A Matter Of Heart

'I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but why have already passed from death into life.' John 5:24 (NLT)

Every year on 24 May, Methodist Churches all over the world commemorate Aldersgate Day. On that day in 1738, John Wesley had a sublime but life-changing spiritual experience in which he described his heart as 'strangely warmed.' At a prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street and listening to a reading from Martin Luther about the new birth he described this experience as "I felt I did trust Christ, Christ alone, for salvation and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Many had tried to interpret what exactly happened to John Wesley that night. Some say that it was a true conversion experience. Others saw this as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Whatever it was, it was a watershed of his life and ministry.

I believe that Wesley had a deep assurance of his salvation, once and for all, never to look back, a 'Forever Christian' assurance. 

I had a similar experience, when about a year after I became a Christian and after listening to a Overseas Missions Fellowship missionary, Mr. Martin Goldsmith speak at a Youth for Christ camp. Martin Goldsmith was speaking on Christian Discipleship and he urged the campers to go back to our rooms, make a list of our then known sins, confess everyone of them then commit our lives to Jesus Christ. It was an emotional experience for me to confess my sins. However from that time on, I knew I will be a 'Forever Christian.'

Hal Knight (ref 1) concurred and wrote, 'What Wesley experienced there was a new capacity to trust in Christ, forgiveness of sins and assurance that he was a child of God, and a new birth in which he began to grow in the knowledge and love of God and in love of neighbour. This was not simply an external obedience but a matter of the heart.' 

The assurance of being forever a Christian is the anchor of the Methodist Church and by which it withstood the test of time since 1738. Methodist Churches all over the world have gone through periods of troughs and highs, backslidings and revivals. Nevertheless the Aldersgate experience lives and characterises the Methodist Churches today (Ref 2)

• The experience and assurance of Salvation. Methodists believe that everyone needs to be saved, that we have a Saviour in Jesus. From there we will 'grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.' 2 Peter 2:18   

• The rigorous preaching of the Gospel. John Wesley preached tirelessly. He broke out of the religious molds of his day and went straight to the people, not in the churches but at the street corners. He preached any day in the week, not just on a Sunday and often several times a day as opportunity presented. 

• A lifestyle of Witnessing. Communities were formed in which Christian love and sharing were witnessed. Methodists gathered in their homes for prayer and praise, witnessing to their neighbours and sharing of experience. These became the parish meetings of the early Methodist churches.

• The Love for neighbour. The Methodist Church ushered a social consciousness and action that saw many social reforms in post-industrial Britain including the abolition pf slavery. This social consciousness remained to this day where many Methodists became involved in many charitable and humanitarian missions. 

• A chorus of joyous Singing. Together with his brother Charles Wesley's prolific song writing, the Methodist revival was borne on a wave of songs. John and Charles gathered a congregation about them by singing and after prayer began to preach. Hymn singing brought the Methodists together into a powerful emotional unity.

'Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.' Proverbs 4:23

In 1961, the Methodist Message lamenting the state of the Methodist churches in Singapore wrote, "What is needed is a new experience, the transforming power of Christ in the heart of the believer." 

Having lived through the 1960s to the present day, we can testify that the Methodist Church in Singapore did revive from the 1970s by God's help. The Holy Spirit poured out into the hearts of Methodists in our churches, the transforming power of Christ in the heart of the believer.

The Aldersgate experience echoes in the words of this song, 'Amazing Love' (And Can It Be) which has become a beloved Methodist Anthem. Written by Charles Wesley, in 1738, when both brothers felt their heart strangely warmed, Charles gave this account of his experience, "At midnight I gave myself up to Christ: assured I was safe, sleeping or waking. I had continued experience of his power to overcome all temptation; and confessed, with joy and surprise, that he was able to do exceedingly abundantly for me, above what I can ask or think."  

And can it be that I should gain

1. An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
   Died He for me, who caused His pain—
   For me, who Him to death pursued?
   Amazing love! How can it be,
   That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
   • Refrain:
     Amazing love! How can it be,
     That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. ’Tis myst’ry all: th’ Immortal dies:
   Who can explore His strange design?
   In vain the firstborn seraph tries
   To sound the depths of love divine.
   ’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
   Let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left His Father’s throne above—
   So free, so infinite His grace—
   Emptied Himself of all but love,
   And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
   ’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
   For, O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
   Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
   Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray—
   I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
   My chains fell off, my heart was free,
   I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
5. No condemnation now I dread;
   Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
   Alive in Him, my living Head,
   And clothed in righteousness divine,
   Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
   And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
6. The Aldersgate accounts of both brothers, now written in the beloved hymn clearly testify to the assurances of their salvation. Forever Jesus!

Lionel

Ref 1: Hal Knight, 'The Meaning of the Aldersgate Experience' The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church. 21 May 2015

Ref 2: Reclaiming Aldersgate. The Methodist Message, Singapore, May 1961.

The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth

Saint Patrick

'Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.' Matthew 5:5

Life is full of paradoxes and the most intriguing paradox is the statement 'The meek shall inherit the earth.' Given this dog-eat-dog societal mentality these days, it would have been most laughable if it had not indeed been uttered by Jesus Christ Himself in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:5. But if you have lived for three scores and ten years, like me, you will realise after observing life on this earth, that there is much truth in what Jesus said. 

Two messages I heard recently lend credence to this Beatitude. 

• The weak shall become strong - Nicky Gumbel
• Silence speaks louder than words. - Bishop (Dr) Gordon Wong

Both messages were about missions and missionaries. They bring much hope and confidence for the simple, ordinary folks who availed themselves to actualise God's calling to serve Him as missionaries. 

The Weak Shall Become Strong. Nicky Gumbel (Ref 1) shared about the life of  Saint Patrick. Patrick came from Cumbria in Northern England. At the age of 16 he was captured by Irish raiders who brought him to Ireland to serve as a slave herding and tending sheep. 

Nicky Gumbel wrote, 'Patrick was poorly educated, ineloquent and faced significant opposition throughout his ministry from those who felt that he wasn't up to the task. Even as an old man he admitted, "Today I still blush and fear more than anything to have my lack of learning brought out to the open." Yet despite all his disadvantages Patrick remained convinced that God had called him to be an evangelist.' 

Patrick wrote, 'We are a letter of Christ for salvation even to the back of beyond - and what does it matter if it is not a learned letter? For it is still to be found valid and plain for all to read, written in your very hearts and not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God!' 

Understanding his weakness, St Patrick said, "If I have any worth it is to live my life for God so as to teach these people; even though some of them still look down on me."

Nicky commented, 'Even Patrick's weakness was anointed! Today long after his more eloquent contemporaries have long been forgotten, the impact of St Patrick's ministry and mission to Ireland 1500 years ago is still recognised around the world.' 

Patrick became the patron saint of Ireland and is annually honoured in Ireland and many Catholics with the celebration of Saint Patrick's Day on March 17. 

Silence Speaks Louder Than Words. The Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, Rev (Dr) Gordon gave the message on the 30th anniversary of the Methodist Missions Society. He entitled it, 'Spreading the News?' with a question mark on purpose. The Bishop said that contrary to all expectations, after performing miracles, Jesus cautioned his disciples against spreading the news. 

After healing a leper in Matthew 8:4 Jesus said to him, 'See that you don't tell anyone.'  After restoring the sight of two blind man, Jesus warned them sternly, 'See that no one knows about this.' Matthew 9:30. When he was healing large crowds in Matthew 12:15-16. Jesus warned them not to tell others about Him. In Matthew 16:20, Jesus ordered His disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus Christ,

'Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout out or cry out or raise His voice in the streets.' Isaiah 42:1-2

In these days, of public relations, we might think it strange that Jesus preferred to do things the quiet way. Someone said, 'If you can't win by reason, you got to go for volume.' 

Similarly, Bishop Gordon Wong advised the Methodist Missionaries not to spread the gospel by shouting loudly in public but by being the good news. He said more powerful will be good deeds done with quiet love in secret. St Francis of Assisi was quoted.

'Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words' 

The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth. Bishop Emeritus Robert M Solomon in his book, the Sermon of Jesus wrote that meekness is not listlessness, a lack of courage nor the absence of strong convictions. In a world where people fight for supremacy, to be king of the heap, the person who is meek is someone who

• Trusts in God
• Gentle because strength is from God.
• Depends on God and not on own resources
• Strength under control, derived from submission to God
• Has a passionate delight in God
• Enjoys God's presence
• Knows and Obeys God's Word.
• Waits on God in stillness and patience
• Inner strength that need not be outwardly visible
• No drive for fleeting and temporary gains

Such a person, wrote the Bishop, has no need to emulate the winning ways of the world. That person is Jesus Christ as Graham Kendrick aptly described Him in the paradoxical mystery of this song Meekness and Majesty: 

 

Meekness and majesty,
Manhood and Deity,
In perfect harmony,
The Man who is God.
Lord of eternity
Dwells in humanity,
Kneels in humility
And washes our feet.

O what a mystery,
Meekness and majesty.
Bow down and worship
For this is your God,
This is your God.

Father's pure radiance,
Perfect in innocence,
Yet learns obedience
To death on a cross.
Suffering to give us life,
Conquering through sacrifice,
And as they crucify
Prays: 'Father forgive.'

Wisdom unsearchable,
God the invisible,
Love indestructible
In frailty appears.
Lord of infinity,
Stooping so tenderly,
Lifts our humanity
To the heights of His throne

Lionel

Ref 1. Nicky Gumbel The Bible in One Year Day 154

Ref 2. Robert M Solomon The Sermon of Jesus. Armour Publishing, 2013

I Found It - Discipleship

'Jesus said, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.' Luke 9:23

In 1976 the Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) launched a world evangelism campaign, 'I Found It.' CCC, Singapore, partnering 200 churches used this theme to bring the gospel to as many as 71,841 persons. Of these 36% indicated decisions for Christ and more than 5000 enrolled in follow-up classes. It was a very successful campaign perhaps the first of its kind to use the mass media extensively.

On 24 May 1738 an earlier I Found It moment occurred. John Wesley felt his heart strangely warmed and recorded in his journal, "I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins." The Methodist Church was born that day and today there are 40.5 million of 'the people who call themselves Methodist' in 138 countries.

Why the name Methodist? Bishop Solomon explained, 'the word "Method" comes from two Greek words - meta (after) and hodos (way). It means "following after a way." In this regard it is noted that in the Gospels, our Lord described Himself as 'the Way' (John 14:6).' Ref 1. Methodists, so to speak, have found found the Way, Jesus.

Finding Christ is not just a simple slogan of I Found It. Finding Jesus in Jesus' time meant to go with him, observe him, study him and follow him by imitation and obedience. My brother Quek Koh Eng, in contemplating Luke 9:23 wrote "the challenge is for all who are called by God to take their faith seriously, grow as disciples of Christ, and not be content to be merely pew warmers but true believers who know and serve the will of God." Like a true army Colonel, Koh Eng said "God’s order has always been that every believer should be a witness; "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

Of this John Wesley said “we are all at it and at it always.” It means having a desire and  making a decision to be a follower of Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book the cost of discipleship, pointed out that one cannot be a disciple of Christ without forfeiting things normally sought in human life. On the other hand, Dallas Willard wrote that the cost of non-discipleship will be much more than what a disciple might forfeit. Willard wrote, non-discipleship costs 

• abiding peace, 
• a life penetrated throughout by love, 
• faith that sees everything in the light of God's over-riding governance for good, 
• hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances
• power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil.

Willard wrote, "non-discipleship costs you exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10)." Ref 2

During the 'I Found It' campaign many found salvation in Jesus Christ but they stopped there. No doubt, it is a very important first step; the Chinese have a saying, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.' However there are innumerable more steps to take. The Christian journey will go on through eternity, so we cannot stop there, congratulating ourselves. The 'I Found It' campaign was not just to get people a ticket to heaven but to bring them to God.

Salvation alone does not define a Christ follower and does not lead to Christian witness and testimony. The last imperative Jesus gave whilst on earth, is recorded in Matthew 28:19 and 20 "Therefore go and make disciples....teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Being a disciple is a inner transformation of our core being in such a way that the we take on the character of Christ. This inner transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit aptly described by this hymn, Breathe on Me, Breath of God

1. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   Fill me with life anew,
   That I may love what Thou dost love,
   And do what Thou wouldst do.
2. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   Until my heart is pure,
   Until with Thee I will one will,
   To do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   Till I am wholly Thine,
   Until this earthly part of me
   Glows with Thy fire divine.
4. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   So shall I never die,
   But live with Thee the perfect life
   Of Thine eternity.

There is a the car decal that states, 'Don't Follow Me. I'm Lost.' This is terrible testimony but articulates the pathetic situation of the modern society. On the other hand, the transformed Christian disciple lives by the example of St Paul the apostle, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Cor 10:34. In other words, 'Follow me. I'm Found.'

Lionel        

  

Ref 1: Robert M Solomon. Following Jesus in a Fallen World. Chapter 20, Beyond Method; Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism. Genesis Book 2009

Ref 2: Dallas Willard. The Great Omission- Reclaiming Jesus' Essential Teachings on Discipleship. Chapter 1, Discipleship, For Super Christians only? HarperOne, 2006