Resolutions for the New Life
Christian Comment by Doug Gander
This column began with issue #1 of The Rideau Review in May of 1992. It has in recent times been appearing mainly in The Rideau Valley Mirror. I'm often the editor rather than the author of these reflections, and it's been my privilege to include news and messages from pastors, priests, missionaries, and teachers from various Christian backgrounds, representing a wide variety of denominations. On their behalf I'm thankful for this opportunity, since many newspapers do not mirror community values fairly by reflecting widely-held views... beliefs and values which at the very least have been built and lived by centuries of salt-of-the-earth Christian people.
This column has tried to offer positive news and views from every major church community represented in this area of Rideau Valley readership, and beyond. Healthy Christian life may be found in congregations of every denomination, including concerned groups working within their churches which seem somewhat off track and in need of renewal and re-establishment on basic Christian footings.
Detractors will say this column is not "politically correct", not in step with the ways of the modern world. Consider though that Jesus Christ, and his followers after Him, came to establish the Kingdom of God on earth which is "not of this world". He is the real way, and truth and life. He was and is poorly understood by zealots of every age, those with sincere causes or political agendas who somewhat miss the point.
When our Lord taught, through the apostle Paul for example, that a slave was to be content with his lot, this was not an endorsement of slavery. St. Paul was teaching that, just as Jesus came to be our servant even to the death, we also may find fulfilment in positions of servitude when our "rights" seem suppressed. Like Him, we find strength in apparent weakness, and His victory overcomes even the grave.
Similarly, when Christ ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well or the woman caught in adultery, He was not thereby striking a blow for women's liberation or making a statement about patriarchal oppression. While some modern women have worked hard for recognition as persons: that is only an incidental part of what Jesus was doing in each individual case of His person-oriented ministry. He forgave sins and healed people regardless of gender or nationality; and although His apostles were all men (not politically correct today, but in accordance with Bible-based understandings going right back to Genesis), they were chosen from among rich and poor, the powerful and the humble, the learned as well as the uneducated. Matthew was a tax collector before his new life with Jesus. Luke was a physician before he was called to concentrate on the healing of souls. Paul was an influential enforcer of Jewish law before his enlightening experience from God which transformed his life and efforts. Others were humble fishermen, who became fishers of men for Christ.
The difference between political rhetoric and Christ's ministry of "the good news" is that politicians valiantly try, and are often required, to compromise among the loudest of whatever interest-groups are active at the moment. Jesus and His disciples went against the grain, correcting established but erroneous religious teachers and taking the Gospel message to all nations and tongues (even for example among cultures where goddess-worship was prevalent). They taught the unwavering principles for mankind established when God created the earth and placed Adam and Eve upon it. God's law was not cast aside but fulfilled in Christ. These guidelines were renewed and refined by Jesus, the "second Adam", who provides us with heaven-focussed life to transform the failings and limitations of our fallen, earth-centred existence. He did not come to confirm us in our fallen condition, but to make us new, to give us rebirth from above.
The Gospel message these days is sometimes considered exclusivist, sexist, patriarchal, homophobic, etc., etc. Even some church leaders can't deal with it squarely, but edit their lectionaries and go to crazy extremes writing new paraphrases of the Bible to soften any politically-incorrect elements.
Christianity might now be a minority among western people's beliefs, but it is the largest religious minority group. Traditional Christianity is often under attack in the media. It cannot be simply dismissed as superficial "religious opinion" while other ideologies, from secular humanism to native religions to wicca, are given disproportionate representation and a decidedly "positive spin" by commentators.
Through the many traditional and Bible-based Christian commentaries appearing here, and by the sense of fair community representation among the new editorial staff of The Mirror-Review, this column may continue to offer some insight into the Way, Truth, and Life of Jesus Christ, and the renewal of individuals and community to be found in Him.
This column began with issue #1 of The Rideau Review in May of 1992. It has in recent times been appearing mainly in The Rideau Valley Mirror. I'm often the editor rather than the author of these reflections, and it's been my privilege to include news and messages from pastors, priests, missionaries, and teachers from various Christian backgrounds, representing a wide variety of denominations. On their behalf I'm thankful for this opportunity, since many newspapers do not mirror community values fairly by reflecting widely-held views... beliefs and values which at the very least have been built and lived by centuries of salt-of-the-earth Christian people.
This column has tried to offer positive news and views from every major church community represented in this area of Rideau Valley readership, and beyond. Healthy Christian life may be found in congregations of every denomination, including concerned groups working within their churches which seem somewhat off track and in need of renewal and re-establishment on basic Christian footings.
Detractors will say this column is not "politically correct", not in step with the ways of the modern world. Consider though that Jesus Christ, and his followers after Him, came to establish the Kingdom of God on earth which is "not of this world". He is the real way, and truth and life. He was and is poorly understood by zealots of every age, those with sincere causes or political agendas who somewhat miss the point.
When our Lord taught, through the apostle Paul for example, that a slave was to be content with his lot, this was not an endorsement of slavery. St. Paul was teaching that, just as Jesus came to be our servant even to the death, we also may find fulfilment in positions of servitude when our "rights" seem suppressed. Like Him, we find strength in apparent weakness, and His victory overcomes even the grave.
Similarly, when Christ ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well or the woman caught in adultery, He was not thereby striking a blow for women's liberation or making a statement about patriarchal oppression. While some modern women have worked hard for recognition as persons: that is only an incidental part of what Jesus was doing in each individual case of His person-oriented ministry. He forgave sins and healed people regardless of gender or nationality; and although His apostles were all men (not politically correct today, but in accordance with Bible-based understandings going right back to Genesis), they were chosen from among rich and poor, the powerful and the humble, the learned as well as the uneducated. Matthew was a tax collector before his new life with Jesus. Luke was a physician before he was called to concentrate on the healing of souls. Paul was an influential enforcer of Jewish law before his enlightening experience from God which transformed his life and efforts. Others were humble fishermen, who became fishers of men for Christ.
The difference between political rhetoric and Christ's ministry of "the good news" is that politicians valiantly try, and are often required, to compromise among the loudest of whatever interest-groups are active at the moment. Jesus and His disciples went against the grain, correcting established but erroneous religious teachers and taking the Gospel message to all nations and tongues (even for example among cultures where goddess-worship was prevalent). They taught the unwavering principles for mankind established when God created the earth and placed Adam and Eve upon it. God's law was not cast aside but fulfilled in Christ. These guidelines were renewed and refined by Jesus, the "second Adam", who provides us with heaven-focussed life to transform the failings and limitations of our fallen, earth-centred existence. He did not come to confirm us in our fallen condition, but to make us new, to give us rebirth from above.
The Gospel message these days is sometimes considered exclusivist, sexist, patriarchal, homophobic, etc., etc. Even some church leaders can't deal with it squarely, but edit their lectionaries and go to crazy extremes writing new paraphrases of the Bible to soften any politically-incorrect elements.
Christianity might now be a minority among western people's beliefs, but it is the largest religious minority group. Traditional Christianity is often under attack in the media. It cannot be simply dismissed as superficial "religious opinion" while other ideologies, from secular humanism to native religions to wicca, are given disproportionate representation and a decidedly "positive spin" by commentators.
Through the many traditional and Bible-based Christian commentaries appearing here, and by the sense of fair community representation among the new editorial staff of The Mirror-Review, this column may continue to offer some insight into the Way, Truth, and Life of Jesus Christ, and the renewal of individuals and community to be found in Him.