The Disciple and the End of the World on 12-21-12

Imanuel G. Christian

February 2012

You may have heard, or, will certainly hear, about the predicted end of the world on December 21, 2012. There has been so much hype and hoopla on this subject. Web sites, articles, books, YouTube videos and major motion pictures are spreading the message of an imminent destruction of the world as we know it. If you do a Google search on “2012 end of the world” you would find millions of web sites. People are selling things like survival kits and shelters and T-shirts. YouTube has hundreds of thousands of videos informing and warning people of the coming doom in 2012. You can even get an app on your iPhone that features an animated countdown to 12-21-12. As the time draws near we will be bombarded more and more, even by the main line media.

All this is based on the Mayan calendar. The Mayan Long Count Calendar has five “world cycles” and each of these is made up of 5,160 years totaling 25,800 years. According to Mayan belief each of these cycles ends with world destruction and beginning a new world order. The mythical creation of the Mayans is believed to be August 11, 3114 B. C. That is Day One on the Mayan Long Calendar. The fifth and final cycle is supposed to end on December 21, 2012 (Day Last). So, the Mayan alarm clock of the doomsday is set to go off on 12-21-12.

Along with the Mayan calendar, the year 2012 coincides with the “galactic alignment” of the sun and the earth with the “galactic equator” that bisects the black hole at the center of the universe. This rare alignment occurs once every 26,000 years, the time it takes the earth to complete one wobble around its axis. As the earth rotates on its axis, it wobbles very slightly. This wobble creates a small circle in the galaxy. The earth wobbles one degree every seventy two years. It takes 25,800 (around 26,000) years to complete one full circle, exactly the total number of years of the five cycles of the Mayan calendar. So, the scientists are thinking that maybe there is something to the Mayan calendar and something unusual is going to happen when this takes place on 12-21-12. Amazingly, the Mayans were able to figure all this out without the use of even the simplest telescope, what we now can know only by using our advanced computer technology and powerful telescopes.

And mix with this the current world situation: The rogue nations gaining an upper hand and acquiring nuclear power, the Middle-East crisis, especially nations rising up against Israel and the West, the shortage of oil, food supply and vital natural resources, the economic meltdown, wars and rumors of wars and rising terrorism, the erratic weather patterns that create unprecedented earthquakes and tsunamis. All these have created frenzy like sense of an impending world crisis like an enormous volcano ready to erupt any moment.

So, how much should we be concerned about the end of the world this year? Not much! Will the world as we know it end on 12-21-12? Certainly not! Nothing as predicted by the 2012 fanatics is going to happen!

How can we be so sure? Let me give you just three reasons. One, although the Mayan calendar cycle seems to exactly coincide with the earth cycle, as the modern scientists have calculated, there is no scientific basis for the end of the world at the end of the Mayan calendar cycle. The hypothesis of the end of the world is based not on astronomy, but on astrology, on the New Age thinking. Most of the 12-21-12 doomsday predictors are New Age followers. The New Age followers are commonly associated with the movements of the constellations and cosmic convergences with the help of demonic practices. Their idea is that the end of the present world will usher in a new beginning, the dawn of a new golden age, an age of awakening, of higher consciousness, a new plane of existence, much like what the Serpent promised Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:5).

How could the Mayans come up with such an elaborate calculation of the solar system without the aid of even the simplest telescope or computer technology? We do not know. But because of the New Age ideology behind it, we can safely assume that demonic sources are behind it, like the prophesying spirits in Paul’s time (Acts 16:16-18).

Of course, the world is hurling towards a precipice and that may lead to many catastrophic events like major wars or major natural catastrophes, as we noted above. But that has nothing to do with the 12-21-12 hypothesis.

Secondly, nobody knows, or, can know, exactly when the end of the world will be. In the past, many such dates have been set. According to one web site there have been 242 past predictions about the end of the world. They all have come and gone. Similar hoopla was created about Y2K, predicting that we would experience crisis of a mammoth proportion and even the end of the civilization as we know it. Many, including believers, were caught up in that frenzy, storing up enough food and water supply to last for months. Nothing happened! As Jesus said no one knows that day except the Father (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7).

Thirdly, the prediction of the end of the world on 12-21-12 does not match with the end time calendar that God has given us in His Word. Before the end of the world happens as described in 2 Peter 3:10, there will be the rapture of the church, the seven year tribulation, the second coming of Christ and His one-thousand-year reign. The next major event on the eschatological calendar is the rapture, not the end of the world.

So, we do not have to panic as the people of the world who ignore the Word of God do. Nor do we have to go into frenzied preparation or in hiding in a remote mountain place as many, even believers, did during the so called Y2K crisis. BUT, we do have to be ready for the coming of the Lord to take His Bride. We can be sure that the world will not end on 12-21-12. But we do know for sure that some day it is going to end and this world is not our home. “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10-13).

(Information for this article was gleaned from various web sites and the book 2012, The Bible and the End of the World by Mark Hitchcock; Harvest House, 2009)

EVERY WORD OF GOD IS FLAWLESS; HE IS A SHIELD TO THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM (Prov. 30:35)

The Disciple and His Perfect Peace

Imanuel G. Christian

January 2012

Last month we noted that the birth of Christ in our hearts prepares the way for us to fulfill the longing of our human hearts. At the same time, we also noted that we are still groaning with the eager expectations of our final redemption, and our prayer still is, “Come, Thou long expected Jesus”. Even after the Son of righteousness has been born in our hearts, we continue to live in the “world with devils filled that threaten to undo us” and face all kinds of problems and heartaches that are common to humanity. As we begin the year 2012 we do not know how the year will go and what kinds of problems we will face. In this situation how can we have the perfect peace that is promised in the Word of God?

Yes, the Word of God does promise perfect peace and overflowing joy. The prophet Isaiah described this perfect peace and overflowing joy in beautiful poetry, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; (so much joy and peace that) the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).

Although Isaiah is describing this in the context of the millennial kingdom, in some ways we can experience that perfect peace and overflowing joy even today. As believers we do not have to wait to experience all the blessings of heaven until after we die and go to be in the presence of the Lord where there is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11). We can, at least in some measure, experience these blessing even in this life. Eternity begins at the moment we come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

In the New Year how can we experience the heavenly joy and peace in spite of us living in the world that is still under the grip of the evil one? First of all, we need to change our focus. Much of the time we focus on our own life surrounded by problems, on the evil that surrounds us, on our disappointments and frustrations. All these things weigh us down and rob us of our joy and peace.

Instead of that, our focus should be on God in whom and through whom all our questions are answered and problems resolved. When the psalmist focused on the evil around him (Psalm 73), his heart was grieved and his spirit became bitter (v. 21). But when he changed his focus to be on God he realized, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (vv. 25-26). As Isaiah said, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

Secondly, we need to change our priorities. Much of our life is spent on making a living and not enjoying life, in worrying about things we do not have, and in taking care of things we do have. Like our garages, our life is cluttered with so many things and activities that drain our energy, use up our time and resources, and rob us of our joy and peace. We believers, too, have been dragged into a consumer mindset and try to find our joy in having

a certain standard of living, so when things change and we cannot maintain it, our world goes upside down. Contentment is not having everything we want, but enjoying things we have; learning “the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12). It is in this context that Paul makes the next statement; “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (v. 13).

Instead of focusing on the things of this world, our priorities should be focused on eternal things: serving the Lord, being a joy and blessing to others, and accumulating eternal treasures. Things of this world are temporary, but they can be used to build up eternal treasures. If this is our priority, we can trust God to meet all our basic needs. David said, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed” (Psalm 37:25-26). It is rare that we have to worry about our basic needs like shelter, clothes and food. Most of our worries are about things beyond our basic needs.

Thirdly, we have to live a life that is totally pleasing to the Lord. No believer can have the joy and peace promised in the Word of God as long as there is an unforgiven sin in his/her life. As David said, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3-4). Of course, as long as we are in this life, we cannot live a sinless life. But as we grow in the Lord we sin less and less and the goal is, like Job, to live a life that is blameless and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3). If there is any sin in our life we have to immediately ask forgiveness from God and, if necessary, from others whom we may have offended.

Finally, the goal of the believer’s life is not just to enjoy this life, although there is nothing wrong in that as God allows us to enjoy it (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; 3:22; 5:18-20), but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Because it is only in a relationship with Him that this life not only becomes meaningful, but also joyful. As Solomon said, “For without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:25). No One! As children of God we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, with the things that really matter from the eternal perspective.

If we make God our focus in 2012, and make knowing Him, loving Him and serving Him our priority, then the things of this world will grow strangely dim and we will be able not only to appreciate our spiritual blessings, but also to be able to enjoy this life and the things of this world, and our life will be more and more filled with the joy and peace that God desires us to have.

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

(Helen H. Lemmel, 1922)

(Next month: End of the world on 12-21-12?)

How beautiful the hands that served...!

I dedicate this blog to our Dear Achen Ninan & our Dear Pastor Sherwin...! Pastor, We appreciate you!

October.. is the 'CLERGY APPRECIATION' month! I am glad somebody had dedicated this WHOLE month for appreciating our pastors, instead of just one day! That shows us that one day is not enough to appreciate the Pastors!

Why should we appreciate our Pastors? The reasons are so many; I know I am trying a 'failure attempt' to write only a few things; they mean more than what these words can express!

While they are sick, they visit church members who are sick, to utter the words of assurance and healing, showing no signs of their own sufferings!

While they grieve for their personal situation, they go and celebrate the joyous occasion of the church members, showing no signs of their own pains!

While they need several helping hands, I have noticed, they go out and help the needy, showing no signs of self-needs, but just pointing to other's needs!

While they are 'stoned at' for anything they did, they pray for me and love me, as if I did nothing wrong against them.. oh boy.. this means a lot to me!

While they toil day and night to prepare the sermon and deliver it on Sundays, I just summarize them in one line saying 'it is not an effective sermon', because they don't use technology..! I apologize; I no more try summarize the sermons, but I just surrender & submit in His presence!

While the whole city was 'stand-still' during the ice storm, they went out, driving on the risky-icy-slippery roads, to pray for me and help me out; I told them 'I am contagious' they said, that is fine! I thought they are crazy.. Yes! They are! For your sake!

While I complained about their leadership style, they exemplified the servant leadership, 'do not follow men', 'just follow Jesus', a better way to Christian Maturity..!

While they were neither my friends, nor my family, but they act like one, leaving room for me to fail but learn, leaving room for me to be 'me', but follow Jesus!

While I stand 'TALL' and look down on them (some times), I realize the very reason I stand tall today, because they knelt and BEND down for me in their personal closet and prayed for me; And they continue to do it for others...! That is why I still see them kneeling in His presence..!

While I HIGHLIGHT their 'one' weakness among their 100 strengths, they were waiting to compliment me for the ONE thing I do right among the 100 things I do wrong! They are still waiting...! (Why did my eyes get wet as I write this....? They deserve my respect!)

While I am impatient, in-tolerant, proud and lethargic, they were patient, tolerant, and humble, in not just accepting me as I am, but continue to support me and teaching me 'His Purpose' for me...

This song comes to my mind when I think about them...

How beautiful the hands that served
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross - Twila Paris

They deserve our appreciation -everyday, they deserve our respect -all the time, they deserve our love un-conditionally, they deserve our helping hand- to lift up others, they deserve our support- in their loneliness, they deserve our faithfulness -in serving, they deserve our commitment to Christ ...after all that was their only aim to make us go there..!

Now it is your turn....! Take your phone and call them or take a blank sheet of paper and fill it with your heart felt thanks... a few tear drops...may wet the papers and I think it is fine, they are used to those moisture papers... ! To Any Pastors or missionaries who touched your life...! They deserve a 'THANK YOU' from you!

The Disciple and His Common Sense

Imanuel G. Christian
October 2011

For the past few months we have been thinking about the ways to know the will of God for a particular situation in life. This month we will deal with common sense. How does common sense come into the picture as we try to discern the will of God? This article will be the last in this series (If you would like to get all of the previous five articles together, let me know).

Common sense means sound and prudent judgment in practical matters; the basic level of practical knowledge that we all need to help us to live in a reasonable and safe way. God has given
common sense to every one of us, and it is our responsibility to use it for sensible living. When we want to know the will of God, we have to use our common sense. In our past articles we have noted that the Word of God is the most basic tool to help us know the will of God. But that does not mean that we have to totally lay aside our common sense.

The Word of God tells us to use our common sense. Peter says, “Prepare your minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13), and, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7). In both of these verses the original meaning is to use discernment, right judgment which we would call common sense. Similarly, Paul says that the grace of God teaches us, “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12). And, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7), where self-discipline means living sensibly, with careful thinking.

The prophet Isaiah gives a beautiful example of the common sense of farmers. A farmer knows when to plow, what kind of seed to sow in what kind of soil. He knows that different crops require different farming techniques because, “His God instructs him and teaches him the right way”. He uses God-given common sense (Isaiah 28:24-29). Similarly, by common sense we know the proper time for different activities, how to behave, what to say and what not to say, and how to relate to people in different situations.

By common sense we know that during the extreme cold of the winter we should not go out without wearing heavy warm clothes. But if we go out with those clothes during the extreme heat of the summer, people would think we are out of our minds. If we are sick we have to consult a doctor. If we are a student we have to study hard to get good grades. We have to avoid some situations that put us either in physical or moral danger. These are things we know through our common sense and we do not need to know the will of God in such matters.

The Bible does not give any help in the matters which we can decide simply by using our common sense; it leaves those things to us to decide. For example, when an angel took Peter out of the prison, they passed two sets of guards and came to the iron gate which miraculously opened and Peter went out of the jail. At that moment the angel left Peter and disappeared. Now Peter was on his own and he had to use his common sense to decide what he should do next and where to go (Acts 12:5-19).

However, as it has been said, common sense is not very common. We all have done and said things that do not always make sense. Our foot is more often in our mouth than on the solid ground of our common sense! Think of a criminal who called a bank telling them to put all their cash in a sack for him and he would pick it up in fifteen minutes. Or, a Wal-Mart customer who filed a police report about his I-pod being stolen from his car in the parking lot. He had locked the doors, put the windows up, and set the alarm, but had left the top of his convertible open and the I-pod sitting on the passenger seat. Or, the jury that awarded two million dollars to a lady who carelessly spilled hot coffee in her lap while driving; and now there is a warning on McDonald coffee cups “Warning—Hot Coffee”!

Even if we are wise enough to use common sense most of the time, man’s common sense, like we noted in the case of man’s conscience, has limitations in knowing and following the will of God. The main problem is that our common sense has been trained in the wisdom of the world and many a time we consider everything in the way that the world thinks, thinking in terms of the gains in this life rather than in relation to eternal values. As Paul writes, “The sinful mind is hostile toward God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8). That is why Solomon says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (common sense). Do not be wise in your own eyes” (Proverbs 3:5, 7). But be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil (Romans 16:19).

We need to train our common sense according to the principles, ideals and morals of the Word of God rather than of the world. Not to confirm to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we can test and approve what is pleasing in the sight of God (Romans 12:2).

God sometimes leads us in a way that may not make sense to our common sense or even seems outright foolish and contrary to our common sense. Noah’s building of the ark, which took him a hundred and twenty years, must have seemed foolish to everybody around him at the time when people did not even know what “rain” was. Or, it must have seemed foolish to Abraham’s extended family and friends when he totally uprooted himself and left to go to a place he did not know (Hebrews 11:8). Just imagine a friend asking him, “Abraham, where are you going?” and his response, “Well, I don’t really know!”

I was a college professor when I felt led by the Lord to go into full time ministry and applied to Dallas Theological Seminary. The only idea about ministry that I had was to be a pastor, and pastors in India at that time received less than one-third of what I was getting as a professor (today it is less than one-fifth since professors’ salaries have sky-rocketed while pastors’ have not). When I went to the U. S. Consulate to get a student visa and I told this to the man there in response to his questions about my future plans, he shook his head and said, ”This doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone leave a well-paying job and spend four years of his life in further training to get a job that pays only one-third of what he is getting now?” They denied me the visa. Only after I wrote a long letter (in whatever broken English I knew then!) giving testimony of my conversion and commitment to the ministry, and the Seminary wrote a recommendation letter to them based on my written testimony sent to the Seminary earlier, did I get the visa. (I am convinced that those two letters, by God’s providence, must have fallen into the hands of a believer in the consulate office!). I am sure we can find examples without number from many a servants of God where what they were doing seemed foolish to the people around them.

There are many things in the Word of God and in a believer’s life that do not match with human common sense. “The message of the cross is foolishness” to the people of the world, and, “the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14).

And so, as we live in the world we do have to use our God given common sense. We cannot jump off a cliff just because we know God can and does take care of His children. But we have to remember that the things of God are from out of this world and they are not always discerned by our common sense (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must always live by faith and not by sight (1 Corinthians 5:7) and trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own common sense.

The ABC of teaching Sunday School...!

(by Mary Ellen Drushal )

So what are the ABCs of teaching? You may already have all 26 letters in your teaching primer. Or as you read this alphabet of teaching qualities and skills, you may discover new combinations of letters you need to be an effective teacher.

The ABCs that are foundational to teaching:

Availability: Don't turn off when the last "bell" rings. Kids still need hugs and attention when they see you in the hallway. And be available for training. It's the best way to become a better teacher. Make it a goal to incorporate one new idea from each training session you attend.

Boasting: Be proud of your children. They need someone who thinks they're special and who says so. Let your children hear your praises of them.

Coping: Many children have difficult lives. You need to be able to cope with what's happening to them. Don't avoid children with problems, but embrace them and counsel them when necessary. When a child makes a need known to you, pray for that need and seek to minister to that child.

Discovery: Explore biblical truth with your kids in every lesson. You're an expedition guide into the most exciting territory ever for kids: the Bible.

Encouragement: Your positive support will encourage learners to risk new things. Pepper your speech with comments such as, "I appreciate the way you tackled that mural" or "You worked hard during that game."

Flexibility: Children develop at different rates -- even children of the same age. Be patient with them while they develop. Don't ask them to do things beyond their physical or intellectual capacity. Praise them for trying rather than only for achieving.

Guidance: Proverbs 22:6 says if we guide children biblically, they'll not depart from the training when they get old. That's a promise for every teacher and parent!

Hesitation: When you ask a question, wait for children's responses. After ample thinking time and if someone doesn't attempt a response, rephrase the question.

Interaction: Don't lecture! One of the most effective teaching methods Jesus used was dialogue. Take turns in talking and listening. Maintain eye contact to underscore your interest in what the child says.

Joviality: A good sense of humor that leads to hearty laughter is good medicine for everyone. Remember to laugh with children and not at them.

Knowledge: Learn about developmental characteristics and effective teaching methods. Put your knowledge into practice to develop age-appropriate lessons for kids.

Love: Your children must feel you love them by how you act, what you say and the tone of your voice. Love costs us nothing, but it can make all the difference to a child.

Modeling: You are Jesus to your children. Jesus welcomed the children with open arms. He had standards and expectations for them, but he'd forgive them without fail. Model Christlikeness.

Naturalness: Don't read the lesson as written by an editor 2,000 miles away; teach the lesson in your words. Familiarize yourself with the content, write specific questions and don't read the curriculum word for word.

Order: Children constantly ask non-verbally, "Who's in charge here?" Discipline is maintained through a loving relationship with each child, not by authoritarian power. If a child is misbehaving, pull the child aside, and kindly remind him or her of the classroom rules.

Preparation: The "Saturday night scramble" can be avoided if you start lesson planning early in the week. Begin on Monday. Review your lesson and start gathering supplies. Through the week the Holy Spirit will provide real situations to illustrate the lesson objectives and provide quality learning for you and your children.

Question asking: Ask questions beyond who, what, when and where. Help your children understand the causes behind the story and make present-day applications. Encourage kids to put themselves in a character's shoes. Ask how they would feel had they been that person.

Respect: Children are God's gifts to us and are entrusted to our care for only a short while. Give them choices and respect their opinions.

Spirituality: Make sure your well doesn't run dry. Daily Bible reading and prayer will keep your pump primed to give to the kids in your class.

Tolerance: Children will misbehave. Expect it, deal with it appropriately and forgive it. Whatever you do, don't leave kids with the impression that church is a place for punishment.

Understanding: Children are unique genetically, socially, intellectually, physically and spiritually. Appreciate and respect their differences, and provide ways for each child to contribute to the class.

Vitality: Teachers who bore children with the Bible should sing in the choir instead! Enthusiasm for God's Word is contagious. Teachers don't have to be cheerleaders but neither should they be as dead as King Henry!

Warmth: Sunday school should be a good place to be -- like going to grandma's. The classroom should be "child friendly" with materials and resources easily accessible. The surroundings should be pleasing to the eye, ear and touch.

XP: These Greek letters represent Christ -- and so do you. You are Christ's ambassador. Disciple, train and teach children as Jesus would.

Yoking Up: Don't go it alone. You need a partner who'll pray for you. Teaching children is a tremendous task, and the extra support you get from having a prayer partner will be invaluable.

Zeal: Teachers shape the attitudes and values of future generations. And Christian teachers have a direct impact on children and eternity. Get a vision for the difference you're making in each child's life.

The Disciple and His Conscience - By Imanuel G. Christian

September 2011

For the last four months we have been dealing with the topic, knowing the will of God. In the last article we noted four things that help us know His will. These are the Word of God, the Spirit of God, the people of God, and finally the peace of God as we prayerfully seek God’s guidance in this matter. Another related topic is the conscience of man and what role it plays in discerning whether what we are doing is according to the will of God and pleasing to Him or not. Actually, the conscience is involved in the fourth step above: the peace of God. If we come to the right decision that is pleasing to God, our conscience will be at peace about that decision. Man’s conscience is a gift of God, a voice telling him what is right and good and what is not. When we do something that is right, our conscience is at peace; and when we do not, our conscience goads us. It is an instinctive sense of right and wrong that produces a sense of guilt when violated.

Every person is born with a conscience. It is a stamp of God’s image in every human being that separates us from the rest of the creation. It is the conscience that guides man, even the pagans, to discern the difference between right and wrong and through it man knows the moral law of God, the will of God, and feel a sense of guilt when it is not followed (Romans 2:14-15).

However, the conscience is not the best or fool-proof guide in discerning the will of God and knowing the difference between right and wrong. Because of man’s sin nature it is possible that his conscience may not always lead him to the right choice and he may not feel a sense of guilt even when he is doing something morally wrong. Man’s conscience may not always spoil the pleasure of sin, or render a wicked person miserable, and may not force man to confess his wrongs.

Paul uses terms like “seared” conscience (1 Timothy 4:2) and “corrupted” conscience (Titus 1:15). When a person continues to ignore the voice of his conscience and continues to follow evil ways, his conscience becomes so seared, calloused and cauterized that it loses the sensitivity of good and evil and so does not feel the shame or guilt of following evil ways. As Paul describes, “Having lost all sensitivity they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Ephesians 4:19).

History provides ample examples of the dead conscience of man. How could the Nazis participate in the wholesale slaughter of the Jewish community? Or, think of the many instances of genocide around the world in recent years. According to one account, during the twentieth century alone more than a hundred million people have been slaughtered this way, more than the causalities in all the wars in the whole world combined. Or, how can we understand all the terrorist activities around the world today unless their conscience has gone awry.

On the other hand, a person’s conscience may be “weak” and may easily be offended even when doing things that are not really morally offensive. In Paul’s days, for example, some people with weak consciences were troubled about matters such as eating meat and determining which days should be considered special (1 Corinthians 8:7-12; Romans 14:1-6).

Now we want to raise a few questions regarding the relationship of the conscience and the Holy Spirit. Are they either the same or different entities? What is the work of the Holy Spirit towards the unbeliever’s conscience? How does the Holy Spirit affect the believer’s conscience? What is the responsibility of the believer’s conscience towards the work of the Holy Spirit?

Obviously, the conscience and the Holy Spirit are not one and the same. As we noted above, the conscience is a part of every human being, whether a believer or an unbeliever. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit is given only to those who have become a part of God’s family by believing in Jesus Christ. Only the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; etc.).

However, this does not mean that the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the unbeliever’s conscience. Not only is it the Spirit that restrains the sin in the world in general (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7), but He also convicts the unbeliever of his sin, tells his conscience of God’s righteousness, and informs him of God’s judgment if that righteousness is not carried out (Romans 2:15-16). As Jesus told His disciples, “When he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). However, that does not always lead the unbeliever to do what his conscience requires.

On the other hand, the work of the Sprit in relation to the believer’s conscience is much more extensive and effective. First of all, through the work of the Spirit the believer’s conscience is cleared of any feeling of guilt of past sins (Hebrews 9:14). Secondly, the Spirit helps the believer to keep his conscience clear. The believer maintains a clear conscience by living in harmony with the truth of the Word of God as he is guided by the Spirit (John 16:13-15; 2 Corinthians 1:12-13). As the believer grows in his relationship with God through his time in the Word, his conscience is sharpened and is more sensitive to sin and to what grieves the Spirit of God. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit provides the strength that is needed to keep the conscience clear of sin and to guard it against temptations (1 John 4:4). It is through the work of the Spirit that the believer is released from the power and slavery of sin (Romans 7:24-25).

The believer has a greater revelation. He not only has his conscience which is a mark of God’s image in man, but was defiled because of the Fall, but he also has the Holy Spirit who guides him into the truth. With greater revelation comes greater responsibility. Now the believer’s responsibility is to make sure that he does not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and, like Paul, strives always to keep his conscience clear before God and man (Acts 24:16). The goal is to live with a pure heart and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5), and, as a result, to have no regrets at the end.

The Disciple and Knowing the Will of God
Imanuel G. Christian
August 2011

For the last three months we have been dealing with the topic, how to know the will of God in a specific situation in life. We noted that some of the methods used in the Old Testament, putting out a fleece and casting lots, do not always help in discerning the will of God in a very clear and unambiguous way. How shall we, then, know the will of God in life’s major decisions?

One of the foremost and most important principles about knowing the will of God, as we noted last month, is to actually be doing the will of God that is explicitly taught in the Word of God. It is obvious that those who want to know the will of God have to be living by the will of God. Otherwise, why would God make His will known? I am convinced that those who live by the will of God in those five areas we mentioned last month will have the spiritual maturity and Godly wisdom to discern the will of God in the personal and complicated issues of life. God reveals Himself to those who are seeking Him and wants to show the way forward to those who are walking in His way. If we are living pleasing to the Lord in every area of our life, then, as Paul said, we “will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

Now those who have taken that first step of obeying the known will of God can take the following four steps to discern the will of God in a particular situation in life. We can have clear and definite direction from the Lord by studying the Word of God, prayerfully asking for the guidance of the Spirit of God, and getting advice from the people of God. And as a result we will have the peace of God in the decision made.

First and foremost is the Word of God. The Word of God provides clear and definite direction for every aspect of our life and helps us to make important and right decisions. “Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him” (Psalm 25:12; also Psalm 32:8). Also, the psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105), and “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). The Lord said through the prophet Isaiah, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). And so Solomon’s wise advice is, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Word of God guides us and helps us to choose good over evil, eternal over temporal, things that would be a blessing to others over selfish desires, His kingdom and His righteousness over the things of this world.

The Word of God has an answer to all the problems and puzzles in life. But many times we may not find a direct answer to a very specific situation in life. For that we cannot make a decision just by looking at one or two verses at random, but it requires an overall knowledge of the Word of God. We have to have our hearts and minds saturated with the Word of God so that in a critical moment we are not in a situation of “digging a well when our house is on fire” (a Gujarati proverb!). Like Moses said, …the Word is very near us; it is in our mouth and in our heart (Deuteronomy 30:14), and therefore the wisdom needed to make the right decision whenever we are in that situation will be available to us. Paul told Timothy, “…from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-16), and also for every right decision.

Another resource connected to the Word of God is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God not only helps us to understand and to grasp the deep truth of the Word of God, but He reminds us of this truth at a very critical moment guiding us to the right path. As Jesus told His disciples, “The Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26), and “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The apostle John writes in his letter, “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things…remain in him” (1 John 2:27).

It is worth noting that one of the methods used in the Old Testament, casting lots, was also used once by the apostles for selecting the replacement for Judas Iscariot. But this was the last incident in the New Testament where this method was used and it took place before the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. After that they followed the leading of the Spirit and never reverted back to the method of casting lots.

The third resource that can help us in making the right decision is conferring with other people of God, people who are wise, spiritually mature, well versed in the Word of God, and living lives that are pleasing to the Lord. We can tell them about our decision but should be willing to change it if they think differently than we do. As Solomon said, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22), and, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Proverbs 19:20; also 20:18; 24:6; etc.).

All this has to be done prayerfully seeking God’s leading as we search the Scripture, follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and discuss the matter with spiritually mature friends. One thing we have to make sure of is that whatever advice we get from others or whatever decision we arrive at in the end, it should not be contrary to the principles of the Word of God, because whatever is contrary to the Word of God is certainly contrary to the will of God.

When we come to the final decision that has been arrived at by following these steps, we will have the peace of God. The peace of God would be the natural outcome of the right decision. But if we still have some doubt and are not sure about the decision, we should continue to follow the above mentioned three steps until we arrive at the decision that gives us the peace of God. If we have made the decision considering, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable” then, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:8, 7).

The Insider..!

In the world of Stock Market, if you are an insider, your actions will influence the value of the company, and in turn will impact the outside world. Though as an insider, you are bound to certain terms and conditions, you will feel comfortable because you know the details better than an outsider; and of course your actions will impact the outside world either to good or bad!

It is very interesting, that even in our daily walk of life, the 'INSIDE' information, in government, in military, in churches, even in our families, can be used either to build or to destroy;

In one way, I consider, 'Christians' or 'those who believe in Jesus Christ' are just like the INSIDERS; because we know the TRUTH; And since we know the TRUTH, this makes us so powerful and influential. How?

First, this 'sets us free'; sets us free, from worrying about what the future holds for me!

“If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" - John 8:31-32

Are we really FREE, set by the TRUTH? If not, this is the time to go back to TRUTH! This is the time to NOT just indulge in our Christian activities, rather building the foundation of our lives with TRUTH!

Second, this makes us more influential to the outsiders, to the world; How?

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world- I John 4:4

Are we really influenced by the Holy Spirit to be an influence to the outside world? This is the time to start influencing the world with Christ's Love and Christ's forgiveness;

To summarize: Love to quote this song from the United Methodist Hymnal(356), my all time favorite:

When we are living, we belong to God;
When we are dying, we belong to God;
Both in our living, and in our dying,
We belong to God,we belong to God;

What a great relief you and me have in Christ Jesus! When we live and when we die we belong to God; As the Truth of the Gospel sets us free, are we willing to live as an insider, reaching out to the outsider and influencing this world with Love?

The Disciple and Doing the Will of God

Imanuel G. Christian
July 2011

One of the major questions in life that the people of God face is: How can we know the will of God for the major aspects of life and how do we receive confirmation about the decisions that we make, whether they are in the will of God or not. The past two months we examined two methods used in the Old Testament to determine the will of God, putting out a fleece and casting lots. The second method, casting lots, is also used in the New Testament, as we noted last month. However, we noted that neither of these two methods is always helpful in knowing the will of God as we make major decisions in life. How shall we, then, know the will of God regarding complicated issues of life which require thoughtful consideration, weighing between good and bad choices or between more acceptable and not so acceptable choices?

The first and foremost principle of knowing the will of God is to be doing the will of God! If we really want to know the will of God we have to live by the will of God that we already know. If we do not follow the will of God that He has already revealed to us, why would He want to reveal His will to us at all?

Mark Twain (1835-1910) used to say, “I am not bothered by the things of the Bible I do not understand. What bother me most are the things I do understand”. What he meant was that we do not have to follow the things that we do not understand. But we are responsible to follow the things we do understand! It is the same about knowing the will of God. It is easy to know the will of God in major aspects of life, since He has already clearly expressed it in His Word. But to do the will of God is another thing. Moses said, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).

God has already revealed His will for the major aspects of human life. First of all, it is the will of God that everyone comes to know the Lord and receive eternal life through Jesus. Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). And, “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:14). God “wants all man to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). This was the purpose of Christ’s first coming; He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10; Matthew 18:14).

This is the first and foremost will of God for any human being. Not only that, but this is also the first and foremost condition for knowing the will of God. Only those who have fulfilled this condition will desire to know, and will also be enabled to know, the will of God through the leading of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer.

Of those who have already fulfilled the first condition, the second clearly expressed will of God for their life is their sanctification, a life that is morally pure and pleasing to God in every aspect. “It is the will of God that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen” (1 Thess. 4:3-4). For a believer there is no ambiguity about the will of God concerning any sin in his life. The clear and expressed will of God is, “Be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). Job manifested this ideal in his life, and God Himself commended him for that, “He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8; 2:3). That is the evaluation that we desire from God, because that is the expressed will of God.

The third clearly expressed will of God is, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Being joyful, praying continually and giving thanks in all circumstances, all three go together as we trust God even in difficult situations and commit these situations to Him in prayer, rejoicing that the outcome will be according to His will and plan for our life. Paul makes this explicit in Philippians 4:4-7. It is the will of God that His people live a thankful life “in all circumstances” and “in everything”, as Job told his wife, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10).

The fourth area where God’s will is explicitly expressed is, Live a life of submission. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority initiated among men… For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-17). Submission is not only toward the civil authorities, but Paul speaks of submission in every human relationship—husband and wife, child and parent, slave and master—with an attitude of submission and reverence for the sake of Christ (Ephesians 5:21-6:9).

The fifth matter where God explicitly declared His will is, Be ready to suffer for the sake of Christ. “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). And, “Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19). “If it is God’s will” suggests that not every believer will have to suffer, but every believer has to be prepared to suffer for the name of Christ; and there should never be an occasion that a believer has to suffer for doing evil.

These are the five areas where “this is the will of God” or similar words are used clearly and explicitly showing the will of God. But even where these words are not used, the Bible presents the will of God in many straightforward commands. We have to live by the commandments and the standard set by the Word. We have to live with an eternal and not temporal perspective in focus. We have to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, etc. There is no ambiguity in knowing the will of God in major areas of our life. God has clearly expressed that. As Mark Twain said, the problem is not about knowing the will of God, but in doing the will of God.

And yet, the question still remains: How do I know God’s will in specific situations in life? How do I know God’s will, for example, in choosing the right person to marry, or, deciding what occupation I should pursue, or, what line of study program I should choose? There is no clear and specific guidance in knowing the will of God for every specific and individual situation in life. But the Bible does provide some clear guidelines and principles that we can follow in order to know the will of God in each situation. We will note these next month.

The Disciple and Casting Lots

The Disciple and Casting Lots
Imanuel G. Christian
June 2011

How do you make important decisions in life? When you have to choose between two alternative options, how do you make the choice? In other words, does the Bible provide us clear guidelines for making important decisions in life? Last month we considered one method that is used only once in the Bible; it is in the account of Gideon putting out a fleece. Although God responded to Gideon in a very understanding manner, we noted that putting out a fleece is not a sure and consistent method for knowing God’s will in making important decisions in life. There is another method that is used in the Bible far more widely than putting out a fleece; it is casting lots.

The practice of casting lots is mentioned seventy times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament. However, nothing is known about the exact nature of the lots. One possibility is that the lots were flat stones marked on both sides and could be tossed much like our coin toss today. Another possibility is that colored stones were placed in a bag or pouch and a priest or a diviner would reach into the pouch and pull out a stone. Or, he would shake the bag up and down with increasing vigor until one stone popped out.

This was a very common practice among the heathen nations. For example, during the reign of the King Xerxes, Haman cast lots to select the day and month to annihilate the Jews (Esther 3:7, 13). Similarly, the heathen sailors cast lots to find out who was responsible for the storm (Jonah 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman soldiers divided Jesus’ clothes by casting lots (Matthew 27:35; Mark. 15:24; John. 19:23-24).

It was not just used by the heathen nations, but it was also a common practice among the Israelites, the chosen people of God. For example, the scapegoat was selected by casting lots (Leviticus 16:7-10). The land was divided among the twelve tribes by using lots (Numbers 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; Joshua 18:10; etc.). Sometimes lots were used to identify the guilty person (1 Samuel 14:40-42). The lots were used to select people for the Temple service (1 Chronicles 24:5-31; 26:13; Luke 1:5-9). In the New Testament lots were used to choose the replacement for Judas (Acts 1:26).

And it was not that the people of God had imitated this heathen practice against the will of God. God had clearly instructed them to use this practice. For example, in the division of the land God had told them to use lots, “Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups” (Numbers 26:55, 56). Most of the incidents that we noted above about using the lots actually were according to the instructions given to them by the Lord. Nowhere is it mentioned that the Israelites were imitating a heathen practice in doing this.

Similarly, the Biblical description of the special clothing worn by the High Priest included an apron with a pouch in it to hold lots; known as Urim and Thummim (lit. lights and the perfections). It is believed that these were used and cast like dice, the manner of their fall somehow revealing God’s will. These were probably stones, most probably colored stones, placed in the breastplate of the High Priest which he wore when he went into the presence of the Lord and used them to ascertain the will of God in any important matter affecting the nation (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8; Deuteronomy 33:8; Ezra 2:63; etc.).

The idea behind making decisions by casting lots was that the decisions would be from the Lord and not from man’s choice. As Solomon said, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverb 16:33). God is sovereign, even in minutiae like so-called random throwing of dice. So, this was not like practicing gambling, but was used realizing that God would sovereignly guide the lots according to His will and plan. Another reason behind using this practice was that the outcome was totally outside the control of the parties involved, and so this method was considered completely impartial and there would not be any place for confusion and argument between the involved parties. “Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart” (Proverb 18:18).

Since it was believed that the Lord’s hand was behind it, the method of casting lots was taken very seriously and was performed prayerfully. For example, when deciding the replacement for Judas in the New Testament, the apostles prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen…” (Acts 1:24). And so when they used this method, there was no gambling involved, but it was done with an assurance that the Lord’s will would be done. By casting the lots it was as if they were saying, “Lord, not what we want, but what you want”.

This raises the question: Can we use this method of casting lots to make important decisions in life today? The answer to this question depends on the situation. We use coin-toss in athletic events, which is very similar to casting lots and is very appropriate. Similarly when, for example, a husband and wife want to go out to a restaurant and both have different idea where to go, they can settle the issue by casting a lot, by tossing a coin, etc. So, there are situations where casting lots or tossing coins would be appropriate to settle the issue without any partiality.

However, we have to realize that this method was used in making decisions in the matters that were simple and straightforward like distributing the land among the tribes or deciding between two persons who were equally qualified for the job. There is not a single incident in the Scripture where the people of God used this method when there were complicated issues which required thoughtful consideration, weighing between good and bad or between the more acceptable and the less acceptable, like, for example, choosing a mate in marriage.

So the question still remains, does the Bible provide us any guidelines for such complicated matters? The answer to this question is a definite yes. Next month we will see some of the Biblical principles to follow in determining the will of God in major decisions of life.