Common Ground

One of the most important issues we face these days is how we view and treat people of different cultures or religious groups. Unfortunately, more in the past, but still in the present, some have chosen the path of ignorance and hatred. These days, in a world focused on being entertained, it seems popular to use humor to soften the distinctions on TV shows like Little Mosque on the Prairie. Still, there are others who choose to acknowledge and discuss these differences openly and respectfully.

A few months ago a group of 138 Muslim leaders issued a document titled A Common Word Between Us and You in which they point to some shared common beliefs they have with Christians. For example, they say, both faiths teach about the need to love God and to love one's neighbors. Recently a large group of Christan leaders put together and published a response. As you can imagine, this has stirred up a great deal of discussion and debate within the evangelical community. For example, here is John Piper's reply:



As Canadians we are all aware that we live in a wonderfully diverse multicultural society. As such, it is extremely important for Christians to be able to recognize and discuss the differences we have with other religions, such as Muslims, in a very humble and graciously way. And one of the ways we can do this is by acknowledging that we do in fact share some very common ground with respect to one specific area. We are both sinners, Christians and Muslims, in desperate need of God's mercy and grace. As Paul tells us, "There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." Romans 3:22-25 (ESV)

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Baby Talk

Well as most of you already know, my wife and I have been blessed with another beautiful baby girl. The Lord has graciously answered our prayers to adopt Emma (pictured here) who is currently still in the hospital as she is only four pounds! As such Anna and I are taking turns going into the hospital as much as possible to visit her. In fact, last night I am very proud to announce that I changed my first dirty (and I mean dirty) diaper all by myself! Father of the year material don't you think?

Anyhow, one of the things I enjoy doing when she's awake is simply talking to her. I tell her all about her brother/sister, her mother and our home. Still, it's a bit awkward at times with all the other parents and nurses around who probably see me as this really cool tough guy talking "baby-talk" to this little girl. But actually, all kidding aside, the great theologian John Calvin wrote that this is very much like how God communicates with us. Here's how Dr. David Calhoun explains Calvin's teaching on this.

The second point I want to make concerning Calvin and his view of the Bible as the inspired Word of God is that that Word comes from the very mouth of God, but it is accommodating to us. That is an important word for Calvin -- "accommodation." The Word of God is accommodated to us. In Book I, chapter 13, part 1, we see Calvin saying this, "As nurses commonly do with infants, God is wont in a measure to lisp in speaking to us." So, he describes the Bible is to us as a nurse, mother, or father, will talk baby talk to an infant so that the child will understand. You all do that with your children if you have little children. You talk differently to those children than you talk to your classmates. You talk baby talk, and that is accommodation. That is what Calvin says the Bible is. The message of the Bible not only comes from the very mouth of God, but it comes from the mouth of God who is Father and who, in His love to us so that we can understand what He has to say, stoops to talk baby talk to us.

And so, in a sense, you and I are like babies being fed by our Father little by little. As 1 Peter 2:2 says "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation." The question is, are we growing? Are we spending time listening to our Father's words? And do we truly long for it?

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Prosperity Gospel?

Somehow as North Americans we have been led to believe that God wants us to be comfortable. That He wants us to have our "Best Life Now" by giving us "a little heaven on earth, right where we are". We should enjoy our possessions and avoid anything that risks losing them. But what about the call to take up our cross and follow Christ? What about the exhortation to suffer for the sake of righteousness? What about the narrow path that is hard to travel?

The reality is God calls us to do the hard things in life and go to the hard places for His glory. Whether this means standing up for Him in the classroom/work place or going to a hostile country to spread the gospel, God calls His people to step out in faith and obedience. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus says "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." One of the biggest obstacles that keeps us from doing this is the comfort and security we find in our material possessions. As John Piper explains,

It takes a good deal of courage to let your light shine before a world that may not want to see it. Or another way to put it is that it takes a good deal of detachment from the possessions you have accumulated in this world. It appears that the ground for courage in radical obedience to Jesus is freedom from the love of things, or even from the simple dependence on things.

I think I can say with the full authority of this text and the rest of the New Testament that whatever measure of material and physical loss God may call you to in this world, one thing is certain: being a Christian means being willing and ready to let it all go for the sake of Christ and his Word.

And so the question is, as we look around at all that we have and enjoy here in Alberta, as we consider our tendency to avoid any kind of risk and suffering... are we willing to "let it all go for the sake of Christ"? Are we willing to take up our cross and follow Him? Would we be able to say with Job, after losing everything he had and all his children... "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

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Seizing Every Opportunity

Each new year presents us with new situations and opportunities in which we, as Christians, are called to be faithful in sharing the gospel with others. For many, this is a very intimidating thing to think about. We often feel under prepared in terms of what to say and overly sensitive to what others may think. As a result, some believe that it's enough just to live a "Christian" life. Perhaps you've heard it said "preach the gospel, use words if necessary". Well the problem with this approach is that words are necessary. The gospel is, after all, the good news about Jesus Christ, and news, as you know, needs to be reported. Certainly our lives must reflect our beliefs but what we believe must also be spoken. These two things go hand in hand, what we do and what we say. As Paul writes, "Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Col. 4:5-6 (ESV)

Notice again what Paul is saying here, we are called to make the best use of the time we have been given. Whether this is at work or at school, God has given each of us certain opportunities to live out our faith and share His message with people who don't know Him. Of course, this call is not limited to those outside our homes and churches. As parents, we have been given the most important/urgent of all opportunities with our children, and much like witnessing to others, this too can be pretty intimidating. Phil Johnson explains,

Most Christian parents will admit to being somewhat intimidated by the weighty responsibility Scripture places on us. Our task is outlined in simple terms by verses like Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go" and Ephesians 6:4: "Bring [your children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Understanding our solemn duty as parents ought to provoke a certain amount of fear and trembling. Then again, it needn't paralyze us. Teaching spiritual truth to children is a joy. No one is more receptive, more hungry to learn, or more trusting than a child. Chances are, you'll never find more eager disciples than your own children. Don't squander the opportunity.

If you are a parent, grandparent, Sunday school teacher or children's church volunteer I would strongly encourage you to read this entire article here. Still, no matter who we are, the call remains the same to be prepared to seize every opportunity and make the best use of the time we've been given.
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