seeking to provide help to any who needed it. They found the girl and heard this story as her explanation for why she was in prision. It was almost like a dungeon cell, and she was in poor physical shape, too.

They contacted the Embassy for her and she was soon released. Although she never can return to India and see the Lama again, her testimony has had an impact. The Indian leader said they have had more Tibetans come to know Christ Jesus in the past 2 years then ever before in their 30 years of ministry.

Praise God for those who follow His leading and hold forth His word.

“…in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life….” (Phil. 2:15b-16a NASB)

Rejoicing in God's Sovereignty

~ fundyreformed

Last night, John Piper presented the vision and educational philosophy for our church’s new college and seminary. Bethlehem College and Seminary wll remain tethered to the original ideals which have grown strong and proved frutiful over 10 years as The Bethlehem Institute (of Bethlehem Baptist Church).

Piper had some interesting things to say contrasting education/persuasion and indoctrination. I hope to post on that when the audio of his message becomes available. Right now, however, I want to focus on God’s sovereignty.

Piper reiterated somewhat his recent blog post regarding being thankful for whatever government God sends our way. And later he quoted from our church’s elder affirmation of faith when he was declaring that this college and seminary holds unwaveringly to God’s sovereignty. That quote, which I’ve shared before, really captures the heart of a Biblical and God-honoring view of sovereignty. In light of the recent election, and the continuing economic woes, it would do good for us to ponder and rejoice over these words.

We believe that God, from all eternity, in order to display the full extent of His glory for the eternal and ever-increasing enjoyment of all who love Him, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His will, freely and unchangeably ordain and foreknow whatever comes to pass.

We believe that God upholds and governs all things — from galaxies to subatomic particles, from the forces of nature to the movements of nations, and from the public plans of politicians to the secret acts of solitary persons — all in accord with His eternal, all-wise purposes to glorify Himself, yet in such a way that He never sins, nor ever condemns a person unjustly; but that His ordaining and governing all things is compatible with the moral accountability of all persons created in His image.

This section is taken from Article 3 sections 1 and 2 of The Bethlehem Elder Affirmation of Faith. The section goes on to assert God’s sovereignty in salvation. I’d encourage you to read the entire affirmation of Faith. I blog through the entire document in a series of blog posts, which you’re welcome to peruse as well.

Voting — A Privilege

~ fundyreformed ~ 6 Comments

We’re all excited about voting today. But only 1 party will win, and there is bound to be disappointments for everyone.

This year’s election is touted as the most important one in a generation. But it seems to me that last time round, and the time before, and before…. They’re all”the most important”!

As Christians who care passionately about many important issues, we invest alot into the election. We follow the race, we support conservative candidates. We defend our guy against the other one. We pray. But as we do all this, far too often we are swept into the secular mindset that everything depends on our vote and this election. When the wrong guy gets in office we detach ourselves from the public arena and fret about how soon and sure God’s judgment will fall. When the right guy gets in, we defend his every policy, with Biblical zeal. Too often our hope lies in the direction our country is going in, and we forget we aren’t the only nation with a large population of Christians in it. God is interested in his church, more than he is in the direction of the various secular nations, America and Israel included.

What am I saying? I’m arguing that if we step back from today’s election and think about the bigger picture, we will be thankful for the privelege we have of voting, but we’ll put that vote in the proper context of God’s sovereignty and our identity as citizens of Heaven.

So the bigger picture is this: the vast majority of people in the world today, do not get to have any meaningful say in their government. The vast majority of people in the history of the world had no say. They just floated along trying to survive this king and that. In Bible times, Nero was the quintessential maniacal despot. And Paul said God was behind his rule and Christians should pray for him and obey governors and leaders like him.

Given this perspective, voting is a privilege.     But free societies, and having government be in the reins of the guy we want, is not some all-or-nothing, extremely important thing. Christians survived the first 1500 years after Christ without voting privileges. They survived the persecution that came even under Christian governments against other Christians. And they thrive today in some of the most totalitarian states. The kingdom of God depends not on the ballot, or the bullet, but on the power and majesty of God. He is our king. Let’s remember that no matter how today falls out.

John Piper on the Most Important Issues In the 2008 Election

~ fundyreformed ~ 3 Comments

As the election approaches, John Piper shares some gospel-centered thoughts on how a Christian should think about politics and this vote. Please watch this video! A related clip with additional perspective from Pastor Piper is available here.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.737650&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

more about “The Most Important Issues In the 2008…“, posted with vodpod

Reformation Day Reading

~ fundyreformed ~ 6 Comments

Happy Reformation Day!

This is the 491st anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church. Because of the printing press, this step by Luther was soon the spark that kindled the Reformation fires across much of Europe. And as Dan Phillips points out, if we enjoy the privilege of freely worshipping in a non-Catholic, Christian church of almost any Protestant denomination (or even no denomination), we have Martin Luther to thank. We don’t need to idolize Luther, however. Instead we can be thankful for God’s mercy in providing us with the Reformation and the blessings we still enjoy because of it.

Here is some reading for you this Reformation Day.